Malaga has been ranked among the friendliest cities in Spain, according to a new study by money transfer company Remitly, which analyses how welcoming residents are across different parts of the country.
The Costa del Sol capital shares third place in the ranking with Valladolid, both scoring 72.30 out of 100.
The report places Bilbao at the top of the list with 72.53 points. Malaga, however, stands out for its open and welcoming character, particularly evident in everyday interactions with tourists and visitors.
Remitly said: ‘As a coastal hub that regularly interacts with visitors and newcomers, the city has long been shaped by a relaxed, outward-facing culture.
‘People living here scored highly for making other people feel at ease, and a low number says they insult others, reflecting the city’s openness and light-hearted style of communication.’
Despite cultural differences between cities, some being more reserved and others more direct in their communication, the study highlights a high level of consistency nationwide.
The gap between the highest- and lowest-ranked cities is less than two points, suggesting that friendliness is broadly widespread across Spain.
In second place on the list was Barcelona. Coming in fifth was Sevilla, the capital of Andalucia, with a score of 72.21.
The report also examines related qualities such as respect and empathy.
While Barcelona ranks highest for respect, Malaga scores particularly well for openness and ease of social interaction.
At the lower end of the ranking is Alicante, with 70.78 points, although the difference compared with the top cities remains relatively small.
