Travel anxiety these days rarely has much to do with lost luggage or delayed flights. For a lot of Americans heading abroad, the quieter worry is simpler: will people actually be glad they showed up? The good news is that plenty of destinations continue to answer that question with genuine enthusiasm, backed by favorability surveys, tourism data, and the everyday experiences of travelers who have gone before.
Some of these countries share deep historical ties with the United States. Others have simply built reputations on hospitality that has little to do with politics at all. Either way, the following twelve places consistently show up where American visitors describe feeling like welcome guests rather than tolerated outsiders.
1. Portugal
Portugal has become one of the most talked about destinations for American travelers, and the numbers back up the buzz. Portugal is a top choice for American travelers in 2025, with over a million U.S. visitors in the first half of 2024 alone.[1] That is a striking figure for a country of roughly ten million people, and it has not diluted the warmth that makes a trip there feel personal rather than transactional.
Safety plays a role too. Portugal is consistently ranked as one of the safest countries in the world, and in 2026, it remains in the top 10 of the Global Peace Index, well ahead of the U.S.[1] Add in a relaxed pace of life and locals who are known for going out of their way to help visitors, and it becomes easy to understand why Lisbon and Porto keep landing on friendliness lists year after year.
2. Italy
Italy tends to top nearly every European friendliness survey involving American tourists, and the sentiment appears to run deep rather than superficial. Just two percent of Italians said their country is unwelcoming to Americans, a remarkably low number reflecting how Italians adore the curiosity of American tourists exploring Italian culture, along with a historical connection rooted in gratitude for America’s role at the end of World War II.[2]
The hospitality has also been recognized on a broader industry scale. Booking.com’s most recent Traveler Review Awards reinforce the pattern, since Italy won the most hospitality awards for the ninth year in a row, ahead of France, Spain, Germany, and the United Kingdom.[2] From animated conversations on Roman streets to patient shopkeepers in Venice, the country treats visitors as guests worth impressing rather than just another line of tourists.
3. Poland
Poland rarely gets the same spotlight as Western Europe, yet American travelers who go there often come away surprised by how welcomed they felt. Poles are perceived as very friendly, open-minded, and supportive, and what often amazes Americans is the level of general knowledge that the average Polish person has.[1] Krakow, Warsaw, and Gdansk in particular tend to leave a strong impression on first-time visitors.
The tourism figures support the anecdotal warmth as well. In 2025, nearly 59 million tourists stayed in Polish accommodation facilities, with foreign arrivals reaching 15.2 million, making Poland one of the fastest-growing destinations in Europe.[1] That kind of growth rarely happens without a hospitality culture that keeps people coming back and telling friends.
4. Japan
Japan might seem like an unlikely candidate at first glance, given the language barrier and a culture that prizes formality over casual small talk. Yet the data and traveler accounts tell a different story. In March 2025, Japan saw a record breaking surge in tourism, with over three million foreign visitors, driven by strong arrivals from the U.S., marking the fastest pace of growth in Japan’s tourism in recent memory.[3]
Part of the reason ties back to the concept of omotenashi, a form of hospitality baked into Japanese culture. Japanese hospitality, known as “omotenashi,” extends exceptional service to all visitors, but Americans often find themselves the subject of genuine curiosity and warmth from locals eager to practice English and learn about American life.[4] American visitors often describe feeling unusually cared for, even amid the cultural distance.
5. South Korea
South Korea’s reputation among American travelers has been building steadily, and survey data reflects it clearly. South Korea has climbed steadily in surveys measuring attitudes toward American visitors, following Poland and Israel in Pew’s survey, with a 79% favorable view of the U.S.[5] That level of goodwill is not just something measured in polling rooms somewhere far removed from daily life.
It actually shows up on the ground. That kind of consistent goodwill isn’t just political sentiment, it shows up in how everyday Koreans treat American tourists navigating Seoul’s markets, temples, and neighborhoods.[5] Affordability sweetens the deal further, since South Korea is one of the destinations where US citizens can visit countries that welcome American tourists, like Italy, Hungary, and South Korea, for under $1,500, receiving warm hospitality.[5]
6. Ireland
Ireland shows up on nearly every list of countries that genuinely enjoy hosting Americans, and the connection runs deeper than typical tourist marketing. The Irish have always maintained a special connection with Americans, largely rooted in shared history and the millions of Irish-Americans who call the United States home.[6] That shared heritage tends to translate into conversations that feel personal rather than rehearsed.
The travel numbers reflect a real and growing relationship. By May 2024, American tourists accounted for roughly one in five of all foreign visitors to Ireland, a staggering share for a single source country.[1] Whether it is a pub conversation in Dublin or a scenic drive through Connemara, locals often seem genuinely pleased to share their culture with visitors from across the Atlantic.
7. Philippines
Few countries greet Americans with quite the same open enthusiasm as the Philippines, and the reasons extend well past standard hospitality customs. Filipinos show strong favorable views of Americans, with historical ties and shared democratic values creating lasting bonds between the two nations.[1] Locals often bring up that shared history in casual conversation rather than avoiding it.
The welcoming spirit is even built into how visitors are greeted. Filipinos greet visitors by saying “Feel at home!” to ensure they enjoy their stay, and from the bustling streets of Manila to the pristine beaches of Palawan, American travelers consistently report feeling genuinely welcomed and appreciated by local communities.[4] It is the kind of warmth that tends to stick with travelers long after the trip ends.
8. Vietnam
Given the complicated history shared between the two nations, Vietnam’s warmth toward American travelers can genuinely catch first-time visitors off guard. Vietnam welcomes American visitors with incredible warmth despite the complicated shared history, with younger generations focusing on the future and eager to practice English and learn about American culture.[2] That generational shift has reshaped how Americans are received across the country.
Travelers frequently note that curiosity outweighs any lingering tension. Conversations in Hanoi cafes or along the streets of Ho Chi Minh City tend to focus on shared interests rather than politics or history. It is a reminder that warmth abroad often has more to do with people looking forward than looking back.
9. Mexico
Mexico’s welcome toward American travelers is less about novelty and more about deep familiarity built over generations. Mexico’s proximity to the United States means locals are very familiar with American culture and visitors, and families take pride in sharing their traditions, with warmth extending far beyond tourist areas into small villages and hidden beaches.[3] That closeness cuts both directions rather than flowing one way.
Personal connections often reinforce the welcome even further. Many Mexicans have worked in or visited the States, creating natural connections with American travelers.[3] In places like Oaxaca and San Miguel de Allende, that familiarity tends to translate into hospitality that feels genuine rather than performed for tourists.
10. Greece
In Greece, hospitality is treated less as a courtesy and more as a cultural cornerstone. In Greece, hospitality is not just a gesture, it’s a way of life.[7] American travelers frequently mention being surprised by how warmly they are treated, particularly outside the major tourist hubs.
Smaller islands and villages tend to leave the strongest impression. From spontaneous invitations to join a local meal to helpful recommendations, the welcome here is both heartfelt and lasting.[7] The concept locals refer to as philoxenia, meaning hospitality toward strangers, has deep roots that predate modern tourism by centuries.
11. Belgium
Belgium rarely makes headlines as a top American destination, yet recent survey data places it firmly at the top of the friendliness charts. Belgium and Italy topped the friendly list, with just 1.9% of Belgian respondents saying their country is unwelcoming to Americans.[8] That figure comes from a fairly comprehensive study of European sentiment toward U.S. visitors.
The research behind that number covered a wide swath of the continent. The study polled over 2,200 residents across 22 European countries to understand current perceptions of American travelers in 2025.[8] Brussels, Ghent, and Bruges tend to offer the kind of quiet, unhurried hospitality that does not always make it into glossy travel brochures but leaves a strong impression on visitors regardless.
12. New Zealand
New Zealanders have built a reputation for an easygoing, friendly approach to life that extends naturally to visitors. New Zealanders, or Kiwis, are known for their laid-back demeanor and friendly approach to life.[7] That temperament tends to show up consistently, whether travelers are in a city center or somewhere far more remote.
The warmth rarely feels forced or scripted for tourism purposes. Whether you’re hiking in a national park or enjoying a glass of wine in a boutique vineyard, the people you meet are likely to be warm, approachable, and happy to chat.[7] For American travelers used to more transactional service in some destinations, New Zealand’s relaxed hospitality often stands out as refreshingly genuine.
These twelve countries were not chosen simply for scenery or affordability, though several happen to offer both. They earned their place because locals, government surveys, and independent researchers consistently describe American visitors as genuinely welcomed rather than merely tolerated, and that distinction tends to shape a trip far more than any single landmark ever could.
