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Philly named second best place to visit in 2017 by U.S. News & World Report

But we already knew that, right?

By Melissa Romero
Philly was just named the second best place to visit in the U.S.
B. Krist for Visit Philadelphia

Philly has yet again earned major props for its resurgence as a top-tier U.S. city, recently being named the second best place to visit this year by U.S. News & World Report.

The annual ranking, just released this week, said of the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection, “The first (and only) city in the USA to be named a UNESCO World Heritage City, Philly offers so much more than cheesesteaks.” (To be clear, however, Philadelphia is considered a World Heritage City by the Organization of World Heritage Cities. To qualify, a city must be located on a UNESCO World Heritage Site.)

What more does it offer than a good hoagie? Yes, lots of history, but also a “bumping nightlife,” avid sports fans, and a “thriving” restaurant scene, according to the report.

The No. 2 ranking comes after Philly earned a spot on Travel+Leisure’s top 50 places to visit in 2017 list. In 2016, Philly was named the number 1 place to visit by Lonely Planet and earned a third spot ranking on New York Times’ 2015 list.

As for its suggested places to visit in Philly, the U.S. News and World Report offered one-, two-, and three-day itineraries that included touristy spots like Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and Reading Terminal Market.

Those places are all fine and well, but we’d argue that they barely skim the surface of what makes Philly so wonderful and odd at the same time. If you want a few more options, some that are a bit more off-the-beaten path, Curbed Philly’s got you covered: Here are 26 places you should visit in Philly right now.

Oh, and chances are you can guess which city took this year’s top spot: New York City.