Pay 
Language 
Currency 
No results found
The US Culture Index: America’s Most Cultured Cities
We rank the most cultured cities in the US. See which city has the most museums, music venues, landmarks, art galleries, and theatres per 100,000 people.
Who doesn’t love a good city break?
When it comes to choosing that next city-break destination, travellers are broadening their minds on what to look for aside from stunning weather, and great food.
Whether it’s wandering through art galleries, catching live music in a tucked-away venue, or standing in awe beneath historic landmarks, these experiences shape the way we connect with a new place.
From theatre lovers to museum hoppers, cultural richness can turn a good trip into an unforgettable one so to find out which American city can be crowned the culture capital, the Holafly team dug into the data.
The Top 5 Most Cultured American Cities
1. New Orleans, Louisiana – Culture Score = 126.07
Museums per 100,000: 15.65
Music Venues per 100,000: 23.62
Landmarks per 100,000: 38.99
Art Galleries per 100,000: 42.97
Theatres per 100,000: 4.84
Ranking as America’s most cultured city is New Orleans. Boasting over 38 landmarks of interest per 100,000. ‘The Big Easy’ tops a list of 100 American cities to take the crown.
It’s also home to St Louis Cathedral. Located in the historic French Quarter, the cathedral is the oldest continuously active Roman Catholic Cathedral in the United States.
In addition to the stunning historic architecture, culture-hungry travellers will also have an array of music venues to catch some live music, from jazz to reggae, there really is something for everyone. Some notable venues are Preservation Hall, Maple Leaf bar, and Kermit’s Mother-in-Law Lounge.
2. San Francisco, California – Culture Score = 116.93
Museums per 100,000: 11.98
Music Venues per 100,000: 30.34
Landmarks per 100,000: 41.54
Art Galleries per 100,000: 25.39
Theatres per 100,000: 7.68
The runner-up for the most cultured city in the US is San Francisco. Known for its steep hills, and iconic golden gate bridge, it’s also a hotbed of culture with over 41 points of interest for travellers to get their teeth stuck into.
If getting outdoors and exploring the local areas via hiking is your thing, then the Twin Peaks is a must see. Standing over 900 feet above the city, Twin Peaks offers stunning views of the city’s skyline, not to mention being the perfect sunset spot.
If you’re a history buff, there’s no better attraction than the infamous Alcatraz Island. Once America’s most secure federal prison, Alcatraz housed several high-profile inmates such as the notorious Al-Capone, before being decommissioned in 1963. Now a museum offering guided island tours, why not make a day of it and catch the ferry from the pier.
3. Nashville, Tennessee – Culture Score = 63.95
Museums per 100,000: 31.32
Music Venues per 100,000: 18.06
Landmarks per 100,000: 4.22
Art Galleries per 100,000: 7.28
Theatres per 100,000: 3.06
In third place for the most cultural American city is Nashville. Known as ‘The Music City’ and the hometown of country music, Nashville has a host of iconic music venues for culture-hungry travellers to enjoy such as the Grand Ole Opry, the world’s longest-running radio show, and the Ryman Auditorium, a historic venue that played a key role in Nashville’s growth as a music capital.
If you fancy learning more about the history of Nashville’s great music icons, it’s also home to one of the world’s best museums, the Johnny Cash Museum. Officially authorized by the Estate of Johnny Cash, the museum has the largest and most comprehensive collection of Johnny Cash artifacts and memorabilia in the world.
4. St. Louis, Missouri – Culture Score = 60.54
Museums per 100,000: 13.00
Music Venues per 100,000: 7.80
Landmarks per 100,000: 8.91
Art Galleries per 100,000: 22.28
Theatres per 100,000: 8.54
Missouri comes in fourth place with a culture score of 60.54. Famously known as the ‘Gateway to the West thanks to its staggering 630-foot arch, St. Louis is rooted deep in American culture.
Also home to a thriving music scene, you can find a host of iconic blues clubs in St. Louis such as BB’s Blues, Jazz and Soups, offering a southern comfort menu and talented blues musicians. It’s not hard to understand why it’s a St. Louis institution.
If stunning architecture and learning about other faiths is your thing, then you can also find The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis on the doorstep, with the stunning Romanesque revival-style building dating back to 1914.
5. Honolulu, Hawaii – Culture Score = 60.47
Museums per 100,000: 10.97
Music Venues per 100,000: 17.19
Landmarks per 100,000: 17.49
Art Galleries per 100,000: 11.86
Theatres per 100,000: 2.96
Rounding out the top five most cultural cities in the US is Honolulu with a culture score of 60.47.
Just narrowly missing-out on fourth spot, ‘The Big Pineapple’ is truly one of America’s cultural gems with something for everyone. For history buffs, Honolulu is home to Pearl Harbour, the birthplace of America’s involvement in World War II because of the 1941 attack by Japan.
Its Pacific coastline is also home to stunning sandy beaches, and challenging hiking trails should you choose to explore the island on foot instead.
The Top 5 Best Cities for Museums
- Arlington, Virgnia – 43 Museums per 100,000 people
- Nashville, Tennessee – 31 Museums per 100,000 people
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – 29 Museums per 100,000 people
- Riverside, California – 21 Museums per 100,000 people
- Washington, DC – 17 Museums per 100,000 people
The Top 5 Best Cities for Music Venues
- San Francisco, California – 30 Music Venues per 100,000 people
- New Orleans, Louisiana – 24 Music Venues per 100,000 people
- Nashville, Tennessee – 18 Music Venues per 100,000 people
- Honolulu, Hawaii– 17 Music Venues per 100,000 people
- Las Vegas, Nevada – 17 Music Venues per 100,000 people
The Top 5 Best Cities for Landmarks / Points of Interest
- San Francisco, California – 42 Landmarks per 100,000 people
- New Orleans, Louisiana – 39 Landmarks per 100,000 people
- Honolulu, Hawaii – 17 Landmarks per 100,000 people
- Washington, DC – 17 Landmarks per 100,000 people
- Boston, Massachusetts – 16 Landmarks per 100,000 people
The Top 5 Best Cities for Art Galleries
- New Orleans, Louisiana – 43 Art Galleries per 100,000 people
- Miami, Florida – 38 Art Galleries per 100,000 people
- San Francisco, California – 25 Art Galleries per 100,000 people
- St. Louis, Missouri – 22 Art Galleries per 100,000 people
- Atlanta, Georgia – 21 Art Galleries per 100,000 people
The Top 5 Best Cities for Theatres
- St. Louis, Missouri – 9 Theatres per 100,000 people
- Las Vegas, Nevada – 8 Theatres per 100,000 people
- San Francisco, California – 8 Theatres per 100,000 people
- Minneapolis, Minnesota – 7 Theatres per 100,000 people
- Buffalo, New York – 6 Theatres per 100,000 people
Top 5 Recommendations for The Best Cultural Experience
Keep Your Battery Charged and Prepared
Exploring cultural sites often means taking lots of photos, using apps, and staying connected. Bring a portable power bank to keep your phone charged throughout the day and activate battery-saving settings to ensure you’re never without power when you need it most!
Download Apps & Offline Content Before You Go
Many cultural sites offer incredible apps with audio guides, virtual tours, and maps. Download them before your visit while connected to Wi-Fi so you can enjoy the experience without using data. It’s like having a personal tour guide in your pocket, ready to show you around!
Stay Connected wherever you go
Staying connected is essential during a cultural trip—whether you’re using navigation, translation apps, or sharing your experience online. These activities can quickly increase your data usage, so it’s important to make sure your plan fits your needs. If you have an unlimited data plan, even better—no extra worries! If not, consider using a data usage calculator beforehand to estimate your needs and avoid any unexpected charges
For travellers coming from abroad, a travel eSIM can be the perfect solution. It lets you stay connected digitally without the hassle of roaming fees, running out of data, or swapping physical SIM cards. Installation takes just a few minutes, and you’re ready to go!
Use Digital Tickets & Easy Check-ins
Skip the lines and go paperless with digital tickets! Many cultural attractions now allow you to check in with a QR code or an app, making your entry quicker and smoother. This gives you more time to explore and less time waiting in line!
Plan Your Visit for the Best Experience
To avoid the crowds, try visiting during off-peak hours or use timed-entry tickets. With your phone, you can easily book tickets, check availability, and make real-time adjustments to your plans for a more relaxed and enjoyable visit
Methodology
The Holafly data team analysed 100 of America’s most populated cities to establish where you can find America’s cultural hotspots.
The team counted the number of theatres, live music venues, museums, art galleries and landmarks/points of interest per 100,000 people to create a culture score for each city.
Museum data was taken from: https://whichmuseum.co.uk/
Live Music Venue data taken from Yelp (searching for ‘live music’ and filtering searches by within 5 miles, and by category ‘music venues’)
All theatre, art galleries and landmark data taken from TripAdvisor.
Plans that may interest you
Born and raised in the UK, I discovered content creation as a journalist while studying at the University of Manchester. I've since covered a range of roles, both editorial and SEO, across the travel, hospitality, and professional services industries. I spend my weeks ensuring Holafly's content is relevant, insightful, and helpful, and my weekends exploring new destinations to satisfy my ever-growing travel bug.
