The countries with the unfriendliest people, according to travellers

Russia, Czechia and Germany: where you get the worst treatment

Which country has the rudest people? The question sounds like pub talk, but when travel experiences are pooled together, the answers draw a fairly clear map of unfriendliness. Russia takes the crown for some, the Czech Republic is hot on its heels, and Germany sparks heated debate among those who have visited it and those who live there.

Russia and Czechia, rivals for the podium

The criticism is concentrated in Eastern Europe. Russia is cited as the country where people are by far the most unpleasant. The Czech Republic accumulates accusations of coldness and bad manners, with Prague as the most denounced city: travellers talk about cold, surly, rude and aggressive people in any interaction, with a constant expression of displeasure. Not even the food escapes. Poland and Hungary appear in the same orbit, although some defend them as hospitable, down-to-earth people.

Germany: the clash between tourist and resident

Germany divides opinion. Tourists recount disdainful looks and episodes of nightclubs where Spaniards were refused entry. Those who have lived there for more than eight years flatly deny it and say the prejudices are aimed more at other groups than at Mediterraneans. Perception changes depending on the traveller's appearance and behaviour.

The country or the city?

Another pattern: unfriendliness is concentrated in big capitals. Paris is worse than France, New York worse than the rest of the United States. Tourist saturation and urban anonymity are partly to blame. The Netherlands, India and Israel also get votes, though with nuances: in the Netherlands, the point is the weariness with tourism in Amsterdam, and in India, more aggressive behaviour on the streets.

The tourist as part of the problem

Several travellers mention Spaniards shouting in Vienna or behaving in a flashy way. If the traveller becomes the stereotype expected of them, the unfriendliness feeds on itself. The same Czech who doesn't smile in the street can be an attentive host if you speak to them with respect. But of course, that requires speaking with respect.

Personal experiences are not a statistical sample, and no institute has yet measured rudeness per capita. In the meantime, if anyone is looking for a country where they can feel unwelcome, they're spoilt for choice. Just don't get the idea of returning the gesture: then the fruta will be deserved.