The safest country in the world for travelers in 2026 has been determined: American tourists clearly prefer Europe.
Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection has published a fresh safety ranking based on data from the Global Peace Index, Numbeo, and the average GeoSure Global score for the largest cities in each country, reports euronews.com.
The company analyzed these statistics along with the results of a survey of American travelers who visited the selected countries in the last five years.
The Safest Country for Travelers in 2026
The Netherlands took first place due to high rankings in the Global Peace Index and on the Numbeo platform; The Hague and Eindhoven also made it into the top 12.
American travelers also rated the country highly for its healthcare measures, noting that it is a safe destination for women, LGBTQIA+ travelers, and people of different skin colors.
However, travel experts still warn tourists to "look around" due to cyclists, as many Dutch cities have bike lanes, and one must look both ways before crossing.
"The enthusiasm of young cyclists for high-speed electric bikes, resembling mini-bikes, adds another element of danger," the report states.
While Australia ranked second, the list of leaders is predominantly made up of European countries.
In fact, half of the ten safest countries in the world for travelers in 2026 are located in Europe. Europe occupies two-thirds of the positions in the top 15.
- Netherlands
- Australia
- Austria
- Iceland
- Canada
- New Zealand
- United Arab Emirates
- Switzerland
- Japan
- Ireland
- Belgium
- Portugal
- France
- United Kingdom
- Denmark
Has Iceland Become Less Safe?
Although Iceland was the leader last year — and is considered the most peaceful country on the planet according to the Global Peace Index — it has fallen to 4th place in the current list for travelers.
It was displaced from the top by multiple eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula, where a series of volcanic craters, Sundhnuksgegar, released columns of smoke into the sky, and powerful lava flows breached protective barriers near the fishing town of Grindavik.
Tourists from the nearby popular geothermal spa resort, the Blue Lagoon, were evacuated as a precaution.
"Eruptions always carry the risk of disruptions, but in Iceland, they are particularly problematic as lava flows often affect the only main road encircling the country," the report states. "This can leave travelers in a difficult position."
Despite the volcanic activity, Iceland welcomed 1.8 million foreign tourists in the first nine months of 2025, and the country is expecting a potentially record year.
The UK’s Safety Ranking Declines
The UK has dropped from 13th to 14th place this year, despite survey participants giving the country high marks for overall safety and healthcare.
"London is a safe city compared to many cities in the US, especially in terms of violent crime; however, there are issues with less serious offenses, such as thefts, which can still mar a trip," the report states.
Experts urge tourists to beware of cybercrime: avoid using public Wi-Fi networks and refrain from shopping on unsecured websites.
How Travel Safety is Changing
Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection explains that its safety rankings are "a snapshot in time" and can change very quickly.
"There have been instances where wildfires engulfed Australia shortly after it was named one of the five safest destinations, and in Iceland — shortly after that — volcanoes erupted lava," the company notes.
Therefore, regardless of how 'safe' a country is deemed, it is important for travelers to take care of their own protection and to proactively monitor potential risks when traveling.
