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The world's friendliest and unfriendliest cities — as voted by you
21.07.2023 - 07:31 / roughguides.com
Prepare to nod in agreement or, quite possibly, to be well and truly riled! It’s fair to say that our countdown through the top five friendliest and unfriendliest cities in the world — as voted by hundreds of Rough Guides' readers — contains a few surprises and plenty of brutally honest (and entertaining) opinions.
For more insight into where our readers received wonderfully warm welcomes, find out where you voted the friendliest countries in the world.
Praised for its “straightforward, friendly people”, and vibrant “hustle and bustle”, good old London was voted the fifth friendliest city in the world.
You also love the fact that Londoners were “very helpful” during your visits. This was especially true when it came to offering tips on where to eat and drink like a local, along with info on the best free things in London and the best walks near the city.
That said, while some of your shared your experience of Londoners’ generosity — for example, being “driven to places difficult to reach by bus” — a bunch of you did not feel the same way.
In fact, one of you advised: “avoid London like the plague”. As for Londoners, they were variously described as “unhelpful, unfriendly people”, and “grumpy, aggressive people". As they say, you can't win them all!
London — voted one of the friendliest cites in the world © S.Borisov/Shutterstock
A rewarding entry point for first-time visitors to Southeast Asia, you praised the city-state of Singapore for exuding “so much positive energy, you find yourself responding the same”.
In addition to being wowed by the city’s infectiously upbeat vibe, interactions with Singapore’s citizens also warmed your hearts.
As one reader reported, “Singapore people were incredibly helpful and friendly to me and, although it’s a big city, I felt everywhere I went was very friendly and welcoming”.
Singapore's impressive skyline © Shutterstock
Alongside ranking Japan as the sixth friendliest country in the world, you declared Tokyo the third friendliest city in the world.
In summary, you loved the fact that “fellow diners talk to you”, and «people couldn't do enough to help and went far out of their way to assist».
Many of you also rated being “offered help when lost or looking for something without having to ask”, not least when getting off the beaten track and exploring Tokyo’s quirky side.
You rated Tokyo highly when it came to getting a friendly reception © Shutterstock
continued below
Neatly tying in with voting Thailand the second friendliest country in the world, you named Bangkok the second friendliest city in the world.
Though vast, many of you felt at home in the city. In the words of one Rough Guides’ reader, «I felt welcomed and at ease while touring Bangkok».
Many respondents who
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