Holidays allow you to relax and unwind after months - or sometimes years - of work and day-to-day life. Because of that many people look for a safe holiday destination to travel to.
Many tourist hotspots, while beautiful and full of culture, can have a fair amount of theft and scamming going on which adds unwanted stress to a holiday. People looking to avoid this tend to opt for countries that have been noted for their safety.
Because of this they'll want to visit spots high up on the Global Peace Index from the Institute of Economics and Peace, reports the Mirror. This group analyses all of the countries in the world based on metrics including violent crime, terrorism, international conflict and societal safety and dangers.
While these countries may be safe, they are also not exactly the cheapest spots to visit - both in terms of travel costs and prices when you get there. For some, however, that's worthwhile as it will allow them to travel without feeling like they have to keep a constant look out.
Sitting at the top of the list for its 14th straight year is Iceland with some gorgeous places to visit if you're planning a holiday there. It was followed by New Zealand and then Denmark to round out the top three.
The small island nation has a tight knit population, incredibly high standard of living and very low crime rates, making it a very safe and welcoming environment.
The country has some of the world’s lowest military spending and conflict rates as well. While safety may not be the quality people think of first when choosing a place to visit, Iceland is also blessed with a series of fantastic tourist attractions.
Visitors will be able to see an incredible range of natural wonder as they make their way across a country carved up by glacial rivers, lava fields and mountains. Iceland's stunning Black Sand Beach is one of the country’s top rated attractions on Tripadvisor, due to its jagged skyline formed from boiling hot lava.
One visitor recently gushed: “This is an amazing and spectacular beach. The cliffs and sea caves with their variety of basalt columns of all sizes and twists are mesmerising.”
Many tourists choose to rent a car and drive the country’s Ring Road which offers outstanding views of glaciers, waterfalls and coastlines. The road was immortalised by local prog rock icons Sigur Rós, who made an ambient track to accompany the 24 hours it takes to drive the entire route.
Along the road - which takes two weeks to complete at a leisurely tourist pace - you will take in miles and miles of almost eerie, otherworldly terrain that has come to typify Iceland's natural beauty. Warm springs and geological wonders formed by volcanic movements punctuate these alien vistas.
Wherever you are on the island - whether it be among the bustling streets of Reykjavík or beneath the mountain wall of Grundarfjorour - there's is always a good chance the night skies will be lit up by the aurora borealis. (In fact, Iceland has a whole host of brilliant places to see the Northern Lights if they're on your bucket list).
Another key part of the Icelandic holiday experience is the food, which is renowned the world over for its challenging flavours and unconventional match-ups. Due to its location and environment, Icelanders have had to get creative over the years and learn how to whip up a feast out of an abundance of fish, few vegetables, and plenty of pickling juice.
The outcome is delicacies such as lamb soup or Kjötsúpa, dried fish in a bag (Hardfishkur) and potato, onion and fish stew, known as Plokkfiskur.
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