These are the 10 best cities in the US according to travel expert — with a shocker No. 1 pick

America is location to immoderate unthinkable places — and 1 recreation master conscionable shared their apical 10 favorite cities successful nan country.

According to recreation writer Hannah Summers, Detroit, Michigan, is nan — shocking — No. 1 pick. The Midwest city’s caller resurgence helped it gain nan list’s apical spot.

“The revamp and charismatic reopening successful 2024 of nan erstwhile glamorous, past derelict Michigan Central Station symbolised a caller era for nan birthplace of Motown music,” she wrote successful a communicative for nan Times.

“But location had been signs of alteration and renewal for decades, pinch fresh, independent restaurants and awesome organization initiatives: nan metropolis has a existent entrepreneurial spirit.”

San Diego, California, came successful 2nd spot for her, and unsurprisingly, nan vibrant metropolis of Miami, Florida, rounded retired nan apical three. “There’s 1 metropolis successful nan US that I impulse everyone who loves beaches to sojourn — Miami. It’s a spot that has it all,” she wrote astir nan celebrated tourer spot.

The vibrant metropolis of Miami, Florida, made nan apical three. REUTERS

A head-scratching prime is Providence, Rhode Island, which came successful 4th place.

Summers described it arsenic an “under-the-radar” metropolis that isn’t arsenic well-known arsenic Boston, which is an hour’s thrust south, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a top-tier city.

The writer raved astir nan Rhode Island city’s nutrient segment — which is filled pinch up-and-coming “big-name chefs,” mom and popular donut shops and “old-school Italian delis successful nan Federal Hill neighbourhood.”

The Big Apple did make nan list, but sadly, further down, earning nan eighth spot slot.

She mentioned nan touristy spots for illustration Central Park and Times Square — “But location are plentifulness of different awesome ways to spot nan city, from kayaking on nan Hudson River to joining an day sailing travel (book via Airbnb Experiences), tacking past nan Statue of Liberty.”

Plus, she gave a shoutout to immoderate of nan boroughs.

NYC came successful eighth place. Christopher Sadowski

Denver, Colorado, came successful past connected nan list.

Summers mentioned really it’s 1 of nan “most liveable cities successful nan US” complete pinch ancient shops, nutrient balls, and “excellent museums specified arsenic nan Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art and nan kid-friendly Denver Museum of Nature & Science.”

Here are nan apical 10 champion cities successful nan US

1. Detroit

2. San Diego

3. Miami

4. Providence

5. Austin

6. Scottsdale

7. New Orleans

8. New York City

9. Savannah

10. Denver

When it comes to wherever nan happiest cities successful nan world are — that database mightiness beryllium moreover much of a shocker.

Copenhagen, Denmark, was named nan happiest metropolis successful the world in 2025 by nan Institute for Quality of Life.

Surprising news for New Yorkers — and astir apt nan remainder of nan state — is that nan Big Apple was classed No.1 arsenic nan alleged happiest metropolis successful nan US.

Year aft year, nan Institute ranks cities committed to “cultivating and increasing happiness,” according to their site.