These are Asia’s most welcoming cities, according to Booking.com

What does it mean to feel welcomed by a city? Is it to feel oddly at home in an unfamiliar place? Is it to have its residents treat you with warmth, as if you were an old friend coming back to visit a haunt from a past life? Or is it to unexpectedly find community when you’re not looking for it?

For Booking.com, a friendly city is one that stands out for excellent service and a strong commitment to hospitality. The fourteenth edition of the Traveller Review Awards ranks the top ten friendliest cities based on more than 370 million verified reviews from travellers worldwide. Two cities in Asia have clinched a spot in the top ten, making them wonderful hidden gems worth visiting this year.

In second place is Magong, Taiwan, a lively harbour city along the western coast of Penghu Island. The city is known for its centuries-old temples and traditional architecture, including Tianhou Temple, the oldest temple dedicated to the sea goddess Mazu in Taiwan. Nearby are lively night markets, such as those on Zhongyang Old Street, which serve delicacies like oyster omelettes, grilled squid, and cactus sorbet.

It’s also got beautiful coastal scenery that you can admire as you explore fishing villages to sample fresh seafood and locally brewed drinks – the island has lovely basalt cliffs, sandy coves, and gorgeous clear waters. Visit during the Penghu Fireworks Festival to fully immerse yourself in its cultural spirit.

Eighth on the list is Takayama, Japan. The town is high in Japan’s mountainous Hida region, and maintains old traditions from the Edo period. Its Sanmachi Suji district has narrow streets lined with preserved traditional wooden merchant houses, sake breweries, and artisanal shops, making you feel as if you’re wandering through a city from the past. 

It also has a lively market of its own, the Miyagawa Riverside Market, and the nearby Hida Folk Village and the UNESCO-listed village of Shirakawa-go are perfect examples of centuries-old rural architecture. Make sure to try local specialities like Hida beef and Hoba miso grilled on magnolia leaves.

Here’s the world’s 10 most welcoming cities, according to Booking.com:

1. Montepulciano, Italy
2. Magong, Taiwan
3. San Martín de los Andes, Argentina
4. Harrogate, UK
5. Fredericksburg, Texas, USA
6. Pirenópolis, Brazil
7. Swakopmund, Namibia
8. Takayama, Japan
9. Noosa Heads, Australia
10. Klaipeda, Lithuania

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