Southeast Asian city ranks as world's most welcoming

Singapore has been ranked the world’s most welcoming city for travelers, ahead of London and Sydney, in a global study by travel eSIM provider Holafly.

The study assessed 200 cities worldwide based on factors including English proficiency score (EF EPI), social support score (World Happiness Report); the number of tourism and information services (OpenStreetMap), safety scores (Numbeo), visa and entry openness scores (Henley Openness Index).

Researchers also evaluated the number of local tourism services and online search interest for terms like "friendly" and "welcoming" to compile the data as of June 15, 2026.

Tourists relax at Marina Bay in Singapore, with the Esplanade and city skyline in the background. Photo by Unsplash

Singapore took the top spot with a safety score of 77.7.

Holafly noted this metric provides strong reassurance for new visitors wanting to feel secure during their journeys.

The city-state recorded a visa openness score of 164, highlighting its high accessibility to foreign nationals.

Singapore also features 41 tourism and information assistance services that give visitors reliable resources to navigate the city.

Holafly stated that a welcoming destination is defined not solely by the friendliness of its residents, but also by whether visitors feel safe, accepted, and supported.

London ranked second worldwide and was recognized for its diversity alongside its 54 tourism and assistance services.

Sydney placed third and recorded the highest English proficiency score among all the cities in the ranking.

New York ranked fourth, followed by Boston in fifth.

Penang Island in Malaysia ranked sixth, while The Hague in the Netherlands placed seventh.

Hong Kong secured the eighth position, followed by the Danish cities of Copenhagen and Aarhus in ninth and 10th, respectively.

Other cities in the top 20 included Edinburgh, Utrecht, Davao City, Ottawa, Melbourne, Prague, Amsterdam, Toronto, Montreal, and Brno.

Nine European cities made the top 20, while Canada alone accounted for three entries.

The research methodology combined the 100 most-visited cities globally with the 100 most-populous urban areas.

Each city was assessed using the six indicators before the data was normalized and combined into a final weighted score.

20 most welcoming cities worldwide in 2026. Graphics by Holafly