Greenville in Travel + Leisure’s Top 10 U.S. cities for second year

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Greenville in Travel + Leisure’s Top 10 U.S. cities for second year

Nina TranGreenville News
July 27, 2026, 5:03 a.m. ET

• Greenville, South Carolina, was ranked No. 10 in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards for top U.S. cities.
• The annual awards are based on reader votes for top destinations and travel experiences.
• The magazine highlighted Greenville’s natural beauty, culinary scene, and attractions like Falls Park.
• Charleston, South Carolina, also made the list, ranking at No. 2.

For the second consecutive year, Greenville has graced the Top 10 in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards, continuing its streak as one of the most exciting cities to visit in the U.S

“There are many cute places in the Carolinas, but this one just might take the cake,” said the travel magazine, which ranked the south’s gem city at No. 10. Charleston, the Holy City, also landed on the list at No. 2

The placement is two drops down from where Greenville ranked last year, but that didn’t stop Travel + Leisure from giving it the attention it deserves. Transplants who have uprooted from larger cities in recent years have expressed their appreciation of Greenville for its natural beauty, lower cost of living, and small town feel, with no regrets of settling down. Visitors who make the journey to the city also find themselves surprised by the amount of things to do, as highlighted by Travel + Leisure.

Here’s what makes Greenville worth exploring, according to the magazine, and where other cities rank in comparison in the Top 10

What is Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards?

Travel + Leisure’s annual World’s Best Awards is a reader-voted ranking of top destinations, including airlines, cruise lines, hotels, airports, and islands, among other travel experiences. In the travel industry, the results are regarded as a trusted “best of” benchmarks, appearing in the magazine’s website and summer issues

Greenville ‘one of Southeast’s most appealing small cities’

The magazine points out that Greenville pulls visitors in with Falls Park and Main Street’s surrounding shops and culinary scene. Also, the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains for hikers yearning for adventure

Travel + Leisure’s Greenville mention lists off plenty of things to do while touring the city. Among the activities: exploring The Children’s Museum of the Upstate with family, trekking along the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail on bicycles, or socializing at nightlife hot spots like Group Therapy and Up on the Roof

“The rooftop bar blends indoor lounge space with an open-air terrace and is especially popular at sunset, thanks to sweeping views of downtown and the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance,” said the magazine

Travel + Leisure recommends grabbing a bite from Lewis Barbecue, Jianna, Scoundrel, Soby’s, and Camp. Banana pudding and chocolate dirt pie were recommended for guests with a sweet tooth, which “provide a suitably indulgent finish.”

For a place to rest for the night, the magazine suggested checking in at Hotel Hartness, which ranked No. 1 hotel in Travel + Leisure’s 2024 World’s Best Awards. They also shouted out The Grand Bohemian Lodge ― among readers’ favorite hotels in the 2025 World’s Best Awards ― The Western Poinsett, and AC Hotel

Travel + Leisure’s best places to shop in Greenville

• Mast General Store
• Greenville Soy Candle Co.
• O.P. Taylors
• Augusta Twenty Boutique + A20 Market Coffee Shop
• M. Judson Booksellers

Travel + Leisure’s Top 10 U.S. cities of 2026 and scores

1. Santa Fe, New Mexico (88. 85)
2. Charleston, South Carolina (87.30)
3. Savannah, Georgia (87.17)
4. New Orleans, Louisiana (86.44)
5. Chicago, Illinois (83.97)
6. Fort Worth, Texas (83.70)
7. Honolulu, Hawaii (83.66)
8. New York, New York (83.60)
9. Alexandria, Virginia (85.53)
10. Greenville (83.03)

Travel + Leisure’s Top 10 World’s Best cities of 2026

1. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
2. Kyoto, Japan
3. Chiang Mai, Thailand
4. Hoi An, Vietnam
5. Oaxaca, Mexico
6. Bangkok, Thailand
7. Jerusalem, Israel
8. Siem Reap, Cambodia
9. Mexico City, Mexico
10. Tokyo, Japan

Nina Tran is the breaking news and education reporter for The Greenville News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her