What to know
- Montreal has been ranked the world’s safest city to visit in 2027, according to Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection.
- The city received a safety score of 82.18, climbing from 16th place in 2026.
- Montreal was the only Canadian destination to make the 15-city ranking.
- Zurich, Amsterdam, Tokyo and Reykjavik rounded out the top five.
- The analysis combines data from GeoSure Global, Numbeo and The Economist with survey responses from 1,500 travellers.
- Despite its high ranking, the report warns visitors about Montreal traffic, particularly around bridges and construction.
Already known as one of the most attractive Canadian destinations for travellers, Montreal has now placed No. 1 in a ranking of the safest cities in the world.
The Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection analysis, which combines survey results from GeoSure Global, The Economist, and Numbeo, has revealed their results for 2027.
Climbing up from 16th place in 2026, Montreal topped the list for the safest city to visit in 2027. Montreal was also the only Canadian destination featured in the 15-city list.
The city received a score of 82.18 in safety, with the high score attributed to its low-crime activity with neighbourhoods that constantly score in the high 80s on GeoSure. According to the analysis, high 70s scores are usually considered exceptional for GeoSure, so making it to the 80s is a big deal.
Although the analysis ranked the city first, it warns travellers that traffic can be a problem in Montreal, saying the city’s bridges and construction could make it hard to get around.
The city was previously placed 16th last year, having dropped from sixth in 2025, but managed to climb its way back in this year.
Other high-ranked cities
Climbing up from the third spot on the list last year, Zurich, Switzerland, was named the second safest city on the ranking this year, with a score of 81.03.
According to the analysis, the city’s high prices and conservatism keep it less populated but also safer. Zurich is also known for its clean streets and transit and no unsafe neighbourhoods.
The Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection warns travellers to note the city uses Swiss francs instead of Euro, and it can be quite expensive.
Like Zurich, Amsterdam, Netherlands, climbed up one position, from fourth to third place in 2027, with a score of 80.81. Although the city is known for its openness with drugs, sex, and alcohol, it is still considered very safe, with travellers able to walk around its famous canals and bike or dodge bikers, with no safety problems.
Tokyo, Japan was also able to climb up positions from nine to fourth this year, with a score of 79.91. The GeoSure ranks the city very highly in personal and nighttime safety almost anywhere in the city, with easy access to healthcare. On the other hand, the analysis points out that Tokyo ranks much lower when it comes to LGBTQIA-plus safety.
Last year’s first place was ranked fifth this year. Iceland’s capital Reykjavik, is known for its small town vibes, even though it is the largest city in the country, at only 244 kilometres square. Travellers are warned that although very safe, the city is known to have active volcanoes that could put a pause on the trip, with evacuation sometimes required.
Others cities that made the list included:
- Oslo, Norway with a 76.45 score
- Singapore at 76.41
- Venice, Italy at 75.39
- Sydney, Australia at 75.34
- Honolulu, Hawaii at 75.31
- Dublin, Ireland at 74.58
- Copenhagen, Denmark at 73.52
- Barcelona, Spain at 73.44
- San Francisco, U.S. at 73.15
- Paris, France at 72.45
The analysis considers the list of the 38 most popular destinations for U.S. travellers, and combines GeoSure Global, Numbeo and The Economist rankings with survey responses from 1,500 travellers who have been to those destinations.
The survey was conducted in August, 2026, so it might not reflect current conditions or safety concerns.
