
The most dangerous country in the world revealed as surprising location bags the top spot
New research has revealed the world's most dangerous countries to travel to and Britons might be surprised by the results.
The researchers looked at 35 criteria to determine the most dangerous and safest countries to visit.
The rate of natural disasters, violence in society, involvement in armed conflicts and health infrastructure were all covered to determine the safest destinations to travel to.
So, where are the world's most dangerous countries to travel to?
The Philippines ranks as the world's most unsafe holiday destination according to the research.
Despite its position at the bottom of the safety ranking, the country remains a popular tourist hotspot.
More than 5.4 million international holidaymakers travelled to the Philippines in 2024 with many heading to popular beach spots such as Boracay and Palawan.
Next on the list in the danger rankings is Colombia. The South American country has a high rate of violence within society which earned it second place.
It's also a popular tourist destination and welcomed 6.2 million international tourists in 2024, nearly a 30 per cent increase on visitors numbers in 2022.
But the third most dangerous country on the ranking is one of the world's leading tourist destinations.
According to the research, Mexico is the third most dangerous tourist destination in the world.
Much like Colombia, the country earned its place on the ranking due to high levels of violence within society.
In 2024, around 45 million international tourists travelled to Mexico. The country's leading holiday destinations include Cancun, Tulum and Playa del Carmen.
India also ranks among the most dangerous holiday destinations for international tourists.
Russia, Yemen, Somalia, Iran and Syria all feature in the most dangerous top 10 destinations. Each of the five countries are on the UK Government's Do not Travel list.
At the other end of the scale, Iceland ranks as the world's safest country to travel to for a holiday. Singapore ranks second on the list.
HelloSafe, which commissioned the research, says: 'A country's safety and the feeling of security are often essential criteria for international travellers. The results sometimes contradict preconceived ideas.'
Denmark is listed as the third safest country in the world while Austria and Switzerland also rank among the top five.
The Czech Republic, Slovenia, Finland, Ireland and Hungary also make the top 10 safest countries in the world.
In Europe, Greece and France both rank as two of the continent's least safe countries to visit, with only Russia and Ukraine listed as more dangerous.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Independent
7 hours ago
- The Independent
Is it safe to travel to Jordan after airspace is shut by Israel-Iran conflict?
Amid ongoing hostilities in the Middle East, concerns over the safety of travel to and from countries surrounding Israel and Iran are heightened. Although the Foreign Office considers most of Jordan generally safe to travel to – bar the area up to 3km from its northern border with Syria – travel guidance has been updated to reflect ongoing events. As of 13 June, the Jordanian airspace is closed following Israel's overnight barrage of strikes on Iran, resulting in flight cancellations and diversions. Israel said 200 fighter jets took part in strikes on more than 100 targets in Iran overnight in an escalation that threatens to spark a wider conflict in the Middle East. Jordan, a popular winter sun destination for tourists, shares its northern border with both Israel and Syria, and travellers with trips booked may be questioning whether to holiday there. Here's the latest travel advice for Jordan, plus all the key questions and answers. What does the Foreign Office say? As of 13 June, Foreign Office (FCDO) advice for Jordan states: 'FCDO advises against all travel to within 3km of the border with Syria.' Travellers are warned that the security situation 'could change suddenly' in Jordan amid ongoing hostilities in the region and the conflict between Israel and Iran could escalate quickly and pose security risks for the wider region. The FCDO said: 'At 09:30am on 13 June official sirens sounded in Jordan warning people to stay indoors due to the risk of falling debris in anticipation of further exchanges between Israel and Iran. At 12:00 official announcements said the immediate State of Alert was over, but advised people to remain alert. 'If missiles are intercepted in Jordanian airspace, this may result in falling fragments and debris. If you encounter any projectile debris or fragments you should move away from them immediately and contact local authorities.' Its guidance notes that the situation in Syria is 'unpredictable' and the situation 'remains volatile and dangerous after over a decade of conflict and insecurity', advising against all travel to Syria. Recent protests in Amman about the Gaza conflict near the Israeli and US embassies and downtown may also 'heighten anti-western sentiment', say the FCDO. Are flights going to Jordan? According to the FCDO: 'On 13 June Jordanian authorities also announced the closure of its airspace. As of 1030 on 13 June Queen Alia International Airport was closed. This will result in flight cancellations and diversions.' It warned that Global Positioning System (GPS) signals may also be unreliable. Travellers in Jordan are advised to contact their airline and follow the advice of the local authorities. Leading leisure airport King Hussein International Airport in Aqaba, Jordan's southernmost point has very few flights scheduled, mainly on Royal Jordanian to and from Amman, and appears to be closed. The main airlines that fly from the UK to Jordan include British Airways, easyJet, Tui and Wizz Air out of London Heathrow, London Gatwick and London Luton. Royal Jordanian also departs from London Stansted and Manchester for Amman. Are cruises stopping in Jordan? Aqaba, Jordan's only seaport, sits on the Gulf of Aqaba at the tip of the Red Sea. Cruise holidays due to dock in Jordan were diverted or cancelled due to the Red Sea crisis and neighbouring conflict in January 2024. Simon Calder, travel correspondent of The Independent, says that the disappearance of cruises from the Jordanian port of Aqaba has 'crushed the tourist industry that depends on frequent arrivals of thousands of holidaymakers keen to visit the marvels of Petra and Wadi Rum'. So far in 2025, the only calls at Aqaba are occasional visits by Aroya, the Saudi cruise ship based at the Red Sea port of Jeddah. There is a long gap between 9 June, the last such call, and the arrival of MSC Euribia on 29 October – on a voyage from Southampton via the Suez Canal to Dubai. MSC Opera will call at Aqaba on 7 November on a voyage from Venice to Durban in South Africa. The Greek-based cruise line, Celestyal, will make a couple of calls at Aqaba on 7 November and 3 December. The next major arrivals will be in March 2026, when Tui's German cruise line starts calling at Aqaba. The Egyptian cities of Port Said and Alexandria are also likely to benefit from the relaunch of Suez Canal voyages. What if I have booked a package holiday to Jordan? Outside of the 3km radius between Jordan's northern border and Syria, the conditions for cancelling your trip will be dependent on your holiday provider, so it's best to contact them if you're looking to postpone. However, the main tourist spots – Amman, Petra and Wadi Rum – are a fair distance from here anyway. There is no obligation for companies to refund bookings if you want to cancel, and you will not be able to claim on travel insurance due to safety concerns unless FCDO advice changes.


Times
8 hours ago
- Times
The enchanting fairytale region where a week costs less than £400
'Literally the last unspoilt, untouched area.' That was how King Charles, then but a prince, described Transylvania in 2015. And this central Romanian region, where the Carpathian Mountains cede to forested valleys, meadows and medieval settlements, is little changed since. That despite the 2023 opening of an international airport outside Transylvania's second-biggest city, Brasov, and the subsequent launch of a thrice-weekly Wizz Air service there from Luton. Those handy direct flights anchor this DIY holiday, which uses Brasov as a base and comes with car hire to enable easy exploration. Looming above its namesake town, Bran Castle (almost certainly wrongly cited as the inspiration for Count Dracula's base in Bram Stoker's classic novel) may be non-negotiable — but do try to arrive well before the 9am opening time or risk a three-hour queue. The fortress is frequently cited as the inspiration for Count Dracula's base in Bram Stoker's classic horror novel. A million visitors are reckoned to come each year. Inside, all is actually underwhelming, apart from a worryingly comprehensive exhibition of torture instruments (£12; Luckily Transylvania has numerous other seductions, not least of which is its general vibe. In every village houses are painted in cheerful pastel shades, orchards seem to overflow with fruit, and families pile on to horse-pulled carts like it's 1899. Early summer then sees rich banks of wildflowers accompany neat hay bales in meadows, and the seasonal reopening of the Transfagarasan highway (or, more prosaically, DN7C). Previously called 'the greatest road in the world' by one Jeremy Clarkson, this is a marble chute-like wiggler which offers epic views as it hairpins up to Balea Lake — do be prepared for traffic, though. The season also spurs activity. Hikers might follow a portion of the just-launched Via Transilvanica long-distance trail, or cross and recross the Varghis Gorges river on wobbly wooden bridges bound for bat-filled caves. Brasov has an equestrian centre, while guides drive animal lovers into the mountains in search of brown bears (half-day tour from £54, • 21 of the best affordable holiday destinations for 2025 Brasov enchants. Spreading out from a neoclassical main square, Piata Sfatului, its cobbled streets and colourful baroque buildings are best admired from the hilltop White Tower's viewing platform (free). You'll find numerous excellent restaurants, all of them serving immense portions of hearty Transylvanian fare such as grilled sausages, stews or sarmale (cabbage rolls)at low prices. Try, somehow, to leave room for some papanasi, a fried cheese pastry slathered in sour cream and cherry or berry jam. Your suggested self-catering base is a chic old town apartment four minutes' walk from Piata Sfatului. One of several options inside the Richter Residence, restored interwar building, it comes with chunky beams above white walls and flashes of teal, a spacious walk-in shower, an espresso machine and a satellite TV. Maybe Dracula will be on? • Return Luton-Brasov flights, departing on June 26• 10kg hold luggage per person• Seven days' car hire from Brasov airport• Seven nights' self-catering for two at the Richter Residence This article contains affiliate links, which can earn us revenue Feeling flush? If you're inspired to visit Transylvania and have more to spend you could try … The King has long been smitten with Transylvania and before ascending the throne he spent years overseeing the restoration of some 17th-century dwellings amid a remote hamlet in the hilly Zalan valley. The result is today's seven-bedroom Prince of Wales's Guesthouse, a rustic property filled with local fabrics. Meals typical of the local area reflecting local ethnic groups are served daily, and guests can book riding trips or use the hot tub when not just lounging around in Seven nights' B&B from £413pp. Flights from £234. Seven days' car hire from £61pp • 12 great value holidays to book now for a summer bargain Having lorded over these lands for eight centuries, the Bethlen family have recently turned their Transylvanian domain into a luxurious escape with a large heated pool. Bethlen Estate guests stay in nattily designed cottages and can enjoy grilled river trout and blackberry cake in the barn restaurant, while sipping surprisingly good local wines. Lots of leisurely pursuits — from birdwatching to cycling tours and sheep-herding — are available to help you to make the most of the beautiful wilderness all Seven nights' B&B from £1,102pp. Flights from £234. Seven days' car hire from £69pp


Daily Mail
8 hours ago
- Daily Mail
I'm a female solo traveler who has been all over the world… five destinations scared me enough to NEVER return
A female solo traveler has revealed the shock destinations that scared her enough to never return. Andrea Elliott, who goes by Andreaboldbodytravels on TikTok, shared five places to be cautious about. 'I've received a lot of death threats in the past for the list that I'm about to get into. 'But if you are a solo traveling woman like me, or if you plan on solo traveling somewhere this summer, I would watch this video in its entirety for the list of destinations that I will never travel to again as a solo traveling woman,' she began her video. She then launched into her list - starting with Manila in the Philippines. Andrea said she stayed in Bonifacio Global City and 'it was definitely not safe.' 'My hotel wouldn't even let me go to the ATM outside,' she explained. 'They told me to put more clothes on, not to wear a tank top because there were so many men outside and it just wasn't safe for me to walk alone.' The traveler said she enjoyed the Philippines but 'Manila was not it.' Next up, to great surprise from viewers, was Paris, France, as she explained: 'I was literally almost mugged twice while on the subway.' 'And mind you, there are police walking around with guns - like a lot of police and law enforcement walking around - but yet I was still nearly mugged while on the subway in Paris,' Andrea added. 'I was also cautioned about pickpockets and advised not to go out alone at night.' Cartagena, Colombia, was the next destination that Andrea urged solo travelers to avoid. 'Overall, I really loved Cartagena, even though the men were pretty aggressive. 'The reason why Cartagena is on this list is because when I initially got there before I got into the walled city, I was taking a video from my taxi and stuck my arms slightly out of my taxi window. 'The cops then pulled up next to me in a scooter and told me to stick my arm back in - that it wasn't safe to have my cell phone out like that and just to be very cautious with my cell phone and my belongings.' She continued: 'Not only that, but other locals also told me not to be out and about taking video and that it just wasn't safe for me to walk alone around, especially at night.' Nearing the end of the list, Andrea issued a stark warning about Caye Caulker, Belize. 'I think Belize is so beautiful,' she began, 'Unfortunately, the men are very, very aggressive.' 'So much so that I had to pepper spray a man that was literally touching my person, touching me physically, just to get me to come into his restaurant,' she passionately explained. 'And y'all, this was multiple times. I had told this man after like passing by a couple of days, like, "No, I'm not interested. I'm not interested. No, thank you." 'And then finally he came up to me and was like touching me enough to where I had to pepper spray him and then he got the point.' But the number one place Andrea will never go to again - and advises other female solo travelers against - is San Salvador, El Salvador. 'I was almost kidnapped by two men walking in San Salvador next to El Boqueron,' Andrea revealed. 'These weren't gang members, and this was after Bukeli had already cleaned up the streets. 'These were construction workers because they were in a flatbed truck and they had wired spool in the back of their truck. 'They pulled up next to me, of course, I was walking alone. 'Both of them grabbed me by my arms and were pulling me inside of their truck.