New York City failed to crack the top five in Travel + Leisure’s annual ranking of the best U.S. cities, landing in eighth place despite its global reputation as one of the country’s premier travel destinations.

According to the magazine’s annual Best Cities awards, which are based on reader voting as part of its long-running World’s Best Awards, Santa Fe, New Mexico, claimed the No. 1 spot, while Charleston, South Carolina, finished second after topping last year’s list.

New York earned an overall score of 88.5, trailing several smaller destinations that readers praised for their charm, culture, and hospitality.

Santa Fe, home to just over 90,000 residents and nestled at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, was recognized for its thriving arts community, acclaimed food scene, and appeal as a year-round destination. The city is also known for its distinctive Pueblo-style architecture and historic central plaza.

The plaza, designated as a National Historic Landmark, continues to serve as a cultural and commercial center where local artisans display and sell handcrafted works.

The city is also home to the San Miguel Chapel, widely believed to be the oldest church in the United States.

The article jokingly noted, “(Presumably, votes were counted and travel completed before it was revealed that wild rats in Santa Fe country tested positive for the plague — just saying.)”

Charleston, which slipped one place to second, still received strong praise from readers and earned an overall score of 87.3.

Readers highlighted the South Carolina city’s “excellent restaurants,” “Southern hospitality,” and “beauty and history.”

Charleston has also continued attracting new residents. In 2025, it recorded the highest net migration per capita in the nation, gaining nearly 80 new residents for every 10,000 people already living there.

Southern destinations continued to dominate the rankings, with Savannah, Georgia, placing third and New Orleans finishing fourth.

Chicago ranked as the highest-rated large city, coming in fifth overall.

Travel + Leisure contrasted Chicago with New York, writing, “Chicago’s got something for everyone. It’s a big city that’s not quite as crowded and fast-paced as New York, but still filled with more things to do than you’ll have time,” the editors explained.

Fort Worth, Texas, claimed sixth place, followed by Honolulu in seventh, narrowly edging out New York by just 0.06 points.

Despite its ranking, the publication emphasized New York’s enduring appeal, stating, “Whatever it is you’re looking for, you can find it in New York.”

Even so, recent surveys suggest the city’s tourism image has weakened. One study found New York ranked second only to Las Vegas among destinations American travelers most regretted visiting, with 9% saying they wished they had skipped the trip.

Tourism has also yet to fully recover, with New York City still below its pre-pandemic visitor levels earlier this year.

Although it missed out on the top spot in the travel rankings, New York recently earned the title of America’s “most sinful” city, surpassing Las Vegas due to its abundance of nightlife venues and high number of sexually transmitted infection cases.

Travel + Leisure’s Top 10 U.S. Cities for 2026

1. Santa Fe, New Mexico
2. Charleston, South Carolina
3. Savannah, Georgia
4. New Orleans, Louisiana
5. Chicago, Illinois
6. Fort Worth, Texas
7. Honolulu, Hawaii
8. New York City
9. Alexandria, Virginia
10. Greenville, South Carolina