8 of the 10 safest countries for American travelers in 2024 are in Europe — see the list

BHTP noted that Australia experiences a low level of violent crime, recording some 377 murders in 2022, per the Australian Bureau of Statistics. In comparison, New York State recorded more than double the number of murders, at 918, in the same year, per data collated by the National Center for Health Statistics. The population of New York State is 5 million people lower than that of Australia.

Travelers should be cautious of wildlife in Australia, per BHTP. Wild animals — including crocodiles, sharks, poisonous insects, and snakes — can be found throughout the country, per the US Department of State.

Australia has a safety index of 52.83, per Numbeo. Canberra, its safest city, has a safety index of 72.

BHTP noted that Iceland was ranked the most peaceful country this year, per the Global Safety Index. While Iceland is relatively safe to visit, travelers should be careful when driving there, per BHTP.

BHTP added that only a third of Iceland's roads are paved. Due to the strong winds and frosty weather, it's not easy to drive in Iceland, especially from October to April, per BHTP.

Iceland has a safety index of 74.55, per Numbeo. The website notes that the country has a very low level of crime.

BHTP noted that Denmark is the second most peaceful country in the world this year, per the Global Peace Index. Despite being a relatively safe place to visit, travelers should be cautious when taking photos, per BHTP.

BHTP added that some parts of Denmark — like the Freetown Christiania district of Copenhagen — have a no-photography policy, per the US Department of State.

Denmark has a safety index of 73.67, per Numbeo.

Portugal is not as heavily touristed as other parts of Europe, according to BHTP. Major cities in Portugal, which see more tourists, are still regarded as safe and orderly, per BHTP.

Travelers should still be cautious when taking mass transit, per BHTP — it's noted that pickpockets are commonplace. The US State Department advises travelers to avoid standing near the doors of public transportation, where thieves often pickpocket commuters.

Portugal has a safety index of 69.29, per Numbeo.

American travelers consider the UK relatively safe, per BHTP's survey, especially in the countryside. BHTP noted that crime rates in the UK have also been declining, falling 15% in 2022, per the Office for National Statistics.

But travelers should still watch out for drunk driving accidents, per BHTP. Notably, Scotland's limit was lowered to a blood alcohol content of 0.05, while the rest of the UK is 0.8, per the European Transport Safety Council.

The UK has a safety index of 52.68, per Numbeo. Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, has a safety index of 69.2 and is the safest city in the UK.

According to BHTP, the Netherlands was voted the safest city in the world by American travelers surveyed in last year's edition of the study. While the country is generally safe to visit, travelers should still be cautious of tag teams, per BHTP.

Tag teams usually comprise several people working together to commit theft, per the US Department of State. They distract their targets, with one person asking for directions while another tries to get into your bags. The US Department of State advises travelers to store their valuables in hotel safes and lock up their suitcases.

The Netherlands has a safety index of 74.19, per Numbeo. The Hague, the safest city in the country, has a safety index of 80, one of the lowest in Europe.

BHTP noted that some 69 murders were committed in Ireland in 2022, per the Central Statistics Office. In comparison, there were 203 homicides in Washington, DC, in the same year. The US capital city has less than one-fifth the population of Ireland.

While Ireland has low levels of violent crime, visitors need to be cautious of petty thefts, especially when visiting pubs, per BHTP. Ireland has a safety index of 53.71, per Numbeo.

In 2022, Norway had an average crime rate of 56.1 incidents per 1,000 residents, according to Statistics Norway. BHTP noted that while it's generally safe, travelers need to be vigilant of pickpockets in places like Oslo Central train station in the capital city, per the US Department of State.

Norway has a safety index of 67.48, with low crime levels, according to Numbeo, with the safest city being Trondheim.

Switzerland is famed for its security, according to BHTP.

BHTP noted that travelers should still be cautious of Alpine hazards in the landlocked country — including avalanches, rockslides, and blizzards, per the US Department of State. Tourists, especially those who intend to ski and hike, should register their travel with authorities, per BHTP.

Zurich, the capital of Switzerland, was ranked the safest city in Europe, per Numbeo. The city has a safety index of 81.7.

Canada is the safest country for Americans to travel to, thanks to its low population density, according to BHTP.

But tourists also need to watch out for wildfires, which have caused poorer air quality in big cities in Canada, per BHTP. People with respiratory illnesses have experienced difficulties traveling to Canada because of the lower air quality, per the report.

The top three safest cities in the Americas — Quebec City, Ottawa, and Montreal — are all in Canada, according to the online database Numbeo. Quebec City has a safety index of 83.9, with the level of crime noted as being very low, per Numbeo.