Move Over, Florence: The North American Destination That Outranks Italy’s Perennial Favorite In New List

No matter which of its nicknames you call it, from "La Bella" (The Beautiful) to the "Capital of Artists" or even "The Cradle of the Renaissance," “La Città Gigliata” (The City Of The Lily), there’s no disputing Florence, Italy’s, long-standing place as one of the world’s top global travel destinations.

Michelangelo’s “David”? Check. Botticelli's “Birth of Venus”? Yup. Gorgeous history, architecture and good weather? Triple check. Not to mention the food …

For all of Florence’s many charms, however, its reputation among travelers appears to be slipping. In the 2025 edition of global travel publication Travel + Leisure’s annual “World’s Best Awards,” which is determined based on voting by international tourists, La Bella has fallen out of the top five.

Here are two destinations that outrank it on this year’s list, both of which may fly a little lower under the radar (and one of which doesn’t require crossing an ocean to visit, for those of us in the United States).

Jaipur, India

Beating Florence (which ranks sixth on this year’s list) for the No. 5 spot this year is Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, India. Full of ornate, honeycomb-inspired palaces and towering forts, Jaipur is, quite simply, an architectural marvel.

Founded in 1727, it was one of India’s first planned cities. It received the nickname “The Pink City” in the 1800s due to its distinctive rose-colored sandstone buildings; legend has it that none other than Prince Albert gave it that nickname.

Travel + Leisure also praises the city’s opulent hotels, world-class shopping and vibrant cultural heritage.

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

Topping Travel + Leisure’s list this year is a destination a little closer to those of us in the U.S.: Mexico’s San Miguel de Allende. The city's historic center, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008, showcases gorgeous 16th- to 18th-century baroque and neoclassical buildings with their characteristic pink limestone facades and wrought-iron balconies.

Cobblestone streets run through oft-photographed marvels such as the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, with an iconic pink neo-Gothic facade that was designed by Zeferino Gutiérrez in the 1880s and 1890s.

Located about four hours northwest of Mexico City, San Miguel de Allende was lauded by Travel + Leisure voters for its unique cultural atmosphere and affordability. Some key factors that survey participants cited for the city’s popularity were centrally located museums, botanical gardens, a vibrant arts scene and a packed calendar of annual cultural events.

Finally, of course, there’s the weather. With an elevation of 6,200 feet, San Miguel de Allende has a temperate climate all year. The hottest time of year to visit is May, when the average monthly high is 85 degrees, with an average low of 55. The coldest time, on the other hand, is January, when the monthly high is 72 and the average low is 40.