
Who doesn’t appreciate a taste of Italy every now and then? It has wonderful cuisine, amazing vistas, amazing weather, and it is steeped in culture. All of these things make it an amazing place to visit.
But things just got much better because one of its villages was just recognised as having the friendliest residents anywhere in the globe.
Booking.com ranked Polignano a Mare first overall when it comes to selecting the holiday destination with the friendliest people to interact with.
The town is located on the coast of the Adriatic Sea in Italy and is famous for its stunning clifftop setting and white pebble beaches. In addition, it currently boasts the hospitality industry that is the warmest and friendliest of any place on the planet.

Photo: depositphotos.com
Hualien City, which is located on the east coast of Taiwan and is famous for its night markets as well as its spectacular natural beauty, came in at number two on our list.
San Sebastián, located in northern Spain, came in second place in the friendliness survey. Once a sleepy fishing village, it is now known for its abundance of Michelin-starred restaurants.
Following Lonely Planet’s announcement that it will be one of the best places to go in 2023, Dresden, Germany, was also included on this list.
The top ten most welcoming destinations in the world:
- Polignano a Mare, Italy
- Hualien City, Taiwan
- San Sebastián, Spain
- Dresden, Germany
- Klaipeda, Lithuania
- York, UK
- Ushuaia, Argentina
- Porto De Galinhas, Brazil
- Mexico City, Mexico
- Gold Coast, Australia
But Booking.com didn’t stop there. The site also named the most welcoming regions in the world.
La Rioja in Spain topped the list for friendliest region, with its renowned local wine industry. Friendly faces and wine, what’s not to love?
The UK’s County Down in Northern Ireland ranked fourth for friendliest region while Newfoundland & Labrador in Canada also received a mention.
The top ten most welcoming regions in the world:
- La Rioja, Spain
- Epirus, Greece
- Oberosterreich, Austria
- County Down, UK
- Mures, Romania
- Marlborough, New Zealand
- Ninh Binh, Vietnam
- Limon, Costa Rica
- Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada
- North Dakota, USA
Epirus is a hilly region in the northwestern part of Greece; nevertheless, it also contains some beautiful beaches and coastal towns, therefore it has acquired the reputation of being one of the nicest regions in Greece.
Even though Ninh Binh and Mures may not be as well-known among tourists as other destinations, you can take comfort in the fact that the locals there are eagerly anticipating your arrival and will do their best to make you feel at home.
Keeping all of this in mind, where do you plan to go on your next trip?