Travelers Share Cities Where They Felt Unwelcome

Travelers are sharing their experiences of feeling unwelcome in various cities, citing factors such as perceived hostility from locals, unfriendly service workers, and anti-tourism sentiments. A discussion on social media prompted travelers to name destinations where they encountered these negative experiences.

Barcelona was frequently mentioned, with some users describing "open hostility" and referencing "tourists go home" banners. One traveler noted, "In Barcelona, they're unfriendly to tourists, but seemingly, to each other as well." However, other visitors defended the city, stating their experiences were positive and that protests against overtourism were separate from the general attitude of residents.

Paris also appeared on lists of cities where tourists felt unwelcome. Complaints included descriptions of "horrible rude people" and arrogance, with some travelers reporting being treated rudely despite making an effort to speak French. Contrary to these accounts, many other individuals shared positive interactions in Paris and France, describing French people as "incredibly happy, helpful, and sociable."

Surprisingly, Kyoto was named by some as an "unfriendliest" city. One user commented that in Kyoto, "you may feel very unwelcome in contrast to the rest of Japan." Another reported experiencing resentment from locals and aggressive driving in tourist-heavy areas. Some attributed these feelings to the behavior of other tourists, suggesting that increased overtourism has led to locals being "done with us." Conversely, many travelers recounted warm interactions in Kyoto, including being invited to dinner by locals and finding people to be kind and welcoming, especially in smaller establishments.

Other locations mentioned included Hawaii, where one half-Asian traveler reported receiving "death stares" in a supermarket, and Philadelphia, where a visitor described encounters with rude restaurant workers, transit employees, and police, deeming it the "most unwelcome" place they had visited across numerous U.S. states and foreign countries.

In contrast to these negative experiences, travelers also highlighted cities where they felt exceptionally welcome. Tokyo was praised for its welcoming and polite residents. Greece was cited as a place with very kind people. Salvador, Brazil, was singled out as being the most welcoming destination by one traveler.