COLUMBUS, Ohio — Condé Nast Traveler announced today that Columbus has once again been ranked a top 10 Best Big City in the U.S. as part of its prestigious 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards. Columbus rose a rank from last year’s position and is now the #8 best big city in the U.S. “Ohio’s capital city is ready for its close up,” the article says. The city's culinary scene is spotlighted, from where to get the best burgers in town to the city’s international cuisines.
Columbus is recognized above Seattle (#10) and New York (#9). Rounding out the list is San Diego (#7), Washington, D.C. (#6), New Orleans (#5), Portland (#4), Milwaukee (#3), San Francisco (#2) and Chicago (#1).
Condé Nast Traveler received more than 757,000 survey responses from readers across the United States rating their travel experiences across the globe to offer a comprehensive look at the places they eagerly anticipate revisiting. The Readers' Choice Awards, with their unparalleled legacy as the travel industry's longest-running and most prestigious accolades from our readers, remain the ultimate symbol and acknowledgment of excellence within the travel sector. The full list of winners can be found here.
“We are thrilled to once again be on this prestigious list of the best big cities in the country,” said Sarah Townes, ECI, Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer at Experience Columbus and the Greater Columbus Sports Commission. “Being recognized alongside cities like Chicago, San Diego and Washington, D.C., is an incredible honor made even more significant as it was selected by readers. From our unique neighborhoods to our award-winning restaurants to the people and culture who make our city so special, we hope more people will discover our city because of this incredible honor.”
Columbus continues to earn national recognition. “TODAY” recently named Columbus one of the best road trips in the country to see fall foliage while Lonely Planet said Columbus was one of the seven best value destinations in the U.S. The city’s food scene was celebrated by Food & Wine, which named Columbus one of America’s Next Great Food Cities. In last year’s Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards in addition to being named a Top 10 Best Big City in the U.S. Columbus was recognized as one of the friendliest cities in the country and as having one of the best culinary scenes. View all of the latest headlines here.
The 2025 Readers' Choice Awards are published on Condé Nast Traveler's website at cntraveler.com/rca and celebrated in the November issue. To see why Columbus is making headlines and to start planning your next trip, visit www.experiencecolumbus.com.
About Columbus
Did you know Columbus is a top 10 best big city in the U.S. and one of the best food cities in the country according to Condé Nast Traveler, one of the top places to go in 2025 according to AFAR and one of the best solo trips for women in the U.S. and around the world by Glamour? Yes, Columbus. Columbus is bold, welcoming and forward-thinking. Home to world-class museums and attractions, historic and unique neighborhoods like the Short North Arts District, historic German Village and the Arena District — where four professional sports teams live on one street — Columbus has so much to offer. Visitors can learn what awaits in the 15th largest city in the country and Ohio’s capital by visiting www.ExperienceColumbus.com and following Experience Columbus on Instagram: @ExperienceColumbus, Facebook: @ExperienceColumbus, Threads: @ExperienceColumbus and TikTok: @ExperienceColumbus.
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Media Contacts:
Leah Berger, APR, ECI: lberger@experiencecolumbus.com | 614-222-6145
Cameron Walker, ECI: cwalker@experiencecolumbus.com | 610-389-6833
