Dublin declared world's second friendliest city

Dublin seems to be getting even friendlier, as one of the world’s most read travel guides voted it the second most welcoming city on the planet.

Weeks after influential tourism magazine Conde Nast named Dublin the world’s fifth friendliest urban destination, the readers of Rough Guides have pushed it further up the ranks.

It now ranks second only to Glasgow for giving visitors a welcome, according to the latest poll.

Describing the city, the Rough Guides says: “Spend a weekend enjoying the Georgian townhouses, squares and historic churches among some of the friendliest people in the world.”

Niall Gibbons, chief executive of Tourism Ireland, said the Irish welcome was one of the country’s main attractions.

“Again and again, our research shows us that the friendliness of our people is one of our unique selling points,” he said.

“It is the warm welcome and the ’craic’ here that resonates with our overseas visitors and makes Dublin and Ireland such a great choice for a short break or holiday.

“This accolade by the readers of Rough Guides gives Tourism Ireland another wonderful platform to continue to promote Dublin and the island of Ireland throughout the world as a ’must-see’ destination.”

Montreal, Liverpool and Tokyo made up the remaining top five friendliest cities in the travel series survey.