Kraków has been named one of Europe’s most welcoming cities in a major British travel magazine poll, with readers praising the former Polish capital’s hospitality and friendly locals ahead of traditional tourism giants such as Paris and Rome.
According to Polsat News, the ranking was compiled by readers of Condé Nast Traveller as part of the Readers’ Choice Awards 2026. Participants assessed the hospitality of European cities, including how friendly and open local residents are to visitors. Cities were rated on a five-point scale, which was then converted into a percentage score reflecting overall satisfaction.
Kraków secured eighth place with a score of 91.43 points, matching Vienna for the same position. The result placed Poland’s cultural capital ahead of cities that have long dominated European tourism. Paris came in only 13th with 87.46 points, whilst Rome followed closely behind in 14th place with 87.38 points.
Portuguese cities dominate the rankings
The survey focused on cities where locals are particularly helpful to tourists, such as when visitors struggle to understand a restaurant menu or get lost in the metro system. Porto emerged as Europe’s friendliest city, scoring 98.33 points. Portugal claimed two of the top three spots, with Lisbon taking second place at 97.60 points, whilst Amsterdam rounded out the podium with 97.50 points.
The full top fifteen included Stockholm in fourth (96.67), Valletta fifth (95.00), Edinburgh sixth (94.55), and Vienna sharing seventh with Kraków. Spanish cities Palma and Granada took ninth and tenth place respectively, followed by Genoa, Cork and Reykjavík.
Kraków’s growing reputation among travellers
The Małopolska capital has performed strongly in several recent international travel rankings. Earlier this year, it secured third place worldwide in the Culture category of Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best 2026. Only Singapore and London ranked higher, with Kraków beating Paris, Rome, New York and Prague.
In summer, readers of Travel + Leisure magazine placed Kraków fourth among European cities, assessing factors including historical monuments, cuisine and hospitality. Florence, Prague and Salzburg were the only cities to score higher.
What this means for Poles in the UK
For British Poles considering a visit home or encouraging friends and family in the UK to explore Poland, the ranking offers fresh evidence of Kraków’s appeal beyond its architectural heritage. The strong showing in hospitality suggests that non-Polish-speaking visitors – including British partners or children raised abroad – are likely to receive a warm welcome and practical help from locals.
The recognition from a prestigious British publication may also boost Kraków’s profile among UK travellers, potentially increasing visitor numbers and supporting the local economy. For Poles promoting Poland to British colleagues or neighbours, the Condé Nast Traveller ranking provides an independent endorsement of the city’s reputation for friendliness, addressing common concerns about language barriers or unfamiliar surroundings when travelling to Central Europe.
