Image credit: Alexander Kagan on Unsplash
Every city has a reputation. New York is renowned for its liveliness and gritty glamour, Rome is heralded as the romantic capital steeped in ancient history, Paris’ signature twinkling landmark makes it known as The City of Lights. And while being known as the city with the most beautiful scenery or the most delicious street food are reputations well worth having, it is perhaps the title of friendliest city that is of most value.
A friendly city is one where tourists are welcome, residents are kind, shopkeepers are happy to see you and drivers are patient. It’s a city filled with smiling people riding bikes through the streets, dog-owners waving to one another on their morning stroll, commuters not pushing nor shoving to get on the train, but standing aside to let the elderly lady through. Idyllic that may sound—and not all that realistic—but friendly is arguably the most useful thing a city can be.
You may think your city is as friendly as it gets—a city is often most friendly to those who live within it—but new research from online learning platform Preply has the facts to back up the claims. Through an analysis of various key metrics, like the friendliness of staff, LGBTQ+ equality, and safety, Preply have determined the 10 cities that can actually call themselves among the friendliest in the world—two of which are on home soil.
To see the 10 cities that made the cut, read on—it might just help you decide where to head for your next adventure.
