Safest Countries In The World To Travel To 

You don’t need to be a solo traveller to be interested in the safety record of your chosen destination. There’s a lovely assurance that comes when you know a country has low crime rates, good policing and political stability – it means you can plan freely or allow yourself spontaneous adventures, safe in the knowledge you’re not putting yourself in too much risk as long as you use common sense.

To help work out which are the most visitable countries in this sense, travellers can use the The Global Peace Index, an annual ranking by the Institute of Economics and Peace. It evaluates countries based on safety measures like crime rates, conflicts, political instability, violence, distrust and potential for terrorism. We’ve taken a look at the safest five countries in this year’s index. From the far-flung appeal of Singapore to Iceland, the land of fire and ice, we’re not short of options to have a great and carefree time.

Iceland

Ranked the safest country in the world since 2008, Iceland is as welcoming as they come. It’s sparsely populated, which means everyone looks out for each other and crime rates remain low. The police here don’t need any more than batons and pepper spray to keep law and order, and the fact it has no army shows how peaceful the country is. It also has no animal dangerous to man, making it even safer when you explore its natural wonders like Gullfoss Waterfall and the split of tectonic plates at Þingvellir. The capital, Reykjavik, is well-known for being a friendly place where you can head out on a night out without too much worry. So if you haven’t had a chance to visit, it’s well worth a ponder.

Ireland

We don’t have to travel too far to check out the second safest country in the world: it’s the Republic of Ireland. With low crime rates and no army, it’s a place you can travel to without much worry. You’ll want to exercise caution when driving on the country roads and walking in the city at night. But in all, you’ll find the friendliest folks and the strongest communities here, while seeing its best sights like the Wild Atlantic Way, the Cliffs of Moher and the Guinness Storehouse.

New Zealand

With friendly citizens, sparse communities and plenty of farmland, New Zealand is the Southern Hemisphere’s equivalent of Ireland in many ways. It’s certainly almost as safe. The small population means that community policing reigns, and they have strict gun laws, which makes violent crime very rare. It’s also a safe country to wander around – while it’s wise to remember it’s in an earthquake and volcanic zone, there are no deadly animals. It means you’re free to explore the epic, verdant landscapes that helped Lord of the Rings look so magnificent, as well as visit its world-famous vineyards, or cities like Auckland and Wellington to get a dose of New Zealand’s down-to-earth culture.

Austria

With a good standard of living, equitable social welfare and a sensible outlook in life, Austria has all the right conditions for low crime – and it’s become one of the safest countries in the world because of them. As a major European country, it’s wise to take precautions in its cities, and be aware of petty crime. But on the whole, whether you’re heading out for winter skiing, forest bathing or a cultural jaunt to Vienna (the spiritual home of Kunst, Mozart and opera), you can relax in the assurance that it’s most definitely one of the safest countries around.

Singapore

The multicultural hotbed of Singapore is a new entry in the top five this year, leapfrogging three other countries in terms of its safety. It ranks of all countries the highest for its security and lack of conflict, and you’ll notice walking around that it does feel like a slice of utopia. For better or worse, the authorities clamp down hard on societal wrongdoing – which means it’s unlikely you’ll encounter much trouble, though it does help if visitors are aware of the strict laws in Singapore. For example, you’ll face a serious fine if you jaywalk, litter, or bring in or chew chewing gum in the country. It could even put you in jail if you hop on someone else’s wifi without their permission. Bear these laws in mind, and you’ll have a fab time exploring in this melting pot of an island country.

Wherever you plan on heading this year taking out Switched On Travel Insurance will give you the peace of mind that you’re protected for the unexpected. Find out more about our travel cover by visiting our travel insurance pages.