The Most ‘Cultured’ U.S. Cities, According to a New Report

When planning a city getaway, culture often tops the list. This broad category encompasses everything from museums to music venues, theaters, galleries, and cultural landmarks — all of which help define a destination’s appeal for travelers. To identify America’s cultural hot spots, the team at Holafly — a digital travel company specializing in eSIMs (virtual SIM cards) — analyzed the 100 most biggest U.S. cities to create the U.S. Culture Index based on cultural points of interest per capita. Below are five U.S. cities where you’ll never run out of places to explore.

5. Honolulu, Hawaii

Culture score: 60.47 (points of interest per 100,000 people)

Hawaii’s capital city is known for its sand and surf, including one of the world’s most famous beaches: Waikiki. More than 4 million annual visitors flock to Waikiki Beach to enjoy the waves, Hawaiian cuisine, luxury shopping, and endless sunshine on the southern shore of Oahu. On the eastern side of town, Diamond Head State Monument offers miles of trails to the summit of a volcanic cone for a bird’s-eye view of downtown.

But Honolulu is surprisingly rich in cultural and historical sites, too, such as Iolani Palace, which was home to the last reigning monarchs until the overthrow of the monarchy in 1893. Today, it’s the only royal palace in the United States. Across the street, the statue of Kamehameha I honors the founder of the Kingdom of Hawaii. Nearby, Pearl Harbor and the surrounding area are home to World War II-era remnants, including the sunken USS Arizona, now a memorial.

4. St. Louis, Missouri

Culture score: 60.54

St. Louis is the only city on the list that boasts a national park within city limits. Gateway Arch National Park is the city’s most recognizable symbol, a 630-foot-tall stainless steel arch representing westward expansion. Visitors can take a tram ride to the top, or enjoy time on the ground while exploring the park’s 91 acres of trails and parkland.

While the arch might be the symbol of the city, blues music is its soundtrack. St. Louis is home to the National Blues Museum, exploring the history and impact of the genre, along with blues clubs and annual blues festivals such as the Gateway Blues Festival. Other cultural points of interest include the flagship brewery of Budweiser (dating to the 1850s) and the World Chess Hall of Fame.

3. Nashville, Tennessee

Culture score: 63.95

Nashville lives up to its “Music City” moniker with some of the country’s most famous musical establishments, including the Grand Ole Opry, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2025. The iconic music venue is home to the country’s longest-running radio show. It also hosts many live events, where up-and-coming country artists have the opportunity to sing on the same stage that superstars like Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson have graced. Nearby, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is among the most-visited museums in the country and houses some 2.5 million artifacts. 

But Nashville is more than its music. It’s home to several professional sports teams, including the Tennessee Titans (NFL) and the Nashville Predators (NHL), both of which play in downtown venues. The city also boasts fascinating landmarks such as the Nashville Parthenon, the only exact-size replica of the original Parthenon in Athens, Greece.

2. San Francisco, California

Culture score: 116.93

San Francisco is chock-full of cultural experiences, from cruising the city’s sloped streets on historic cable cars to taking the perfect picture in front of the Golden Gate Bridge or embarking on a ferry ride to Alcatraz Island. The city boasts 42 landmarks per 100,000 people, the most of any destination on the list. It’s little wonder, then, that San Francisco is California’s most popular city for international tourists.

The “City by the Bay” is also home to more concert venues per capita than any other city on the list (even Nashville). Among the most popular venues is the War Memorial Opera House, a monument to World War I veterans. It hosted the drafting of the United Nations Charter in 1945 and the ceremony in which the U.S. restored Japanese sovereignty in 1951. Today, it is home to the San Francisco Ballet, the oldest ballet company in the country.

1. New Orleans, Louisiana

Culture score: 126.07

The “Big Easy” ranks as the top U.S. city for cultural activities, according to the Holafly study. With a combined score of more than 126 points of interest per 100,000 people, there is no shortage of things to do and see in this historic city. From the Creole cuisine and architecture of the French Quarter to the live jazz performances of Frenchman Street, visitors and locals alike can find entertainment around every corner. Among the most-visited landmarks are the St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, a famous above-ground cemetery, and the New Orleans Voodoo Museum.

New Orleans boasts more art galleries than any other city on the list — around 43 per 100,000 people. Galleries are spread throughout the city, most prominently on Julia Street and in the Warehouse District. Here, you can enjoy reflections of New Orleans’ rich cultural heritage, including African American, Creole, French, Spanish, and Indigenous influences. The city’s oldest fine arts institution, the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA), also houses some 40,000 objects.

Top 10 Most Cultured Cities in the U.S.

Here’s the rest of the top 10 most cultured cities in the U.S., according to Holafly.

• New Orleans, Louisiana (culture score: 126.07)
• San Francisco, California (116.93)
• Nashville, Tennessee (63.95)
• St. Louis, Missouri (60.54)
• Honolulu, Hawaii (60.47)
• Boston, Massachusetts (60.21)
• Arlington, Virginia (59.70)
• Miami, Florida (56.60)
• Washington, D.C. (56. 25)
• Richmond, Virginia (54.60)

About the methodology: The Holafly Culture Index assigned a “culture score” reflecting each city’s total cultural offerings in five key categories — museums, music venues, landmarks/points of interest, art galleries, and theaters. This score was calculated based on the number of such offerings per 100,000 residents. You can view the full report here.