Columbus Ranks in America’s Top 10 Best Big Cities

Columbus is a hot commodity this year.
In Condé Nast Traveler’s 38th annual Readers’ Choice Awards, the capital city landed at No. 8 on the list of top large cities in the country. This ranking put the 614 ahead of major destinations like New York City and Seattle.
MORE: Columbus Featured on “The Today Show”, Best Fall Destination
More than 757,000 readers voted in this year’s survey, praising Columbus for its dynamic food scene, global influences, and its burger legacy. The magazine noted that the city’s dining options “draw visitors from far and wide,” spotlighting everything from Himalayan cuisine to the famous sandwiches at The Thurman Café and the beet-and-bean veggie burgers at Northstar Café.
“Columbus has long been lauded for its burgers—it was here, after all, that Wendy’s first got its start,” Condé Nast Traveler wrote.
This marks Columbus’ second consecutive year on the list, moving up from No. 9 in 2023. Chicago claimed the top spot for its “impressive architecture, first-rate museums, brilliant chefs, and massive brewing scene.”
Here’s the full top 10 list from Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards:
- Chicago
- San Francisco
- Milwaukee
- Portland, Oregon
- New Orleans
- Washington, D.C.
- San Diego
- Columbus
- New York City
- Seattle
The full rankings are available on Condé Nast Traveler’s website.
- Richard Smallwood’s Celebration of Life
- A Century Of Black Political Wins: Landmark Elections, Laws, And Firsts
- The Power Of Black Media: 100 Years Of Telling Our Own Stories
- 20 Unsolved Cleveland Murders That Still Haunt the City
- Sybil Wilkes Breaks Down What We Need to Know: January 22, 2026
- Become Unstoppable | Dr. Willie Jolley
- Sybil Wilkes Breaks Down What We Need to Know: January 21, 2026
- Fueling My Faith and Why I Refuse to Run on Empty | Faith Walk
- Think And Grow Richer…And Richer | Dr. Willie Jolley
- Judge Won’t Block DHS Policy Limiting Congress’s Ability To Oversee ICE
Columbus Ranks in America’s Top 10 Best Big Cities was originally published on mycolumbusmagic.com
