Which countries or even cities in Europe would you describe as “welcoming”?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am black and have travelled all over the world. Black people have very different experiences in terms of being welcomed.

Finland was definitely not welcoming. Turkey was wonderful.

Unfortunately this. I did a summer studying in the Netherlands. I did fine in the Netherlands, my classmate/friend who was Asian American got a lot of weird comments.

I only spent a few days in Amsterdam but I found the people there weird with no boundaries. Like, once I was sitting on a bench outside a grocery store eating some baby carrots I just bought, waiting for my friend to come out and a guy walked up and asked me for a carrot. Not a homeless person, just a guy in his 20s. It wasn't a conversation starter, he wasn't hitting on me, he said thanks for the carrot and kept walking. There were a few other mundane incidents like that, where I thought wow, these people have no boundaries. So I can believe they would say any racist thing that came to mind, or ask to touch your hair, or other offensive things.

[Anonymous]

Portugal was the friendliest country I've ever traveled to. But this was 10 years ago before it got popular and overrun.

[Anonymous]

Scotland, Ireland.

France was surprisingly welcoming in 2022 but I think they were happy to have tourists back. The other times I was there before then, not so welcoming.

[Anonymous]

Ireland.

[Anonymous]

Ireland, as several posters have mentioned. The people were so warm and charming.
I was pleasantly surprised when I returned to Paris two years ago that the Parisians were much friendlier than I remembered, but I speak decent French, so I’m sure that helps.
Italians, both in Rome and small-town Tuscany, were very pleasant and especially kind to my 10 year old child.

[Anonymous]

How friendly are DC residents to tourists?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am black and have travelled all over the world. Black people have very different experiences in terms of being welcomed.

Finland was definitely not welcoming. Turkey was wonderful.

Unfortunately this. I did a summer studying in the Netherlands. I did fine in the Netherlands, my classmate/friend who was Asian American got a lot of weird comments.

What do you think would happen in Asia?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am black and have travelled all over the world. Black people have very different experiences in terms of being welcomed.

Finland was definitely not welcoming. Turkey was wonderful.

Interesting. I visited Helsinki as part of a school trip~10 years ago. It was fine as a black person.

I’ve also found people in Greece (Athens + Cyclades Islands), France (Paris, Marseille), Spain (Barcelona), and Belgium (Brussels) to be pretty welcoming too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am black and have travelled all over the world. Black people have very different experiences in terms of being welcomed.

Finland was definitely not welcoming. Turkey was wonderful.

Unfortunately this. I did a summer studying in the Netherlands. I did fine in the Netherlands, my classmate/friend who was Asian American got a lot of weird comments.

I only spent a few days in Amsterdam but I found the people there weird with no boundaries. Like, once I was sitting on a bench outside a grocery store eating some baby carrots I just bought, waiting for my friend to come out and a guy walked up and asked me for a carrot. Not a homeless person, just a guy in his 20s. It wasn't a conversation starter, he wasn't hitting on me, he said thanks for the carrot and kept walking. There were a few other mundane incidents like that, where I thought wow, these people have no boundaries. So I can believe they would say any racist thing that came to mind, or ask to touch your hair, or other offensive things.

Dutch are very direct.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am black and have travelled all over the world. Black people have very different experiences in terms of being welcomed.

Finland was definitely not welcoming. Turkey was wonderful.

Interesting. I visited Helsinki as part of a school trip~10 years ago. It was fine as a black person.

I’ve also found people in Greece (Athens + Cyclades Islands), France (Paris, Marseille), Spain (Barcelona), and Belgium (Brussels) to be pretty welcoming too.

Finns are reserved - I didn't find them unwelcoming to a POC.

[Anonymous]

We found everyone very kind in Denmark— maybe not over the top, but helpful and pleasant. We have small kids though which I think helps- they were VERY nice to our kids

[Anonymous]

Condé Nast Traveller Readers choicesfor friendliest cities in Europe

https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/friendliest-cities-europe
Our personal experience ce with welcoming European cities (we always try and learn basics of languages in order to be polite and it is usually appreciated even if you don’t speak their languages well)

Analfi coast in Italy - (Sorrento city)
Milan, Italy
Budapest, Hungary
Brugge Belgium
Geneva, Switzerland
Deventer, Netherlands
Galway, Dublin and Cork. Ireland
West coast of France
Berlin, Germany

[Anonymous]

As an African American woman- Italy( north and south), Portugal- Lisbon, turkey- Izmir and Istanbul, and Brussels Belgium. I try hard to speak the language and I’m very very polite - not entitled.

[Anonymous]

I’ve never felt UNwelcome in Europe anywhere.

[Anonymous]

I think there’s a misconception here that a culture that is reserved is less welcoming. We as Americans can’t assume that if someone isn’t smiling and chatty with us, they aren’t welcoming. They just don’t have the same temperament and demeanor as Americans.