Booking.com Traveller Review Awards reveal Australia’s top 10 most welcoming cities for 2025

Booking.com has announced the winners of the 2025 Traveller Review Awards, revealing the Top Ten Most Welcoming Regions and Cities in Australia.

South Australia placed as one of the top 10 most welcoming regions while Sunshine Coast’s Montville and Maleny are in the top spots for most welcoming cities.

Compiling over 360 million reviews, a record number of 27,432 partners across Australia received a Traveller Review Award in 2025 for their exceptional hospitality.

2025’s Most Welcoming Cities in Australia:

• Montville, Queensland
• Maleny, Queensland
• Margaret River Town, Western Australia
• Mudgee, New South Wales
• Ocean Grove, Victoria
• Bicheno, Tasmania
• Port Lincoln, South Australia
• Halls Gap, Victoria
• Daylesford, Victoria
• Orange, New South Wales

2025’s Most Welcoming Cities on Earth:

• South Australia, Australia
• Osijek-Baranja, Croatia
• Kakheti, Georgia
• Madeira, Portugal
• Misiones, Argentina
• Graubünden, Switzerland
• Bretagne, France
• Baja California Sur, Mexico
• Kien Giang, Vietnam
• Drenthe, Netherlands

2025’s Most Welcoming Regions on Earth:

• South Australia, Australia
• Osijek-Baranja, Croatia
• Kakheti, Georgia
• Madeira, Portugal
• Misiones, Argentina
• Graubünden, Switzerland
• Bretagne, France
• Baja California Sur, Mexico
• Kien Giang, Vietnam
• Drenthe, Netherlands

“It’s no news to locals, but now the world knows that South Australia is among the most welcoming regions in the world,” South Australian minister for tourism, Zoe Bettison, said. “The fact that this highly regarded accolade is based on more than 360 million reviews on the leading travel site, Booking.com is an honour and will put our State on the consideration list of engaged potential visitors worldwide. From the Adelaide Hills to Kangaroo Island, from the Barossa to the Murray River and the Flinders Ranges, guests will always be warmly welcomed in South Australia.”

“Our Booking.com partners go above and beyond to help create memorable travel moments,” Booking.com regional manager Oceania, Todd Lacey, said. “The annual Traveller Review Awards are just one way that we can spotlight these dedicated hospitality heroes, saying thank you not just from Booking.com, but from the hundreds of millions of travellers who use Booking.com to experience the world. We’re thrilled to see South Australia recognised on the global stage this year and are looking forward to continuing to support our local partners as they welcome visitors to the state’s world-class events, wine regions and scenic landscapes.