These Are The 8 Most Fun Cities To Visit In America According To New Report

Last Updated 5 mins ago

Why do we travel? That’s a big question.

There’s a whole manner of different motivations, but surely one of the simplest and most important reasons is simply to have fun.

Of course, fun is something that’s hard to define and something that everyone has a different concept of, which is why Wallet Hub has surveyed 180 different U.S. cities on no fewer than 65 different metrics to find out which are generally the most fun to spend time in.

Blonde woman jumping at center of Las Vegas in a sunny day, blue sky. Ferris Wheel, the world's largest observation wheel on blurred background. Happy tourist in Las Vegas cityscape, Nevada, USA

The metrics included everything from the number of attractions to the average price of food and drink.

It even focused on how many movie theatres, beer gardens, music venues, or coffee shops there are per capita – really making sure to capture as many different things as possible that can be considered fun.

At the end of it all, these 8 cities came out as the most fun to visit in all of America:

1. Las Vegas, Nevada

It probably shouldn’t be a surprise that Vegas came out on top in a ranking of how fun places are, should it?

‘Sin City’ is well-known for being an adult playground thanks to its famous casinos and infamous nightlife.

It was the top-ranking city in this study in terms of overall entertainment and recreation rank, and nightlife and parties rank – it also scored well in terms of the number of restaurants and festivals it has per capita.

Despite its adult entertainment reputation, there are still some family-friendly attractions in Vegas, such as Hershey’s Chocolate World, the Shark Reef Aquarium, and many theme park rides at various hotels.

2. Orlando, Florida

And while Las Vegas is probably America’s best adult city for fun, Orlando could be its best family city for fun.

Of course, there is much more to Orlando than just the theme parks, but they help make it a very inviting place to go with children.

Like Vegas, Orlando is not always what it seems, it actually has a pretty vibrant nightlife with some fantastic bars and clubs, so there is plenty to entertain adults too.

It also ranked as the cheapest city in the top 8 of this list.

illuminated ferris wheel at night in orlando florida

3. Miami, Florida

Combining fantastic nightlife with epic beaches and a wonderful art scene, it’s probably no surprise to see Miami in this list either.

The city has been having a record-breaking year for tourism and is a brilliant launchpad to visit other places in Florida (via train) or even the Caribbean (via cruise).

Any place where you go straight from the beach to the bar sounds fun to us.

young couple walking on a beach by palm trees in miami florida

4. Atlanta, Georgia

Predicted to be one of the most popular destinations in America for 2024, Atlanta is a city of great music, shopping, entertainment, and green spaces.

Great entertainment can be found at theatres such as the Alliance and the Atlanta Magic Theatre, while there is also an excellent zoo, the chance to ride cable cars at nearby Stone Mountain Park, and even the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame, making it truly a city with something for everyone.

5. San Francisco, California

San Francisco came out as the most expensive city in the top 8 of this study, but it’s definitely still a fun place to be, even if it might hit your wallet a little harder.

Entertainment can be found in the shape of the zoo, the Museum of 3D Illusions, Golden Gate Park, a tour of Alcatraz, or even taking up a hike on one of the many trails surrounding the city.

Winter is a fantastic time to visit to witness America’s tallest living Christmas tree, the decorated coastal inns of Monterey County, or even to try ice skating at one of several seasonal rinks.

family viewing the golden gate bridge on a sunny day

6. New Orleans, Louisiana

One of the cities that could rival Las Vegas as the best nightlife location in America, New Orleans is a place for those who love live music, entertainment, and partying.

The city is a high-energy place and has a great schedule of festivals, carnivals, and events that keep it rocking right throughout the year.

7. Austin, Texas

Austin was recently billed as one of the world’s fastest-growing tourist destinations, so it goes without saying that it’s a fun place to be.

Perhaps a little slower-paced in terms of nightlife than some others on this list, Austin has a small-town feel and a proximity to beautiful nature that makes it an ideal place to blow away the cobwebs.

woman on canoe boat kayak relaxing enjoying summer fun day on river in Austin downtown

8. Chicago, Illinois

Chicago enjoyed a revival in popularity during 2023 and has a little bit of something for everyone.

From its famous shows to its widely varied range of museums, Chicago will keep you entertained, whether you’re traveling solo, with a partner, or with family.

Despite being a large city, many of its iconic sights like the Bean or Navy Pier are walkable or easy to get to via its affordable public transport network (I still can’t get over that it’s only $5 to get to the city from the airport via the city via the blue line train!).