World's Least Welcoming City Revealed
Study Suggests Munich Perceived as Unwelcoming
In a survey conducted by the internet portal InterNations, Munich, famous for its Oktoberfest and FC Bayern, ranks as the least friendly city in the world. The state capital came in 53rd place out of 66 cities surveyed, a ranking unlikely to please city officials.
The survey polled 12,500 expatriates, individuals who work abroad for their companies, about their feelings of welcome in their new home. The results were based on categories such as overall welcoming feeling, friendliness, and the ease of cultural adaptation.
Munich scored poorly in multiple categories. The city placed 52nd in overall welcoming feeling, and its famous Bavarian grumpiness earned it a 53rd place in friendliness. A significant 41% of respondents found it difficult to culturally adapt to Munich, compared to a global average of 21%. The survey also revealed that 65% of respondents found it very difficult to make new friends in Munich, compared to the global average of 41%. Furthermore, only 37% of respondents living in Munich reported being satisfied with their social life, while the global average was 52%.
One respondent succinctly summed up the sentiment, stating, "It's difficult to establish any social contact with locals." The city's reputation for unfriendliness may be contributing to this sentiment.
The survey also revealed that other German cities did not fare better, with Hamburg, Berlin, and Frankfurt am Main placing 52nd, 51st, and 50th respectively. Cologne even made it into the top ten of the least friendly cities in the world, ranking 48th.
On a positive note, the Spanish city of Malaga topped the survey, with 80% of expats feeling welcome. Munich could potentially take inspiration from Malaga's friendliness or embrace its reputation with humor, as suggested by British professor Anthony Rowley, who has studied Bavaria's language and culture for decades, when he said, "Come to Munich, the least friendly city in the world. Enjoy our heartfelt grumpiness."
- Despite Munich's renown for Oktoberfest and FC Bayern, the city's lifestyle, fashion, and beauty scene, food and drink offerings, home and garden appeal, or travel experiences may not compensate for its perceived unwelcoming nature.
- The formidable nature of adapting to Munich's culture, as revealed by the survey, may deter some from indulging in its diverse fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, home-and-garden, travel, and sports activities.
- There seems to be a gap between Munich's sporting achievements, including sports betting successes, and its ability to welcome newcomers, as suggested by the survey results.
- For those seeking a more hospitable city, the survey reveals that Malaga offers an alternative, with its favorable rankings in friendliness and overall welcoming feeling, making it an ideal destination for lifestyle, fashion, travel, and sports enthusiasts.
