This City Just Ranked as the World’s Safest City for Terrorism Risk, According to a New Report

Known for its incredible art scene, amazing food, historic sites, and an endless array of beauty products, the city of Seoul has plenty to offer travelers. And now, it has also been named the safest city in the world when it comes to the risk of terrorism.

That honor was granted by Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection, which recently put out its annual list naming the safest cities in the world.

Travelers visiting Seoul can freely explore historic landmarks like the Gyeongbokgung Palace and Changdeokgung, where they can watch the changing of the guard or stroll through the impressive grounds, a beautiful contrast with the city’s modern skyline. And lively neighborhoods like Myeongdong and Hongdae are hot spots for shopping, local street food, K-pop culture, and nightlife.

The city’s efficient subway system makes it easy to reach attractions like the traditional tea houses of Bukchon Hanok Village, the Dongdaemun Design Plaza, and the vibrant markets of Namdaemun and Gwangjang. For those who enjoy the outdoors, nearby Bukhansan National Park offers scenic hiking trails, while the Han River provides bike paths, parks, and river cruises.

And while tensions on the Korean Peninsula often capture global headlines, these issues rarely affect daily life in Seoul.

Beyond Seoul, the city of Reykjavik was once again named the world’s safest overall city since “there’s not a single neighborhood in Reykjavik that’s not exceptionally safe.” Copenhagen, Zurich, Amsterdam, and Honolulu followed that.

Reykjavik also came in second on the list for safety from the threat of terrorism, followed by Honolulu, Zurich, and Copenhagen, rounding out the top five.

To come up with its list, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection said it surveyed more than 1,500 travelers who have personally visited the cities. These travelers then rated their experiences across several areas, including safety, crime, terrorism risk, transportation, health services, and the safety of groups, including travelers of color and LGBTQIA+. Responses were combined with external data to produce a comprehensive safety ranking for each city.

“Sometimes it’s hard to define the ‘why?’ out of these numbers… But the index is made up of many parts, and even one single voter who happened to have a bad time in a city can move it down in the rankings,” Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection wrote in its report, adding, “We feel good about these results, but consider this a start and not an end.”

The company recommended travelers consult the U.S. Department of State’s travel advisories, which classify countries from the lowest Level 1 to the highest Level 4 warning.