Safety is the one thing every traveller thinks about before anything else. Before the flights are booked, before the hotel is chosen, before the itinerary is drafted — there is always that fundamental question sitting quietly at the back of your mind: is it safe?
It is a question that deserves a proper, honest answer. Not a vague reassurance, and not a list of alarming statistics designed to frighten you into staying home. The reality is that travel in 2025 is both more accessible and, in the right destinations, more secure than it has ever been. The challenge is knowing which destinations genuinely deserve their reputation for safety — and which factors actually matter when you are trying to decide where to take your family, your partner, or yourself.
This guide draws on the most trusted global data available, including the 2025 Global Peace Index — the world’s most comprehensive and widely cited measure of national peacefulness — to answer the question clearly and practically: what is the safest country to visit? And crucially, what does safety actually mean for a tourist on the ground?
How Do We Measure Safety for Tourists?
Before diving into the rankings, it is worth being clear about what “safety” actually means in a travel context, because the answer is more nuanced than a single league table can capture.
The Global Peace Index (GPI), produced annually by the Institute for Economics and Peace, is the world’s leading measure of national peacefulness. It covers 163 countries — representing 99.7% of the global population — and assesses each one across 23 indicators grouped into three domains: societal safety and security, the extent of ongoing domestic and international conflict, and the degree of militarisation. It is the most rigorous and widely referenced measure of country-level safety in the world.
For tourists specifically, however, safety also includes practical considerations that the GPI does not fully capture on its own: the prevalence of petty crime in tourist areas, the quality of healthcare, road safety standards, natural disaster risk, and how welcoming a country is to international visitors. The most useful picture of tourist safety therefore combines GPI data with real-world traveller experience and on-the-ground crime statistics.
With that in mind, here are the world’s safest countries to visit in 2025 — and what makes each one genuinely worth your confidence.
The World’s Safest Countries to Visit in 2026
1. Iceland — The World’s Most Peaceful Country for 17 Consecutive Years
Iceland has been the safest country in the world for 17 consecutive years, according to the Global Peace Index. That is not a coincidence or a statistical quirk — it reflects something deeply embedded in Icelandic society. Iceland has a very low level of crime, which is attributed to its high standard of living, small population, strong social attitudes against crime, and a high level of trust in its well-trained police force. Remarkably, the Icelandic police do not carry firearms — only extendable batons and pepper spray.
For tourists, Iceland is as safe as it is spectacular. The landscapes — glaciers, geysers, volcanic plains, and the Northern Lights — are extraordinary. Reykjavik is one of the most walkable, friendly, and effortlessly welcoming capital cities in the world. The one genuine caveat for visitors is natural: Iceland sits on one of the world’s most active volcanic zones, and eruptions — as seen near Grindavik in recent years — can cause localised disruption. Always check current conditions before travel and follow local guidance during volcanic activity.
2. Ireland — Europe’s Most Tourist-Friendly Safe Destination
Ireland sits in second place on the 2025 Global Peace Index, with crime being quite low outside a few city neighbourhoods, and Irish people known for their friendly disposition. For English-speaking tourists in particular, Ireland combines exceptional safety with a cultural accessibility that is hard to beat anywhere in the world. The warmth of its welcome is legendary and entirely genuine — this is a country where strangers strike up conversations in pubs, where hospitality is a point of national pride, and where the phrase “you’re very welcome” is meant with complete sincerity.
The economic cost of violence in Ireland amounts to just 2.86% of GDP, compared to a global average of 13.5%. Dublin, Galway, Cork, and the west coast’s spectacular Atlantic landscapes all reward the visitor who takes time to explore beyond the most obvious sights. The Cliffs of Moher, the Ring of Kerry, and the Wild Atlantic Way represent some of the most breathtaking scenery in Europe — all in a country where you can feel genuinely at ease throughout your visit.
3. New Zealand — The Asia-Pacific’s Safest Destination
New Zealand rose two positions in 2025, becoming the most peaceful country in the Asia-Pacific region and third globally, with improvements across both the Ongoing Conflict and Safety and Security domains. For travellers who want dramatic natural beauty combined with a genuinely safe and welcoming destination, New Zealand is in a category of its own. From the fjords of Milford Sound to the geothermal wonders of Rotorua, the wine regions of Marlborough to the adventure activities of Queenstown, the country offers an extraordinary range of experiences alongside world-class safety standards.
New Zealand’s reputation as one of the most visitor-friendly countries on earth is well-earned. Its relatively small population, strong public institutions, and deeply ingrained culture of outdoor activity and community trust combine to create an environment where tourists consistently report feeling completely at ease.
4. Austria — Europe’s Safe Heart
Austria secures a strong position on the 2025 GPI, with the economic costs of violence amounting to just 4.23% of its GDP — among the lowest worldwide. Vienna consistently ranks among the world’s most liveable cities, combining world-class cultural institutions — the Kunsthistorisches Museum, the Vienna State Opera, the Belvedere — with low crime rates, exceptional public transport, and an urban environment that feels orderly and welcoming at any time of day or night.
Beyond Vienna, Austria’s Alpine landscapes offer some of the finest outdoor experiences in Europe, from skiing in the Tyrol to summer hiking in the Salzkammergut. The country’s strong judicial system, political stability, and well-funded public services all contribute to a tourist experience that is as stress-free as it is rewarding.
5. Singapore — Asia’s Safest City-State
Singapore joins the Global Peace Index top five for the first time in 2025, advancing from sixth place. It ranks second in peace in the Asia-Pacific region and excels particularly in the domains of safety and security and ongoing conflict. For visitors to Southeast Asia, Singapore is the gold standard for urban safety. Its streets are remarkably clean and well-maintained, its public transport system is among the finest in the world, and serious crime is exceptionally rare.
Singapore’s strict laws — including significant penalties for drug offences and vandalism — contribute to its extraordinarily low crime rates, and tourists benefit enormously from the resulting sense of security. The city-state is also outstanding for food, culture, and diversity, combining Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Western influences in a way that makes every meal an adventure. Visitors with prescription medications should check Singapore’s regulations before travel, as some medicines that are routine elsewhere require advance approval.
6. Portugal — Europe’s Most Accessible Safe Destination
Portugal has risen steadily through the Global Peace Index over the past decade and now ranks consistently among the top ten most peaceful countries in the world. Portugal comes in seventh among the most peaceful countries, and in recent years has experienced an economic resurgence, decreasing its unemployment rate from over 17% to under 7%. It consistently ranks among the best countries for retirement, due in no small part to its high level of safety.
For tourists, Portugal offers one of the most compelling combinations of safety, culture, climate, and value in Europe. Lisbon and Porto are both genuinely wonderful cities — walkable, characterful, and full of excellent food and wine at prices that remain significantly more accessible than most Western European capitals. The Algarve’s beaches, the Douro Valley’s vineyards, and the medieval towns of the interior all reward the visitor who ventures beyond the obvious, in a country that makes them feel entirely welcome throughout.
7. Japan — Asia’s Cultural Jewel and One of Its Safest
Japan is, by virtually every measure, one of the safest countries in the world for tourists. Its extraordinarily low violent crime rate, its culture of extreme courtesy towards visitors, its world-class public transport network, and the impeccable organisation of its cities combine to create a tourist experience that regularly leaves visitors wondering why they had never been before. Japanese culture is fascinating, with ancient traditions rubbing shoulders with the modern world — you can immerse yourself in tea ceremonies, take the bullet train to Kyoto’s geisha district, and enjoy Tokyo food tours.
Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima all offer different facets of a culture of extraordinary depth and richness. Japan is also notable for the safety of its public spaces even late at night — something that cannot be said of many cities anywhere in the world.
8. The Nordic Countries — A Region Built on Safety and Trust
The Nordic nations — Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland — collectively represent one of the safest regions on earth for tourists. The Nordic countries of Europe rank among the 25 safest globally, most of them also being among the top 10 happiest nations worldwide. Denmark is, according to multiple indices, one of the few countries where people report feeling safe at any time of day or night — even children. Finland, consistently ranked the world’s happiest country, combines exceptional personal safety with outstanding natural scenery and a culture of extraordinary openness.
For tourists, the Nordic countries offer clean air, honest hospitality, magnificent landscapes, and cities that function with an efficiency and civility that make travel genuinely pleasurable rather than merely endurable.
What About the United Kingdom?
The UK came 30th overall in the 2025 Global Peace Index, and 20th in Europe. For tourists visiting from outside Europe, this places the UK comfortably within the world’s safest destinations. A Berkshire Hathaway report at the end of 2024 put the United Kingdom as the 13th safest country to visit globally.
The UK offers tourists an extraordinary breadth of experience alongside that safety record. From the cultural richness of London and Edinburgh to the dramatic landscapes of the Scottish Highlands, the Lake District, and the Jurassic Coast, from the history of York and Bath to the vibrant food and music scenes of Manchester and Liverpool, this is a country that rewards every type of traveller. Public transport is comprehensive, English is the native language, healthcare is universally accessible, and the infrastructure for tourism is among the most developed in the world.
The UK is a generally safe place to visit, with low crime rates and reliable public services. While big cities have their share of petty crime, most areas are welcoming and secure. As with any major tourist destination, basic precautions — keeping an eye on your belongings in busy areas, being aware of your surroundings in unfamiliar neighbourhoods late at night — are all that is required to travel with complete confidence.
For more information on UK travel safety and current entry requirements, check: UK Government Foreign Travel Advice
What Makes a Country Truly Safe for Tourists?
Beyond the rankings, it is worth reflecting on what the safest destinations have in common — because understanding this helps you make better travel decisions regardless of where you are going.
The countries that consistently rank as the safest share several characteristics. They have stable, well-functioning governments with low levels of corruption. They have effective, trusted law enforcement that serves the public rather than intimidating it. They have strong social safety nets and high levels of public trust between citizens and institutions. And they have cultures that extend genuine hospitality to visitors — a factor that is harder to measure than crime statistics, but every bit as important to how safe a traveller actually feels.
The world’s safest countries also tend to share high standards of healthcare, reliable infrastructure, and political environments that are stable enough to make the news cycle irrelevant to your day-to-day experience as a visitor. None of this means that bad things can never happen — petty crime exists in every country on this list — but it does mean that the risk of serious harm is genuinely minimal, and that the systems in place to support you if something does go wrong are robust and reliable.
For a deeper look at how global safety is measured and what the data tells us about travel risk in 2025, check: Global Peace Index — Vision of Humanity
Planning a Safe Stay in the UK with London Stays
If the UK is on your list — and given its outstanding safety record, its world-class cultural offer, and its sheer variety of experiences, it absolutely should be — London Stays is here to make your time here exceptional.
We offer professionally managed, carefully selected short stay properties across the UK, from vibrant city-centre locations to characterful neighbourhood addresses that give you the authentic experience of a place rather than simply a bed in it. Whether you are visiting London for the first time, exploring Manchester’s extraordinary food and music scene, discovering Liverpool’s incomparable cultural heritage, or using a city base to explore the wider British landscape, our properties are managed to a consistently high standard with your comfort, safety, and ease at the centre of everything we do.
The UK is a country where you can travel with genuine confidence. Let London Stays ensure that every moment of your stay reflects that.
Read also: Cheapest Place to Buy a House in UK
FAQs
Is Scotland safer than England?
Yes, generally speaking. Especially in rural areas, Scotland has lower crime rates compared to many parts of England.
Is Edinburgh or Glasgow safer?
Both cities have safe and less-safe areas. Edinburgh generally sees fewer incidents than Glasgow.
Are the Scottish Highlands safe for tourists?
Absolutely. The Highlands are among the safest areas in the UK, known for their friendly locals and breathtaking views.
