The ten safest cities in the world have been unveiled by Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (BHTP), ranked in a number of categories including safety for women and under-represented groups, with the addition of one UK city which may come as a surprise to many.
The annual State of Travel Insurance Safest Destinations report is “unique in its ability to pair firsthand, survey respondent experiences with valuable third-party sources in order to identify its annual list of Safest Destinations,” Carol Mueller, BHTP’s Vice President told Forbes.
“Only travellers who have actually been to the cities are allowed to rank them on a variety of safety measures, using their first-hand knowledge as a yardstick.”
The report also analyses third-party data sources, including US Statement Department and The Economist, to evaluate safety concerns including terrorism, weather emergencies and health measures.
It offers insights into each city’s unique challenges and precautions including wildfires in America to political demonstrations in Spain, such as those currently sweeping the nation about over-tourism, so that travellers can make informed decisions to ensure their safety.
There have been notable changes over the last four years, Forbes argued, which reflects the “evolving travel landscape”. Previously, Scandinavian and Northern European countries dominated the list, but this year the report offers a diverse lineup of Asian and South American countries as well.
Venice was the first city to make the overall top 10.
Venice has always been incredibly safe compared to other tourist cities. The northeastern Italian city is built on a group of 126 islands that are separated by expanses of open water and by canals and linked by over 420 bridges. In the 21st century, it remains a cultural centre and has often been ranked one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
It was described by The New York Times as “undoubtedly the most beautiful city built by man”.
However, the city faces challenges due to excessive tourism, pollution and cruise ships, which were banned from its centre in 2021.
It was also rated the fourth safest for families.
(Image: Getty)
Seoul ranked number nine for the overall safest city.
The capital and largest city of South Korea, its population peaked at over 10 million in 2014, standing at 9.97 as of 2020. The city has gone through rapid and significant reconstruction and urbanisation since the Korean War in the 1950s.
Within the Seoul Capital Area lie five UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Changdeok Palace, Hwaseong Fortress, Jongmyo Shrine, Namhansanseong, and the Royal Tombs of the Joseon dynasty.
It also was rated the safest for millennial travellers, those aged 25 to 44, and also the safest for families.
(Image: Getty)
London was rated, perhaps surprisingly for some in the UK, the eighth safest city in the world.
The capital of both England and the UK, the city has a population of around 8.8 million, with the wider metropolitan area being the largest in Western Europe at 14.9 million.
Its ancient core and financial centre was founded by the Romans as “Londinium” and has retained its medieval boundaries. It grew rapidly during the 19th-century, becoming the world’s largest city at the time.
It also ranked sixth for Women, LGBTQ and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, people of colour) travellers. It rated the third safest for millennial travellers, the fifth safest for families and the fourth safest for LGBTQ travellers specifically.
(Image: Getty)
Denmark’s capital, Copenhagen, earned seventh place in the list of safest cities.
Copenhagen is the most populous city in Denmark, with approximately 1.4 million in the urban area. It is situated on the islands of Zealand and Amager, separated from Malmö, Sweden by the Øresund strait.
Originally a Viking fishing village, established in the 10th century, it flourished as the cultural and economic centre of Scandinavia during the Renaissance. Today, it is the cultural economic and political centre of Denmark.
It also rated the safest for mature travellers, and second safest for millennial travellers. It also ranked third safest for Women, LGBTQ and BIPOC travellers.
(Image: Getty)