For the First Time, Santa Fe Named Best City in the U.S. and Páros, Greece Ranked No. 1 Island in the World
NEW YORK, July 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Travel + Leisure unveils the results of its 2025 World's Best Awards, honoring top destinations, hotels, airlines, cruise lines, and travel experiences as rated by its global audience. Now in its 30th year, the annual readers' survey offers a snapshot of how and where people are traveling today, reflecting both long-standing favorites and emerging trends across the industry.
The full list of winners is available now on travelandleisure.com and in the August issue of Travel + Leisure, on newsstands July 18.
For the first time in 12 years, a new city has claimed the title of Best U.S. City, with Santa Fe, New Mexico taking the top spot. Mount Desert Island, Maine returned to the No. 1 position as Best U.S. Island, a title it last held in 2010. Páros, Greece, having steadily climbed the rankings in recent years, earned the distinction of Best Island in the World for the first time. This year, readers showed a clear passion for destinations rich in history and character, from the cobbled streets of Québec City to the cultural depth of Chiang Mai, Thailand, which won Best City in Asia.
"This year's results reflect a travel landscape in motion," said Travel + Leisure Editor in Chief Jacqui Gifford. "From a high-desert city in the American Southwest to a quiet Greek island, our readers are seeking depth, character, and a strong sense of place. We're thrilled to honor the hotels, destinations, and travel companies that are delivering those transformative experiences."
Below are select highlights from this year's World's Best Awards rankings, with expanded lists and content available online.
TOP 10 WORLD'S BEST CITIES 2025:
- San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
- Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Tokyo, Japan
- Bangkok, Thailand
- Jaipur, India
- Hoi An, Vietnam
- Mexico City, Mexico
- Kyoto, Japan
- Ubud, Bali
- Cuzco, Peru
TOP 10 U.S. CITIES 2025:
- Santa Fe, New Mexico
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Savannah, Georgia
- Alexandria, Virginia
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Greenville, South Carolina
- New York, New York
- Asheville, North Carolina
- Chicago, Illinois
TRAVEL + LEISURE WORLD'S BEST AWARDS 2025 WINNER HIGHLIGHTS:
WORLD'S BEST CITY: San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
WORLD'S BEST HOTEL: andBeyond Bateleur Camp, Kenya
WORLD'S BEST HOTEL BRAND: Capella Hotels & Resorts
WORLD'S BEST ISLAND: Páros, Greece
WORLD'S BEST U.S. CITY: Santa Fe, New Mexico
WORLD'S BEST U.S. ISLAND: Mount Desert Island, Maine
WORLD'S BEST U.S. NATIONAL PARK: Yellowstone
WORLD'S BEST CAR RENTAL COMPANY: National
WORLD'S BEST TRAIN: Rocky Mountaineer
WORLD'S BEST INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE: Singapore Airlines
WORLD'S BEST DOMESTIC AIRLINE: JSX
WORLD'S BEST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT: Istanbul Airport, Turkey
WORLD'S BEST DOMESTIC AIRPORT: T. F. Green International Airport, Rhode Island
WORLD'S BEST MEGA-SHIP OCEAN CRUISE LINE: Virgin Voyages
WORLD'S BEST LARGE-SHIP OCEAN CRUISE LINE: Disney Cruise Line
WORLD'S BEST MIDSIZE-SHIP OCEAN CRUISE LINE: Crystal
WORLD'S BEST SMALL-SHIP OCEAN CRUISE LINE: Viking
WORLD'S BEST INTIMATE-SHIP OCEAN CRUISE LINE: Quasar Expeditions
WORLD'S BEST RIVER CRUISE LINE: The Oberoi Luxury Cruise Line
WORLD'S BEST TOUR OPERATOR: Artisans of Leisure
WORLD'S BEST SAFARI OPERATOR: Travel Beyond
Travel + Leisure Editor in Chief Jacqui Gifford will host a World's Best Awards celebration at Le Jardin sur Madison in New York City in honor of this year's winners. The event is sponsored by Capital One.
In mid-July, Travel + Leisure will host the second annual World's Best Summit, bringing together industry leaders for an immersive look at the trends shaping the future of global travel.
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SOURCE Dotdash Meredith
