<p>How do local attitudes and policies influence where refugees choose to live within host countries? This study investigates the internal or secondary migration preferences of Syrian refugees in Turkey and Germany. Adopting a multi-method approach, we conducted a choice-based conjoint experiment with over 5,000 participants in both countries, complemented by a content analysis of qualitative survey data collected in Turkey. The results of the experimental study reveal that, in both contexts, local attitudes and policies shape Syrian refugees’ destination preferences more significantly than economic and welfare-state factors or social ties. The Turkish qualitative data further demonstrate that Syrian refugees associate many local policies and attitudes primarily with exclusion, social isolation, discrimination, and heightened anxiety. They fear that such policies and attitudes may prevent them from developing a strong sense of belonging, leading them to avoid hostile localities. The convergence of experimental results across both countries suggests that the deterrent effect of hostile policies and discourses is robust. From both normative and policy perspectives, we conclude that local openness is essential for promoting refugees’ integration and psychosocial well-being.</p>