This SC travel spot ranks No. 1 in nation. Why it ‘punches well above its weight’
A South Carolina destination is smaller in size — but it makes a big mark.
So much so, it again was named the nation’s best small city to visit, according to results published Tuesday, Oct. 7.
Charleston ranked No. 1 as Condé Nast Traveler said the popular tourist spot “punches well above its weight.”
To determine the places visitors love the most, the magazine conducted an online survey. From April through June, it collected more than 750,000 votes as people rated their favorite destinations across the country.
“Candidates are judged on a set of criteria relevant to their category, based on a standard five-point scale converted to a percentage: excellent, very good, good, fair, and poor,” the magazine wrote on its website.
Why Charleston, SC, ranks No. 1 for travel
In the resulting Readers’ Choice Awards, Charleston was crowned the winner for at least the third year in a row. This time around, Condé Nast Traveler gave the city nods for packing waterfront views, cobblestone streets and other scenery into a smaller footprint.
“When you consider everything it has to offer — history, culture, food, charm — it’s no wonder the so-called Holy City has repeatedly topped our list of the best small cities in the US,” the magazine wrote in its report. “While its robust food scene, which includes a steady annual circuit of nationally recognized food and culture festivals, continues to be a draw, visitors are rarely prepared for the city’s good looks.”
Charleston — home to roughly 150,000 people — is the most populous place in South Carolina. In 2023, the magazine told McClatchy News it defined small cities as those with fewer than 350,000 residents.
Charleston is no stranger to being recognized as a fan-favorite destination, having ranked on similar travel lists. But after reigning as Travel + Leisure’s top vacation spot for more than a decade, the city fell to No. 3 in the magazine’s rankings this year, McClatchy News reported in July.
On the latest list from Condé Nast Traveler, Chicago ranked No. 1 among big U.S. cities. After Charleston, here are the other smaller destinations that rounded out the top five:
- Santa Fe, New Mexico, at No. 2
- Alexandria, Virginia, at No. 3
- St. Augustine, Florida, at No. 4
- San Juan, Puerto Rico, at No. 5
Condé Nast Traveler didn’t immediately share additional information about the list with McClatchy News on Oct. 8.
