European country named the safest destination for solo travellers

Updated August 11, 2026 - 12.59am. First published August 10, 2026 - 10.59pm

The number of travellers choosing to head out on their own to take solo trips is increasing, with no signs of slowing down.

For many peoples’ first holiday alone, they want to ease into it, choosing destinations that are safe and tourist-friendly.

Summer photo of San Marino second tower: the Cesta or Fratta — San Marino is the safest country in the world. iStock

Travel insurance comparison site Squaremouth has compared more than 100 countries to figure out which are the safest, especially for those travelling on their own.

And the least risky place you can go is a teeny tiny country in Europe.

San Marino was ranked the safest place to visit, with a risk index of just 0.78 out of 10. The country is landlocked inside Italy, and is one of world’s oldest republics.

The study collected a bunch of data to create a risk index for each destination, including a destination’s Global Peace Index score, the perception of safety based on Numbeo data, the median mobile internet download speed, and access to medical care.

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San Marino is known for its medieval walled old town and narrow cobblestone streets. The entire country is just 61 square kilometres, and the whole thing is UNESCO World-Heritage listed.

Locals rate the country as a very safe place to live: 90 per cent say they are comfortable walking alone at night.

Another European microstate came in second place: Andorra, a tiny principality in the Pyrenees mountains sandwiched between Spain and France.

Andorra la Vella under puffy clouds, Andorra — Andorra is a tiny country between France and Spain. Getty Images/iStockphoto

Often overlooked as a travel spot in favour of its famous neighbours, it’s known for its ski resorts in winter and access to nature in summer. Its tax-haven status also makes it a great spot for duty-free shopping.

Third place will come as no surprise: Singapore. According to the study, the country has strong safety perceptions among locals, offers high-quality healthcare, and has reliable infrastructure.

Prague street — Prague - and the rest of Czechia - has beautiful architecture. Getty Images/iStockphoto

Two more European countries, Austria and Czechia came in fourth and fifth place.

Austria has low crime rates and great public infrastructure – beside the draw of Sound of Music tours, travellers visit for the country’s world-class classical music heritage and dramatic Alpine landscapes.

Czechia is a great spot for travellers wanting a budget-friendly holiday. The capital, Prague, has a great food scene, stunning fairy-tale architecture, a world-famous beer culture, and rich medieval history.

Austria has dramatic alpine landscapes. iStock

On the other end of the spectrum, Venezuela was rated the riskiest country for solo travellers to visit, with a risk rating of 9.74 out of 10.

Less than ten per cent of locals say they feel safe walking alone at night, there are high rates of violent crime, limited healthcare access and infrastructure constraints.

Peru ranked second on the list of most risky destinations, where poor internet and phone connections can make travellers feel unsafe.

Gabon came in third, mostly due to the poor healthcare access rather than crime rates; there are just two hospital beds per 1,000 people across the country.