This Is the Most Beautiful City in the U.S., According to Travelers

Travel + Leisure

2 days ago

In June, one Reddit user posed a simple question to the r/notravelpics subreddit: What's the most beautiful city in the U.S.? Travelers, locals, and city lovers alike soon chimed in with their personal favorites. And though the answers spanned the map, one city climbed to the top: Seattle, a city Reddit travelers loved for snow-capped peaks and ocean views.
The city, which was called out by user u/KingsElite, was determined to be the 'best' answer based on the Reddit algorithm, which considers the ratio of upvotes to downvotes to identify comments with a high likelihood of being "good" and backed by a large number of people. Another Reddit user said they, 'second Seattle. Nothing better than a clear sunny day when the water is sparkling and the mountain is out." Another added that they find themselves "suggesting it to people all the time because it flies under the radar of places to visit, but there's so much to see, do, and eat!'
The proximity to both the ocean and the mountains was a big draw for people, and another user noted how it's a short drive from "beautiful outdoor places."
Following Seattle on the 'best' ranking was a post by u/Myfury2024 that highlighted two smaller cities and two larger cities. The comment stated that the best small cities were Savannah, Georgia, and St. Augustine, Florida, and the best large cities were Washington, D.C., and the 'city center of Chicago.' While it wasn't the top comment in the thread, it had the most upvotes—and an overwhelming number of Redditors backed Washington, D.C.,
"Very ideal city to live in, and an amazing city to visit," a user wrote. "Walkable, decent public transit, tons and tons of free activities catered to most interests, great green spaces, great architecture and city feel, distinct neighborhoods, diverse, amazing and diverse food options, good nightlife, and way more social and easy to make friends than most cities.'
Other popular cities on the thread included Honolulu, where one person noted that you can hike and swim in waterfalls located within city limits. San Francisco also made an appearance in the discussion, and another user noted its 'scenic views, natural beauty, unique architecture, the ocean and bay, and hills.'
While beauty is famously in the eye of the beholder, this Reddit thread offers a compelling snapshot of what travelers value most in a city: natural landscapes, vibrant neighborhoods, and access to outdoor adventure without sacrificing cultural depth. Whether it's the evergreen drama of Seattle, the walkable charm of D.C., or the waterfall-lined trails of Honolulu, each city named in the thread offers its version of beauty—and plenty of reasons to visit.