Athens GA Rankings and Accolades:

What They're Saying

We Athenians are loyal and passionate about our city. But don't take our word for it. See what others are saying about Athens, Georgia, then be sure to plan a visit to come see for yourself! We've tracked the following Athens press coverage, travel articles, rankings, and accolades:
 

2024 Athens Georgia Press Coverage

 

2023 Athens Press Coverage
 

  • "Best Places to Eat and Drink in Athens," Christiane Lauterbach, Atlanta Magazine, December 2023

  • "8 Small Town Getaways In Georgia Perfect For Families," WorldAtlas, October 2023

  • "The Three Best College Towns for Golf Trips," PGA of America, October 27, 2023

  • "9 Best Places to Live in Georgia, According to Local Realtors" (Athens ranks #3), Travel + Leisure, October 24, 2023

  • "5 Places to Retire that are Just Like Florida but Way Cheaper" (Athens ranks #1), Yahoo! Finance, October 15, 2023

  • "Best College Towns in America" (Athens ranks #2), Yahoo! Finance, October 4, 2023

  • "Best College Towns in America" (Athens ranks #5), BestColleges, September 25, 2023

  • "Explore These 10 Most Beautiful Towns In Georgia During The Fall," The Travel, August 27, 2023

  • "This American city ranks as having the best weather" (Athens is #23), Baltimore Sun, August 21, 2023

  • "America's Hidden Gems of Live Music" (Athens is #7), CheapoTicketing, August 4, 2023 

  • "Most Charming Cities in Georgia" (Athens is ranked #2), WorldAtlas.com, June 16, 2023

  • "Best Places To Retire In 2023: Pittsburgh And Other Affordable Hot Spots," Forbes, May 12, 2023

  • "Georgia’s Two ‘Five Points’ Present A Stark Contrast In Style," Forbes, April 16, 2023
    "Five Points is a 1920s-era neighborhood that offers the perfect blend of traditional charm and retro flare.​" 

  • “Best Cheap Vacations in the U.S.," U.S. News, April 2023

  • "Best Places to Travel in 2023," Forbes Advisor, January 2023 
    "There’s so much more to this college town than just football." 

  • "10 US College Towns Worth Visiting Even If You Don’t Have a Kid There," InsideHook, January 26, 2023 

 

2022 Athens Press Coverage

  • “Best Places to Visit in Georgia” (Athens is #3 of 17)  U.S. News & World Report., October 2022

  • "25 Best College Towns and Cities," Travel + Leisure, September 9, 2022
    ". . . a place with a thriving music and nightlife scene. . . .  It’s got a stellar coffee culture too." 

  • "10 Best College Towns in America," The Points Guy, September 7, 2022
    "If you are planning to cheer on the home team or follow your alma mater on the road this season, we found 10 of the best college towns to visit this fall."

  • "12 Best Places to Travel in October 2022," Travel + Leisure, August 22, 2022
    "These are the best places to travel in October in the United States and around the world."

  • "16 Actually Cool Things to Do in Athens, Georgia," Thrillist.com, March 28, 2022

  • Avid Bookshop was listed in "10 Women-led Bookstores Across the U.S.", Thrillist.com, March 22, 2022
     
  • "South's Best College Town", Southern Living, March 8, 2022
     
  • Discover USA Series, Budget Traveler, February 11, 2022
     
  • "30 Most Charming Small Town Downtowns in America," HGTV, February 8, 2022
     
  • Condor Chocolates: "The Best Chocolate From Around the World to Gift This Valentine’s Day," Conde Nast Traveler, February 1, 2022
     
  • "10 Best Places for a Cycling Vacation," Lonely Planet, January 19, 2022

 

2021 Athens Press Coverage

  • Georgia's "Best Trips of the Year," Explore Georgia

  • "The Coolest City to Visit in Each State," The Discoverer, December 2021
     
  • "The Most Underrated Travel Destinations in the U.S." HuffPost, November 18, 2021
    "Travelers can visit famous performance venues like Georgia Theatre and the 40 Watt Club, and explore the downtown's many bars and restaurants."
     
  • "Best Cities in the US for Craft Beers and Brews" (Athens is #15), Fodors.com, November 2021
    "Athens exudes a youthful, lively vibe. It’s inventive and creative — so of course, their beers are, too.
     
  • "College Football's 25 Best Tailgates in 2021" (UGA is #5), 247sports.com, August 18, 2021
    "Bulldog fans . . .  create one of the craziest road environments for any team in the sport."
     
  • "Best Cheap Vacations in the US," University Magazine (Canada), August 4, 2021
    "There are several free attractions in Athens, including . . . the Georgia Museum of Art and the State Botanical Garden of Georgia."
     
  • "Five Reasons why Athens, Georgia is the Perfect Post-Pandemic Vacation Spot," May 25, 2021, Sightseers Delight
    "This deceptively sleepy city is, at first glance, everything you think it is: quaint, stately, and historic . . . , but it’s also a quirky and vibrant place filled with hidden gems for travelers."
     
  • "The Coolest College Towns in America," The Discoverer, April 2021
    "This historic town features all the quintessential calling cards of the South, from a restored victorian-era downtown to boulevards shaded by drooping oak trees."
     
  • "The 10 Best Day Trips from Atlanta," Lonely Planet, March 10, 2021
    "The pleasant, walkable downtown offers a plethora of funky choices for eating, drinking and shopping."
     
  • UGA Golf Course, #5, "Best Courses you can Play: Georgia," Golfweek, April 6, 2021
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2020 Athens Press Coverage

Livability Top 100 2020

2019 Athens Press Coverage

  • "10 Southern Trips You Need to Plan in 2020," December 2019 SouthernLiving.com 
  • Creature Comforts, one of the "35 Most Important Brewery of the Decade (2010s), VinePair.com
  • Fodor's Go List 2020, (one of just seven in the U.S.), Fodors.com, November 2019
  • "Found: The Best Breakfast Spot in Georgia Is Hiding in This College Town," Yahoo.com, October 2019 
  • "The 10 Best Restaurants in Athens," Atlanta Magazine, September 20, 2019
  • #1, "Best Music Cities to Live in," CubeSmart.com, August 2019
  • "The 10 Best College Football Destinations," #9, Ravereviews.org, August 2019 
  • "Great Places to Follow Your Passions in Retirement 2019," Forbes, August 27, 2019
  • "Best college football tailgate locations for 2019," #3, 247sports.com, August 17, 2019
  • "Top 10 Best Places to Retire in Georgia in 2019,"#4,  InvestmentsU.com August 14, 2019 
  • Uga, #1 "Greatest Mascot in College Football History," Sports Illustrated, August 12, 2019
  • "College Football's Greatest College Towns," #2, Sports Illustrated, August 12, 2019
  • "Stunning alternative cities you've never thought to visit but really should," BestTravelTale.com, August 7, 2019
  • 15 Under-the-Radar Places to Visit Before they get Popular, CheatSheet, June 19, 2019
  • Thor drinks Creature Comforts! How a local Athens craft beer ended up in Avengers: End Game.
    • "'Avengers: End Game' gives Athens, Georgia craft beer some screen time," USA Today,  May 8, 2019
    • ​Thor and an IPA: How Craft Beer Caught Marvel’s Attention, CraftBeer.com, May 1, 2019
    • How Creature Comforts Beer Scored That Starring Role in ‘Avengers: Endgame,' EldridgeATL.com, April 30,2019
    • How Creature Comforts became Thor’s beer of choice in Avengers: Endgame, AtlantaMagazine.com, May 1, 2019
  • Best Places to Retire in 2019," Forbes, April 23, 2019
  • "9 Georgia Getaways Perfect for a Girls' Trip," Southern Living, April 2019
  • 40 Watt Club, "10 Best Small Music Venues in the US," Uproxx, April 3, 2019
  • "6 Best Southern Destinations for Art Lovers," This is My South, April 2019
  • Terrapin Brewery, "MLB Ballpark Beer Guide," Sports Illustrated, March 2019 
  • "25 Best Romantic Getaways for Couples," Vacation Idea, March 2019 
  • "Coolest City to Visit in Each State," The Discoverer Blog, February 2019
  • The Expat, "The South's Best New Bars," Garden and Gun, February-March 2019

 

2018

  • Creature Comforts, "Best Brewery in Every State" [GA], Thrillist.com, Nov. 26, 2018
  • "Top 10 Bleisure Travel Destinations," Carrentals.com, Nov. 12, 2018
  • "The South's Best College Towns 2018," Southern Living
  • "The South's Best Food Cities 2018," Southern Living
  • "#1 College Football Town in America," HeroSports, August 30, 2018
  • "Best Places to Retire in Each State," Athens is a "perennial favorite," Forbes, Aug. 28, 2018
  • Spotlight on Athens, Georgia, LoveExploring, September 3, 2018
  • The World Famous: "21 Best Bars in America 2018" Esquire, May 30. 2018
  • "10 Under-the-Radar US Travel Destinations" TheTravel.com, July 26, 2018
  • "The 16 Most loyal Fan bases in College Football" (#4), TheSpun.com, May 1, 2018
  • "Best College Towns You Can Visit Across America," CheatSheet, April 29, 2018
  • "Best Places to Retire 2018" (fourth consecutive year), Forbes, April 23, 2018
  • "Greenest City" Award, Insurify, April 2018
  • "25 Best Places to Visit in the Southern USA," Vacation Idea - Dream Vacation Magazine, March 2018
  • #7, "Best College Campuses in America," Business Insider, March 2018
  • #6, "Best College for Sports Fans," USA Today 10Best, March 2018
  • 2018 Live, Work, Play City Award Winner (Large cities category) - Georgia Municipal Association, in association with Georgia Trend magazine, February 2018
  • "50 Best (smaller) College Towns with the Best Music Scenes," GoodDeedSeats.com, February 2018
  • "Athens, Georgia:  A Romantic College Town that Sports a Thriving Arts, Culinary & Music Scene," DatingAdvice.com, February 2018

2017

  • UGA Golf Course, #12 "Top Rated Golf Courses in the US for 2017," GolfAdvisor.com
  • "Best College Football Towns in America" (ranked #2), USA Today Sports, Nov. 17, 2017
  • "7 U.S. Cities that are Hipper Than you Think," Jetsetter, Nov. 1, 2017
  • "America's Coolest Southern Towns," Jetsetter, Sept. 27, 2017
  • "12 Best Music Towns in the Nation," Expedia, September 25, 2017
  • UGA, one of the "South's Most Beautiful Colleges," Southern Living, September 2017
  • "Underrated food cities in the south," USA Today, September 18, 2017
  • "Best Small Towns in the South for Retirement," Southern Living, June 2017
  • Wildwood Revival, "Nine Southern festivals well worth adding to the calendar," Garden & Gun, June 15, 2017
  • "Prettiest Town in Every State" - The Daily Meal, May 2017
  • "Best Places to Retire in 2017" - Forbes
  • "2017's List of Best Places to Retire" - AARP
  • #2, "Top 5 Mid-sized South Atlantic Cities," RewardExpert.com, April 2017
  • #3, "South's Best Breweries, 2017," Southern Living, April 2017
  • #7, 10 "Best Botanical Gardens," USA Today 10Best, March 31, 2017
  • #1, "The 24 coolest towns in the USA," Matador Network, March 15, 2017
  • #3, "The Most Overlooked Cities in the USA," DK Travel, March 2017
  • "3 Reasons Athens Rocks this Spring and Summer," ExploreGeorgia.org, March 7, 2017
  • "Top Spring Gardens Worth Traveling For," FlipKey, February 15, 2017
  • "Why Athens Deserves a Spot on Your Bucket List," StyleBlueprint.com, January 2017
  • "8 Film Festivals Worth the Trip," ExploreGeorgia.org, January 2017
  • "Best Trips 2017," National GeographicTraveler, December 2016 / January 2017
  • Terrapin Brewing Company, Top Brewer in Georgia, RateBeer Best Awards, 2016 & 2017

2016

  • "25 Most Giving Cities in the U.S.," Travelocity.com, November 9, 2016
  • "25 Best Day Trips from Atlanta," VacationIdea.com, November 8, 2016
  • "9 Places to Shop for Georgia-made gifts," ExploreGeorgia.org, November 8, 2016
  • "Nicest Place in the South: October 2016," PorterBriggs.com, October 1, 2016
  • #1, "Top 25 College Towns," Fansided, September 28, 2016
  • "Best of the Southeast, Travel Like A Local and Drink," Atlanta Journal-Constitution, September 25, 2016
  • Seabear Oyster Bar, "Where in the World to Eat (greatest restaurants around the globe)," Conde Nast Traveler, September 20, 2016
  • #13, "The 18 Most Underrated Cities in the U.S.." Conde Nast Traveler, September 2016
  • "Best College Towns in America" (#10), CollegeRank, August 2016
  • "19 Best College Towns in America," MSN Lifestyle and  PureWow, August 17, 2016
  • "Best College Towns in America for Food," MSN Lifestyle, July 15, 2016
  • "#1 SEC City for Craft Beer," SEC Country, July 2016
  • "Top 17 Most Affordable U.S. Cities of 2016," Inuit Mint, July 1, 2016
  • "Best Town in College Football," Athlon Sports, June 23, 2016
  • Five & Ten, "America's 100 Best Wine Restaurants of 2016," Wine Enthusiast, June 2016
  • "The 9 Best Cities for Singer-Songwriters," Livability.com, April 24, 2016
  • "25 Best Places to Retire," Forbes.com, April 4, 2016 
  • "Final Four - Best Southern College Towns," GardenandGun.com, March 29, 2016
  • "These Are the Best New Cities for Beer Lovers," Fortune.com, March 2, 2016
  • "Athens Favorite Five and Ten Gets National Recognition," ExploreGeorgia.org, February 22, 2016
  • "9 Bike-Friendly Cities in Georgia," Georgia Trend, February 2016
  • The 12 Best U.S. Cities for Music Lovers," The Culture Trip, January 10, 2016
     

2015

  • "Great Small Towns to Visit in 2016," VisitSouth, December 6, 2015
  • "5 Budget-Friendly Halloween Activities in Geogia," ExploreGeorgia.org, October 8, 2015
  • "Athens, GA: Creative Culture - Biotech, Bulldawgs, and Intown Business," Georgia Trend, October 1, 2015
  • "Doggie Style in the SEC: Part 3," TravelTails.net, September 30, 2015
  • Athens Farmers Market, "The South's Best Farmers' Markets," Southern Living, September 2015
  • "5 Reasons to Visit Athens, GA," LL World Tour, September 23, 2015
  • "Best College Football Towns," Travel + Leisure, September 7, 2015
  • "Underrated Summer Vacation Spots You Need to Visit," American Live Wire, July 9, 2015
  • Athens, GA City Guide, Design Sponge, June 2, 2015
  • "Three Must-Try Georgia Farmer's Markets," Explore Georgia, May 11, 2015
  • "These Spring Cocktails Will Wet Your Whiste," Explore Georgia, May 8, 2015
  • "Best College Towns for Food & Drink," Thrillist, May 6, 2015
  • "5 Rooftop Dining Destinations in Georgia," Explore Georgia, April 24, 2015
  • "UGA ranked No. 2 among college towns in SEC," 247Sports.com, April 21, 2015
  • "Take Five: The Essential Athens, GA," PasteMagazine.com, April 21, 2015
  • "Best Under-the-Radar Family Destinations in the U.S.", VacationIdea.com, April 20, 2015
  • Creature Comforts, "Best New Breweries in the U.S." The Daily Meal via Fox News, January 13, 2015
     

More Athens GA press coverage, rankings, and accolades from 2014 and prior.