November 28, 2025, 3:29 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Are big cities rough and unfriendly? Not at all! A recently published ranking shows it can be quite the opposite and lists the ten friendliest European metropolises. TRAVELBOOK presents the three friendliest cities in Europe and highlights the top 10.
Culture, shopping, nightlife: There are many good reasons to take a city trip. However, tourists from more tranquil areas often find themselves overwhelmed by the big city and its sometimes harsh tone and interactions. For all those—and also for those simply seeking travel inspiration—the magazine “Condé Nast Traveller” has once again compiled a list of the top 10 friendliest cities in Europe as part of its “Reader’s Choice Awards.”
According to the magazine, selecting this year’s winners was “one of the toughest in the history of our awards,” with all cities in the top 10 scoring at least 90 percent. Many of these cities are also very popular among German tourists. Scandinavia is particularly well-represented in 2025, with three cities in the ranking. Spain and Portugal each have two cities on the list. And Germany? Last year, the German capital surprised by ranking fifth. This year, neither Berlin nor any other German city is among the top 10 friendliest cities in Europe.
Overview
The Friendliest City in Europe is in Germany’s Neighboring Country
According to CN’s “Reader’s Choice Awards,” the Austrian capital Vienna is the friendliest city in Europe. It achieved a score of 96.25 percent, a figure meant to represent average overall satisfaction, as the magazine notes in its ranking. Besides being the friendliest city in Europe, Condé Nast also ranks it as the third-best city on the continent and the second-friendliest in the world (only Quito in Ecuador is considered friendlier).
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Two Cities Tie for Second Place in Southern Europe
The first city tying for second place on the European continent is Florence in Italy. The historic art center in Tuscany received 95 percent, placing it just behind Vienna. Condé Nast praises Florence as a reserved city with relaxed yet deeply moving, authentic locals.
Another city popular with German tourists, San Sebastian in Spain’s Basque Country, achieved the same score as Florence. The picturesque coastal city in northern Spain shares the second and third places with the central Italian city of Florence. The magazine describes San Sebastian as the “ultimate playground for foodies,” with people “proud of their open-minded inclusivity and community commitment.” “Safety, accessibility, and a family-friendly atmosphere” are top priorities in the northern Spanish city.
The Ten Friendliest Cities in Europe at a Glance
In addition to Europe’s three friendliest cities, there are seven more that Condé Nast readers found so welcoming that they made it onto the list of Europe’s friendliest cities. According to Condé Nast, these are the top 10:
1. Vienna, Austria (96.25 percent)
2./3. Florence, Italy (95.00 percent)
2./3. San Sebastian, Spain (95.00 percent)
4. Reykjavik, Iceland (94.29 percent)
5. Lisbon, Portugal (93.04 percent)
6./7. Copenhagen, Denmark (92.31 percent)
6./7. Oslo, Norway (92.31 percent)
8. Porto, Portugal (92.00 percent)
9. Madrid, Spain (91.11 percent)
10. Prague, Czech Republic (90.00 percent)
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Comparing this year’s list with last year’s, one thing stands out: Not only is Berlin missing, but except for Vienna (2024: 4th place), Copenhagen (2024: 7th place), and Lisbon (2024: 8th place), all cities from last year are absent. Assuming the residents haven’t changed drastically, this ultimately shows that this ranking is highly subjective. For instance, Stockholm was crowned the friendliest city in Europe in 2024—this year, the Swedish capital isn’t even in the ranking.