CHARLESTON — The Holy City’s 12-year streak as Travel + Leisure’s “Best U.S. City” has officially been snapped as it dropped down to the No.3 spot.

Santa Fe took the crown for the 2025 list, released July 8, with New Orleans in a close second.

Charleston may no longer be No. 1, but it still beat cities like Savannah and Honolulu. It also wasn’t the only South Carolina city to make the list, as Greenville earned the No. 7 spot.

When asked about this year’s rankings, Travel + Leisure editor-in-chief Jacqui Gifford said Charleston’s 12-year run at the top is “a testament to its timeless charm.” 

“(Charleston’s) rich history, vibrant culinary scene, and signature hospitality have long resonated with our readers,” she said.

The city is still going strong on the best of list at No. 3, while Kiawah Island and multiple resorts and hotels were recognized in various categories, including several “Best in the U.S.” lists.

South Carolina newcomer Greenville also earned a spot on the “Best U.S. City” list for the first time. Travel + Leisure wrote that the Upstate destination “made a strong debut” at No. 7 and cements the Southeast as a “powerhouse region.”

“This mid-size city was described as one of the South’s best kept secrets. Visitors appreciated the high number of locally owned restaurants and the proximity to the outdoors — the Reedy River, which flows right through downtown, also provides a peaceful setting,”  the publication wrote.

Santa Fe’s rise, Gifford said, comes in turn as a result of it’s “unique blend of art, history and Southwestern culture.”

Helen Hill, CEO of Explore Charleston, said regardless of the ranking, the region has forged a reputation for “delivering meaningful experiences and genuine hospitality.” She added that readers clearly continue to “recognize the Charleston area’s uniqueness and character.”

“In addition to Charleston being voted a top three U.S. city, the market’s outstanding reputation and desirability are further illustrated by the number of industry partners regionwide — from our beaches to the historic district — that were voted among the best in the country,” Hill said.

Charleston’s $14 billion tourism machine saw more than nearly 8 million visitors last year. Almost 25 cents of every dollar spent in the region is attributable to the industry, College of Charleston’s Office of Tourism Analysis estimated in a study last year.

Views from afar

Randy Randall, director of Tourism Santa Fe — the visitor’s bureau for the New Mexico city — said Charleston and Santa Fe have been running neck-in-neck in the Travel + Leisure rankings for the last few years. He gives The Holy City credit for retaining the title for so long.

Randall said he’s asked often what city Santa Fe competes with, and his response is always, “No one.” But when it comes to what city Santa Fe is most like, he always answers, “Charleston.” He said it’s the cities’ authentic storytelling and preserved history that create a resemblance, but each has something the other does not. Charleston has a waterfront, while Santa Fe has mountains.

“One thing we’re very proud of the fact that we don’t change much,” Randall said. “We’ve been very protective of our history. Santa Fe is the second-oldest city in the United States, and it’s the oldest state capital. Very early on, we created the urban historic protection rules that we have in our historic district.”

Santa Fe’s welcomes 3 million visitors per year, with 2.2 million overnight stays and 800,000 day trips, according to Tourism Santa Fe data. Much of Santa Fe’s tourism is regional, similar to Charleston’s “drive-in” visitation trend of several years ago, before the growth in local air service options began to pull travelers from a wider geographic area.

Santa Fe is a community of roughly 92,000 people, while its greater county has a population of 142,000. Meanwhile, the city of Charleston has more than 155,000 residents, with the county totaling closer to 424,000, according to Census Bureau data.

Randall said many are surprised to hear Santa Fe is home to more than 250 art galleries, a world-class opera house and a robust culinary scene of more than 400 restaurants. It’s also known for its rich cultural and art festivals.

“We live above our size and I think that’s one of the things that makes us different than most places,” Randall said. “It’s the visitation that is our lifeblood. Because our communities are smaller we deal with less issues that other cities face, like rush-hour traffic.”

Randall said he has a deep respect for Charleston and the city’s tourism leaders. He’s no stranger to South Carolina, having worked on Hilton Head Island for a few years. If anyone had to take the crown from Charleston, he said he’s “honored it was Santa Fe.”

The magazine’s annual survey fetched more than 180,000 responses that rated the best places to visit and stay around the world. The Travel + Leisure survey rates top cities based on sights, landmarks, culture, cuisine, friendliness, shopping and overall value.

Charleston first climbed to the top of the Travel + Leisure best U.S. city ranking in 2013.

Other nods

• The Wentworth Mansion, John Rutledge House Inn, Market Pavilion Hotel, The Loutrel and The Spectator Hotel garnered five of the 15 spots in the “Best City Hotels in the U.S.” category.
• The Dunlin, an Auberge Resorts Collection property on John’s Island, debuted on the list of the top 15 “Resorts in the Continental U.S.”
• Kiawah Island retained a spot among the 15 “Best Islands in the Continental U.S.”
• The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, The Dunlin, The Beach Club at Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina and Wild Dunes Resort were named among the 10 “Best South Carolina Resorts.”