The place Greenville ranks amongst Travel + Leisure’s 2026 prime U.S. cities

• Greenville, South Carolina, was ranked No. 10 in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards for prime U.S. cities.
• The annual awards are based mostly on reader votes for prime locations and journey experiences.
• The journal highlighted Greenville’s pure magnificence, culinary scene, and sights like Falls Park.
• Charleston, South Carolina, additionally made the listing, rating at No. 2.

For the second consecutive yr, Greenville has graced the Top 10 in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards, persevering with its streak as probably the most thrilling cities to go to within the U.S.

“There are many cute places in the Carolinas, but this one just might take the cake,” stated the journey journal, which ranked the south’s gem metropolis at No. 10. Charleston, the Holy City, additionally landed on the listing at No. 2.

The placement is 2 drops down from the place Greenville ranked final yr, however that did not cease Travel + Leisure from giving it the eye it deserves. Transplants who’ve uprooted from bigger cities in recent times have expressed their appreciation of Greenville for its pure magnificence, decrease value of dwelling, and small city really feel, with no regrets of settling down. Visitors who make the journey to the town additionally discover themselves shocked by the quantity of issues to do, as highlighted by Travel + Leisure.

Here’s what makes Greenville price exploring, in accordance with the journal, and the place different cities rank compared within the Top 10.

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

Travel + Leisure’s annual World’s Best Awards is a reader-voted rating of prime locations, together with airways, cruise strains, lodges, airports, and islands, amongst different journey experiences. In the journey trade, the outcomes are thought to be a trusted “best of” benchmarks, showing within the journal’s web site and summer time points.

Greenville ‘certainly one of Southeast’s most interesting small cities’

Survey rating: 83.03

The journal factors out that Greenville pulls guests in with Falls Park and Main Street’s surrounding retailers and culinary scene. Also, the close by Blue Ridge Mountains for hikers craving for journey.

Travel + Leisure’s Greenville point out lists off loads of issues to do whereas touring the town. Among the actions: exploring The Children’s Museum of the Upstate with household, trekking alongside the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail on bicycles, or socializing at nightlife scorching 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,” stated the journal.

Travel + Leisure recommends grabbing a chew from Lewis Barbecue, Jianna, Scoundrel, Soby’s, and Camp. Banana pudding and chocolate filth pie have been advisable for visitors with a candy tooth, which “provide a suitably indulgent finish.”

For a spot to relaxation for the night time, the journal steered checking in at Hotel Hartness, which ranked No. 1 lodge in Travel + Leisure’s 2024 World’s Best Awards. They additionally shouted out The Grand Bohemian Lodge ― amongst readers’ favourite lodges within the 2025 World’s Best Awards ― The Western Poinsett, and AC Hotel.

Travel + Leisure’s greatest locations to buy 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 information and schooling reporter for The Greenville News, a part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her through e mail at ntran@usatodayco.com.