20 Best American Cities to Visit, and Why You’ll Love Each One
Like many Americans, I’ve spent way too much time in the car throughout my life. I drove from New Jersey to St. Louis twice a year during my university days, then clocked in tens of thousands of miles during two years of van life.
I’ve seen all the major big-name US cities at this point, but some of the most memorable are still totally underrated. Nashville, with its crazy fun honky-tonks, always made me wonder why more people weren’t talking about it. And I always tell people to visit New Orleans if they’re coming to the US for the first time.
From the art deco streets of Miami to the Spanish moss-covered streets of Savannah, here are the best American cities to visit that each want to make you stay just a little longer.
1. New Orleans, Louisiana
Best known for its wild stories from the legendary annual festival, Mardi Gras, New Orleans is America’s most cultural city. Yes, the city sees its fair share of drunk tourists and economic trouble, but it’s also the only place I see with jazz spilling out of French Quarter clubs and unique Cajun and Creole cuisine you can only find here.
Grab a beignet from Café du Monde, lose yourself in the Garden District’s historic mansions, and my must, the charbroiled oysters from Drago’s. I also checked off my long-awaited bucket list item here for joining an alligator swamp tour on an airboat.
With its uncomfortably humid summers and hordes of mosquitos, fall and early spring are really the more manageable times to visit.
2. Las Vegas, Nevada
Where else can you get serenaded by Elvis, see a Cirque du Soleil show, and zipline through a neon-lit casino mall all in one day? Much of Vegas is slot machines and sequined showgirls, but you become a hub for celebrity chef restaurants, jaw-dropping residencies, and art installations that feel like they were imported from another dimension.
Take a break from the Strip to visit the mind-bending Area 15 or the artsy district of 18B. With incredible day trips like Red Rock Canyon or some of the Southwest’s most iconic national parks relatively near, rent a car to explore beyond Vegas city limits.
3. New York City, New York
If there’s a city that needs no introduction, it’s New York. You’ve seen it in movies and read about it in books. The iconic Broadway plays and the view from the Empire State Building are some of America’s greatest hits of culture.
Every other block seems to have a pizza joint or a deli shop that claims to be the best in the world. Stroll through Central Park, hit a late-night comedy show in the Village, and remember that even if you lived here your entire life, you’d never see it all.
4. Washington, DC
Washington, DC, is home to iconic landmarks like the National Mall, the White House, and the Capitol Building. The Smithsonian museums are free, which means you can casually pop into the National Gallery to see a Rothko, then head to the National Zoo to see the pandas.
Beyond the marble monuments and government buildings, there’s a thriving arts scene in places like the U Street Corridor and Shaw.
Spring is a particularly popular time to visit, as the cherry blossoms draw crowds to the Tidal Basin.
5. Nashville, Tennessee
If you know anything about Nashville, it is probably for its reputation as the capital of country music. Lower Broadway is known for its honky-tonk bars and live music, while East Nashville showcases a growing food and arts scene.
The city also offers Civil War history tours and the Parthenon, a full-scale replica of the Greek original. Although not as well-known as its southern neighbors, Tennessee has some of the country’s best BBQ and hot chicken.
6. Miami, Florida
If you haven’t partied in Miami, have you really experienced Florida? Miami offers a combination of very fun (albeit pricey) nightlife, beautiful beaches, and incredibly diverse cultural influences.
The city is home to a large Cuban population, and you can experience their culture through food and music in the Little Havana neighborhood.
South Beach is all Art Deco hotels and rollerbladers with six-pack abs, while Wynwood’s street art scene is a technicolor dreamscape of murals by world-renowned artists. The city also serves as a major port for cruise ships and a gateway to the Everglades.
7. San Francisco, California
San Francisco might be a pricey place, but those fog-draped hills and cable car views make it a distinctively scenic city. It’s the city that gave the world sourdough, Summer of Love nostalgia, and more tech billionaires than anyone can keep track of.
Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge, eat your weight in the dim sum in Chinatown, and find out what life was like for the prisoners of Alcatraz. Go tour the Muir Woods if you’ve never seen skyscraper tall trees before.
“Karl,” the fog persists year-round, but the best time to visit is early fall, you’ll likely have days when the city’s signature fog lifts and temperatures are mild.
8. Los Angeles, California
Everyone’s got a version of LA they love to hate, and I, for one, wouldn’t say I loved this city until I lived in it. But if you know where to look, this city is pure magic.
Cruise down Sunset Boulevard like you’re in a Lana Del Rey song, then grab tacos from a back alley truck. Hike up to the Griffith Observatory for a view of the city that includes both the Hollywood sign and the inevitable traffic jam on the 101.
Beyond its film-centric appeal, LA has a thriving health food scene, world-class museums like Broad (which is free), and the ability to ogle at the muscle men and pro skateboarders on Venice Beach.
9. Austin, Texas
There’s a reason why Austin is one of the fastest-growing cities. This Texas capital has become a cultural hub for music, food, and technology.
Known as the “Live Music Capital of the World,” this city boasts live performances on every corner and hosts major festivals like South by Southwest (SXSW) and Austin City Limits. The food scene is also top-notch, with its famous BBQ joints and delicious eclectic food trucks.
Lady Bird Lake is perfect for paddle boarding, the Congress Avenue Bridge hosts a nightly bat show, and Rainey Street is a bar district made up of old houses that somehow became the coolest place in town.
10. Seattle, Washington
Seattle is synonymous with coffee and rain, but on those rare sunny days, the city’s got a creative streak that birthed the grunge music scene and Amazon tech bros to the wazoo.
Pike Place Market is still a tourist trap, but it’s one with flying fish, world-class cheese, and the original Starbucks that’s perpetually mobbed. After contributing your own piece of gum on Gum Alley, head up to Kerry Park and watch the sun set behind the Space Needle.
Beyond the urban core, you can drive to three national parks for a long day trip and many nearby mountains and waterways for a day in nature.
11. Savannah, Georgia
Savannah’s historic district, with its cobblestone streets and Spanish moss-draped trees, draws visitors seeking to feel like a Southern belle in a gothic romance.
The historic district is packed with antebellum mansions and ancient oak trees draped in Spanish moss. Forsyth Park, the waterfront, and the historic homes are all major points of interest. The city also has a reputation for its haunted history, making ghost tours a popular evening activity.
12. Chicago, Illinois
Join the deep-dish vs. thin-crust debate after taking that classic photo under Millennium Park’s Cloud Gate (a.k.a. The Bean).
Chicago’s skyline is a masterclass in architecture, with the Willis Tower looming over the lakefront to the historic skyscrapers along the Chicago River.
The city’s cultural scene includes world-renowned museums like the Art Institute of Chicago and music venues in the Pilsen and Wicker Park neighborhoods.
13. Boston, Massachusetts
When it’s not the dead of the winter, Boston’s colonial urban design makes it one of the most beautiful cities in the country.
Its Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile walking route that passes key Revolutionary War sites. The city also has a strong academic reputation, with Harvard and MIT nearby with the number of college kids outnumbering tourists by about a million to one.
Sports are a major draw, with Fenway Park hosting Red Sox games and the Boston Marathon attracting runners from around the globe.
14. Denver, Colorado
Denver’s proximity to the Rockies makes it a top destination for outdoor enthusiasts. In the winter, the city is a gateway to some of the country’s best skiing and snowboarding. During warmer months, Red Rocks Amphitheatre hosts concerts in a stunning natural backdrop.
Larimer Square is packed with historic brick buildings and food that’s way fancier than anything you’d expect to find in a former mining town. The River North Art District (RiNo) has also become a hub for art, breweries, and live music.
15. San Diego, California
San Diego is like LA’s chiller little sibling. People visit and immediately want to live there. The beaches are wide, and the weather is pretty much a constant 72 degrees and sunny.
Head to Balboa Park for museums that range from world-class art to vintage planes, then go to La Jolla Cove to spy on sea lions from only 10 feet away.
If you’ve still got energy after all that, the Gaslamp Quarter is waiting to keep you out way past your bedtime.
16. Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe’s adobe architecture and art galleries make it one of the country’s most distinctive cities. The city has more art galleries than most cities have coffee shops, and a still strong Native American influence.
The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum and Canyon Road draw artsy folk, while the nearby Sangre de Cristo Mountains attract hikers. The city’s culinary scene is heavily influenced by its Native American and Mexican roots, with green and red chile featuring prominently in local dishes.
Meow Wolf’s House of Eternal Return is an immersive art experience that’s part haunted house, part acid trip, and 100 percent worth it.
17. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
As the famous historical city where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution was signed, Philadelphia is known as the birthplace of the United States. It’s also known for its cheesesteak sandwiches, soft pretzels, and passionate sports fans.
Philadelphia’s historic district includes Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, which are part of the UNESCO World Heritage site. The city’s art scene extends to public spaces, with murals and sculptures decorating neighborhoods. Reading Terminal Market has been serving locals and tourists since 1893 and remains a top spot for sampling regional specialties.
18. Phoenix, Arizona
As one of the sunniest cities in the nation, Phoenix is integrated with its desert landscapes. I’ve never experienced a city hike quite like Piestewa Peak, where the twinkling city lights stretch below and the stars shimmer above.
The desert landscape is wild in the best way, from the otherworldly rock formations at Papago Park to the endless cacti at the Desert Botanical Garden. Phoenix’s arts scene is on the rise, and Roosevelt Row is packed with galleries and murals that pop with color against the brown and tan of the desert.
And if you think the only good time to visit is winter, try catching a sunset during monsoon season—it’s like someone set the sky on fire.
19. Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City surprised me. Because of its more religious Mormon residents, you may not be able to buy alcohol during certain hours, but the city is amazing if you’re into the outdoors.
In the winter, 13 ski resorts are less than an hour from downtown, while summer offers endless hiking and camping opportunities in the nearby mountains.
The Great Salt Lake is so salty that you can literally float without even trying, and in some places, it is bright pink. Hiking to Fifth Water Hot Springs in Diamond Fork Canyon is also a must.
20. San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio’s more than just the Alamo, though yes, you should probably go see it (especially since it’s way smaller than you’d expect). The River Walk is basically one long Instagram feed of bridges, boat tours, and margaritas, and the Pearl District has turned a historic brewery into a hub for foodies.
On the city’s south side, the San Antonio Missions are a UNESCO World Heritage Site that you can bike through one by one on the River Walk Trail.
Catherine, a seasoned travel writer, has lived in 4 different states and explored 36 states and 28 national parks. After spending two years embracing van life, she's now dedicated to sharing her vast knowledge of day trips across America. Catherine's other works has been referenced in major publications like MSN, Self, and TripSavvy.
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