While friendliness isn't always the first thing you think of when you think about Swiss cities, a new study by Bounce has revealed that many visitors to the alpine nation appreciate the peace and safety that they can provide. Case in point: in their new ranking, Zurich has come out on top as the friendliest city for a break in Europe for 2023.

Europe's friendliest city breaks by Bounce

In order to determine which metropolis is the friendliest for tourists and locals alike, the company analysed the European cities included in Euromonitor’s Top City Destinations Index for 2022. They then rated each location through the following metrics:

• Crime and safety index: sourced from live data from Numbeo.
• LGBTQ+ friendliness: from the Open for Business City Rating.
• Happiness: from the World Happiness Report.
• Pickpocketing concerns: sourced from a recent survey from Numbeo.

Each city was given a score out of 10 for each category, with the average of all four forming the "Friendliness score".

Zurich the friendliest city destination in Europe

For 2023, Zurich was named the friendliest destination in Europe with a score of 9,89 out of 10. When describing the city, Bounce said that not only is Zurich a great hub for visits to the mountains, but the city itself is also awash with great things to do - many of which can be done for little or no money.

Copenhagen, Denmark came second, while Munich in Germany rounded out the podium places. Amsterdam in the Netherlands made the top four and Vienna, the most liveable city for 2023, came fifth.

Zurich praised for happiness and LGBTQ+ acceptance

Out of the cities analysed, Zurich had the joint highest happiness score (7,5 out of 10) on the list, tying with Copenhagen. “It [is] a must-visit city for those planning a vacation to a spot with friendly locals. You can find entertainment, from unrivalled nightlife to world-class museums... making it perfect for any type of getaway," Bounce added.

Zurich also benefitted from being one of only seven cities to get a triple-A rating for LGBTQ+ friendliness - which means that the city creates an “environment, community, or society that is accepting, supportive, and respectful of all identities... acknowledging and affirming the rights and identities of LGBTQ+ individuals and working towards their equality and inclusion.” Zurich Street Parade, Zurich Pride and other pride events were cited as the main reasons for the high praise.

Finally, while Munich was ranked as the safest place to visit in Europe with a crime and safety score of 19 out of 100, visitors to Zurich appear to be the least worried about losing their valuables. In a city where people leave their belongings out in the open and unprotected as they dive into the lake or river, it is perhaps of little surprise that only 13 percent of those surveyed in Zurich said they feared being pickpocketed or mugged.

10 friendliest city destinations in Europe

In all, here are the top 10 friendliest European cities for a holiday in 2023, according to Bounce.

1. Zurich, Switzerland
2. Copenhagen, Denmark
3. Munich, Germany
4. Amsterdam, the Netherlands
5. Vienna, Austria
6. Stockholm, Sweden
7. Berlin, Germany
8. Prague, Czechia
9. Edinburgh, United Kingdom
10. Dublin, Ireland

For more information about the study, check out the Bounce website.

Thumb image credit: pick2510 / Shutterstock.com