The new lists reveal 10 cities and 10 regions that have been praised for their hospitality over the past 12 months.
While the photos we share from trips might feature beautiful beaches or architectural wonders, the memories that stay with us tend to involve the people we meet along the way.
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Travel recommendations from your friends or family often include comments about how friendly the locals are, and it’s certainly a factor when booking trips, particularly at a time when anti-tourist protests hit the headlines each summer.
People make a place, and if you’re looking to book a trip where the residents are known for welcoming you with open arms, Booking.com has unveiled 10 cities and 10 regions you should be visiting.
Most welcoming cities and regions in Europe
Montepulciano in southern Tuscany, Italy, came out on top overall in the world’s most welcoming cities list.
Aside from friendly locals, the hill town is known for Vino Nobile, a red wine produced nearby, with plenty of tourists heading here for vineyard tours and tastings.
English spa town Harrogate was fourth on the list, with a relaxing pampering day at the top of the agenda for tourists.
Last on the cities list (but certainly not least) is Klaipėda in Lithuania. A stroll through the port city’s charming old town is a must, particularly if you’re an art lover, as the streets are dotted with sculptures.
Four regions in Europe were also praised for being welcoming: Navarra, Spain (third); Saxony, Germany (sixth); Overijssel, Netherlands (eighth); and Epirus, Greece (ninth).
While Navarra is best known for its running of the bulls event in capital Pamplona each July, tourists also head here for its natural wonders including the badlands Bardenas Reales and Irati Forest.
Saxony offers great city breaks in capital Dresden and largest city Leipzig, while Chemnitz served as a European Capital of Culture in 2025.
Overijssel is home to Giethoorn, the so-called Venice of the North that is navigable by boat, as well as the former Hanseatic city Kampen, which is filled with historic buildings.
Epirus, in mainland Greece, is popular among hikers thanks to the Pindos Mountains range, with the villages here, known as Zagorochoria, added to UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 2023.
Most welcoming cities and regions around the globe
Magong, a city in the Penghu Islands off the west coast of Taiwan, was named the second most welcoming city globally. Folks head to the archipelago in search of clear waters as well as historic sites like the Penghu Tianhou Temple, the oldest Mazu temple in the country.
Third place went to San Martín de los Andes in Argentina, found on the stunning Lácar Lake.
Fredericksburg in Texas rounded out the top five. Named for Prince Frederick of Prussia, the small city is known for its German heritage.
Elsewhere in the top 10 were Pirenópolis in Brazil, Swakopmund in Namibia, Takayama in Japan and Noosa Heads in Australia.
Hidalgo in Mexico, home to the fascinating basalt column-lined canyon Prismas Basalticos, was named the most welcoming region in the world, followed by the wildlife-filled Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada.
Other spots on the top 10 list include US state Idaho, Himachal Pradesh in India, Phang Nga in Thailand and Chiriquí in Panamá.
How the lists were curated
The most welcoming cities and regions lists were released as part of Booking.com’s Traveller Review Award 2026.
Both lists are intended to highlight destinations that “offer hospitality that leaves a lasting impression with thoughtful touches, warm interactions, and hosts who go the extra mile”, and are based on the number of awards each destination won.
Those with a greater share of winners, proportional to the number of hotels, holiday homes and other accommodation providers listed on the website, made the cut.
