With all those viral videos on TikTok showing a side of Europe you never thought possible before, one with pickpockets running amok in the streets of London, and trash and graffiti everywhere in a once-shiny, glamorous Paris, you might be wondering whether there’s still any safe haven left to the Old Continent we all knew and loved.
Not to get political, and certainly not to point fingers at any group, there’s no denying the Europe of Olde, that high-trust society where doors were left unlocked, and you could forget your phone on a tabletop and have someone chase you down the street to return it, no longer exists.
Don’t even get us started on actual violent crime, and a whole full-fledged conflict in the Eastern flank that’s been dragging on for over 4 years now.
If you’re planning on hopping across the pond this year, and you want none of the purse-snatching and classic tourist scams, here are 5 European countries that, well, still feel like Europe.
Where you can actually unwind without looking over your shoulder, or reaching for your wallet every 2 minutes just to check it’s there:
Malta
A small island-country most Americans remain completely oblivious to, Malta is located between Sicily—the largest Italian island—and North Africa, and in a way, it’s at the crossroads of both worlds.
Its beautiful ocher-colored cities, surrounded by ancient walls and peppered with romantic piazze and Baroque churches, are clearly Italian-coded, while the Maltese language itself is deeply rooted in Arabic, as a result of centuries under Muslim control.
Then again, you might be surprised to find a number of red telephone boxes scattered around the island, as well as people driving on the left-hand side. They have the later British colonization to thank for that.
Anyways, Malta is nothing short of fascinating, and don’t even get us started on the golden-sand beaches and turquoise bays, but the best thing about it is that it’s incredibly-safe.
According to the U.S. Department of State, it’s officially a Level 1 destination, which in non-technical terms, means Americans can exercise normal precautions when visiting. Violent crime, harassment, and — are uncommon, and most tourists have reported feeling in our Traveler Safety Index.
In short, if you’re flying Delta’s new direct flight from New York to Malta this summer, that blazing Mediterranean sun’s really your worst enemy.
Latvia
We’ve been saying it for years, but as far as security goes, Eastern Europe’s truly where it’s at, and when it comes to super-safe destinations, limited petty crime, and low violent incidents, there’s no beating Latvia.
And the funny thing is, the average person probably wouldn’t even think that, given the fact they’ve probably grown up hearing horror stories from behind the Iron Curtain—and the Russo-Ukrainian War has certainly not helped beat the allegations.
For starters, Latvia, this tiny country straddling the Baltic Sea, is both in NATO and the European Union, so you can count on your safety despite the pro-Russian, anti-America anxiety.
Secondly, Latvia has gone the complete opposite way in recent years in terms of asserting its national sovereignty, unlike your average European nation. What we mean by this is, if you’re trying to cross Latvia’s borders illegally, you might be in for a rough surprise.
Riga, the gorgeous Latvian capital and the European Art Nouveau capital, at that, has your usual cobbled streets, well-preserved medieval buildings, and laid-back vibe: day or night, worrying about getting followed home or jumped by a thug wielding a knife is just not a concern.
This isn’t London. The State Department concurs, the public agrees (check the Safety Index below), and stats confirm it.
Iceland
Europe’s poster child for quality of life and high-trust community, Iceland is yet another Level 1 destination where the greatest threat facing you is a thunderous volcano erupting and the ash-spewing leading to grounded flights.
These could never be exactly ruled out entirely, but let’s just say terrorist attacks and phone snatchers aren’t exactly on the minds of most Icelanders these days.
They leave their toddlers to take naps out in the supermarket parking lot as they go shopping, for God’s sake! Forget the weird Icelandic parenting traditions:
Leave your wallet behind on a park bench, and there’s a high probability it will still be there, untouched, or in the very least, in the nearest Lost and Found.
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city, but unlike your average European metropolitan hub, it feels more like a quaint town, with its colorful wooden townhouses, residential backstreets, and solitary modernist church resembling Iceland’s own lava basalt columns.
As seen on the Travel Off Path Traveler Dashboard, there are no active alerts for Iceland as a country at the moment, and the vast majority of travelers have reported feeling safe while visiting.
Poland
When most of the European Union is battling a worrying surge in urban violence and religious extremism, Poland seems to be the odd one out, still holding the fort.
Zero terrorist attacks in over 40 years, fewer criminal incidents reported across the entire country than the metropolitan region of Paris alone, and social cohesion at an all-time high: Poles don’t play when it comes to law and order.
The result? Cities that feel safe at night, neighborhoods where kids play unsupervised, and an overall sense of security unmatched in the continent.
Craving a hassle-free city break that will keep you on your toes (in a good way) for days on end? Warsaw’s where you should be headed: busy thoroughfares, epic modernist skyscrapers, and a reconstructed historic core dotted with ornate buildings.
Is medieval grandeur and ancient culture your thing? Kraków is the old royal capital, home to one of the largest medieval squares in Europe.
Or maybe you have a taste for the lesser-known, seaside spots? Gdansk has beautiful Old Town façades and a fascinating World War II history, and none of Europe’s imported ruffians and troublemakers.
Greece
Unlike its sister Greek-speaking nation Cyprus, which was recently hit by Iranian drones largely by virtue of its proximity to the Middle East, the Greek heartland remains perfectly safe to travel.
As the U.S. Department of State reports, Greece stays at Level 1 despite the worsening security situation across Europe, particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Basically, your primary concern should be petty crime in popular tourist locations.
We’re talking the Parthenon, known for its numerous scammers and on-site pickpockets, and the jam-packed islands of Santorini and Mykonos, where leaving an item unattended for longer than a few seconds is effectively asking for trouble.
In the past, tourists have also been affected by large-scale demonstrations and civil unrest, though as of late, the state of the Hellenic Republic has been rather stable.
Unless a new major corruption scandal leads to a new Government collapse and millions of people taking to the streets in Athens, you have nothing to worry about.
Now take our quiz to find out which one is perfect for you!
