People are the friendliest in these European cities
Whether you're yelled at by the bus driver, ripped off in a restaurant, or laughed at because of the language barrier—things can get a little rough in Europe's big cities. But there are exceptions: bastions of hospitality and warmth where you feel at home even when you're far away.
A ranking by "Condé Nast Traveller" reveals which ones they are. Readers of the British travel magazine voted for Europe's friendliest cities as part of the "Reader's Choice Awards." We present the top 5 – even a German city made it into the list.
It wasn't a city from Southern Europe that took first place, but rather Stockholm, Sweden. The Scandinavian metropolis is known for its culture, good design, and environmental friendliness. According to Condé Nast Traveler, the Swedes are a polite, open-minded, and cheerful people.
Fika, the Swedish coffee break ritual, plays a significant role in this. It's not just about hot drinks and cinnamon rolls, but also about sharing time together.
Budapest takes second place with 91.88 points. The Hungarian capital is famous for its breathtaking Danube landscapes, its historic city center, and impressive architecture. But what makes the city truly unique are its people.
Visitors are not only warmly welcomed here, but also lovingly introduced to Budapest's culture and history. The close and warm relationship between the people of Budapest has left a lasting impression on readers.
Although Valencia is less well-known than Barcelona or Madrid, it ranks third in the friendliness ranking with a score of 91.00. The Spanish coastal city, which was recently hit by severe storms and flooding, impresses with its combination of Mediterranean lifestyle, modern architecture, and a vibrant cultural scene.
The survey particularly emphasized the openness of the locals, who always have a smile for visitors, even away from the tourist hotspots.
Is it the Viennese charm, the generous portions of whipped cream that no pastry can do without, or the cozy atmosphere of life in Vienna? The Austrian city has definitely reached fourth place in the Condé Nast rankings with 89.73 points.
It boasts impressive historic architecture such as St. Stephen's Cathedral and Schönbrunn Palace, and is a center of the arts and culture scene. Vienna is also considered one of the most livable cities in the world due to its high quality of life and green urban landscape.
Hard to believe, but true: Our capital city is also included in the ranking of Europe's friendliest cities. A mistake? Perhaps the readers of the British magazine simply encountered particularly friendly bus drivers. They appreciate Berlin , for example, as a city where the past is just as present as modern life, where diversity and freedom play a major role. The city is internationally known for its vibrant nightlife and for Christopher Street Day (CSD), one of the world's largest parades celebrating the LGBTQ+ community.
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Berlin also performed well in a survey by the language learning platform "Preply," which identified the unfriendly cities in Germany . Instead, the Ruhr metropolis of Essen took first place.
Of course, we don't want to withhold the remaining places from you either. Here's an overview of the ten friendliest cities in Europe :
- Stockholm, Sweden: 94.07 points
- Budapest, Hungary: 91.88 points
- Valencia, Spain: 91.00 points
- Vienna, Austria: 89.73 points
- Berlin, Germany: 89.71 points
- Palma de Mallorca, Spain: 89.52 points
- Copenhagen, Denmark: 89.36 points
- Lisbon, Portugal: 88.38 points
- Milan, Italy: 88.00 points
- Naples, Italy: 87.81 points
Looking for more inspiration? You can find tips for all the top travel destinations at reisereporter .
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