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These are the 10 unfriendliest cities in the world, in order

Travellers gave Newark in the US the dubious distinction of being named the world’s unfriendliest city. Let’s look at other such cities around the world.

Updated on: Aug 18, 2016 4:06 PM IST

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Travellers gave Newark in the US the dubious distinction of being named the world’s unfriendliest city. Let’s look at other such cities around the world.

Updated on Aug 18, 2016 4:06 PM

Travellers gave Newark in the US the dubious distinction of being named the world’s unfriendliest city. Let’s look at other such cities around the world.

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For the ranking, which was based on the answers of 128,000 people, editors at Condé Nast Traveler magazine asked travellers to rate a city’s friendliness in their annual Readers’ Choice Awards survey. Readers were asked to consider how welcome they felt, whether locals were ready and willing to show them their way; and whether the city was easy to navigate. And here’s how the readers voted. 10. Doha, Qatar: More travellers are passing through Qatar’s capital city every day as high-ranking Qatar Airways expands its international routes. Though Doha has a “beautiful airport,” readers of are not yet enamoured of the city itself, calling it “ugly,” the traffic “horrible,” and the men “rude.”

Updated on Aug 18, 2016 4:06 PM

For the ranking, which was based on the answers of 128,000 people, editors at Condé Nast Traveler magazine asked travellers to rate a city’s friendliness in their annual Readers’ Choice Awards survey. Readers were asked to consider how welcome they felt, whether locals were ready and willing to show them their way; and whether the city was easy to navigate. And here’s how the readers voted. 10. Doha, Qatar: More travellers are passing through Qatar’s capital city every day as high-ranking Qatar Airways expands its international routes. Though Doha has a “beautiful airport,” readers of are not yet enamoured of the city itself, calling it “ugly,” the traffic “horrible,” and the men “rude.”

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9. Lagos, Nigeria: Nigeria’s largest city has a bit of a split personality—the locals are outgoing (friendly even!) but the developing metropolis was less accommodating: “expensive and dangerous,” with “horrible traffic, a terrible stench, and trash everywhere.” Still, some say it’s a city on the rise, and they seek out “the rooftop bar at Maison Fahrenheit in Victoria Island—a great weekend hangout. Also, nearby is Terra Kulture, a combination of art gallery, bookshop, theatre, and restaurant—perfect for soaking up Nigerian culture in one spot.”

Updated on Aug 18, 2016 4:06 PM

9. Lagos, Nigeria: Nigeria’s largest city has a bit of a split personality—the locals are outgoing (friendly even!) but the developing metropolis was less accommodating: “expensive and dangerous,” with “horrible traffic, a terrible stench, and trash everywhere.” Still, some say it’s a city on the rise, and they seek out “the rooftop bar at Maison Fahrenheit in Victoria Island—a great weekend hangout. Also, nearby is Terra Kulture, a combination of art gallery, bookshop, theatre, and restaurant—perfect for soaking up Nigerian culture in one spot.”

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8. Detroit, Michigan: While some people said the city was still facing hard times, others reinforced the notion that “Detroit’s coming out of the bad times and really has a lot to offer, both in the city and in the surrounding suburbs.” “The energy is all you need to feel to want to return to the city again and again,” said another reader. “Things are changing and you can be a part.”

Updated on Aug 18, 2016 4:06 PM

8. Detroit, Michigan: While some people said the city was still facing hard times, others reinforced the notion that “Detroit’s coming out of the bad times and really has a lot to offer, both in the city and in the surrounding suburbs.” “The energy is all you need to feel to want to return to the city again and again,” said another reader. “Things are changing and you can be a part.”

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7. Maputo, Mozambique: A coastal city studded with colonial architecture, Maputo is also one of the world’s “fastest-growing economies”—and it suffers from some growing pains. The interest is there, and the roads have been paved, but it still “needs to be developed so it’s more user friendly.” Catch “sunset at Hotel Cardoso” to see the city at its best angle.

Updated on Aug 18, 2016 4:06 PM

7. Maputo, Mozambique: A coastal city studded with colonial architecture, Maputo is also one of the world’s “fastest-growing economies”—and it suffers from some growing pains. The interest is there, and the roads have been paved, but it still “needs to be developed so it’s more user friendly.” Catch “sunset at Hotel Cardoso” to see the city at its best angle.

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6. Caracas, Venezuela: Last year’s least-friendly international city still gets low marks, and “it’s heartbreaking,” says a reader. “It’s very sad to see a city that was once so vibrant and rich in culture, cuisine, and life has fallen into such a state of disrepair.” “Groups of people sleeping under overpasses, starving dogs along the side of the highway looking for food scraps thrown out of car windows. Food and basic supplies are in shortage.” Safety is also a major concern: “Never seen so many fully armed soldiers patrolling the streets of this city.”

Updated on Aug 18, 2016 4:06 PM

6. Caracas, Venezuela: Last year’s least-friendly international city still gets low marks, and “it’s heartbreaking,” says a reader. “It’s very sad to see a city that was once so vibrant and rich in culture, cuisine, and life has fallen into such a state of disrepair.” “Groups of people sleeping under overpasses, starving dogs along the side of the highway looking for food scraps thrown out of car windows. Food and basic supplies are in shortage.” Safety is also a major concern: “Never seen so many fully armed soldiers patrolling the streets of this city.”

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5. Atlantic City, New Jersey: “Atlantic City is a shame,” said one reader. “It is not safe to leave the boardwalk. The beach is okay but there are so many beautiful beaches along the coast that AC is not outstanding. It could be a boon to NJ if the surrounding areas could be cleaned up.” “It’s a strange, split-personality town: an odd mix of grinding poverty and over-the-top conspicuous consumption.”

Updated on Aug 18, 2016 4:06 PM

5. Atlantic City, New Jersey: “Atlantic City is a shame,” said one reader. “It is not safe to leave the boardwalk. The beach is okay but there are so many beautiful beaches along the coast that AC is not outstanding. It could be a boon to NJ if the surrounding areas could be cleaned up.” “It’s a strange, split-personality town: an odd mix of grinding poverty and over-the-top conspicuous consumption.”

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4. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: The largest city in Tanzania was “much too crowded and chaotic.” Some readers admitted to seeing it as an unremarkable “transit point,” experienced en route to a safari, a cruise, or Mount Kilimanjaro. But “Dar es Salaam is a city one has to live in or stay a while to appreciate. It isn’t very interesting to visit.”

Updated on Aug 18, 2016 4:06 PM

4. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: The largest city in Tanzania was “much too crowded and chaotic.” Some readers admitted to seeing it as an unremarkable “transit point,” experienced en route to a safari, a cruise, or Mount Kilimanjaro. But “Dar es Salaam is a city one has to live in or stay a while to appreciate. It isn’t very interesting to visit.”

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3. Oakland, California: “Some parts of the city are scary,” says one reader bluntly. But more readers thought that “Oakland is starting to renew itself. New eateries are popping up everywhere...most are local finds at this stage.” Temescal Alley is still extra-hip, and the weekend markets are where you’ll find the best of the city.

Updated on Aug 18, 2016 4:06 PM

3. Oakland, California: “Some parts of the city are scary,” says one reader bluntly. But more readers thought that “Oakland is starting to renew itself. New eateries are popping up everywhere...most are local finds at this stage.” Temescal Alley is still extra-hip, and the weekend markets are where you’ll find the best of the city.

10/11

2. Tijuana, Mexico: The US-Mexico border city draws a lot of visitors—be it American teens looking for a quick beer or travelers doing volunteer work—but it still suffers from a long-held reputation of being “dirty” and “unsafe.” Like many of these so-called unfriendly cities, though, there are signs of hope: notably, a blossoming food and craft brewery scene that some compare to San Diego’s.

Updated on Aug 18, 2016 4:06 PM

2. Tijuana, Mexico: The US-Mexico border city draws a lot of visitors—be it American teens looking for a quick beer or travelers doing volunteer work—but it still suffers from a long-held reputation of being “dirty” and “unsafe.” Like many of these so-called unfriendly cities, though, there are signs of hope: notably, a blossoming food and craft brewery scene that some compare to San Diego’s.

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1. Newark, New Jersey: Poor Newark. The least-friendly city in the US also took the top spot in the global rankings. “This was one of the saddest looking cities I’ve ever seen,” said one reader. Another said it was a “business necessity. Extreme traffic, poor signage.” “I often stay in Newark...and dine in Hoboken.” Geez! Doesn’t anyone ever go to the Ironbound District? Or anywhere other than the airport? Those looking on the bright side will tell you to head there, along with the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and Prudential Center. Newark has its bright spots, too.

Updated on Aug 18, 2016 4:06 PM

1. Newark, New Jersey: Poor Newark. The least-friendly city in the US also took the top spot in the global rankings. “This was one of the saddest looking cities I’ve ever seen,” said one reader. Another said it was a “business necessity. Extreme traffic, poor signage.” “I often stay in Newark...and dine in Hoboken.” Geez! Doesn’t anyone ever go to the Ironbound District? Or anywhere other than the airport? Those looking on the bright side will tell you to head there, along with the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and Prudential Center. Newark has its bright spots, too.

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