These are the 10 best cities in the US according to travel expert — with a shocker No. 1 pick

America is home to some incredible places — and one travel expert just shared their top 10 favorite cities in the country.

According to travel writer Hannah Summers, Detroit, Michigan, is the — shocking — No. 1 pick. The Midwest city’s recent resurgence helped it earn the list’s top spot.

“The revamp and official reopening in 2024 of the once glamorous, then derelict Michigan Central Station symbolised a new era for the birthplace of Motown music,” she wrote in a story for the Times.

“But there had been signs of change and renewal for decades, with fresh, independent restaurants and great community initiatives: the city has a true entrepreneurial spirit.”

San Diego, California, came in second place for her, and unsurprisingly, the vibrant city of Miami, Florida, rounded out the top three. “There’s one city in the US that I urge everyone who loves beaches to visit — Miami. It’s a place that has it all,” she wrote about the popular tourist spot.

A head-scratching choice is Providence, Rhode Island, which came in fourth place.

Summers described it as an “under-the-radar” city that isn’t as well-known as Boston, which is an hour’s drive south, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a top-tier city.

The writer raved about the Rhode Island city’s food scene — which is filled with up-and-coming “big-name chefs,” mom and pop donut shops and “old-school Italian delis in the Federal Hill neighbourhood.”

The Big Apple did make the list, but sadly, further down, earning the eighth place slot.

She mentioned the touristy spots like Central Park and Times Square — “But there are plenty of other great ways to see the city, from kayaking along the Hudson River to joining an afternoon sailing trip (book via Airbnb Experiences), tacking past the Statue of Liberty.”

Plus, she gave a shoutout to some of the boroughs.

Denver, Colorado, came in last on the list.

Summers mentioned how it’s one of the “most liveable cities in the US” complete with antique shops, food balls, and “excellent museums such as the Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art and the kid-friendly Denver Museum of Nature & Science.”

Here are the top 10 best cities in the US

1. Detroit

2. San Diego

3. Miami

4. Providence

5. Austin

6. Scottsdale

7. New Orleans

8. New York City

9. Savannah

10. Denver

When it comes to where the happiest cities in the world are — that list might be even more of a shocker.

Copenhagen, Denmark, was named the happiest city in the world in 2025 by the Institute for Quality of Life.

Surprising news for New Yorkers — and probably the rest of the country — is that the Big Apple was ranked No.1 as the so-called happiest city in the US.

Year after year, the Institute ranks cities committed to “cultivating and growing happiness,” according to their site.