New Orleans, Louisiana, has once again earned national recognition, this time by securing the number two spot on Travel + Leisure’s 2025 list of the best travel destinations in the United States, as per this article from The Shreveport Times. Each year, the magazine’s World’s Best Awards survey gathers input from readers around the globe, inviting them to rank their favorite destinations based on a range of criteria. For this particular category, readers evaluated cities according to walkability, cultural richness, historic significance, and the overall quality of the culinary experience.
Topping the list this year was Santa Fe, New Mexico, with New Orleans trailing close behind in second place. Readers overwhelmingly praised the Crescent City for its legendary food culture, which remains deeply rooted in its diverse heritage. According to the survey results, what truly set New Orleans apart was its vibrant and distinctive culinary scene, where bold flavors and multicultural traditions converge in unforgettable dishes.
As Travel + Leisure highlighted, the essence of New Orleans cuisine lies in the harmonious blend of Cajun and Creole influences. Creole cooking draws from French, Spanish, West African, and Native American traditions, resulting in iconic dishes like gumbo, shrimp Creole, and red beans and rice. Meanwhile, Cajun cuisine, which originated with the French-Canadian Acadians who settled in Louisiana’s rural bayous, brought forth flavorful offerings such as crawfish étouffée, jambalaya, and classic seafood boils. These culinary traditions remain central to the city’s identity and offer travelers an edible window into Louisiana’s layered history.
Yet food is only one part of what makes New Orleans so magnetic. The city’s deep sense of history is evident at every turn, from its cobblestone alleys and wrought iron balconies to its lovingly preserved architecture. Historic landmarks are woven seamlessly into everyday life, offering visitors countless opportunities to engage with the past. A walk through the French Quarter immerses guests in a timeless atmosphere, punctuated by jazz music drifting through the air and the sight of centuries-old buildings surrounding Jackson Square, a National Historic Landmark.
From there, tourists often find themselves exploring nearby icons such as St. Louis Cathedral, the oldest continuously active Roman Catholic cathedral in the United States, or venturing out to the Garden District, known for its majestic oak trees and antebellum mansions. Other stops that allow for deeper historical engagement include Chalmette National Historical Park, which preserves the site of the Battle of New Orleans, and storied structures like Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop, Napoleon House, and the LaLaurie Mansion, each offering a window into the city’s multifaceted past.
Beyond architecture and cuisine, New Orleans excels in cultivating an immersive cultural experience. Museums, galleries, and performance venues reflect the city’s ongoing commitment to the arts. Yet even outside of formal institutions, culture pulses through the streets—whether through second line parades, street performers, or neighborhood block parties. The city’s rhythm is both literal and metaphorical, inviting travelers not only to observe but to participate.
In recognizing New Orleans as one of the top travel destinations for 2025, Travel + Leisure placed it in the company of other celebrated cities such as Charleston, Savannah, Honolulu, and New York City. Still, what distinguishes New Orleans is the way it blends heritage and hospitality, wrapping history, food, music, and storytelling into every visitor’s experience.
To better appreciate the feedback from readers who voted in the Travel + Leisure survey, it’s worth clarifying the distinction between Cajun and Creole food. While both are unique to Louisiana and often overlap in flavor and ingredients, they reflect different cultural lineages. Creole cuisine is urban, often associated with New Orleans, and traditionally uses tomatoes, rich sauces, and a wider variety of ingredients. In contrast, Cajun cuisine is more rural, typically relying on hearty ingredients, robust seasoning, and slow-cooked methods. Together, they define the state’s culinary legacy and help explain why food played such a decisive role in the city’s ranking.
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