I’ve visited every European country: here are the 5 cities where I felt safest

Share the article

If you’ve been following my land-hopping adventures here on Travel Off Path for the past five years, you know by now there are none that there are still many places left to tick off my European bucket list.

Being based in Paris and getting those $15 long weekend flights from Ryanair every chance I get, I’ve managed to visit every major European country (yes, even Ukraine in times of war), some twice, and over 100 cities.

In reality it’s a much higher number than that, but… who’s counting at this point?

This Is it Europe that I love?

As beautiful as Europe may be, if there is one thing I have noticed over the years it is that security has undergone a significant deterioration in the short span of half a decade.

I don’t even have to go far to notice it: a simple walk through northern Paris will now put me in the same hyper-vigilant state I usually am in, say, South America or Africa.

No hate, just facts. That is what we call ‘Western’ Europe no longer the high-trust society it once wasand that is a sentiment shared by many across the political spectrum.

Yet there are still well-preserved parts of the Europe we once knew and loved. You just won’t find it in London, Barcelona, ​​Rome or even Stockholm, previously a fairly peaceful capital, now one of the continent’s top crime hotspots.

Without beating around the bush too much, being here 5 European cities where I feel absolute safe in:

Budapest, Hungary

A former imperial city, Budapest has retained much of its former glory, and I’m not just talking about its stately fin de siècle buildings, the red-domed parliament on the banks of the Danube, and the spotless streets:

Besides being an absolute stunner, and possibly one of the most beautiful European capitals you’ll ever set foot in, it’s incredibly low risk for travelers.

Coming from Paris I’m always a little wary of letting my guard down, especially in touristy spots, but it only takes a quick look around a predominantly, proud-Hungarian Budapest to note our self-imposed limitations do not apply here:

People walk with their phones completely oblivious to possible thieves, train stations don’t look like the gateway to the seventh Dantean hell, and women walk home alone late at night without hiding a key between their knuckles.

The US State Department agrees: Budapest (and Hungary as a whole) is one very safe destinationlisted as Level 1: Americans don’t have to worry about increased crime, terrorist plots (there are none), and robberies while they visit.

That said, there might be the odd shouter or rowdy drunk guy on the tram, and I might consider avoiding the outskirts of District VIII at night (it’s the Gypsy Ghetto of Budapest and the drug problems and rough sleeping are rampant), but generally you can rest assured that violence isn’t a problem.

Warsaw, Poland

Yet another Central European capital that I have been enjoying lately is Warsaw, Poland.

I’ve been to numerous major cities in Poland so far, and I can really vouch for each of them, but given the size of Warsaw and its global appeal, it is exceedingly rare that it has managed to keep such a tight rein on seemingly unavoidable urban issues.

Although that is the case a metropolitan area with more than 3.2 million inhabitantsWarsaw has a very low crime rate of 19.60 – if we were to compare, London’s is a devastating 64.93, and in my Paris nest an equally shameful 62.35.

Poland has come under some criticism in the European Parliament for being strict in its border control and showing no leniency when it comes to terrorism threats, but it appears to be paying off:

Just like in Buda, you don’t see locals reaching for their wallets every ten seconds on the subway, nor do you see women deliberately avoiding certain neighborhoods for fear of being attacked by ominous men. Poland almost seems to exist in one completely different universe than that of the wider European Union.

As for me, I really enjoy wandering through Warsaw’s medieval-esque Old Town, with a market square lined with cafes and a red-brick barbican. without glancing over my shoulderor scanning the (majority Polish) crowd for my typically perceived threats.

Vilnius, Lithuania

It seems the further east you go, the safer you feel these days. Welcome to Vilnius, the compact, scenic capital of the small country of Lithuania, located on the Baltic Sea, and a storybook destination without the usual bandits and roadside dragons to kill.

In our Traveler Safety Index, Lithuania is one of the highest ranked European spots out therewith a ‘stable’ badge and a current score of 85, based on live signals from real people who have visited recently.

Our new TOP toys are a great feature to play with if you plan on traveling through a rapidly changing continent in the near future.

To be honest, I didn’t even need confirmation that Vilnius is on the safer side of Europe:

You can literally forget your spare rechargeable phone in a busy Starbucks, only to come back a few hours later to find it still there where you left it.

Not that it happened to me, mind you…

Moreover, this is simply a simply beautiful medieval gem Cobbled streets that are on the UNESCO World Heritage List leading to baroque churches with richly decorated frescoes, a hippie, self-proclaimed ‘Republic of Užupis’ district, where the most brutal and bizarre constitutions apply, and an impressive Gediminas Tower on a hilltop watching over tiled roofs.

Ljubljana, Slovenia

A national capital with a small-town soul, Ljubljana is a picture-perfect European gem with a cobbled, timeless historic center, a winding river spanned by beautiful pedestrian bridges and an imposing hilltop castle as the icing on the cake.

Most people come to Ljubljana for the Julian Alps, or more specifically, the picture-postcard Lake Bled. Listen, I totally understand: the quaint church on a small island surrounded by glacial, crystal clear water is like something out of a dream, but I keep telling you: stop sleeping on Ljubljana.

Not only because it is as beautiful a city as they come, but also because of the (almost) non-existent crime.

The crime rate is at an all-time low of 12.68 Numbeowhether it concerns pickpocketing, armed robbery or other forms of violence. Your biggest annoyance here is the odd, insistent Romani beggar; however, they are usually chased away by the police.

I wouldn’t exactly leave my stuff unattended Anyway, especially at the central bus station or on the terrace of a restaurant, but realistically even in those situations it is very unlikely that your things will be taken.

If you’ve missed the ‘Old Europe’, the kind that hasn’t quite succumbed to the spoils of mass tourism and petty theft, and where there isn’t a kebab stand every 10 meters, you’ll definitely enjoy it here.

ReykjavíkIceland

Mothers literally let their toddlers sleep in a cart in the parking lot while they go to the market to do their shopping. Need I say more?

Reykjavik is another clear example of Europe (still) at its peak:

Public transport, albeit limited, runs smoothly and without the usual bad elements wreaking havoc; you could practically eat off the floor because the streets are spotless, and you could probably leave an item and find it in the exact same place or in the nearest Lost and Found.

Part of this is due to the remoteness of Iceland itself: it lies over 210 miles northwest of the Faroe Islands, the nearest European archipelago, and another 620 miles from Norway, mainland Europe at the shortest distance.

You can probably guess that Southern Europe’s long-standing problems with clandestine boating, knife attacks and street crime are things that Icelanders see in the news, rather than face on a daily basis.

To reach Iceland, you have to flyand so are the Icelandic authorities quite square when it comes to safeguarding national security.

As a permanent Level 1 stadium, under the auspices of the White House, and with an equally impressive score of 95 in our own safety index – much higher than the average European capital – Reykjavík would be heaven on earth if not for its shocking price tags and freezing temperatures all year round.

But hey, you can’t have everything.

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior head writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60 countries to his name (and is currently weaving stories from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.