St. Pete is no stranger to accolades, regularly appearing on nationwide best-of lists—even if some sources can be a bit dubious. But the Sunshine City’s latest honor comes from one of the most reputable lifestyle outlets in the country.
Southern Living released its list of The Best Cities in the South for 2025, and St. Pete not only made the 25-city ranking but also claimed the No. 7 spot overall. That’s 11 places ahead of its cross-bay neighbor Tampa, which landed at No. 18, while Orlando also made the rankings at No. 15 overall.
Southern Living hired an outside polling firm to compile the ranking based on feedback from the magazine’s print and digital readers, with more than 10,000 respondents expressing their love for cities like Austin, Nashville, Greenville, New Orleans, and Savannah. Charleston, South Carolina, secured the No. 1 spot for the second year in a row.
St. Pete earns acclaim for walkability and arts scene
Southern Living pointed out what those of us who live in St. Pete already know: our little slice of paradise is no longer the hidden gem it once was. With arts, parks, breweries, beaches and far, far more, it’s no surprise that more and more people are flocking with every successive year. The word is officially out…