Travel + Leisure's Top 15 Cities In The U.S.

Travel + Leisure just dropped their 2025 list of the top 15 cities in the U.S., based on nearly 180,000 reader votes—and I couldn’t help but notice how many of these overlap with short-term rental and lifestyle investing markets.

Here’s the full list:

1. Santa Fe, NM

2. New Orleans, LA

3. Charleston, SC

4. Savannah, GA

5. Alexandria, VA

6. Honolulu, HI

7. Greenville, SC

8. New York City, NY

9. Nashville, TN

10. Chicago, IL

11. Boston, MA

12. Asheville, NC

13. Williamsburg, VA

14. Austin, TX

15. San Antonio, TX

Santa Fe took the top spot this year, ending Charleston’s 12-year run at #1. Readers praised its arts scene, weather, and charm. New Orleans and Savannah also ranked high for their food and walkability, while cities like Asheville, Austin, and Nashville continue to attract people for lifestyle and tourism reasons.

From an investor lens, several of these cities have strong short-term rental potential or are already popular STR hubs. Others, like Alexandria or Williamsburg, might fly more under the radar but offer proximity to major metros and unique tourism draws.

I’m curious—are any of you investing in these markets? Have you seen Travel + Leisure’s rankings line up with actual guest demand or market performance? Are these types of “best cities” lists something you track when choosing where to invest?