When planning holidays, most travelers focus on the beautiful natural landscapes, historic landmarks, cultural centers, and cuisines available in the countries they want to visit. But no matter how rich a nation may be in museums, beaches, street food, or architecture, the attitudes of the local population inevitably play a crucial role in determining how visitors perceive the cities they stay in.

So although it is a difficult thing to quantify––and thus a subject most travel guides shy away from––localhospitalityis probably the most important factor in separating the unforgettable cities from the mediocre, mundane, and even downright unpleasant travel destinations throughout Europe.

So which cities make travelers feel the most welcome? To find out, one popular holidaywebsite combed through thousands of traveler reviews to learn from the first-hand experience of its users. Trumping renowned holiday destinations like Rome and Amsterdam,Budapestwas recently named‘Europe’s Most Welcoming City.’

The title was awarded by Housetrip.com, whose online platform collects traveler reviews from around the world. After analyzing more than 130,000 reviews, the experts at Housetrip.com found that Hungary’s capital city received more 5-star reviews than any other city on the continent. Yet while this data reflects the sum of all the ratings Housetrip.com has collected over the years, the picture somewhat changes when we consider the ratings on a month-by-month basis.

Because the seasons have a tremendous impact on cities (and by extension the travelers who visit them), it seems that hospitality varies from month to month. In spring, for example, travelers chose Paris as the most welcoming place in Europe, while Budapest came in second. On the other hand, Berlin was rated highest for hospitality in the winter, while Paris and Budapest didn’t even rank amongst the top three. Housetrip.com’s data also indicated that February was the month when users were most likely to give out a five-star rating for hospitality in European cities. In contrast, July, August, and November are the least welcoming months to visit destinations in the EU.

Another illuminating result of the in-depth analysis was that Budapest ranked ‘Most Welcoming’ amongst those who traveled in large groups (of 12 or more). Yet reviews posted by solo travelers ranked Madrid, London, and Barcelona as their top three most welcoming cities—relegating Budapest to the bottom 80% of friendly cities.

So as the study clearly indicates, travel experiences vary considerably depending upon the conditions of your trip. If you travel in large groups, you may find some cities quite difficult––whereas lone travelers will find the same destinations pure delight. Thus, while solo travelers named Madrid and London as the two most hospitable destinations in Europe, those who traveled in groups of 12+ didn’t rate either city high enough to rank in the top six.

But because travelers throughout the year and from around the globe were so often pleased with their stays in Budapest, it came away as the clear leader in European hospitality. As Housetrip.com’s founder and CEO, Arnaud Bertrand explained, “Budapest is a consistently good option because costs are so low. Travellers feel like they get what they pay for—and more—which leads to them feeling happier and more satisfied with their stay.”

So while the data indicates that Budapest is best to see in spring, visitors can be confident of receiving a warm welcome, no matter when they arrive. Because so many of Europe’s leading destinations have been overrun with tourism, many locals have unfortunately become jaded and cold toward visitors in the hubs most heavily trafficked by travelers.

But, having remained somewhat off Europe’s heavily beaten travel path, Budapest remains refreshingly hospitable. As such, it holds an undeniable appeal for anyone eager to connect with the local culture, get a taste of day-to-day Hungarian life, and meet countless smiles on their next European adventure.