Top 10 safest countries for travel in 2026
Dhaka: Traveling outside the country, especially to a new destination, brings an array of excitements, ranging from adventure to cultural discovery. However, even when the excitements prevail, an underlying fear of safety concerns and uncertainties often crosses the mind.
Recently, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (BHTP) has published its 11th annual State of Travel Insurance (SOTI) Safest Destinations report that ranked the safest countries and cities to visit in 2026.
The BHTP report takes perceptions of safe destinations from surveying US travelers who traveled there in the last five years and cross-references the results with information from Geosure, the Global Peace Index (GPI), and Numbeo, in addition to BHTP's own analysis of crime levels, digital threats, and healthcare.
Here, we discussed the top ten destinations as ranked on the report, whose key indicators influenced their ranking, along with the risks these countries might pose during travel.
1. The Netherlands
The Northwestern European country demonstrated a strong performance across all indexes evaluated in 2025. In regard to healthcare, stability, and safety for female travelers and travelers of color, it scored the highest. However, Dutch cycling culture still remains a major concern, as bike lanes often cross pedestrian walkways, sometimes at high speed.
2. Australia
A stable political system, low crime rate, and strict biosecurity and gun control laws placed Australia second on the ranking. Though safe travel in the country requires a thorough understanding of strict import laws on agriculture, wood, and animals.
3. Austria
The GPI ranked Austria as the fourth-most-peaceable country in the world, and Numbeo marked it among the top 20 safest countries. These factors positioned the country as one of the safest places to visit. But visitors should remain cautious about political protests in Vienna and pickpockets on trains.
4. Iceland
Iceland has dropped from first to fourth place but remains the most peaceful country according to the GPI, which makes it an ideal place for traveling, even when volcanic eruptions remain a threat for visitors to become stranded.
5. Canada
Low crime rate, counterterrorism measures, secure transportation, healthcare for all, diversity, and economic stability established Canada as the top-rated North American country in the GPI. BHTP warned that parking violations and ending up in the wilderness are the troubles visitors often get into.
6. New Zealand
The geographical location of New Zealand made it a perfect destination for traveling at any time of the year, and GeoSure's "super-safe" rating for its cities made the country a prominent destination on the safety ranking.
7. United Arab Emirates
The UAE is the only Middle Eastern country to make a position on the BHTP's ranking. Five cities of the UAE—Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Sharjah, Dubai, and Ras al-Khaimah—are at the top of Numbeo's safety from crime index. Meanwhile, visitors should remain aware of the UAE’s “harsh” and “swift” penalties for drug crimes, including e-cigarettes and CBD, and dress and behavior violations.
8. Switzerland
Switzerland has dropped from fifth place year on year. Despite the impeccable safety record of Swiss cities, "alpine hazards" such as "avalanches and snowdrifts, landslides and flooding, glacial crevasses, falling rocks, sun exposure, and sudden weather changes" make traveling risky over there.
9. Japan
Japan became the most populous country to make it into the ranking. However, the country's bans on certain prescription medicines and challenges of navigating public transportation during the rush hours are likely to concern travelers.
10. Ireland
Ireland dropped from fourth place last year, but political stability, low levels of violent crime and firearms ownership, and a low incarceration rate still kept it among the top 10 safest destinations. Rental vehicles in Ireland can be targeted for vandalism, and narrow coastal roads such as the Slea Head Drive have earned a terrifying reputation.
If you're planning a trip abroad this year, taking this ranking into consideration should help you travel safely outside the country. With that said, safe travel often relies on the traveler, as remaining aware of circumstances and reacting to potential hazards in time is a must for overall safety.
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