CHICAGO – For the ninth yr in a row, Chicago has been topped the Best Big City in the United States by the Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards.
The 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards, based mostly on greater than 750,000 votes, as soon as once more acknowledged Chicago’s mixture of tradition, structure, eating, and hospitality.
The city was additionally named one of many friendliest in the world by the U.Okay. version of Condé Nast Traveller, the one U.S. city to earn that honor this yr.
What they’re saying:
Condé Nast praised the Windy City in its summation: “It’s no wonder Chicago tops this list yet again. A world-class destination known for its impressive architecture, first-rate museums, brilliant chefs, and massive brewing scene, it’ll take several repeat visits to get through your list of must-dos. Most people start downtown—from the Magnificent Mile to the ritzy Gold Coast to funky Old Town—but there are 77 neighborhoods to explore, where you’ll find cutting-edge restaurants, chilled-out corner bars, and, no matter where you go, some of the most pleasant people you’ll find anywhere.”
“This recognition is a testament to the people of Chicago—their welcoming spirit, creativity, and grit,” Mayor Brandon Johnson mentioned in a press release. “Chicago’s strength has always come from its residents, whose hard work and pride shine through in every neighborhood, restaurant, theater, and hotel across our city.”
Gov. JB Pritzker added that the popularity highlights Chicago’s “strength, resilience, and heart.”
Top big cities in the U.S.
Ranking:
Here are the highest big cities in the U.S., in accordance with the Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards:
10. Seattle
9. New York City
8. Columbus, Ohio
7. San Diego
6. Washington D.C.
5. New Orleans
4. Portland, Oregon
3. Milwaukee
2. San Francisco
1. Chicago
By the numbers:
Choose Chicago reported a record-breaking summer time for inns, with greater than 3.5 million rooms occupied from June by means of August—a 4.3% improve over 2024—and practically $950 million in income. Last yr, the city welcomed about 55 million guests, producing greater than $20 billion in financial influence and supporting over 130,000 native jobs.
The Source: The data in this report got here from Condé Nast Traveler and Choose Chicago.