Santa Barbara Ranked No. 5 Small City in Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice
The 2026 ranking, announced this week, places Santa Barbara ahead of Savannah, Lexington and fellow California entrant Healdsburg in the national top 10.
Santa Barbara has been named the No. 5 best small city in the United States in Condé Nast Traveler's 2026 Readers' Choice Awards, announced this week. Fellow California entrant Healdsburg came in at No. 8.
The top 10, published by Visit Alexandria, is led by Charleston, South Carolina, followed by Alexandria, Virginia, at No. 2 and Santa Fe, New Mexico, at No. 3. Rounding out the list behind Santa Barbara are Greenville, Lexington, Savannah, Healdsburg, San Juan and St. Augustine.
Visit Alexandria, the tourism office for the No. 2 city, announced the ranking on Tuesday, Oct. 6. The publication's annual Readers' Choice results will also be celebrated in the November issue of Condé Nast Traveler.
The ranking is decided by the magazine's readers, who rate their travel experiences around the world. The New York Post, reporting on the California cities' showing, described Santa Barbara as set between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains, known for its Mediterranean-like climate, Spanish Colonial Revival architecture and the American Riviera nickname.
Visit Alexandria called the Readers' Choice Awards the travel industry's longest-running accolades.
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