Is it just me or is Markarth by far the most hostile city in Skyrim? I've been to all the nine major cities at least several times, and none of them are nearly as bad. By contrast, Whiterun, Winterhold and Riften are quite welcoming.

Anyone else experience extreme hostility in one particular place noticeably more than any other?

Have you done any of the quests related to that town? Prior to that there is some tension amongst the populace and that could be what you are experiencing.

I'd done a few quests for it, like getting the priest to come to the abandoned house, the house of horror one? Also retrieved someone's helmet from a cave for them. It had been fine (apart from some guard hostility) but when I returned there to complete another quest the person I had to speak to suddenly attacked me when I pressed B to finish speaking with him. There was no reason for it so maybe it was a bug, but then I had to fight back, was swarmed by guards and had to kill a few before escaping!I ended up going back there and went to prison, then escaped and had my 'crimes of murder' transferred onto someone else, but Jeez, the guards there have NO shred of politeness at all. I return there now if, and only if a quest I am doing requires me to. I would NOT go there for pleasure or out of any curiosity at all! I stay as far away as possible.

You might have a bounty? That usually seems to be the problem.

Markarth...worst city to visit.

First time I went to Markarth everybody attacked me on sight and my bounty was 0.

Senchal, Bravil, Stros M'kai, Stormhold, Blackrose said hi!

I went their for the thieve's guild quest to steal something that was heavily guarded, and I ended up killing alot of hostile guards, and when trying to escape the city guards kept stopping me with the "Hey... I know you"... I would quickly press B and run and escaped the city

All I know is that I can never go back

Oh I hate that "Hey I know you" bit lol.