A local’s perspective on Madison’s place on National Geographic’s Best of the World 2027 list and what it means to call this city home.
Madison just landed on National Geographic's Best of the World 2027 list, one of only 25 destinations worldwide to make the cut. In his October 20, 2026 piece, writer Andrew Nelson calls Madison one of America's loveliest long-weekend destinations and says the city "rewards the unhurried and unscripted traveler."
As a sixth-generation Madisonian, I read that line and smiled, because it is exactly how I would describe growing up here. My family has been part of this city for six generations, and I have spent my whole career helping people find their place in it. So I want to walk you through what National Geographic highlighted, add a few things only a local would tell you, and talk about what this recognition means if you are thinking about moving here.
What National Geographic Got Right
The article starts with our geography, and that is the right place to start. Madison sits on an isthmus between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona, and the whole city is stitched together by bike paths. Nelson points to the 17-mile Capital City State Trail and BCycle bike-share stations as easy ways to get around, and he is right that you can explore most of downtown on foot or by bike.
He also sends readers to the places we love most. The Memorial Union Terrace, which he calls "Madison's living room," is where locals sit in those colorful chairs with a beer or a scoop of Babcock Dairy ice cream and watch the sun go down over Lake Mendota. On Saturdays, the Dane County Farmers' Market wraps around Capitol Square, and Fromagination is right there with more than 110 Wisconsin artisan cheeses. Over on Williamson Street, or Willy Street as we call it, you will find independent bookstores, vintage shops, Public Parking, Lola's, Café Coda, and The Bur Oak.
What a Local Would Add
Travel writers see Madison over a long weekend. I see it every day, and the thing I would add is how livable all of this is. The same lakes, trails, and restaurants that make Madison a great place to visit are part of a regular Tuesday for the people who live here. You can bike to work along the lake, grab dinner on Willy Street, and still be home in time for bedtime.
Nelson mentions that late spring is when the city feels freshest, and that fall football weekends bring more than 50,000 UW students back to campus. Both are true. What I tell relocation clients is that Madison has a rhythm, and once you learn it, you start planning your year around it: farmers market Saturdays in summer, Badger game days in fall, and frozen lakes in winter.
Take a Tour of Downtown Madison With Me
If you want to see what living downtown actually looks like, I put together a full local's guide to downtown Madison on my YouTube channel. I cover the neighborhoods, the housing options, and the spots I would send you to on your first weekend here.
The Full Best of the World 2027 List
Madison is in good company. National Geographic's full list spans six continents, and we are one of only four picks in the continental United States, alongside Baltimore, the Pacific Coast Highway, and the Southern Ozarks. Here are all 25 destinations in the order National Geographic published them:
- Vestland, Norway
- Penang, Malaysia
- Luxor, Egypt
- Madison, Wisconsin
- Puerto Rico
- Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
- Niigata, Japan
- Chengdu, China
- Pacific Coast Highway, California
- Jaipur, India
- Grenada
- Salvador, Brazil
- Cape Froward, Chile
- Santander, Spain
- Normandy, France
- Southern Ozarks, Missouri and Arkansas
- Halifax, Nova Scotia
- The Transcaucasian Trail, Armenia
- Melbourne, Australia
- Leipzig, Germany
- Baltimore, Maryland
- Malawi
- Maya Ka'an, Mexico
- Tricity, Poland
- Kuélap, Chachapoyas, Peru
Readers also picked Catalina Island, California, as this year's Readers' Choice winner. The list is not a ranking, so Madison landing fourth on the page is placement, not a score, but I will take it.
What This Means If You Are Moving to Madison
Recognition like this puts Madison in front of people all over the world, and some of them will start wondering what it would be like to live here. If that is you, the most important thing to know is that Madison is not one market. Downtown condos, historic homes on the Near East Side, and family neighborhoods in the suburbs all move differently, and the right fit depends on how you want to live day to day.
You don't know what you don't know, especially when you are buying in a city you have only visited. That is where having someone on the ground matters. My team at Insiders Realty helped 62 families buy and sell homes in 2025, and we spend every day learning which streets, schools, and neighborhoods fit which lifestyles.
Let's Find Your Spot in Madison
If National Geographic has you daydreaming about the Terrace chairs and Saturday mornings on the Square, I would love to help you figure out where you would fit. Start with the Inside Madison Relocation Guide, browse my neighborhood tours on YouTube, or grab 15 minutes on my calendar and we can talk through your timeline and what you are looking for. There is no pressure, just a local who knows this city and wants to help you find your spot.
Thinking about a move to Madison?
Let's find your spot in the city National Geographic just put on the map.
Whether you are relocating from out of state or ready for your next Madison home, our team will walk you through the neighborhoods, the numbers, and every step in between.
Sources: Andrew Nelson, "What Makes Madison One of America's Loveliest Long-Weekend Destinations," National Geographic, Best of the World 2027, published October 20, 2026. "The Best Places in the World to Travel to in 2027," National Geographic, published October 20, 2026.
