Seeking an adventure? Check out these top countries according to U.S. News & World Report
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Wondering where to travel?
Your destination choice might depend on what you’re after: stunning landscapes, welcoming people, delicious cuisine.
These aspects were all considered by U.S. News & World Report in their latest Best Countries rankings, which were published on Tuesday.
This year, the rankings reflect the opinions of almost 17,000 participants worldwide, addressing various themes including military might and public education.
“It’s predominantly an association exercise,” explained Gary Emerling, the Managing Editor for Government Rankings at U.S. News, who led the report. “For instance, if I think a country is welcoming, I might choose Canada because I associate it with friendliness, not intending to stereotype.”
This year, three European nations—Italy, Spain, and France—ranked highest as top countries for tourism.
Tourism itself is part of the broader category of adventure.
Top countries for adventure
| Brazil |
| Italy |
| Greece |
| Spain |
| Thailand |
| New Zealand |
| Portugal |
| Australia |
| Mexico |
| Argentina |
Several factors influencing this year’s adventure ratings include perceptions of friendliness, enjoyable experiences, pleasant weather, breathtaking views, and even attractiveness.
U.S. News & World Report also separately assessed the best countries for traveling solo.
Top countries for solo travel
| Spain |
| Greece |
| Italy |
| New Zealand |
| Portugal |
| Australia |
| Thailand |
| Brazil |
| Netherlands |
| Ireland |
“As part of the study, we also evaluated how safe each country is perceived to be, which is essential for travelers,” Emerling noted. “Generally, the Nordic countries and Switzerland rank well in this regard, while some countries are deemed unwelcoming.”
Countries such as Iran, Kazakhstan, Myanmar, Uzbekistan, and Russia were identified as the least approachable according to survey feedback. Emerling mentioned that current events can shape these views.
“Tourism perceptions regarding Israel have dropped significantly, as it fell 24 positions this year,” he indicated. “This likely reflects the ongoing situation in Gaza.”
The 2024 survey, including nearly 17,000 individuals globally, was conducted from March 22 to May 23. U.S. News & World Report collaborated on this study using scoring and ranking methods developed by WPP, a global marketing and communications firm, along with Professor David Reibstein from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
