Portugal has done it again. Porto has been named the most welcoming city in Europe in the Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards 2026, with Lisbon taking second place — meaning Portuguese cities claim the top two spots for hospitality.
The award is based on reader votes looking for places where "hospitality is at its warmest" — cities where locals will happily help you decode a restaurant menu or find your way around the metro. For Porto, nicknamed the Invicta, the magazine credits a surge in popularity as a short-break destination for food lovers and culture fans, plus an authenticity and relaxed pace that keeps pulling visitors back. The advice on offer: linger in a square lined with azulejo tiles, or order petiscos — small plates of local delicacies — alongside residents in a neighbourhood tasca.
Lisbon, just behind in second, gets its own glowing write-up. Condé Nast Traveller praises the capital's picturesque setting on its seven hills above the River Tagus, its winding alleys, soulful fado and, of course, creamy pastéis de nata. What seals the deal, according to the magazine, is the people: a youthful, inclusive energy running through the steep neighbourhoods. Two experiences stand out — joining the ritual morning espresso in the city's cafés, and timing a visit to the Festival of Saint Anthony in June, when the cobbled streets fill with open-air parties.
The rest of the European top five is rounded out by Amsterdam, Stockholm and Valletta — a varied trio spanning canals, archipelago cool and honey-coloured Maltese fortifications.
For travellers, this is less a surprise than a confirmation. Portugal has topped welcome-friendly surveys repeatedly, and the practical payoff is real: easier conversations, better recommendations from locals, and a general sense that asking for help is welcome rather than an inconvenience. If you've been weighing up a Portuguese city break, both Porto and Lisbon now have an extra reason to book — and with Ryanair, TAP and easyJet flying into both from much of Europe, they're easy to combine on a single trip, roughly three hours apart by train or a short flight.
