15 Best Countries to Visit in 2026: Value, Safety & Wow Factor
Discover the 15 best countries to visit in 2026, ranked by value, safety, and wow factor — plus the travel gear worth packing.
15 best countries to visit in 2026: value, safety & wow factor
Whether you're chasing cherry blossoms, architectural wonders, or a beach that doesn't feel like a car park, 2026 is a genuinely good year to travel. A total solar eclipse sweeps across Europe in August. Italy's Winter Olympics are already in the history books. And Barcelona is hosting a once-in-a-generation architectural World Capital year. The calendar, for once, is cooperating.
We ranked 15 countries on three core pillars: Value (affordable accommodation, food, and transport), Safety (drawing on Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection's 2026 State of Travel Insurance report and HelloSafe's global index), and Wow Factor (those moments you'll be talking about for years). We've also woven in the travel gear that makes these trips smoother and more comfortable, because the right kit really does matter.
1. Japan, the gold standard
Japan continues to set the bar. It ranks 9th on Berkshire Hathaway's 2026 safest-countries list, its shinkansen bullet trains are among the fastest and safest in the world, and the food scene is simply unmatched. After welcoming a record 42.7 million visitors in 2025, JTB projects 41.4 million in 2026, a slight dip driven by fewer Chinese tourists. Western visitors from the U.S., Europe, and Canada are surging, with U.S. arrivals up 14.7% in February 2026 alone.
The best news for savvy travelers: Japan is rolling out AI-powered crowd alerts with live notifications, helping you dodge the selfie-stick scrum at Mount Fuji and find quieter alternatives. Best time to visit is March through May for cherry blossoms, or October through November for autumn foliage. Go mid-week, go early, and go off the main circuit. The rural ryokan experience alone is worth the flight.
2. Spain (Barcelona), a once-in-a-generation moment
In 2026, Barcelona is the World Capital of Architecture, designated by the International Union of Architects and UNESCO. From February through December, over 1,500 activities transform streets, squares, and buildings into living exhibitions. The timing is extraordinary: this year also marks 100 years since the death of Antoni Gaudí, and the Sagrada Família's Tower of Jesus, soaring to 172.5 metres, reaches completion. Seven of Gaudí's buildings are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. If you've been putting off Barcelona, stop. This is the year.
For a quieter counterpoint, slip uphill to the Joan Miró Foundation or lose an afternoon in the Gothic Quarter. Spain's overall value proposition remains strong: excellent food, affordable wine, and a high-speed rail network that makes day-tripping to Madrid or Valencia genuinely easy.
3. Netherlands, the safest in the world
The Netherlands climbed from 14th to 1st place in Berkshire Hathaway's 2026 safest destinations ranking, a remarkable leap. Amsterdam is world-class for museums (the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum are genuinely unmissable), but the country shines brightest outside the capital. Haarlem, Utrecht, Leiden, and the tulip fields of the Bollenstreek reward slower exploration. Excellent train connections, a near-universal command of English, and a cycling culture that puts most cities to shame make the Netherlands one of the most frictionless travel experiences in Europe.
4. Australia, runner-up for safety, endless for scale
Australia holds the runner-up spot on the Berkshire Hathaway safety list for the second consecutive year. It's a vast, extraordinary country that routinely under-delivers on budget (yes, it's expensive) but overdelivers on experience. The Great Barrier Reef, the red centre around Uluru, Tasmania's wilderness, and the wine regions of South Australia all compete for your attention. The trick is to pick a region and go deep rather than skimming the continent.
5. Austria, new entry, instant classic
Austria makes its debut on the top-3 safest list in 2026, and it deserves every bit of the recognition. Vienna consistently ranks among Europe's most liveable cities: imperial architecture, world-class coffee houses, outstanding classical music, and a public transport system that shames most capitals. Beyond Vienna, Salzburg (birthplace of Mozart), the Salzkammergut lake district, and the skiing and hiking of Tyrol round out one of the most varied small-country itineraries in Europe.
6. Iceland, safe, dramatic, and otherworldly
Iceland ranks 4th on the Berkshire Hathaway list and tops both HelloSafe's global safety index and the ranking of safest cities (Reykjavik is #1 for the second year running). The Northern Lights, geothermal hot springs, black sand beaches, and midnight sun make Iceland feel like a different planet. It's not cheap, but the experience-per-dollar ratio is hard to argue with, especially for photographers, hikers, and anyone who's ever wanted to stand inside a volcano.
7. Switzerland, precision, peaks & peace of mind
Switzerland ranks 8th on the Berkshire Hathaway list and 2nd on HelloSafe's index. Zurich made a notable leap to 3rd place among the world's safest cities. The Swiss rail network is legendary: punctual, scenic, and genuinely fun to ride. The Bernese Oberland, Lake Geneva, and the Engadin valley offer some of the most jaw-dropping landscapes in Europe, and the country's multilingual culture means you're never far from excellent food, whether that's a Zürich sausage, a Bernese rösti, or a Valais raclette.
8. Portugal, the value champion of Western Europe
Portugal ranks 12th for safety and remains one of the best-value destinations in the Eurozone. Lisbon's miradouros (viewpoints) and iconic trams, Porto's wine cellars and azulejo-tiled facades, the wild Alentejo plains, and the dramatic cliffs of the Algarve give Portugal a range that belies its size. Accommodation, food, and wine are all significantly cheaper than equivalents in France, Spain, or Italy, and the welcome is genuinely warm.
9. Canada, vast, safe & underrated
Canada sits 5th on the Berkshire Hathaway safety list and is frequently overlooked by travelers who assume it's "just like the U.S." It isn't. Québec City's French-flavored old town, the Rockies around Banff and Jasper, British Columbia's coastline, and the sheer spectacle of Niagara Falls (approached properly from the Canadian side) make a compelling case. In 2026, Canada continues to invest in its national parks and Indigenous tourism experiences, adding cultural depth to the natural drama.
10. New Zealand, Middle-Earth, real life
New Zealand ranks 6th for safety and offers landscapes so cinematic that it's almost unfair. The North Island's geothermal wonders, Māori culture, and vineyards contrast beautifully with the South Island's fjords, glaciers, and alpine drama. It's a long flight from most of the world, which is precisely why it feels so untouched. Hire a campervan, take the Interislander ferry, and set aside at least three weeks.
11. United Arab Emirates, surprise value in the Gulf
The UAE ranks 7th for safety and is far more nuanced than its Dubai-centric reputation suggests. Abu Dhabi's Louvre and Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque are genuinely world-class. The Al Ain oasis is a UNESCO site that most visitors completely miss. And for those who do visit Dubai, the sheer audacity of the architecture, from the Burj Khalifa to the Palm, delivers undeniable wow factor. Flight connections from almost anywhere make it an easy stopover or a standalone destination.
12. Ireland, craic, coastline & genuine warmth
Ireland ranks 10th for safety and offers a travel experience that's equal parts landscape and people. The Wild Atlantic Way along the west coast is one of the great scenic drives in Europe. Galway, Dingle, and Killarney are charming bases. And Irish hospitality in a proper pub, with live traditional music, is not a cliché. It's real, and it's genuinely hard to replicate anywhere else.
13. Denmark, Copenhagen and beyond
Denmark rounds out the Berkshire Hathaway top 15 (at #15) and Copenhagen is the world's second-safest city for the second consecutive year. The Danish capital punches well above its weight: Noma's legacy permeates the entire food scene, design culture has been influential for decades, and a cycling infrastructure makes the city genuinely fun to explore on two wheels. Beyond Copenhagen, the island of Bornholm, the North Jutland coast, and Legoland in Billund are all worth the trip.
14. France, the perennial powerhouse
France ranks 13th for safety and, despite its reputation for being expensive, offers extraordinary regional value outside Paris. Bordeaux, Lyon (the true gastronomic capital of France), Provence, Alsace, and Normandy all offer deep, rewarding travel at a fraction of Parisian prices. And in August 2026, France sits in the path of a total solar eclipse sweeping across Europe, a once-in-a-lifetime astronomical event worth planning a trip around on its own.
15. Belgium, the underdog that always delivers
Belgium ranks 11th for safety and is consistently underestimated. Bruges is breathtaking: medieval canals, Gothic architecture, and the best chocolate and beer in the world in one compact, walkable city. Ghent is what Bruges would be if it were a living city rather than a museum piece. Brussels is a proper European capital with a fantastic food scene, world-class comics culture, and Art Nouveau architecture that rivals anything in Vienna. For value and density of experience, Belgium is Europe's best-kept secret.
Pack smart: the gear that makes these trips better
Great travel is partly about where you go and partly about how well-prepared you are when you get there. These are the products we'd actually pack for a 2026 trip to any of the countries above.
A carry-on that goes the distance
The single best thing you can do for your travel budget and sanity is avoid checked baggage fees. A well-designed, airline-compliant carry-on that fits overhead on everything from a Japanese bullet train to a European budget flight changes the entire trip. Look for lightweight polycarbonate shells, smooth spinner wheels, and a TSA-approved lock built in.
A packing cube set that actually organizes your life
If you're not using packing cubes, you're doing it wrong. A good set compresses clothes, separates clean from dirty, and means you never have to unpack your whole bag to find one sock. Eagle Creek's compression packing cubes are the gold standard: durable, lightweight, and available in sizes that work with everything from a 40L backpack to a full suitcase.
A universal travel adapter you can actually trust
Every destination on this list uses a different plug configuration, and a cheap adapter that sparks or overheats in your Tokyo hotel room is a problem you don't want. A quality universal adapter with USB-A and USB-C ports (look for at least 65W USB-C for fast-charging laptops and phones) handles Japan's Type A, Europe's Type C, Australia's Type I, and the UK's Type G without drama.
A lightweight daypack for exploring
You need something smaller than your main bag for day trips, whether that's hiking Iceland's Fimmvörðuháls trail, cycling Amsterdam's canal ring, or carrying water and a jacket through Barcelona's Gothic Quarter. A packable, water-resistant daypack that stuffs into its own pocket is the move: lightweight enough to forget you're wearing it, tough enough to last years.
A noise-cancelling headphone set for long-haul flights
Japan is 14 hours from New York. Australia is even further. A great pair of noise-cancelling headphones doesn't just make the flight more pleasant, it makes you arrive more rested, which shapes the entire first few days of your trip. Sony's WH-1000XM5 consistently top every best-of list for a reason: class-leading noise cancellation, excellent sound, and 30-hour battery life.
The bottom line
The world in 2026 is wide open. Japan's AI-assisted crowd navigation, Barcelona's architectural year, a total solar eclipse over France, and real safety improvements across the Netherlands, Austria, and Switzerland all make this a year worth treating seriously as a traveler. Do your research, pack light, go curious, and give yourself more time than you think you need. The best moments are never the ones on the itinerary.