CNN Travel: Iowa City named top 10 place to visit in 2026

CNN Travel writes that Iowa City is No. 8 on the list thanks to its literary chops, dynamic downtown and lively local culture.

PHOTO CREDIT: Joseph Cress/Think Iowa City

Iowa City recognized for literary chops, dynamic downtown and lively local culture

CNN Travel named Iowa City on its list of America’s Best Towns to Visit in 2026.

“The chief reason for Iowa City’s bookish demeanor celebrates its 90th anniversary this year; in 1936, the town’s University of Iowa set up the first creative writing degree in the United States, after decades of nurturing creative writing talent as part of wider academic programs, ” CNN Travel writes.

“Today, the Iowa Writers’ Workshop is globally famous, with a roster of former faculty and alumni that reads like a who’s who of modern American letters — Kurt Vonnegut, Curtis Sittenfeld, Philip Roth, Raymond Carver, Flannery O’Connor, to name a few. The Pulitzers and National Book Awards for alumni continue to stack up and in 2008, the town was named America’s first UNESCO City of Literature.”

Read the full article from CNN Travel by clicking here.

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Money Magazine: University of Iowa named one of America’s best colleges

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Getting Here

Here, creativity lives on every stage, gallery wall, and page. With a pulse on the past and a passion for what’s next, our cultural scene will leave you inspired long after the final act.
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Rankings

Our area consistently ranks as a top community in which to live, work, play, and raise a family. The recognitions listed below are just a few of the accolades our destination has received in the last few years.
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Restaurants

In Iowa City you may feast upon milk shakes made from whole slices of pie, slurp corn chowder produced from the freshest and best corn on the planet, and order a jar of bacon as an appetizer.
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Find Your game day headquarters

Visiting to support your team when they play the Hawks or looking for a staycation to make the most of a Hawkeye victory? Here’s the best hotels to kickoff your stay.

MainStay Suites
Coralville, Extended Stay, Hotels

MainStay Suites

2491 Holiday Road Coralville, Iowa 52241 USA
Sleep Inn & Suites North Liberty
Hotels, North Liberty, Places to Stay

Sleep Inn & Suites North Liberty

485 Madison Ave. North Liberty, Iowa 52317 USA
Homewood Suites by Hilton Coralville – Iowa River Landing
Extended Stay, Hotels, Iowa River Landing

Homewood Suites by Hilton Coralville – Iowa River Landing

921 E. 2nd Ave. Coralville, Iowa 52241 USA
Hotels

The Highlander Hotel Iowa City

2525 Highlander Place Iowa City, Iowa 52245 USA
Courtyard by Marriott Iowa City University Heights
Hotels, University Heights

Courtyard by Marriott Iowa City University Heights

901 Melrose Ave. Iowa City, Iowa 52246 USA
Holiday Inn & Kinnick Conference Center
Coralville, Hotels

Holiday Inn & Kinnick Conference Center

1220 1st Avenue Coralville, Iowa 52241 USA
Brown Street Inn
Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, Iowa City

Brown Street Inn

430 Brown St. Iowa City, Iowa 52245 USA
Hampton Inn Coralville
Coralville, Hotels, Places to Stay

Hampton Inn Coralville

1200 1st Ave. Coralville, Iowa 52241 USA
Woodspring Suites Coralville
Coralville, Extended Stay, Hotels

Woodspring Suites Coralville

2680 James Street Coralville, Iowa 52241 USA
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