The Malaysian island ranked sixth globally, scoring 63.07 points out of 100 in Holafly's 2026 ranking of the world's most welcoming cities and urban destinations.

It was one of only two Southeast Asian destinations in the top 10, alongside Singapore, which ranked first worldwide with 81.83 points.

London ranked second with 65.04 points, followed by Sydney with 64.80. The Hague in the Netherlands, Hong Kong, Boston and New York City in the U.S., and Utrecht in the Netherlands took fourth through eighth places, while Aarhus in Denmark rounded out the top 10.

Top 10 most welcoming cities in the world in 2026. Photo by Holafly

Holafly assessed 200 cities and urban areas worldwide, combining the 100 most visited destinations with the 100 most populous urban areas.

The study evaluated destinations across six indicators: English proficiency score (EF EPI), social support score (World Happiness Report),the number of tourism and information services (OpenStreetMap), safety scores (Numbeo), visa and entry openness scores (Henley Openness Index).

The data was current as of June 15, 2026.

The findings suggest that a destination's welcoming nature depends on more than the friendliness of its residents. Safety, ease of entry, communication and access to information and assistance also influence how comfortable travelers feel.

Penang's strongest performance in Holafly ranking was in "visa openness," where it scored 167, ahead of Singapore's 164 and the highest among those in the top 10.

The Malaysian island also scored relatively high in safety (70.6). Its overall score was about 63 points, placing it ninth globally, with 8,660 online searches for terms associated with friendliness and hospitality. However, Penang had only four tourism and information assistance services, suggesting room to improve visitor support.

Singapore's top ranking was supported by a safety score of 77.7, high English proficiency score and visa openness, as well as 41 tourism and information assistance services. London, which ranked second, had 54 such services, while Sydney placed third and recorded the highest English proficiency score among the destinations in the ranking.

Penang Island is best known for George Town, its historic capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its multicultural heritage, colonial-era architecture, street art and food scene.

The island's inclusion in the top 10 underscores its appeal beyond its beaches and cuisine, placing it among destinations that perform well across several factors considered important to international visitors.

An aerial view of Penang's urban skyline with a coastal backdrop on March 27, 2024. Photo by Pexels