The Netherlands, Australia and Austria have been named the safest countries to visit in 2026, according to Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection's 11th annual State of Travel Insurance Safest Destinations report.
Reykjavik, Copenhagen and Zurich top the list of safest cities.
The Netherlands saw a remarkable jump in the rankings, climbing from 14th place in 2025 to first this year. Australia holds the runner-up spot for the second consecutive year, while Austria makes its debut on the list.
For the second year in a row, Reykjavik ranks as the safest city, with Copenhagen again taking second place. Zurich made a notable leap to claim third.
"With global uncertainty and safety concerns top of mind this year, travelers are more thoughtful than ever with where they choose to explore," said Carol Mueller, head of marketing at Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection. "Our annual report not only highlights the destinations that travelers perceive as safest, but also serves as a valuable resource for planning trips with confidence."
The rankings are based on surveys of American travelers who have visited specific countries over the past five years. Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection augments those ratings with data from the U.S. State Department, The Economist, GeoSure Global, Vision of Humanity, Numbeo and Global Finance magazine to evaluate safety concerns including terrorism, weather emergencies, health concerns and the safety of underrepresented groups.
The State of Travel Insurance research has been conducted each fall since 2016 by Polymath Research + Marketing. Below are the safest countries and cities for 2026 according to the research.
Top 15 Safest Countries for 2026
1. Netherlands
2. Australia
3. Austria
4. Iceland
5. Canada
6. New Zealand
7. United Arab Emirates
8. Switzerland
9. Japan
10. Ireland
11. Belgium
12. Portugal
13. France
14. United Kingdom
15. Denmark
Top 15 Safest Cities for 2026
1. Reykjavik
2. Copenhagen
3. Zurich
4. Amsterdam
5. Honolulu
6. Sydney
7. Barcelona
8. Lisbon
9. Tokyo
10. Dublin
11. Venice
12. Seoul
13. London
14. Singapore
15. San Francisco
Editor's Note: This article was generated by AI, based on a press release distributed by Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection. It was fact-checked and reviewed by a TravelAge West editor.
