Americans Can Fly Nonstop To 4 Of The Safest European Cities This Summer

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With the rapidly deteriorating safety levels worldwide and wars erupting left, right, and center, safety is a top priority for Americans going abroad, particularly in Europe.

Nope, it's not like the Old Continent has descended into a full-blown conflict over Ukraine—we're not here to fearmonger—but if you still paint a pretty picture in your mind of a fairytale, peaceful, crime-free EU, boy, you're in for a bit of a shock.

London has essentially become a hotspot for knife crime in recent years, Sweden is the g̶r̶a̶p̶e̶ capital of Europe, and don't get us started on good old Paris, where the immediate vicinity of the Eiffel Tower now resembles a Bamako street market (of the worst kind).

What they don't tell you is that you don't need to be constantly looking over your shoulder, or feeling for your wallet every 5 seconds in the underground to ensure it's still there:

These 4 European cities are still as safe as they ever were, with (far) lower levels of street crime, and negligible to zero terrorism incidents—even better, you can fly there nonstop from America!

PLUS: We've created a quiz for you at the end of this article to find your perfect match!

Kraków, Poland

The cultural heart of Poland, Kraków boasts one of the largest historic centers in Europe, with its main square alone, the impressive Rynek Główny, laying claim to the title of largest medieval square on the continent.

Kraków is not the Polish capital, but it is home to Wawel Castle, a fortified complex housing medieval royal chambers, lush gardens, and a richly decorated cathedral, and of course, it serves as a major launching point for visitors heading to Auschwitz–Birkenau, the infamous former concentration camp.

Sounds eerie enough, alright, but the truth of the matter is Kraków could not be a safer, more welcoming destination these days.

According to the Traveler Safety Index, Poland as a whole has a safety score of 95/100, with Kraków specifically showing low levels of violent crime compared with many Western European cities.

The city invests heavily in policing and surveillance in key areas, and whenever incidents occur, authorities are quick to respond, particularly in the Old Town and nightlife districts. Pickpocketing can occur in very rare instances, usually opportunistic rather than aggressive.

Fly Nonstop From The United States To Kraków (KRK)

• Chicago (ORD)

LOT Airlines. 4x a week. Every Sunday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. $650–$900 roundtrip.

• New Jersey–Newark (EWR)

LOT Airlines. 1x a week. Every Friday. $600–$900 roundtrip.

Belgrade, Serbia

The vibrant capital city of Belgrade, a criminally underrated Southeastern European hub, has developed a reputation in recent years as a hip, edgy, but not particularly dangerous alternative to Berlin.

It has a grungy, artsy scene, with bohemian districts like Skadarlija and Savamala drawing young crowds from all over Europe, that post-communist, raw industrial flair—hello, it used to be the beating heart of Yugoslavia—and the cultural depth to back it up.

Perched on a hill overlooking the Danube and Sava rivers right where they meet, Belgrade Fortress is an imposing medieval stronghold featuring ramparts, strategic viewpoints, and sweeping scenic lookouts.

And if you ever fancy being transported right back to Paris, minus the overpriced souvenirs and Malian scammers, Knez Mihailova is that elegant pedestrian shopping street lined with fin-de-siècle façades and ornate neoclassical buildings.

Serbia may have its share of challenges, but being lax on immigration, public order, and urban safety enforcement are not among them. It is, in many ways, safer these days than your average EU country, scoring an impressive 83/100 on the Traveler Safety Index.

Before you travel abroad this season, regardless of country, make sure you have your documentation in order, and you're familiarized with the visa and entry rules for American tourists. Just run a quick destination check on the Entry Requirement Checker, and save yourself the boarding-denial hassle.

Fly Nonstop From The United States To Belgrade (BEG)

• New York (JFK)

AirSerbia. 4x a week. Every Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. $600–$900 roundtrip.

• Chicago (ORD)

AirSerbia. 2x a week. Every Wednesday, Saturday. $750–$1,100 roundtrip.

Split, Croatia

If you're keen on Croatia this summer, chances are you're dreaming of Dubrovnik's sturdy coastal walls and turquoise seas. What if we told you there's an even cooler, arguably-more exciting spot a little up that Dalmatian Coast that feels just as ancient and epic?

Split was literally born out of the ruins of an Ancient Roman palace, built at the orders of Emperor Diocletian, and you still get all the cobbled lanes, historic taverns tucked into centuries-old stone walls, and sunlit little piazze you can stumble upon around every corner.

The Riva Promenade is lined with palm trees and backed by waterfront bars, and if you keep walking along the coast, you'll hit up some of the prettiest pebbly beaches in Croatia, hugged by teal-colored seas, like Bačvice and Kasjuni Beach.

Split is a popular European getaway, but that doesn't mean they take security lightly.

From patrolling of the main tourist zones, to a zero-tolerance approach to petty theft and disruptive behavior, and of course, Croatia’s overall strict stance on irregular immigration, Split has turned into one of the safest summer destinations across the pond, with a 92/100 on our safety index.

Fly Nonstop From The United States To Split (SPU)

• New Jersey–Newark (EWR)

United Airlines. 3x a week. Every Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday. $800–$1,100 roundtrip.

Budapest, Hungary

Forget Prague and Vienna. If you’re Danube-bound this summer but want something a little louder, a little bolder, and more fun than both combined, Budapest is where you should be headed.

Born from the merger of two cities that once sat on opposite sides of the river, Buda and Pest, it is an imperial-era metropolis dotted with grand Austro-Hungarian buildings, criss-crossed by boulevards, and dominated by the striking red dome of the Parliament.

The Buda side looks like something out of a historical epic, with its hilltop castle, fairytale-like Fisherman’s Bastion, and cobbled medieval quarters, while the more lived-in, energetic Pest side has a buzzing ruin-bar scene, beer gardens, and late-night districts that all collide into one endless, walkable sprawl.

The best part? It never really feels remotely dangerous, unlike some of its fellow major European capitals out West, with a score of 88/100 on our safety index.

Budapest is officially a Level 1 destination according to U.S. authorities, which essentially means visitors are advised to take normal precautions, and everything from petty crime to serious violent crime remains largely low in most tourist areas.

Fly Nonstop From The United States To Budapest (BUD)

• Philadelphia (PHL)

American Airlines. 6x a week. Every day of the week except Friday. $750–$1,100.

Now take this quiz below to find your perfect match!

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.