The most welcoming cities Europe ranking has been published by eSIM provider Holafly, which looked at 200 cities worldwide and evaluated them based on safety, visa openness, tourism and information services, and English proficiency levels among residents — and London came out as the most welcoming city in Europe and second overall globally.

The most welcoming cities Europe and global rankings matter for Indian travelers for a specific and practical reason — the four criteria Holafly used are precisely the factors that determine how comfortable, accessible, and navigable a destination actually feels when you arrive without speaking the local language. Safety, visa openness, tourism information infrastructure, and English proficiency collectively predict the quality of the visitor experience more accurately than any single traditional metric.

Singapore Claims the Global Top Spot — And Why That Makes Sense

Globally, the most welcoming city was Singapore. The Asian city-state claimed the top spot due to its safety score of 77.7 on Numbeo, a visa openness score of 164 on the Henley Openness Index, and because of the number of tourism and information assistance points across the country — 41.

Singapore’s position at the top of the global ranking will not surprise any Indian traveler who has visited. The city-state delivers what almost no other destination in the world can — a place where English is a native working language, the safety score is among the world’s highest, public infrastructure is flawless, and the tourism information network is so dense that getting lost or confused is practically impossible.

For Indian travelers, Singapore has additional depth as a welcoming destination. The South Indian and Tamil community in Singapore is one of the most established in Southeast Asia — Little India in Tekka and Serangoon Road provides a familiar cultural, food, and religious environment for Indian visitors. The SG Arrival Card (SGAC) replaces the old paper landing card and is submitted free online before travel, and Indian nationals need a visa for Singapore, applied in advance.

The Complete Global Top 20 — Who Made the List

The world’s most welcoming cities top 20 are: 1. Singapore, 2. London (UK), 3. Sydney (Australia), 4. New York City (USA), 5. Boston (USA), 6. Penang Island (Malaysia), 7. The Hague (Netherlands), 8. Hong Kong, 9. Copenhagen (Denmark), 10. Aarhus (Denmark), 11. Edinburgh (UK), 12. Utrecht (Netherlands), 13. Davao City (Philippines), 14. Ottawa (Canada), 15. Melbourne (Australia), 16. Prague (Czechia), 17. Amsterdam (Netherlands), 18. Toronto (Canada), 19. Montreal (Canada), 20. Brno (Czechia).

The Asian and Asia-Pacific representation in the global list is striking — Singapore (1), Penang Island (6), Hong Kong (8), and Davao City (13) all make the top 20, confirming that the Asia-Pacific region has invested more heavily in English-language tourism infrastructure and visitor services than any other region outside the Anglophone world.

Penang Island at sixth globally is the most unexpected result for most readers. Penang’s Georgetown district is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, heavily English-speaking from its British colonial legacy, extremely safe, and serves as a major backpacker and food tourism hub with an exceptional Indian and Tamil heritage community in Little India.

Most Welcoming Cities Europe — Top 9 European Cities in Global Ranking	Global Rank
London, United Kingdom	2nd
The Hague, Netherlands	7th
Copenhagen, Denmark	9th
Aarhus, Denmark	10th
Edinburgh, United Kingdom	11th
Utrecht, Netherlands	12th
Prague, Czechia	16th
Amsterdam, Netherlands	17th
Brno, Czechia	20th

London: Most Welcoming City in Europe — What It Means

London came out as the most welcoming city for tourists in Europe and second overall globally. London came out second overall. The UK as a whole is among the most welcoming countries worldwide, with Edinburgh coming out 11th in the ranking.

London’s European number-one position reflects its extraordinary combination of the four Holafly criteria. Its safety infrastructure — CCTV network, Metropolitan Police presence, licensed cab and transport system — generates a strong Numbeo safety score. Its Henley visa openness score reflects UK’s extensive bilateral visa-free and visa-on-arrival relationships. Its tourist information infrastructure — Visit London centres, Underground maps in 14 languages, multilingual signage, and official apps — is among the world’s most developed. And English is the native language.

For Indian travelers, London carries two additional welcoming dimensions beyond the Holafly criteria. The British Indian community — over 1.8 million strong — makes London the most India-connected major Western city in the world. Southall, Wembley, Harrow, Leicester, and East Ham all have dense Indian community infrastructure — temples, restaurants, grocery stores, and cultural institutions — that give Indian tourists a familiarity cushion unavailable in any other Western European capital.

The UK requires an Indian passport holder to apply for a UK Standard Visitor Visa before traveling. Apply through the official UK Visas and Immigration portal or VFS Global at least 3 months before your intended travel date.

Denmark’s Double Entry: Copenhagen and Aarhus

Just two other countries in Europe had two cities in the top 20: Denmark, with Copenhagen (ninth) and Aarhus (10th).

Denmark’s double entry is one of the ranking’s most analytically interesting results. Denmark is not typically associated with English proficiency in tourist marketing — but Danes consistently rank among the world’s highest English speakers as a second language, with near-native proficiency in urban areas. Combined with Denmark’s extremely high safety scores and Scandinavian infrastructure quality, both Copenhagen and Aarhus score across all four criteria.

Copenhagen is increasingly on Indian traveler itineraries — Nyhavn’s coloured townhouses, the Tivoli Gardens, the Little Mermaid, and Copenhagen’s exceptional New Nordic food scene all draw Indian travelers planning Nordic Europe trips. Aarhus is Denmark’s second city — younger, more affordable, home to ARoS Aarhus Art Museum and the Old Town open-air museum.

Prague and Brno: Czechia’s Surprising Performance

Czechia had two cities in the top 20: Prague (16th) and Brno (20th). That’s not enough to claim the title of most welcoming country overall, as Canada had three cities in the top 20 — Ottawa (14th), Toronto (18th) and Montreal (19th).

Prague’s 16th-place global ranking reflects its extraordinary investment in English-language tourism infrastructure since the 1990s. The city’s historic core — the Old Town Square, the Charles Bridge, the Prague Castle, and the Jewish Quarter — is one of the most tourist-infrastructure-heavy environments in Europe. English menus, English-speaking staff, English tourism apps, and a sophisticated tourist information centre network all contribute.

Brno at 20th is the surprise Czech entry — a university city, home to the Villa Tugendhat UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of central Europe’s most affordable and authentic city break destinations.

What the Netherlands’ Three Cities Tell Us

The Netherlands is the only country with three cities in the top 20 — The Hague (7th), Utrecht (12th), and Amsterdam (17th). The Netherlands’ extraordinary English proficiency — Dutch people routinely score highest or second highest in global English proficiency surveys outside native English-speaking countries — explains why three Dutch cities make the list simultaneously.

Amsterdam at 17th is surprisingly low given its global profile — the ranking likely reflects Amsterdam’s overcrowding challenges and the city’s own warnings to certain visitor segments. The Hague at 7th is the more surprising high performer — home to the International Court of Justice and the Peace Palace, it is a polished, safe, and deeply international city that most Indian travelers underestimate.

What This Means for Indian Travelers Planning Europe

The most welcoming cities Europe ranking provides Indian travelers with a useful planning tool that goes beyond typical tourism marketing. The four criteria — safety, visa openness, English proficiency, and tourism information infrastructure — are precisely what an Indian traveler arriving without deep local knowledge needs in their destination.

For Indian families on a first Europe trip, the most welcoming cities Europe ranking suggests starting with London — native English, massive Indian diaspora community, extraordinary museum infrastructure, and the world’s most developed tourist information network. Edinburgh, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, and Prague all offer strong English proficiency, high safety, and good tourist information as extension destinations.

All of Europe requires a Schengen visa for Indian passport holders for mainland European destinations, and a separate UK visa for London and Edinburgh. Apply well in advance — Schengen through VFS Global, UK through the official UK VISA portal. For confirmed flight reservations needed for Schengen or UK visa applications, a legitimate booking is available at flyinghelpline.com/flight-reservation/ for just ₹999. For travel insurance covering Europe trips, SafetyWing Nomad Insurance provides comprehensive Schengen-compliant coverage at affordable daily rates for Indian travelers.

FAQs — Most Welcoming Cities Europe 2026

Q: Which is the most welcoming city for tourists in Europe?

London has just been named the most welcoming city for tourists in Europe, coming out second overall globally according to eSIM provider Holafly, which looked at 200 cities worldwide and evaluated them based on safety, visa openness, tourism and information services, and English proficiency levels among residents. Edinburgh ranked 11th globally, making the UK the country with the strongest welcoming cities performance in Europe.

Q: Which Asian city topped the global most welcoming cities ranking?

Globally, the most welcoming city was Singapore. The Asian city-state claimed the top spot due to its safety score of 77.7 on Numbeo, a visa openness score of 164 on the Henley Openness Index, and because of the number of tourism and information assistance points across the country — 41. Penang Island in Malaysia ranked sixth globally, Hong Kong eighth, and Davao City in the Philippines thirteenth — giving Asia-Pacific four cities in the top 20.

Q: Which European country has the most cities in the top 20 welcoming cities ranking?

The Netherlands has three cities in the top 20 — The Hague (7th), Utrecht (12th), and Amsterdam (17th). Denmark has two cities — Copenhagen (9th) and Aarhus (10th). Czechia has two — Prague (16th) and Brno (20th). The United Kingdom has two — London (2nd) and Edinburgh (11th). The country with the most cities globally is Canada, with Ottawa (14th), Toronto (18th), and Montreal (19th).

Final Word

The most welcoming cities Europe ranking from Holafly’s 2026 study of 200 global cities confirms what experienced travelers already know — London, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, and Prague are the European cities most optimised for the foreign visitor experience, and Singapore leads the world precisely because it has engineered every dimension of the visitor experience with the same rigour it brings to everything else.

For Indian travelers using this ranking to plan Europe itineraries, the practical takeaway is clear: the cities highest on this list are the ones where your language barrier is lowest, your safety concern is minimal, and your tourist information access is highest. London for a first Europe trip. Copenhagen and Edinburgh for a second. Prague and Amsterdam for a third. Then everything else.

Also Read:

• Schengen Visa Cover Letter Indians — Complete Guide
• Madrid Tourism Record 2026 — €10B H1 Spending Up 11.4%
• Singapore Travel Guide Indians 2026 — Visa, Money and Transport

Official Sources:

• Euronews — Most Welcoming Cities for Tourists in Europe 2026
• Holafly — Most Welcoming Cities Worldwide Report