15 Most Unfriendly Countries in Europe

Published on January 31, 2024 at 4:20 am by Afreen Umair in Lists, News

In this article, we will be taking a look at the 15 most unfriendly countries in Europe. If you wish to see the top ones, then head straight to the 5 Most Unfriendly Countries in Europe.

Travel and tourism, a major predictor of global economic health, was severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the loss of 62 million jobs and $4.5 trillion in GDP in 2020 alone. However, the sector is rebounding quite well. The most recent data from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) shows that that between January and September 2023, almost 975 million tourists travelled internationally—a 38% rise over the same time the previous year. During this time, global tourism reached 87% of pre-pandemic levels.

Data from the UNWTO also shows that during the first nine months of 2023, the world’s most visited region, Europe, reached 94% of pre-pandemic levels. 550 million international tourists visited the region, supported by intra-regional demand and travel from the United States, accounting for 56% of the global total.

Moreover, according to figures from Eurostat, 2023 was a record year for the EU accommodation sector. The estimated number of nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments in the EU, like hotels, holiday homes and campsites, reached 2.92 billion last year. This number also exceeded the pre-pandemic level for 2019 by 1.6 %, when 2.87 billion tourist overnight stays were counted.

2023 marked an increase compared to the previous year as well, with 171 million more nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments in the EU. The primary cause of this was an increase in foreign visitors. Nearly all EU Member States recorded an increase in nights spent compared to 2022, with the exception of Luxembourg.

Meanwhile, companies like Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH), Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H), and Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR) are providing lodging services to travelers in Europe.

Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH), headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, is a world-renowned hotel franchisor with over 7,000 locations, representing almost 570,000 rooms, in more than 40 countries. As of January 30, the stock has returned 8.96% to investors on a year-to-date basis.

Additionally, hedge funds like the company. Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH) was a part of 25 hedge fund portfolios at the end of Q3 2023, up from 17 in the previous quarter, according to Insider Monkey’s database. The collective value of stakes owned by these hedge funds is over $319 million.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H), with a portfolio of more than 1,300 hotels across six continents, was founded in 1957.

Longleaf Partners Fund stated the following regarding Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) in its fourth quarter 2023 investor letter:

“MGM Resorts & Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) – Hospitality companies MGM Resorts and Hyatt were both strong performers in the fourth quarter and for the year, outperforming expectations that the post-COVID travel rebound would ease in 2023. Hotel operator Hyatt consistently reported strong results in the year and guided mid-to-high single-digits of revenue per room available (RevPAR) growth in the back half of the year, driven by a continued recovery in Asia Pacific and ongoing improvements in group and business demand. Hyatt announced the value-additive purchase of UK booking company Mr & Mrs Smith and bought back discounted shares at a steady pace.”

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR), based in Bethesda, Maryland, operates, franchises, and licenses lodging including hotel, residential and timeshare properties. On November 2, Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR) posted earnings for the third quarter of 2023, reporting a Non-GAAP EPS of $2.11, beating market estimates by $0.01. The revenue over the period was $5.93 billion, up 11.7% compared to the revenue over the same period last year.

Here is what Vulcan Value Partners said about Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR) in its Q3 2023 investor letter:

“Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR) is a company that we have owned several times in the past. The company is an asset-light global lodging franchisor and operator that benefits from strong network effects. Approximately 99% of Marriott’s global rooms are managed or franchised which enables the company to generate high returns on capital. Marriott has an extensive portfolio of brands ranging from luxury brands such as The Ritz-Carlton, to premium brands such as Westin Hotels & Resorts, to select brands such as Residence Inn by Marriott. The company is doing an excellent job converting independent hotels into the Marriott system through its soft brands including the Luxury Collection, the Autograph Collection, and the Tribute Portfolio. This conversion opportunity should benefit Marriott’s net unit growth in a period when new hotel development could be challenging in North American and Europe. The company generates robust free cash flow through its long-term, contracted franchise fee and management fee revenue streams. Its competitive advantages include brand strength, operational scale, direct booking systems, and loyalty programs. We sold Marriott in the first quarter of 2020 because of our concerns about the company’s debt structure. Since then, Marriott has restructured its debt and improved its balance sheet. Additionally, average daily rates (ADR) on corporate travel have returned to pre-Covid levels.”

Adding to this, travel offers a unique learning experience. Any discussion about travel is sure to touch on Europe, and European countries also dominate our list of the most visited countries in the world. However, our travel experiences across European nations can range from pleasant, cordial interactions to fairly unpleasant ones. As such, we have compiled a list of the most unfriendly countries in Europe for our readers today. You can also take a look at the 25 Most Unfriendly Countries in the World, 30 Rudest Cities in the World, and 25 Countries that Dislike American Tourists.

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Our Methodology

We used a consensus opinion-based rankings approach for this article. Information was collected from Quora and relevant Reddit threads, like r/AskReddit, r/solotravel, r/digitalnomad, r/TravelHacks, and r/travel among others, where users not only share their first-hand experiences but also inquire about various places where visitors felt unwelcomed.

Each country received a score based on the number of mentions. This means that each time it was mentioned, it received a score of 1. Finally, we sorted the countries by their scores and identified the 15 most unfriendly countries in Europe. The countries have been ranked in ascending order based on their overall scores. A higher score indicates a higher amount of unpleasant experiences with the locals of a specific European country.

At the same time, we request our readers to remember that our rankings in no way indicate that a nation is home to a majority of unfriendly people. Being friendly is a subjective concept that can be influenced by individual experiences. Please note that we regarded Russia as a European country for the purpose of this article.

By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a similar consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

Most Unfriendly Countries in Europe

15. Sweden

First up on our list of most unfriendly countries in Europe is Sweden. Generally speaking, Swedes are very reserved, which might come off as cold and uncaring to foreigners.

14. Denmark

Denmark, located in Northern Europe, is one of the happiest countries in the world. However, the Dutch might not always be considered particularly friendly by expats. Additionally, Reddit users who have visited this nation report that the people in the country are not particularly talkative, which could be interpreted as being unwelcoming and rude.

13. Malta

Malta, an island country in southern Europe, is famous for its stunning architecture, scenic cliffs, spectacular coastline and dive sites. Our analysis indicates that it is one of the most unwelcoming countries in Europe, as some visitors reported encountering rude Maltese locals.

12. Estonia

Estonia, dotted with castles, churches and hilltop fortresses, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Europe. As per our research, Estonians tend to stick to their own circles and are hesitant to make new friends.

11. Slovakia

Slovakia, hosting a population exceeding 5.4 million, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is known for its unique castles, caves, hot springs, folk architecture, a famous Celtic town, European wilderness, and much more.

However, a few people on Reddit and Quora reported having unpleasant experiences in the country. Hence, it is among the most unfriendly countries in Europe on our list.

10. Switzerland

Switzerland is a landlocked country. It is located at the confluence of Western, Central and Southern Europe. Several tourists visit this nation each year, drawn by its numerous lakes, quaint villages, cosmopolitan cities, towering castles, and the high peaks of the Alps.

At the same time, visitors perceive the Swiss reserved and unapproachable to some extent.

9. Norway

Next up on our list of most unfriendly countries in Europe is Norway, famous for its spectacular fjords, midnight sun, and Northern Lights.

As previously noted in one of our pieces, Norwegians generally are opposed to the idea of allowing tourists into the country, with an exception for visitors from Denmark.

Additionally, according to the Expat Insider 2023 survey by InterNations (based on experiences of over 12,000 people), approximately 32% of expats said the people in the country are unfriendly towards foreign residents.

8. Germany

Germany, renowned for its history, culture, architecture, exports, and sporting achievements among many other things, is one of the European countries with the best economy right now. It is also among the most visited countries in the world, and recorded a total of 11.69 million tourists in 2021.

But, as per our research, many travelers on Reddit and Quora complained about encountering cold and uninviting locals while visiting the country.

7. Bulgaria

Even with its breathtaking landscape, Bulgaria, a country occupying the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula, is thought to be unwelcoming by many tourists. This is mainly because some locals are thought to be exceptionally unhelpful towards tourists.

6. Serbia

Next up on our list of unfriendly countries in Europe is Serbia, located in the west-central Balkans. As previously mentioned, the Serbs have been found to be a bit hostile towards Americans. According to a survey, only 22% of Serbian respondents viewed the US as a friend.

Click to continue reading and see 5 Most Unfriendly Countries in Europe.