The World's Best 2025 awards have just been released by Travel + Leisure and one high-profile category is "Best Cities in the U.S." And while this year's lineup is full of locations all across the seven oceans, there's one American city that made the top 20 cut.
RECOMMENDED: The 2025 America's Best Cities list is here—see which city came out on top
Voted in by readers, the list focuses on cities that offer blow-your-mind dining, hotels and experiences (everything from museum going to wild clubbing and beach napping) that make travelers rave and immediately plot their next return. Asian cities captured exactly half the list—with seven of those in the top 10—but North America fared well, too, with San Miguel de Allende, Mexico being named the best city in the world. But we, of course, went to immediately scroll down the list to find out which U.S city is crave-worthy for sophisticated, fun-loving travelers this year...
And that city is Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Set in the foothills beneath the dramatic jagged peaks of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Santa Fe is a city known for intense sunrises and sunsets. Although urban now, its pre-Columbian history of the Pueblo peoples living here draws history enthusiasts who can visit the evidence of their settlements. Moreover, the adobe architecture throughout the city harks to that history. Santa Fe is the nation's state oldest capital, founded in 1610. That history and culture can be found in the flavors of the city's cuisine and city skyline.
For those keeping tabs, the nations of Japan, Thailand, Mexico, Spain and Italy each had two cities on the list. And India boasts three!
The top 20 best cities in the world, according to Travel + Leisure:
1. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
2. Chiang Mai, Thailand
3. Tokyo, Japan
4. Bangkok, Thailand
5. Jaipur, India
6. Hoi An, Vietnam
7. Mexico City, Mexico
8. Kyoto, Japan
9. Ubud, Bali
10. Cuzco, Peru
11. Florence, Italy
12. Seville, Spain
13. Granada, Spain
14. Istanbul, Turkey
15. Siem Reap, Cambodia
16. Mumbai, India
17. Cape Town, South Africa
18. Rome, Italy
19. Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
20. Agra, India