West Palm Beach – Sunfest, spring training, the GreenMarket and Cityplace
Some of the things that make West Palm Beach great included the Kravis Center, Meyer Ampitheater, Sunfest, and the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches
- West Palm Beach, Florida has been named the number one trending travel destination for 2025 by Tripadvisor.
- Tripadvisor’s ranking was based on the quality and quantity of reviews for accommodations, restaurants, and things to do.
- Other trending destinations in the United States include Santa Barbara, Cleveland, Kansas City, and Memphis.
( This story was updated to add more information from Tripadvisor.)
Never mind coming to South Florida for the great weather. By all means, continue to do that. But now Tripadvisor has put the region, specifically West Palm Beach, on the radar for another reason, one that drives so many decisions these days: it’s trending.
West Palm Beach, already home to many tourist draws, is also, according to the online travel advisor, a “trending destination.” And the city is not just one on a list of many, it tops the list that the company issued earlier this month as part of its Travelers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best Destinations for 2025.
A spokeswoman for the site shared how this specific category “honors locations that showed the greatest year-over-year increase in the quality and quantity of ratings and reviews for accommodations, restaurants and things to do in destinations.”
Other factors include pageviews between Oct. 1, 2023, through Sept. 30, 2024.
Perhaps it’s no surprise that West Palm Beach scored first place in this category, earning the highest ratings and most authentic reviews.
While we locals understand the appeal, with so many national newscasts broadcasting nearly nightly from West Palm Beach, essentially giving the city free advertising, the love has spread to those outside our neck of the woods. Those newscasters of course have come to town to follow President Donald Trump.
How Tripadvisor’s rankings are determined
Tripadvisor’s website tallies the “quality and quantity of reviews, specific to each award subcategory, for accommodations, restaurants and things to do.”
It notes how travelers are seeking experiences with immersive cultures. Great dining options and climates also play roles in reviews.
What’s behind West Palm Beach’s breakthrough?
According to Tripadvisor, the city’s hotels and other accommodations moved the needle, rising from 3.88 to 4.32 out of 5 maximum points.
Statewide, accommodations in Florida’s other reviewed destinations’ scores remained flat when compared to the prior year.
And while reviews from family travelers increased by 64%, Tripadvisor told us that West Palm Beach attracts folks traveling with spouses and partners, resulting in a bump from 4.34 to 4.56 points.
The spokeswoman also mentioned that a third of all West Palm Beach reviews were penned between January through March 30, 2024 — 29% higher than any other time of year.
What’s hot in West Palm Beach, according to Tripadvisor?
A peek at West Palm Beach’s Tripadvisor page reveals the top two hotels for folks contributing reviews are both Hiltons, whose locations are downtown and the airport.
As for restaurants, Spruzzo sits atop the leaders board at No. 1 for its rooftop setting. At No. 2 is Galley at the Hilton.
When it comes to favorite attractions, the two top places listed to visit are McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary and CityPlace.
Tripadvisor: Other trending American cities
From Nos. 2 to 9, other trending cities were cited for their climates and immersive culture earning placements on this list include:
- Santa Barbara, California
- Cleveland, Ohio
- Kansas City, Missouri
- Memphis, Tennessee
- Park City, Utah
- Juneau, Alaska
- Denver, Colorado
- Brooklyn, New York
- Hilton Head, South Carolina
Other Tripadvisor categories and winners
- Culture: Bali is top-ranked
- Food, both worldwide and in the U.S.: Rome and New Orleans, respectively
- Honeymoons: the island nation of Mauritius is tops
- Solo travel; No. 1 is Seoul (ironic?)
- Overall top destinations worldwide and U.S.; No. 1s are London and New York City
- Our globally trending sister is Osaka, Japan
Diana Biederman is the Palm Beach Post’s new food & restaurant writer who recently transferred from Naples Daily News.
