The following assessment takes into account the Institute for Economics and Peace’s Global Peace Index (GPI) 2023, recent State Department travel warnings, and Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection’s (BHTP) assessments of the safest travel destinations in 2024.
The list also takes into account traveler survey results, GeoSure Global’s rankings for the largest cities in each country, and State Department travel safety ratings.
ABC Islands (Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao)
The ABC islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao are among the safest destinations in the Caribbean because they are not in the Atlantic hurricane belt, have low crime rates and a solid tourist infrastructure. The U.S. State Department also issued a Level 1 travel warning for all three locations last summer.
Iceland
According to Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection, Iceland is the second safest destination and has led the Global Peace Index for 17 consecutive years. As recently as July 26, the State Department issued a Level 1 travel warning for the island nation in Europe.
Denmark
Denmark is another fantastic choice for European tourists who value safety this fall. Ranked second in the Global Peace Index and eighth in the Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection ranking of safest places to visit in 2024, Denmark is often ranked among the happiest countries in the world.
Canada
Canada remains the safest country in North America, ranking fifth on the Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection list of safest countries for 2024, up one place from 2023, and eleventh on the Global Peace Index. The U.S. State Department advises Americans to take the usual precautions when traveling to Canada this fall.
Switzerland
Switzerland was ranked as the safest travel destination in 2024 by Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection. According to BHTP, “Switzerland has been synonymous with security for forever – or at least for as long as there’s been a Switzerland,”
In addition, the country has received the State Department’s coveted Travel Advisory Level 1 and is ranked 10th in the Global Peace Index.
Netherlands
On the Global Peace Index, the Netherlands moved up five positions to 16th this year and is seventh on Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection’s list of safest countries to travel to in 2024.
New Zealand
New Zealand has moved up seven spots on Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection’s annual ranking of safest destinations, landing in third place for 2024. The U.S. State Department issued a Level 1 travel warning for the South Pacific region on Sept. 8, and the country ranks fourth on the Global Peace Index.
Japan
One of the safest destinations is Japan. After falling short of the top 15 just a year ago, it now ranks ninth on the Global Peace Index and thirteenth on Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection’s 2024 list of safest travel destinations.
Ireland
With 69 homicides in 2022, Ireland is behind 16 American cities, according to Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection. The country ranks third on the Global Peace Index and ninth on the BHTP’s list of safest destinations for 2024.
On the U.S. Department of State’s four-tiered list of travel advisories, Ireland is also ranked as Tier 1.
Australia
This fall, tourists can travel with confidence to Australia (where it is currently spring). Australia has risen four places to 22nd on the Global Peace Index and is sixth on the BHTP list of safest countries for 2024.
The biggest threat to tourists in this part of the world is probably wildlife. In 2022, there were 377 homicides in Australia. In contrast, Chicago recorded 692 homicides in the same year, according to BHTP.