Chicago tops list of best U.S. cities for visitors for eighth consecutive year
ByPawan Naidu
Chicago has been named the best “Big City in the U.S.” for the eighth consecutive year by a luxury travel magazine.
The city was voted the No. 1 city by readers of Condé Nast Traveler for its annual Readers' Choice Awards. More than 500,000 readers selected Chicago as their top U.S. city, slightly down from last year's over 520,000 voters.
"Chicago's historic eighth consecutive win of this award reflects the rich diversity of culture, culinary innovation and experiences our city offers," Gov. JB Pritzker said in a statement. "The rest of the world is catching on to the fact that there's truly no more dynamic destination in America than right here.”
During the summer season, Chicago welcomed over 671,000 international visitors, an 11% increase compared with 2023. Notably, summer visits from Canadians saw a 21% increase. Turnout for marquee events like the Democratic National Convention, Lollapalooza, and the return of the NASCAR Chicago Street Race contributed to the city surpassing last year’s hotel booking totals, Choose Chicago said.
"Chicagoans know that our city is second to none," Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a statement. “And now we have yet another incredible accolade to prove it. This honor is a testament to the strength, warmth and resilience of Chicagoans and the beauty and vibrancy of our neighborhoods."
Condé Nast Traveler has been ranking U.S. cities for 37 years, making it the longest-running recognition of excellence in the travel industry. Chicago has been named Best Big City in the U.S. every year since 2017, more than any other city in the history of the award.