Greenville named one in every of CNN Travel’s America’s Best Towns in 2026

• Greenville is the primary South Carolina metropolis to be included on CNN’s America’s Best Towns to Visit checklist.
• The metropolis is acknowledged for its vibrant downtown and a booming culinary scene.

CNN Travel named Greenville one in every of America’s Best Towns to Visit in 2026, calling it a “50‑year overnight success story.”

The Upstate metropolis ranked No. 3 nationwide and earned reward for its transformation from a quiet textile hub right into a thriving culinary and inventive vacation spot, according to CNN’s America’s Best Towns to visit list.

“It’s a scene that many American towns are starving for — a return to the vibrant street life that died in the second half of the 20th century as downtowns hollowed out with the growth of the suburbs and their air-conditioned shopping malls,” the CNN Travel article on Greenville learn.

The community produces its “America’s Best Towns to Visit” checklist as a part of its journey journalism mission to focus on locations that mix tradition, meals, historical past and way of life enchantment.

In 2025, CNN Travel’s “America’s Best Towns to Visit” checklist did not embody any South Carolina cities. Greenville’s recognition in the 2026 rating marked the first time a South Carolina metropolis appeared on CNN’s checklist.

What to do in Greenville

CNN Travel highlighted downtown Greenville for the walkable streets, native companies and cultural points of interest, whereas mentioning a number of the metropolis’s principal areas, like:

Falls Park on the Reedy: 601 S. Main St.

• Stroll alongside landscaped gardens and riverfront paths.
• Picnic by the waterfalls or loosen up on the grassy amphitheater.
• Attend outside live shows, festivals, or group occasions hosted within the park.

The Liberty Bridge: 601 S Main St inside Falls Park

• Walk throughout the enduring suspension bridge for panoramic views of Reedy River Falls.
• Take photographs of Greenville’s skyline and pure surroundings.
• Use it as a scenic entry level into downtown’s retailers, eating places, and galleries.

The Swamp Rabbit Trail: Trailhead at 320 S Hudson St

• Bike, jog, or stroll alongside the 22‑mile multi‑use greenway connecting Greenville to Travelers Rest.
• Stop at cafés, breweries, and native markets alongside the path.
• Enjoy household outings with easy accessibility to parks, playgrounds, and shaded paths.

Greenville’s culinary scene grows

Greenville’s culinary rise contains the historic achievement of Scoundrel, positioned at 18 N. Main St., an upscale French brasserie led by native chef Joe Cash, gained the town’s first Michelin Star, in line with CNN’s America’s Best Towns to Visit list.

Additionally, native staples have been named that add to the town’s numerous meals scene, from home-cooked meals at Aryana Afghan Cuisine, located at 210 E. Coffee St., to Pomegranate, a Persian restaurant located at 618 S. Main St., and the Pita House, a restaurant that focuses on Middle Eastern dishes positioned at 495 S. Pleasantburg Dr.

CNN’s America’s Best Towns List 2026

Here’s the complete high 10 checklist CNN featured in its checklist.

1. Sarasota, Florida
2. New Haven, Connecticut
3. Greenville
4. Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
5. Fort Collins, Colorado
6. Burlington, Vermont
7. Eureka Springs, Arkansas
8. Traverse City, Michigan
9. Taos, New Mexico
10. Galena, Illinois

Travis Jacque Rose is the trending information reporter for the Greenville News, a part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at trose@gannett.com.