Aussie city crowned one of the ‘most welcoming’ in the world

I’ve travelled to a lot of cities across the globe, and while most of them welcome tourists with a smile, there are some that stand out from the pack.

You know the ones – where you feel safe wandering around, public transport is easy to access, there’s plenty of English signage and info spots for tourists, and friendly locals.

According to a new report from travel eSIM provider Holafly, the most welcoming city in the world is Singapore.

The small Asian city state scored so high thanks to its generous visa policies, widespread English usage, safety, and range of tourist-friendly activities.

It’s certainly one of the most welcoming cities I’ve visited – even walking the streets at 5am with a jet-lagged toddler, we never felt out of place.

We dined on street food and in high-end restaurants, navigated the metro system, chatted with locals to get their recommendations, and strolled through city parks, all without a single hiccup.

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The 'most welcoming' places in Australia, according to travellers

Second place, according to the report, goes to London, England, with a reputation as one of the world’s most diverse cities and plenty of strong tourism infrastructure.

Our very own Sydney was crowned as the third-most welcoming city in the world. Along with our English usage, the city is also praised for having a strong safety score and a traveller-friendly atmosphere.

From Bondi Beach to the Blue Mountains, the historic Rocks district to the bustling food scene of Parramatta (recently named one of the best in the world), Sydney has so much to offer tourists.

Sydney also has that relaxed outdoor culture which puts travellers at ease, and its warm and sunny climate doesn’t hurt, either.

Plus, there’s the extensive public transport network: one of the best tourist attractions is the Manly Ferry, offering views of the harbour and waterfront suburbs for just a few dollars.

Netherlands’ The Hague and Hong Kong rounded out the top five on Holafly’s report.

In fact, two countries (the Netherlands and the US clocked two entries in the top ten ranking).

Along with The Hague, the city of Utrecht, just south of Amsterdam ranked in eighth place.

Meanwhile, Boston in the USA was ranked sixth, followed closely by New York City in seventh place. While New York had a lower safety score than other cities on the list, it is highly associated with being friendly and welcoming.

The most welcoming cities in the world for 2026

1. Singapore
2. London
3. Sydney
4. The Hague
5. Hong Kong
6. Boston
7. New York City
8. Utrecht
9. Penang Island
10. Aarhus