Palm Beach has been a destination of choice for the rich and beautiful since it was built as America’s first resort destination in the late 1800s. Now, more than a century later, it’s having a moment once again.
According to new data from travel insurance company Travel Guard, Palm Beach is one of the fastest-rising U.S. destinations Americans are after right now, with searches for luxury trips up 67 percent year over year. For its study, the company analyzed two years of Google search data to uncover which places are gaining momentum, and Palm Beach took one of the top spots.
That comes as little surprise to locals: with ultra-luxury residences popping up downtown and along the Intracoastal Waterway in neighboring West Palm Beach—and bastions of finance like Wells Fargo moving their headquarters to the city in droves—wealth is concentrating in Palm Beach at a more rapid clip than ever before, and vacationers can feel the effects of that, too.
Luxury and Palm Beach have gone hand in hand since the town emerged in the early 1900s as a winter retreat for America’s wealthiest families. That legacy is obvious with a stroll down Worth Avenue—lined with couture boutiques, jewelers, and storied designer houses, it remains one of the world’s most iconic high-end shopping streets.
The island’s hotel scene blends heritage with reinvention. Grande dames like The Breakers, The Colony Hotel, and The Brazilian Court Hotel continue to evolve, while newer additions like Palm House bring fresh energy. Soon, The Vineta Hotel will debut as a reimagining of the former Chesterfield Hotel, long home to the legendary Leopard Lounge. These days, the late-night scene leans toward Mary Lou’s just over the bridge—if you can get in. Wherever you stay, expect house-car service, a concierge who can secure hard-to-get reservations, and white-glove shopping deliveries—simply the Palm Beach standard.
Membership culture remains central at the Everglades Club, Bath & Tennis Club, and Sailfish Club of Florida, while Carriage House keeps the social scene evolving. Golf, tennis, yachting, charity galas, vintage cars, and polo Sundays out west remain part of life here. For a glimpse of that history, tour the Flagler Museum, the Gilded Age mansion Henry Flagler built as a wedding gift for his wife. Afternoon tea at the museum cafe offers a fitting step back into Palm Beach’s golden age.
As important as legacy is, the Palm Beach of today doesn’t run on tradition alone. A new wave of luxury moves alongside the classics, expanding how—and where—the island spends, eats, shops, and sweats.
While Worth Avenue remains Palm Beach’s most iconic shopping address, nearby pockets like South County Road and surrounding retail corridors are gaining momentum with a more contemporary mix of fashion and lifestyle brands. The Paramount building is dotted with cool, of-the-moment shops, while the Royal Poinciana Plaza continues to anchor the island’s modern luxury scene after its 2017 refresh, drawing new energy each season. This year alone brought new Cartier, Marfa Stance, and La Coqueta boutiques, alongside additions like the long-awaited Glazer Hal—reviving the building’s former life as a playhouse—and the buzzy Scandy Candy Swedish candy shop.
Dining is evolving too. Palm Beach finally has its first Intracoastal-side table at the sophisticated, lively Tutto Mare next to Glazer Hall, while locals are eagerly awaiting the opening of L.A.-exported, Italy-inspired Élephante on Royal Poinciana Way.
Wellness has also become central to the island’s modern lifestyle, with sleek gyms and Pilates studios nearly everywhere like MedHouse, Higher Order Health, and Traphouse .
Whether you go to eat, drink, build out your designer wardrobe, or indulge in a luxury hotel stay, Palm Beach has the elevated experience on lock. What’s old is revered, but the new keeps Palm Beach evolving—luxury here isn’t frozen in time, it’s moving with the people who call the island home.