Condé Nast Traveler Names Chicago Best Big City In the US For the 8th Consecutive Year

I spend most of the year in Chicago and have been living here for ten years exactly today. I love the city as it has some of the best restaurants, culture, access to the lake, riverwalk, and much more. My neighborhood, the West Loop, is one of the best places I have lived and it’s exciting to see that I’m not alone. Readers of Condé Nast Traveler voted Chicago the Best Big City for the eighth consecutive year in a row.

Choose Chicago, the city’s official tourism agency, announced that Chicago has once again been named Best Big City in the US in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards. Over 500,000 readers voted for their favorite destinations and venues. Chicago topped the list.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, commented:

Chicago’s historic eighth consecutive win of this award reflects the rich diversity of culture, culinary innovation, and experiences our city offers. The rest of the world is catching on to the fact that there’s truly no more dynamic destination in America than right here. Congratulations to the hard-working people of Chicago’s hotels, restaurants, venues, unions, and the entire tourism and hospitality industry who make this recognition possible!”

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, added:

Chicagoans know that our city is second to none 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. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a lifelong resident, there is always something to explore in Chicago.”

Condé Nast Traveler‘s Readers’ Choice Awards have run for the past 37 years. Chicago has been named the Best Big City in the US every year since 2017 (more than any other city in the history of the award). The awards shed light on some interesting stats:

• Visitors to Chicago filled a total of 3.4 million hotel rooms between June, July, and August. This is 5% more than summer 2023.
• It was a strong summer for leisure travel, with events like Lollapalooza and the NASCAR Chicago Street Race contributing to 2.3 million nights (4% more than 2023).
• The strong summer of hotel demand drove $942 million in revenue and $53 million in City tax revenue.
• Summer season also welcomed over 671,000 international visitors to Chicago (a gain of 11% versus 2023).

San Diego, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Washington DC, San Francisco, Boston, New York City, Columbus, and Miami rounded out the top 10 in this year’s awards. There is so much to do in Chicago, but here are some of my picks.

Anthony’s Take: I love Chicago (except for in the winter when I migrate to Florida). The city has everything I want and need. It’s great to see this cool city recognized.