So, we’re not just the friendliest city in the UK now, but the second friendliest in the whole world! Of course, we all already knew that Glaswegians are warm people, but seeing it confirmed feels right.
A study commissioned by Fernwayer revealed the world’s friendliest places, from the warmest of places to the least amicable. The human moments are what matter, whether you’re travelling or are a local. So, the study looked at “1.2 million online comments to see where people felt genuinely embraced”. And, shocker, capital cities did not do particularly well!
Mérida in Mexico is officially the friendliest city in the world, scoring 95 points out of 100, with Glasgow trailing slightly behind at 94.9 points, so that’s almost like a tie, right?!
Bogotá in Colombia came third on the list with a score of 94.5, while Bodrum in Turkey is the fourth friendliest city in the world with a score of 94.4. Manchester completed the top five, with still a great score of 94/100!
But how do you measure friendliness?
The study described friendliness as “the sense of being genuinely received by the people who live in a place”, focusing on travellers’ experiences. It’s that moment of not just surface-level politeness, but genuine curiosity and warmth. And, well, you’ll certainly find plenty of that and so much more here in Glasgow!
Analysing 1.2 million Reddit comments, the study spanned 200 cities, looking at how often travellers would comment on the friendliness of the people. What is more, rudeness was also looked at, with the world’s unfriendliest places also named.
Regarding Glasgow, the report stated: “Scotland’s largest city built its reputation on exactly this, to the point that “People Make Glasgow” is its official motto, and the data bears the slogan out. Travellers described an unpretentious, quick-to-chat warmth that set Glasgow apart from more-visited British cities, many finding the people “much friendlier in Glasgow than Edinburgh” (placing 157th in our ranking) and praising Glaswegians for their “personality and humour.” More than one simply called them “just the best.””
And yes, Edinburgh came 157th out of 200 on the list – yikes!
The friendliest cities in the world
The least friendly cities in the world
