This is the World’s Safest City From Violent Crime

When it comes to deciding where to vacation, the usual suspects, like the number of nice hotels, attractions, and places to eat, are important to consider. But it’s also vital to understand the basics, too—like the safety of a new place. Thankfully, travel insurance provider Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection recently released its rankings of the safest cities in the world to visit and live in.

For its study, BHTP combed through feedback from more than 1,500 American travelers who ranked cities they had personally visited across multiple safety factors, including crime, terrorism risk, emergency services, health standards, and inclusivity. After crunching all the data, Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik, took the top spot for safety from violent crime, ranking ahead of cities like Seoul, Dubai, Honolulu, and Copenhagen.

Reykjavik has earned a global reputation as one of the safest cities to visit and live in, and the latest study reinforces that status. In the capital and throughout Iceland, violent crime is extremely rare, and serious offenses like assault and robbery are far less frequent than in many major urban centers around the world. With a population of roughly 135,000, Reykjavik benefits from its small size, which encourages community connection, high social trust, and a strong social safety net. Many neighborhoods in Reykjavik are also recognized by the safety index provider GeoSure as being uniformly secure.

Strolling through Reykjavik’s compact city center, travelers can explore colorful streets lined with charming cafes, boutique shops, and the unmistakable Hallgrímskirkja church, an Expressionist structure designed to mimic Iceland’s basalt lava flows. Travelers can attend a concert or performance at the waterfront Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre, then walk to the nearby Sun Voyager sculpture for scenic views of the bay. Museums, such as the National Museum of Iceland and the Reykjavík Art Museum, offer deep insights into the country’s history and culture.

Just outside Reykjavik, travelers have easy access to some of Iceland’s most iconic natural attractions. Popular destinations include the relaxing geothermal pools of the Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon, the volcanic landscapes and waterfalls along the Golden Circle route, and massive glaciers like Langjökull and Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest glacier. During the wintertime, travelers can witness the Northern Lights and explore crystal ice caves, while in the warmer months, they can see the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach. Those with more time can comfortably drive the entire Ring Road in about 10 days.

To learn more about the study, visit BHTP’s website.