2026 Solo Travel Safety: The Best and Riskiest Countries to Visit

Walking alone through Sea-Tac’s North Satellite terminal brings a quiet sense of confidence. Traveling solo means you set your own schedule, choose your meals, sleep in if you want, and never have to choose between a museum and a nap for someone else’s sake.

But traveling alone also means you’re responsible for your own safety. If you’re planning a solo trip from the Wenatchee Valley or the Sound this year, a new report from travel insurance company Squaremouth has analyzed where solo travelers will be safest in 2026.

The Low-Risk Leaders

Squaremouth’s 2026 Solo Travel Risk Index looked at 113 countries and rated them on a 10-point scale. The rankings considered crime rates, healthcare systems, and, most importantly, how safe local people feel.

Prague, Czech Republic via Canva

San Marino, a small country, ranked first with a very low risk score of 0.78. Nearly 90% of people there feel safe walking alone at night. If you want a worry-free trip to Europe or Asia, these ten places are the safest choices:

San Marino
Andorra
Singapore
Austria
Czech Republic
Qatar
Estonia
Brunei
Denmark
Slovenia

Sea-Tac Airport via Canva

Where You Need to Keep Your Head On A Swivel

The report also highlighted areas where solo travelers face greater risks, often due to political instability or poor healthcare. South America is still a challenging region for solo travelers, with half of the ten riskiest countries found there. Venezuela is currently the least safe, followed by Peru and Gabon.

If you plan to visit Colombia, Bolivia, Jamaica, or South Africa in 2026, the data suggests you should be extra careful and ensure your travel plans are well organized.

Preparation is Freedom

These rankings are not meant to tell you where not to go. Instead, use them to help you pack and choose the right insurance. For any high-risk destination, Squaremouth suggests getting insurance that covers medical evacuation.o isn't just about the courage to go; it’s about the wisdom to be prepared before you ever leave the runway.

Three Months Ago, the US State Department published a list of Nations to Avoid

WARNING: Do Not Travel To These 21 Countries This Year

The United States Department of State has four levels of advisories: exercise normal precautions, exercise increased caution, reconsider travel, and do not travel. These 21 destinations are currently under a Level 4: DO NOT TRAVEL advisory, so plan your travels accordingly.

Gallery Credit: Nick Northern/N8