If you're feeling the urge to book a flight outside of the States, allow us to suggest Finland—and no, not just because it's the 100th anniversary of the Nordic nation's independence. Rather, Finland was just named the safest, most secure country to travel to in the entire world. This should come as no surprise considering the nation placed fifth on the United Nations' list of happiest countries released last month. (Scandinavian neighbor Norway earned the top spot.)
The safety ranking was established by the World Economic Forum in its 2017 Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report. According to the report, "[Finland] remains the safest destination globally, despite rising concerns in most of Europe, including Finland, regarding terrorism." In addition, the document named the country as one of the most environmentally sustainable on a global scale.
Published earlier this month, the report looked at 136 economies across the world, measuring "the set of factors and policies that enable the sustainable development of the travel and tourism sector, which in turn, contributes to the development and competitiveness of a country," according to the World Economic Forum. The gist of the rankings: Scandinavia (yes, the birthplace of hygge) is not to be missed right now. Finland, Iceland, and Norway all earned spots in the top ten—not surprising as these nations are known for their low-key vibe, incredible natural pools and saunas, and snowcapped mountain views that can't be beat. And did we mention that Helsinki, Finland's capital, is a design lover's dream destination?
Check out the top ten countries to visit according to the World Economic Forum below—then go ahead and book that Scandinavian vacation you hadn't quite gotten around to planning yet.
Now check out our top 10 places to travel to in 2017:
