Most unwelcoming city in Europe. Africans in Germany. Most welcoming cities for immigrants. Deciding to move to another country isn’t always easy—especially if you end up in a city that isn’t friendly or welcoming. Living abroad comes with many challenges, such as learning a new language, adjusting to a different culture, dealing with paperwork, and most importantly, feeling accepted.
Today, many people move to other countries looking for better job opportunities or a nicer place to live. But not every city offers the same experience. In some places, even after months or years, immigrants still feel like outsiders.
To help those thinking about moving abroad, the group InterNations has released a global list showing the most and least welcoming cities for immigrants. The study is based on thousands of personal stories and looks at things like how easy it is to make friends, how kind the locals are, and the overall feeling of being part of the community.
The results have sparked discussion—especially since the city named the most unwelcoming is not far from Italy. It’s less than 500 kilometers away and may surprise many. Let’s take a look at the ranking.
The least welcoming cities
According to InterNations, the most unfriendly city for immigrants is Munich, Germany. Here’s the list of the ten least welcoming cities:
- Munich
- Hamburg
- Berlin
- Frankfurt
- Zurich
- Cologne
- Basel
- Oslo
- Stockholm
- Vancouver
Many found it shocking that Munich ranks first, but people who have lived there may not be surprised. About 41% of immigrants said they had a hard time getting used to the local culture, which is almost double the global average. Even more—46%—felt that locals were unfriendly toward foreigners. Many said they felt socially isolated and that most of their friends were other immigrants, not locals.
Hamburg, also in Germany, comes next. Only 42% of immigrants said the people were friendly, and a high 73% said making new friends was hard. Some said it’s not just the weather that feels cold—the people do too.
Read also: Key documents you need after gaining German citizenship
Berlin, despite being a large, diverse city, is third on the list. About 64% said they had trouble making local friends, and more than half said they didn’t feel at home there.
Overall, many cities in Northern and Central Europe—especially in German-speaking countries—seem to be less welcoming, even though they offer a good quality of life. The biggest issue for many immigrants is feeling lonely or left out.
The most welcoming cities
In contrast, some cities are known for their warm welcome and friendly people. These are the top cities where immigrants feel happy and at home:
- Malaga
- Mexico City
- Alicante
- Valencia
- Ras Al Khaimah
- Bangkok
- Madrid
- Panama City
- Nairobi
- Muscat
Malaga, Spain ranks first as the friendliest city in the world. About 84% of immigrants said the locals were friendly, and 67% said it was easy to make friends. Over 80% said they feel at home there. The relaxed lifestyle and sunny weather make it a great place to live.
Mexico City is second. More than 72% said they made friends easily, and Mexico came out on top for both general friendliness and kindness toward foreigners.
Alicante, another Spanish city, is third. Over 80% said locals were friendly, and 62% found it easy to build social connections. Spain stands out as one of the most welcoming countries, with several cities in the top ten.
These cities show that it’s possible to feel at home in a new place—if the local people are open, kind, and accepting. Picking the right city can turn a difficult move into a rewarding experience.