Safe & Sound:The Middle-Tier Nations Explained
September 25, 2026 2 min read Written by Barry Branaugh
Interested in a European vacation? As a specialist in European travel, it is absolutely my favorite region to explore! Like anywhere else in the world, safety varies across different destinations. This is the third installment in our five-part series evaluating safety across Europe.
In this post, we’re looking at the middle-tier countries (ranked 19th through 25th safest in Europe). All of these destinations are considered safe for daily travel and tourism. What places them in this category isn’t high street crime, but rather broader macro-level or structural factors that rank them slightly below our top-tier nations.
Political & Economic Dynamics
- Italy (#19), Slovakia (#24), & Poland (#21): These destinations share lower political stability scores relative to Western Europe’s top tier—though they remain stable for visitors. Italy excels in tourist safety and infrastructure, Slovakia boasts very low violent crime rates, and Poland shines with a resilient economy.
- Czech Republic (#20) & Lithuania (#22): Both offer low crime rates and high day-to-day stability. Lithuania’s score reflects its geopolitical proximity to Russia rather than internal travel safety concerns.
- Latvia (#23) & Greece (#25): Both are very safe for tourists. Latvia’s ranking is influenced by regional tensions in Eastern Europe, while Greece’s score is tied to long-term structural economic factors.
The Takeaway: Don’t let rankings scare you off! These destinations are incredibly welcoming and safe for international travelers with standard travel precautions.
