THE safest country in the world for tourists has been revealed and, fortunately for Brits, it’s one just a few hours from the UK.
Safety is a major concern for holidaymakers when heading abroad, with peaceful nations and those with good medical facilities among the most popular places to visit.
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Now International SOS, the world’s leading medical and security consultancy, has revealed new updates to its Travel Risk Maps, to help travellers make informed decisions regarding their 2024 holidays.
The Risk Map includes data which outlines risks to security, health and mental health, as well as those caused by climate change.
Using data from the maps, Iceland was declared the safest place to travel to in the coming year.
The Nordic country “maintained a calm and safe security environment” which helped it earn top spot.
Iceland is a popular place for Brits to visit, with sights like the Hallgrimskirkja, the blue lagoon and Reynisfjara Beach among the top reasons.
The northern lights is arguably the main attraction for people heading to Iceland with aurora spotting tours put on during the winter.
The country’s northern location and lack of light pollution outside its cities makes it a prime spot for seeing the northern lights.
Meanwhile, its natural springs are the perfect place to warm up after a cold day out in the snow.
The blue lagoon is arguably the most famous place to enjoy the naturally hot waters, heated up by the island’s geothermic heat.
Other places where the island’s volcanic nature can be enjoyed are the many geysers dotted around the country.
Strokkur is the most famous among tourists and is one of three main attractions on the popular “golden circle” tour.
The other two are the impressive Gullfoss waterfall, which is popular due to its “unusual and cascading shape” according to Visit Iceland.
The five safest countries to visit in 2024
- Iceland
- Luxembourg
- Norway
- Switzerland
- Denmark
They also claim it’s “extremely photogenic from every angle and in every season”.
The final sight of the circle is the Thingvellir National Park, home to Iceland’s biggest natural lake, waterfalls and plenty of other spectacular scenery.
Another big pull for tourists heading to Iceland is its wildlife, with whale watching tours leaving the harbours of its capital Reykjavik daily.
Several species of whale, including orca, humpback, minke and more can be spotted in the waters around the country.
The five most dangerous countries to visit in 2024
- South Sudan
- Afghanistan
- Syria
- Libya
- Somalia
Flights to Iceland take around three hours and can be booked for £64 return.
A night in Reykjavik for two starts from around £50.
Northern Europe led the way in the safest countries list, with most of the top five very close to one another.
Behind Iceland in second was Luxembourg, followed by Norway in third, Switzerland in fourth and Denmark in fifth.
Elsewhere, the five least safe countries to visit were South Sudan, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya and Somalia.
Meanwhile, this country has the safest drivers in the world.
And this is the most popular holiday destination in the world.
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