Nothing replaces peace of mind when traveling abroad, but some cities are considered safer than others.
The city of Reykjavik in Iceland ticks that box, named the safest city in the world, according to a new ranking from insurance provider Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection that was shared with Travel + Leisure. In Reykjavik, the company found there wasn’t a single neighborhood not considered “exceptionally safe.”
“With global uncertainty and safety concerns top of mind this year, travelers are more thoughtful than ever with where they choose to explore,” Carol Mueller, the head of marketing at Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection, said in a statement shared with T+L “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.”
Reykjavik—famous for its incredible local cuisine, colorful architecture, and easy access to Iceland’s many natural wonders—also took the top spot in last year’s report. And while the streets themselves may not be a threat, the report found travelers do still need to watch out for volcanic activity in the area around the city.
Beyond Reykjavik, the Danish city of Copenhagen reclaimed its spot at No. 2 on the list. The report called Copenhagen “more cosmopolitan” than Reykjavik, but said it still “feels snug and warm.” The only part of Copenhagen that might cause problems for tourists, according to Berkshire Hathaway, is the autonomous zone of Christiania, where the company said photography is forbidden and visitors have occasionally been robbed when they did snap a pic.
Zurich came in third on the list (after not making the list at all in 2024), followed by Amsterdam and Honolulu to round out the top five. It was an impressive showing for the Hawaiian city, which jumped from 13th place last year and was lauded for its low per capita car ownership and remote location.
When it came to feeling safe in an entire country, the Netherlands took the top spot, followed by Australia and Austria.
The report identified the most popular international and domestic cities for travelers from the United States and then asked respondents about several different safety issues, including violent crime, terrorism, transportation issues, health measures, and safety for women, the LGBTQIA+ community, and people of color.
This is the full list of the top 15 safest cities in the world, according to Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection.
- Reykjavik
- Copenhagen
- Zurich
- Amsterdam
- Honolulu
- Sydney
- Barcelona
- Lisbon
- Tokyo
- Dublin
- Venice
- Seoul
- London
- Singapore
- San Francisco
