Key West boasts impressive run with tourists. Where is Miami ranked?
South Florida may be known for busts and booms, but Key West is on a remarkable and consistent 15-year run among tourists.
The site of the Hemingway Home & Museum and birthplace of the Key lime pie is Florida’s only locale in the Top 10 of the Travelers Choice Awards for 2026, created by travel advice and review platform Tripadvisor.
What the site dubs Best of the Best Destinations reflect places visitors have given the highest ratings over the past year.
Key West finished eighth among top places in the United States. The Southernmost City has been ranked a U.S. Top Destination every year since 2012.
MORE: Heading to Key West on a day trip or on a cruise? Here are 9 quick, must-see stops
This year’s Top Five are New York City, Las Vegas, Oahu, Nashville and New Orleans.
Tripadvisor annually analyzes millions of reviews and ratings from its website, made by travelers worldwide. It then puts together The Travelers’ Choice Awards’ Best of the Best Destinations. Categories include Top Destination, Trending Destinations, Culture Destinations, Food Destinations, Honeymoon Destinations and Solo Travel Destinations. Reviews had to be made from Oct. 1, 2024, through Sep. 30, 2025, to be included.
Key West was singled out for the two-hour Key West Sunset Cruise: Dinner, Drinks and Live Music package. “This sunset cruise sets you up with a night of live music, dinner, and drinks for a lot less than if you were to pay for each separately,” the site writes.
Also highlighted was the Key West Afternoon Reef Snorkeling with Open Bar. “Swim with tropical fish above a vibrant coral reef on a snorkel tour from Key West,” the site says. “Set sail aboard a 65-foot catamaran to the only living reef in the United States.” All gear and safety vests are provided, the site said.
Notably absent from the list is the Miami area. Miami may get lots of attention for drawing new wealthy residents, but not ordinary Tripadvisor travelers. The Magic City hasn’t ranked among Top Destinations in the U.S. since 2013.
Miami did fare better in Top Food Destinations for 2026, a category of Tripadvisor’s Travelers Choice Awards for 2026, finishing fifth. Yet the 305 was overshadowed in its own state. The Top Four were New York City, Las Vegas, Maui and Orlando.
Yet that’s an improvement from its last appearance, in 2023, when Miami was named No.14 in Top Food Destinations in the US.
In the new rankings, Miami was chosen for the Little Havana Food and Walking Tour. It was also picked for the South Beach Food & Fun Art Deco Miami Food Tour. The honor comes as Miami restaurants suffered one of the toughest summers in recent times with many popular establishments closing.