In a recent survey, Travel + Leisure asked readers to rank 266 cities on “everything from their access to art and culture to the friendliness of their people.” While Moscow, Russia, landed at the bottom of T&L’s unfriendliest list, purportedly for its “notoriously bad traffic and general aloofness,†St. Petersburg, Florida, scored the highest on the list for its lackluster city and cultural experiences. Here’s a snapshot of the list which includes some of the responses from T&L readers.
[Related: Top Destinations for Labor Day 2015]
St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S.
Score: 76.403
T+L Reader Feedback: Travelers expressed disappointment in their St. Petersburg experience, suggesting they wanted something more from the city and its people.
Newport, Rhode Island
Score: 75.966
T+L Reader Feedback: “It’s too crowded,†one reader reported, “and the locals don’t want you there!â€
Monte Carlo, Monaco
Score: 75.882
T+L Reader Feedback: “Monte Carlo has become a playboy’s playground,†Robert Barnes reported ruefully. “It’s haughty and ultra-expensive,†said another reader.
Shanghai, China
Score: 75.706
T+L Reader Feedback: Many travelers found Shanghai to be a bit crowded and overwhelming. “People stayed to themselves,†noted one reader. Spend some quiet time at the new Power Station of Art museum, or the Rockbund Art Museum.
Lyon, France
Score: 75.577
T+L Reader Feedback: Many praised this walkable, attractive city, but unfortunate encounters with locals dragged down Lyon’s overall score.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Score: 75.470
T+L Reader Feedback: In this year’s survey, many repeat visitors to Argentina’s capital sadly noted a decline in the atmosphere. Buenos Aires’ nightlife continues to wow, but crime and crumbling infrastructure made many uneasy.
Milan, Italy
Score: 75.149
T+L Reader Feedback: “Be extremely careful that tour guides do not take advantage of you,†warned one reader. Others thought people seemed self-absorbed.
Marrakesh, Morocco
Score: 74.795
T+L Reader Feedback: It’s also known for being difficult to navigate as a tourist. “If [you] even raise your camera, [people] are on you like flies, wanting money.†While its gardens and riads enchant, hassling vendors can be exhausting.
Nice, France
Score: 74.407
T+L Reader Feedback: “The people were not friendly at all,†remarked one unhappy traveler. “I would not pay to go back.†If this French city is on your can’t-miss list, consider a stop in Èze, a medieval clifftop village located halfway to Monaco, or St. Paul de Vence; a hilltop village that has long enchanted artists.
Xi’an, China
Score: 74.382
T+L Reader Feedback: “Pushy shop-owners make for tense people-to-people experiences.”
St. Louis, Missouri
Score: 74.124
T+L Reader Feedback: “[It’s] not good for the future of the city,†worried one reader.
Fort. Lauderdale, Florida
Score: 73.861
T+L Reader Feedback: One visitor suggested Fort Lauderdale should work on its people skills.
Cincinnati, Ohio
Score: 73.492
T+L Reader Feedback: “I arrived in Cincinnati on a weekend,†said an anonymous voter, “and I thought it was closed.â€