New Orleans has once again landed itself at the top of an acclaimed travel destination list, this time being ranked as Travel + Leisure’s second-best travel spot in the U.S. for 2025.
Only Santa Fe earned higher praise from the travel magazine’s readers, as the New Mexico city knocked Charleston out of first place for the first time in 12 years.
The Crescent City earned high marks from voters specifically for its unique and massive food scene. As one reader put it, “Some of the best food ever is in New Orleans. I had the best crepe of my life in a local spot owned and run by one person.”
Cities on the list were ranked by Travel + Leisure readers based on sights and landmarks, culture, food, friendliness, shopping and value. New Orleans’ one-of-a-kind culture and architecture earned the city a score of 87, just one point behind Santa Fe.
It isn’t the first time New Orleans has landed a top spot in the magazine’s annual World’s Best Rankings. In 2024, it was ranked as the 5th best city in the U.S. and it has regularly appeared in top rankings for years.
Here’s a look at the top 15 U.S. travel destinations in 2025:
- Santa Fe, New Mexico
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Savannah, Georgia
- Alexandria, Virginia
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Greenville, South Carolina
- New York, New York
- Asheville, North Carolina
- Chicago, Illinois
- Taos, New Mexico
- San Antonio, Texas
- Nashville, Tennessee
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Aspen, Colorado
