How Rude: Newark Named 'Unfriendliest City' in the World

Newark has often gotten a bad rap.

Now add the distinction of being the world's most unfriendliest city, according to Conde Nast Traveler.

The magazine selected its 10 friendliest and 10 unfriendliest cities in the U.S. for this year and placed Branson, Mo. at the top of the smiley-face list — and Newark as No. 1 on the opposite extreme as the most unfriendliest city in the entire nation.

And things went downhill from there.

The international travel publisher then proceeded to its list for the 20 friendliest and unfriendliest cities in the entire world. And for those who clicked through to the bitter end, through a list that included Moscow, Caracas, Venezuela, Albany, N.Y., Kuwait City and Atlantic City (also on the unfriendliest list for U.S. cities), there it was again at the top of the heap — maligned Newark, N.J.

"Newark is best known for being the site of an airport near New York, and for many of our readers, that’s the only reason to stop there," reads the narrative accompanying a slide show of choices based on a readers survey.

“I visited Newark on business and would not recommend this city for anything, except a cheaper/less busy airport to fly into while visiting other cities,” one respondent sniffed.

The travel publisher did say that many people commented on the great Portuguese food in the city's Ironbound District, but others had negative experiences with the local crowd. One reader says she “ran into a lot of rude people there," according to Conde Nast.

Perhaps they should take that up with one of Newark's most famous sons, Gov. Chris Christie, whose birthplace in September 1962 was in that same city of Newark. (Not the Newarks in California or Delaware.)

What do you think? Do you think it's fair to label Newark as the unfriendliest city in the country — and the entire globe?

Or do you think readers just went to the wrong place? Or have the wrong attitude themselves?

Let us know in the comments section below.

And next time Conde Nast's readers visit, we should let them eat paella!