Discover the safest countries to travel to in 2026. See ranking

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The study, released in November, surveyed more than 1,800 American travelers about their security-focused experiences over the past five years and combined these opinions with integrated metrics such as the Global Peace Index (GPI), data from Numbeo, and scores from GeoSure Global, a geolocation tool for travelers.

Europe dominates the list of safest destinations

The Netherlands is followed by Australia in Oceania and Austria in Europe. A total of 15 countries make up the ranking. 10 countries from Europe, 2 from Oceania, 1 from Asia, 1 from North America, and 1 from the Middle East. Brazil, like other South American countries, does not feature among the highlights. “Individual scores do not favor any country over others; they all contribute to the overall score,” BHTP explains.

The change at the top of the rankings brought news. According to the study, Iceland, which topped the list in 2025, has fallen to fourth place, while the Netherlands stood out with high scores in health, general safety, and protection for women, LGBTQIA+, and black travelers. Numbeo emphasizes that cities such as The Hague and Eindhoven are particularly safe.

Still, BHTP warns of basic precautions in large urban centres, recommending: “The risk in large cities is posed by the abundance of bicycles. Cities have dedicated cycle paths and cross the pavement, so special care should be taken when crossing roads.” In addition, travelers should be careful with their belongings, drink alcohol in moderation, and avoid long journeys on foot at night.

Despite not being the safest country, Brazil still stands out in the rankings of world travel destinations. Rio de Janeiro is included in National Geographic’s list of 25 Best Places to Travel in 2026, and São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro neighborhoods such as Liberdade, Barra Funda and Botafogo are featured in a selection of international publications focused on culture, gastronomy and city life.

15 safest countries to travel to in 2026: