A Conde Nast Traveler survey has rated Dublin, Ireland, fifth friendliest city in the world—up eight slots from 2013. Dublin is the only European city placed in the top five, with Seville, Spain ticking away in ninth place. This strengthens Ireland’s growing reputation as a welcoming country. First Lady Michelle Obama visited last summer, and “is a fan.” Survey participants described Dublin as a “vibrant city,” a “bibliophile’s dream” and “green, lush, and very walkable.” Niall Gibbons, chief executive for Tourism Ireland, in response to the survey told irishtimes.com that “again and again” the Irish people’s friendliness is a unique selling point. “It is the warm welcome and the ‘craic’ [roughly translated as “music and fun”] here that resonates with our overseas visitors and makes Dublin and Ireland such a great choice for a short break or holiday.”
Voted most unfriendly city was Johannesburg, South Africa—joined respectively at second and third by Cannes, France, and Moscow in Russia.
