When Forbes ranked DC the coolest city in America earlier this year, it drew plenty of internet ire. But maybe the magazine wasn’t so far off, after all: Travel publishing company Lonely Planet has named the District the top spot to visit in 2015. It’s not just Washington’s first time at the top of the list; this is the only time it’s ever been included, Washington Business Journal reports. It’s also the only US city in the top ten, which includes Vienna, Toronto, and Milan (see below for the full top ten).
Lonely Planet praises Washington’s “vibrant gay scene and incredible ethnic eats,” and its museum scene, citing Ford’s Theatre’s upcoming exhibit to mark the 150th anniversary of President Lincoln’s assassination. Other highlights: the “life-changing” experience of visiting the Holocaust Museum, the cuisine at José Andrés’s Jaleo, the Georgetown shopping scene, and the historic charm of the Willard InterContinental.
Quite a distinction for our nation’s capital. Better start mentally preparing yourself for the influx of tourists—there’s a reason Washington residents are more stressed out than the rest of the country.
Lonely Planet’s Top 10 Destinations for 2015
1) Washington, DC
2) El Chaltén, Argentina
3) Milan, Italy
4) Zermatt, Switzerland
5) Valletta, Malta
6) Plovdiv, Bulgaria
7) Salisbury, UK
8) Vienna, Austria
9) Chennai, India
10) Toronto, Canada
