Safest Travel Destinations for 2026: Three New Countries Reign Supreme in Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection’s Annual Report
Safest Travel Destinations for 2026: Three New Countries Reign Supreme in Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection’s Annual Report
The Netherlands, Australia, and Austria ranked as the top three safest countries
STEVEN’S POINT, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Travel insurance provider Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (BHTP) presents the insights of its 11th annual State of Travel Insurance (SOTI) Safest Destinations report, the longest running and most trusted research project evaluating the attitudes of U.S. travelers toward travel safety and travel insurance.
The Netherlands saw a remarkable jump in the safest country rankings, climbing from fourteenth to first in one year.
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The Netherlands, Australia, and Austria have been named the safest countries to visit in 2026, while Reykjavik, Copenhagen, and Zurich top the list of safest cities. Conscientious travelers may want to consider these destinations as they plan their trips for the coming year.
Since 2016, BHTP has been surveying travelers on their attitudes toward travel safety and began compiling annual rankings of the world’s safest destinations in 2018. To determine these rankings, BHTP surveys a large group of American travelers about their travels over the past five years, allowing only those who have visited specific countries to rate them on safety. BHTP then augments those ratings with other indices and information to evaluate safety concerns such as terrorism, weather emergencies, health concerns, and the safety of underrepresented groups to calculate a weighted score that reflects each country’s overall safety.
Top 15 Safest Countries
- Netherlands
- Australia
- Austria
- Iceland
- Canada
- New Zealand
- United Arab Emirates
- Switzerland
- Japan
- Ireland
- Belgium
- Portugal
- France
- United Kingdom
- Denmark
Top 15 Safest Cities
- Reykjavik
- Copenhagen
- Zurich
- Amsterdam
- Honolulu
- Sydney
- Barcelona
- Lisbon
- Tokyo
- Dublin
- Venice
- Seoul
- London
- Singapore
- San Francisco
The Netherlands saw a remarkable jump in the safest country rankings, climbing from fourteenth to first in one year. Australia holds the runner-up spot for the second year in a row and continues to be a regular in the top 10, while Austria makes its debut on the list. For the second consecutive year, Reykjavik ranks as the safest city, with Copenhagen again taking second place. Zurich, however, made a notable leap to claim the third spot.
“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. “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.”
BHTP’s State of Travel Insurance research has been conducted each fall since 2016 by Polymath Research + Marketing, using independent national panels surveying thousands of consumers on future expectations in travel insurance and travel habits. The lists of the world’s safest countries and cities were created using an index that synthesizes results from multiple sources, including the U.S. State Department, the British financial magazine The Economist, safety-app creator GeoSure Global, Vision of Humanity, Numbeo, and Global Finance magazine. Past rankings also are factored in.
Click here to read more on the safest countries ranking and here to read more on safest cities. To request a full report, members of the media can email the contact below.
About the State of Travel Insurance
State of Travel Insurance, a joint project of Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (BHTP) and Polymath Research + Marketing (PRM), is the longest-running and most trusted research project tracking U.S. travelers’ attitudes toward travel safety and travel insurance. State of Travel Insurance has been conducted since 2016 and continues to provide category-leading research on key travel issues. This year’s survey involved a total of 1,838 travelers who were surveyed by PRM from July 18 - 29, 2024.
About Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection
Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (BHTP) is a registered trademark and a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company, a leader in commercial property, casualty, liability and specialty lines insurance. Created under the Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection trade name is the ExactCare® line of travel insurance, AirCare®, WaveCare®, AdrenalineCare®, LuxuryCare® and other travel-related protections. AirCare® and the ExactCare® products are provided by Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company. Visit bhtp.com for more information.
About Polymath Research + Marketing
Polymath Research + Marketing (PRM) is a full-service market-research and marketing agency that specializes in crafting custom research and content to help organizations reach their business and marketing goals. PRM currently services firms in insurance, travel, sports, and manufacturing industries, and provides research and content support to several top agencies. To learn more visit www.polymathpower.com.
Contacts
Carol Mueller, Head of Marketing
Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection
Carol.Mueller@bhspecialty.com
