The 5 Best Countries for Solo Travel in 2026, Officially Ranked for Safety, Ease and Fun
Everyone’s sharing solo travel bucket lists right now — but not all of them are backed by actual data. If you want the real breakdown of where to go alone in 2026, here’s what the rankings actually say, and why these five countries keep rising to the top.
The ranking everyone’s talking about
Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection dropped its annual list of the safest countries to travel to in 2026, and the top five in order are the Netherlands, Australia, Austria, Iceland and Canada.
This isn’t just based on vibes. The ranking is determined by results from a survey of travelers combined with “the Global Peace Index, data from Numbeo, and an average of the GeoSure Global scores of the major cities in each country.”
Here’s what makes the list even more interesting: all five of those countries also landed on Travel + Leisure’s recent list of the “Best 25 International Destinations for Solo Travel Adventures.” That kind of overlap across two major rankings doesn’t happen by accident.
What makes each country worth the solo trip
The Netherlands isn’t just safe — it’s wildly solo-friendly. Springtime tulips are a must-see experience, the Van Gogh Museum is a cultural heavyweight and bikes dominate the streets, making it easy to navigate on your own. Over 85% of the population speaks English according to 2024 data, so despite Dutch being the primary language, you won’t struggle to communicate.
Australia offers white sand beaches, surfing, art, sports and food — a full roster of solo activities that don’t require a travel companion to enjoy. There’s no official language, but English is the de facto primary language used for government, education and media, so the language barrier is essentially nonexistent.
Austria is the pick for culture lovers. Think opera, art museums and coffeehouse culture — a true culturally rich destination. The official language is German, and while only about 37% of the population speaks English in the country as a whole, the percentage is much higher in major cities like Vienna and with younger citizens (the percentage jumps to over 61% nationally for those ages 15 to 34).
Iceland keeps showing up on these lists for good reason. As Travel + Leisure put it, “The country is a haven for travelers who love the outdoors, with caves to explore, volcanoes and glaciers to hike, and geothermal spas to soak in.” English is taught as a second language in schools early on, so nearly every Icelander speaks it fluently.
Canada rounds out the top five with national parks, waterfronts, Niagara Falls and trendy urban neighborhoods in Toronto. English and French are the two official languages, so for English speakers it’s about as seamless as it gets.
The detail most lists leave out
Safety and fun get all the attention, but ease of navigation is the factor that actually makes or breaks a solo trip. The reason these five countries consistently rank high for U.S. travelers is a shared advantage: little to no language barrier for English speakers.
Knowing locals likely speak English makes it easy to ask for directions, assistance or just strike up conversation — something that matters a lot more when you don’t have a travel partner to figure things out with.
Travel + Leisure’s broader list also featured popular spots including Thailand, Albania and Costa Rica, but none of those cracked the top five for safety. When you’re choosing a destination to venture out on a solo trip, three key factors matter most: safety, ease and fun. These five countries check all three boxes — and that’s what separates a trending recommendation from a smart one.
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
