Is It Safe to Travel to Europe Now? What the 2026 Advisories Say

Europe isn't a war zone. That's the plain fact behind most "Is it safe to travel to Europe now?" searches this year, even though it rarely feels that simple from a distance. War coverage out of Ukraine, wildfire evacuations in Greece, and grounded flights in Spain have all landed in the same news cycle this August, and it's fair to wonder if any of it should change your trip.

For almost everywhere you're likely to be going, it shouldn't. The US State Department, the UK Foreign Office, and the EU don't attach a single war-related warning to France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, or most of Eastern Europe.

This article covers what the official advisories actually say for each country, plus the wildfires, strikes, and everyday risks worth planning around this year.

Does the war in Ukraine make Europe unsafe right now?

For nearly every popular destination, no. As Ukraine keeps fighting for freedom because of the russian invasion, the war shows up in the news far more than it shows up in any government's actual risk assessment.

Photo by Mathias Reding

A survey cited by Crisis24 found 62% of Americans worry the conflict could spread beyond Ukraine's borders, while no EU or US advisory currently backs that worry up for the countries most travelers actually visit.

Distance is a big part of why. Spain, including the Canary Islands, is Europe's most booked destination this year, and Barcelona sits about 1,933 km (1,201 miles) from Lviv, in western Ukraine. Lisbon is even farther, at roughly 2,884 km (1,792 miles).

NATO membership matters too: an attack on any NATO member, including Poland and the Baltic states, would trigger a collective response under Article 5, which is a strong deterrent against russia expanding the war westward (at least on paper).

So if you're asking whether it's safe to travel in Europe now because of the war, the honest answer depends entirely on which country you mean, not on the continent as a whole.

How safe is it to travel to Europe right now​? Official travel advisories’ rating by country

Most people checking this from the USA end up looking at the US State Department's country-by-country advisory levels. Here's how the main ones break down right now.

The four levels aren't just a color scale; each one comes with different practical advice:

• Level 1 means normal precautions are enough.
• Level 2 means stay alert to a specific, named risk, like pickpocketing or occasional protests, but there's no reason to change your plans.
• Level 3 means the State Department suggests reconsidering the trip, or at least that specific region.
• Level 4 means don't go, and if you're already there, the embassy's ability to help you may be limited.

These levels change as situations develop, so treat this table as a snapshot from mid-August 2026 and check the official advisory for your destination again closer to your departure date.

Is it safe to travel to Eastern Europe right now?

Yes, for the countries most travelers mean when they ask this. Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Slovenia, and the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) all sit at the US State Department's lowest advisory level, the same rating given to Japan or New Zealand. Warsaw and Prague are popular precisely because they combine that safety rating with lower prices than Western Europe. 

Portugal is popular, too, because it’s far enough from potential conflicts. So if you're researching things to do in Porto or looking for an Algarve travel guide, both are worth adding to a shortlist alongside Warsaw and Prague. You'll get a pretty much safe trip, just with beaches and a much bigger remote-work community.

The picture changes for the countries that border the actual conflict. Ukraine is rated Level 4 (do not travel). Moldova, which shares a border with Ukraine, isn't under a do-not-travel order, but check the current advisory before adding it to an itinerary, since border regions can shift as the war progresses.

10 safest countries in Europe you can visit this year

If you want a broader read on stability rather than a single trip risk, the Global Peace Index (GPI) ranks countries on measures like crime, political stability, and militarization. Seven of the world's ten most peaceful countries are in Europe.

The risks that actually affect trips in 2026

This is the part most "is Europe safe" articles skip, and it's the part that will actually matter if you're traveling this year. The war dominates the headlines, but it's rarely what disrupts an actual trip. Three things are far more likely to get in your way.

Heat and wildfires

Southern and western Europe have had a rough summer. Greece raised its wildfire alert to the highest level after a blaze near Athens burned over 110 sq km (42 sq miles) of forest, and a separate fire near Halkidiki forced roughly 500 people to evacuate by sea in mid-August.

France has put several departments under maximum wildfire alert near Carcassonne, and nearly three-quarters of England is in drought.

If you're hiking or visiting anywhere in southern Europe this summer, check regional wildfire and heat alerts the morning you set out, not just before you book.

Strikes

Ground crew strikes in Spain put roughly two million August seats at risk, and France, Germany, Belgium, and Italy have all seen airline or transport strikes this summer. These affect flights and trains far more often than the war does. Flexible tickets and refundable accommodation are worth the extra cost during peak strike season.

Petty crime

Pickpocketing and phone theft are common in crowded spots: metro cars, train stations, popular viewpoints, and anywhere tourists queue. It's a nuisance rather than a danger, but it's also the risk most likely to actually happen to you, more than terrorism or war-related incidents.

It also happens on the road. Last year, we got flagged down on a road near Seville by two men who acted like they wanted to help, something about our car. While one of them kept us talking, the other went through the car and took a GoPro, a bag of car tools, and a dash cam. Nothing about it felt dangerous in the moment, which is exactly why it worked.

Things to check off before your European trip

A few habits cut most of the realistic risk down to size, whether you're on a two-week holiday or working remotely from a European city for a few months:

• Register with your embassy's travel program (STEP for US citizens, or the equivalent for your country) so they can reach you if local conditions change.
• Buy travel insurance with medical evacuation, and consider "cancel for any reason" cover if you're booking a trip more than a few months out.
• Check the wildfire and air quality forecast for your specific region the day you travel, especially if hiking or visiting forested areas in southern Europe.
• Keep a digital and paper copy of your documents, and use a cross-body bag or front pocket in crowded transit areas.
• Sign up for airline text alerts during strike season, and avoid tight layovers on strike-prone routes in August.
• If you're near a large demonstration, leave the area rather than staying to watch. Most European protests are peaceful, but police response can escalate quickly.

Conditions on the ground can change really fast. Check the official advisory for your specific destination close to your departure date, not just when you first book. Stay safe out there, and enjoy your trip!