The U.S. Department of State continues to release and update its travel advisories for countries across the globe, providing Americans with more insight into the safety of different destinations.
Heading into 2026, the State Department’s advisories spotlight which countries could be safe holiday destinations for Americans in the new year and which should be avoided because of elevated crime and other concerns.
Newsweek has drawn up lists of countries under the four advisories and what each advisory indicates.
Why It Matters
Travel advisories can help Americans better plan their international travel, not only by helping them choose safer destinations, but also by helping them understand which parts of different countries pose risks and what sort of risks they should keep an eye out for.
In its assessment of countries, the State Department considers multiple factors, such as crime, terrorism, civil unrest, access to health services, likelihood of a natural disaster, current events and more.
Level 1 Advisories
For all countries under a Level 1 advisory, Americans are advised to “exercise normal precautions.” It is the lowest advisory level for safety and security risk.
The destinations under this advisory going into 2026:
- Aruba
- Australia
- Austria
- Bermuda
- Bhutan
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Cayman Islands
- Curacao
- Czechia
- Estonia
- Falkland Islands
- Faroe Islands
- Finland
- French Polynesia
- Gibraltar
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Latvia
- Luxembourg
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- New Zealand
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Romania
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Korea
- Suriname
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Turkmenistan
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Vietnam
- Zambia
Some countries under the Level 1 advisory are also listed as having a “higher security risk.” These countries are not included in the list above but include Argentina, Croatia, Georgia, Paraguay, Senegal and others.
Level 2 Advisories
For all countries under a Level 2 advisory, Americans are advised to “exercise increased caution,” which could be the result of a number of factors, such as increased risk of crime, kidnapping, terrorism, issues with health services and others.
The destinations under this advisory going into 2026:
- Albania
- Angola
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Chile
- China
- Costa Rica
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- France
- Germany
- Greenland
- Guinea
- Italy
- Malawi
- Morocco
- Namibia
- Netherlands
- Republic of the Congo
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Sierra Leone
- Solomon Islands
- South Africa
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Sweden
- Timor-Leste
- The Bahamas
- The Gambia
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- Uruguay
- Zimbabwe
Some countries under the Level 2 advisory are also listed as having a “higher security risk.” These countries are not included in the list above but include Algeria, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, Ecuador, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and others.
Level 3 Advisories
For all countries under a Level 3 advisory, Americans are advised to “reconsider travel” to those locations, which could the result of a wide range of concerns, like a heightened risk of crime, kidnapping, terrorism, issues with health services and others.
The destinations under this advisory going into 2026:
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Nepal
- Nicaragua
- Tanzania
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Uganda
Some countries under the Level 3 advisory are also listed as having a “higher security risk.” These countries are not included in the list above but include Chad, Colombia, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Pakistan and others.
Level 4 Advisories
For all countries under a Level 4 advisory, the highest advisory issued, Americans are advised to not travel to those locations at all, as the risks to their personal safety are particularly high. Countries where there is ongoing conflict in addition to other risks are often given a Level 4 advisory.
The destinations under this advisory going into 2026:
- Afghanistan
- Belarus
- Burma
- Central African Republic
- Iran
- Iraq
- Libya
- Mali
- Niger
- Russia
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Syria
- Ukraine
- Venezuela
What Happens Next
The State Department’s advisories are likely going to change throughout 2026 as the department continues to review the safety of the destinations.
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