CNN names Greenville in Top 3 best towns to visit in America in 2026

• CNN Travel ranked Greenville, South Carolina, as the No. 3 best town to visit in America in 2026.
• The city has undergone a significant revitalization since the 1980s, transforming its downtown from an industrial hub into a vibrant center.
• Key attractions highlighted by CNN include the Swamp Rabbit Trail, Falls Park on the Reedy, and the city’s growing dining scene.
• Despite its growth, some historic structures were lost during the city’s transformation.

Residents who live in Greenville know it’s a gem that shines brightly among other top cities in the U.S.

Word about the mid-size city is spreading with CNN Travel ranking it No. 3 on its list of best towns to visit in America in 2026. The only other cities ahead of it were Sarasota, Florida at No.1 followed by New Haven, Connecticut.

And CNN had a lot to say about Greenville’s southern charm and vibrant downtown.

“Greenville’s got a Main Street that lives up to its name, at the heart of a lively downtown connected to other parts of the city by the Swamp Rabbit Trail, a 28-mile pedestrian and bike network lined with parks and local businesses,” said CNN.

Those new to the area may be enjoying all that it now has to offer, but much has changed since the 80s. Here’s how far the city has come and other aspects that make it special, according to CNN.

Greenville’s transformation ‘decades-in-the-making’

Compared to other cities, Greenville’s downtown feels safe, a description worlds away from what it once was. Russell Stall, executive director of the Greenville County Historical Society, told CNN the area currently known as Fall Parks used to be a place of prostitution and drug use. When Greenville was known as the “Textile Capital of the World,” its industrial hub for cotton mills and manufacturing were powered by the Reedy River in the late 19th and 20th centuries. As a result, dyes and chemicals polluted the river’s waters, hence the nickname the “Rainbow Reedy.” What remains of the era are a few former mill house loft apartments. In the 1990s, the city’s mills began to shutter.

Stall called downtown’s uplift “one of the most significant revitalizations in the history of the city,” referencing the Hyatt Hotel, Peace Center, music venues Coach Music Factory and The Mockingbird, and Fluor Field among key precursors of city change.

Although many positives have come with Greenville’s rise, there have been some downfalls, like the loss of the historic City Fall.

“We tore down a lot of the historic structures that we shouldn’t have,” Stall told CNN.

CNN spotlights Greenville’s sights, recreation, dining scene

Often referred to as a “city with a small town feel,” Greenville has a wealth of things to do, so don’t let the saying mislead you. Sightseeing is an activity that doesn’t cost a dime, with CNN highlighting Liberty Bridge and the Falls as two places with amazing views. The Grand Bohemian Lodge was mentioned due to its “rustic wood-and-stone aesthetic,” accessible through Reedy River’s paths.

Other things to do include riding a bike along the Swamp Rabbit Trail, visiting the Greenville Zoo, and exploring the Village of West Greenville, the city’s art district. CNN also spotlighted Michelin-starred restaurant Scoundrel and Chef Joe Cash, a Greenville native with experience in New York and Copenhagen’s restaurants scene.

“You come home and you see, you know, there’s some new restaurants, some fun things to do. Some more interesting, a little more modern, a little less steak and potatoes, a little more farm-to-table,” Cash said. “And so kind of just watching that over the years, it made sense for me to come back.”

CNN’s Top 10 best towns to visit in America 2026

1. Sarasota (Florida)
2. New Haven (Connecticut)
3. Greenville
4. Bethlehem (Pennysylvania)
5. Fort Collins (Colorado)
6. Burlington (Vermont)
7. Juneau (Alaska)
8. Iowa City (Iowa)
9. Lawrence (Kansas)
10. Roanoke (Virginia)

Nina Tran is the breaking news and education reporter for The Greenville News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her via email at ntran@usatodayco.com.