US News & World Report releases 2025 best vacations rankings

Boston ranked No. 3 on the list of best US cities to visit, jumping several spots after being ranked just No. 14 last year.
The outlet revealed its annual best vacations rankings on Tuesday and, for the fourth straight year, crowned Bar Harbor, Maine , atop its list of best small towns to visit in the US. The Mount Desert Island destination was one of several New England getaways to make the list, including Nantucket, which ranked No. 10 for 2025 after earning the No. 4 spot last year; Stowe, Vt., which ranked No. 14, up from No. 19 last year; and Martha’s Vineyard , which ranked No. 23, dropping from No. 18 last year. Kennebunkport, Maine, which earned the No. 21 spot last year, didn’t make the cut for 2025.
America’s best small town is in New England, according to US News & World Report.
Meanwhile, Boston ranked No. 3 on the list of best US cities to visit, jumping several spots after being ranked just No. 14 last year. For 2025, New York City was named the country’s best city to visit, while Washington, D.C., came in at No. 2. The Big Apple also earned the No. 4 slot on the best cities in the world list, which this year saw Rome ranked No. 1. Tokyo took the No. 2 spot on the list, while London was ranked No. 3.
Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Enter Email Sign Up
As for the world’s best place to visit list, the 2025 crown went to the Swiss Alps for the first time, up from No. 5 last year, while Bora Bora (shown here) ranked No. 2. MARCEL MOCHET/AFP via Getty Images
Advertisement
New England made its presence felt on the best places to visit in the US list, as well. While Montana’s Glacier National Park was ranked No. 1 for the second straight year, Bar Harbor, Maine, took the No. 20 spot (down from No. 18 last year), and Boston ranked No. 23 (up from No. 29 last year). As for the world’s best place to visit list, the 2025 crown went to the Swiss Alps for the first time, up from No. 5 last year, while Bora Bora ranked No. 2, Rome ranked No. 3, and Machu Picchu, a newcomer to the list, ranked No. 4.
The John Moulton barn in the Mormon Row Historic District in Grand Teton National Park is one of the most photographed. Joanne Rathe Strohmeyer/ Globe Staff
Also for the second straight year, Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming topped the list of best cheap vacations in the United States. The only New England destination on the cheap US vacations list was Bar Harbor, Maine, which took the No. 9 spot for 2025, dropping from No. 6 last year.
Advertisement
“As the travel industry continues its robust recovery, travelers are increasingly attracted to one-of-a-kind landscapes and jaw-dropping scenery, favoring destinations like Machu Picchu, Tanzania and Mount Fuji,” Elizabeth Von Tersch, senior travel editor at U.S. News, said in a press release statement. “From tranquil beaches to awe-inspiring views, the 2025 Best Vacations rankings offer a variety of destinations, both approachable and far-flung, to cater to every traveler’s tastes.”
Check out the full 2025 best vacations rankings here.
Matt Juul can be reached at matthew.juul@globe.com.