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The 7 Countries With the Worst Work Life Balance…

There are some shocking data about the countries with the worst work-life balance.

When I was still working in the financial area, it was not uncommon to work 13, sometimes 14 hours per day. Since most of our income was variable, staying at the office for long hours was standard practice for young, ambitious college graduates willing to build their bank accounts.

Unfortunately, it became common for many of my coworkers to lose their hair, gain weight, and get sick with things like high blood pressure and diabetes. I won’t even talk about the constant bad mood of an overworked professional.

Working long hours for a short period is probably doable and has only minor health impacts. But in the long term, the effects may be sinister (unless you really enjoy your job).

Recently, I came across the OECD ranking of work-life balance, involving dozens of countries all over the world.

As someone who has worked on four continents and visited over 50 countries, I couldn’t agree more with the results.

Some of the countries mentioned are pretty obvious (as you may guess, South Korea is among them), but others are quite surprising.

Before we get into the ranking, let’s go over the context and the criteria that were used.

Ps: check also our Youtube channel The Expat.

What is the OECD

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is a group of 38 countries, mostly western, that work together to improve their economies. People often call it a think tank group (and is also a very well-established source of economic and social statistics).

It says that its goal is to change policies in ways that increase opportunity, prosperity, and well-being. It has worked on a wide range of issues over the years, such as raising the standard of living in its member countries, helping international trade grow, and working for economic stability.

The OECD was founded in 1961 and has its headquarters in the Chateau de la Muette, in Paris, France.

Moving Out, Working Abroad and Keeping Your Sanity: 11 secrets to make your expat life better than you imagine

The indicators used to define the countries with the worst work life balance

While multiple rankings are based on subjective perceptions and anecdotal evidence, the OECD took the time to establish two objective criteria to measure the work-life balance between multiple countries.

Time devoted to leisure and personal care

This indicator shows the average number of hours spent each day on activities like sleeping, eating, socializing with friends and family, hobbies, working out, etc.

Employees working very long hours

This criterion shows the percentage of workers who worked an average of 50 hours or more per week in the most recent year for which data is available.

Check also: The Weird Relationship Between Libraries and Rising Development Levels

The 7 Worst Countries (of the OECD) in Terms of Work Life Balance

Australia

Time devoted to leisure and personal care: 14.4 hours, which is below the average of 15 hours per day of all OECD members.

Employees working very long hours: 12.5%, which is above the average (10%) of all OECD members.

One of the worst problems in Australia is the number of people that simply do not use their leave days.

According to the international consulting firm Michael Page, Australians have, on average, 16 days of holiday they don’t use. More research showed that 2.4 million Australians who work full-time haven’t taken a vacation in over a year and that 86% of them are feeling burned out as a result.

Israel

Time devoted to leisure and personal care: 14.3 hours, meaning less than the average of 15 hours per day of all OECD members.

Employees working very long hours: 14.1%, which is above the average (10%) of all OECD members.

According to a survey published by the Times of Israel, most Israeli workers are unhappy with the balance between work and life, and a lot of them work while they are sick.

The survey, which comprised around 600 employees over the age of 18, found that 57 percent of Israelis are unhappy with their current work-life balance. A similar number of respondents also said that their employers are not flexible enough to let them work from home.

South Korea

Time devoted to leisure and personal care: 14.8 hours, slightly less than the average of 15 hours per day of all OECD members.

Employees working very long hours: 19.7%, almost twice the average (10%) of all OECD members.

Long work hours aren’t the only thing that makes it hard to balance work and life in South Korea. Because of long commutes and the “socializing after work” culture, people often don’t have much time for their families, friends, or even sleeping.

South Africa

Time devoted to leisure and personal care: 14.2 hours, which is almost one hour less than the average of 15 hours per day of all OECD members.

Employees working very long hours: 15.4%, more than 1.5X the average (10%) of all OECD members.

One of the problems in South Africa is that the low productivity of the workforce often causes employees to work longer hours to achieve the same output — something that Botswana managed to partially solve.

South Africa’s rate of productivity growth is the lowest among emerging economies, and together with Brazil and Argentina are the only countries with negative rates.

The low productivity in South Africa is caused by a lack of skills, high business costs, and a lack of competition in many markets. The skills of students are below the OECD average, and the education system is very unequal, with a small number of students doing very well and a large number doing very badly.

Check also: Why This Country in Africa Is Growing So Fast?

Japan

Time devoted to leisure and personal care: 14.1 hours, almost one hour less than the average of 15 hours per day of all OECD members.

Employees working very long hours: 15.7%, more than 1.5X the average (10%) of all OECD members.

It is not a surprise to see Japan in this ranking, since they popularized the idea of working long hours. There is even a word in the Japanese language (karoshi) that means “death from overwork”.

But in the last few years, the country has been pushing for better work-life balance.

One of Shinzo Abe’s (the late Prime Minister) main concerns was Japan’s overworking trend. The Work Style Reform Bill was signed into law by his government.

The bill was a key part of his plan to make Japan’s work and life balance more equilibrated. Initiatives include putting limits on how long people can work and giving them more flexibility, as well as requiring people with at least 10 days of unused leave to choose at least five days off.

Turkey

Time devoted to leisure and personal care: 14.6 hours, which is less than the average of 15 hours per day of all OECD members.

Employees working very long hours: 25%, meaning 2.5X the average (10%) of all OECD members.

Turkey has a relatively long work week: 45 hours. There is also a propensity in some sectors to push extra hours. Put on top of that the fact that major cities like Istambul have considerable traffic jams during rush hours, and you have a recipe for an unbalanced life.

Mexico

Time devoted to leisure and personal care: 13.5 hours, meaning one and a half hours less than the average of 15 hours per day of all OECD members.

Employees working very long hours: 27%, almost three times the average (10%) of all OECD members.

The worst country in this ranking has a whopping 27% of all employees working very long hours, and only 13.5 hours per day on average for all things non-job related.

Mexico has some of the longest average annual hours of work (2137 hours), and its average lunch breaks are also some of the shortest in the world, at only 30 minutes.

Somehow, the South Park music about Mexicans working all week long sounds true.

Check also: Hold Your Breath: The Dirtiest Cities in the World — 2022

Conclusion: The Countries With Worst Work-Life Balance

One curious fact is that there are no European countries among the 7 worst countries for work-life balance, despite the fact that 26 of the 38 countries of the OECD are European.

In other words, of the 12 non-European countries that are part of the organization, more than half (7) are at the bottom in terms of work-life balance.

Here is the list of the worst 7:

7 — Australia

6 — Israel

5 — South Korea

4 — South Africa

3 — Japan

2 — Turkey

1 — Mexico

Recommended book: Budget Travelers, Digital Nomads & Expats: The Ultimate Guide: 50 Tips, Tricks, Hacks, and Ways to Free Stuff & Cheaper Flights

If you enjoyed this article about the countries with the worst work life balance, here are a few other reading suggestions for you:

A Guide to the Easiest Countries to Adopt a Baby From

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Levi Borba is the founder of The Expatriate Consultancy, and best-selling author. Some of the links of this article may be affiliate links, meaning that the author will have a commission for any transaction.

Best Countries Ranking

The Easiest Countries to Adopt From – A Guide.

The Easiest Country to Adopt from Is Closer than You Imagine

(To save you time: the list of the easiest countries to adopt from starts in the middle of the article, but before that, there are some important considerations).

My mother had adoptive parents. Although later on in her life she met her biological parents — almost by accident — the real ones for her were always the adoptive ones.

She always talked about them on a very positive note, and I bet she loved her adoptive parents more than many biological kids love theirs. Every time she recalls some moment with them, I feel in her words the enhanced gratitude she has since they chose to raise her.

Adoption, on the other hand, is not a simple decision that should be made hastily.

Once I read that there is ONE question a person should make before

I will also share with you some personal stories I have heard or read about. Some of them are positive, others are not, but all of them are real.

Check also some of the other rankings we compiled:

Why Would Someone Refuse to Adopt From Their Own Country?

First of all, “refuse” here may not be the proper verb. There are three major reasons for someone not to adopt within their own country.

1st: In other countries (like mine), there are many more prospective parents seeking to adopt a child than there are children for adoption. With high competition, unless you are a wealthy couple married for years, your chances of having an adoptive child are meager.

2nd: In other countries, bizarre laws can cause traumatic experiences. For example, in Brazil, there were cases where biological parents, years after abandoning the child and when they were already adopted and living with a new family, went to court to recover custody. And they won.

3rd: Due to immense bureaucracy, adoption in some countries takes years and is nearly impossible.

Countries That Allow International Adoption (And Those Who Don’t)

Not every country will allow foreigners to adopt kids.

What countries do NOT ALLOW international adoption

Here is a list of some countries that don’t let people from other countries adopt children.

Argentina
Benin
Bhutan
Burma (Myanmar)
Cabo Verde (Cape Verde)
Comoros
Ethiopia
Grenada
Iran
Iraq
Kenya
Kuwait
Laos
Maldives
Mozambique
Paraguay
Saudi Arabia
Swaziland
Tajikistan
Tanzania

Be aware that in some cases, YOUR country may prohibit international adoptions from certain blacklisted countries. For example, Canada has stopped allowing its citizens to adopt children from Nepal, Liberia, Georgia, Guatemala, and, temporarily, Ukraine.

Nearly all other countries not listed above allow international adoptions, but some of them have extremely restrictive criteria. But not those listed in this ranking of the easiest countries to adopt from.

With no further ado, let’s talk about the criteria for this list.

Criteria to Define the Easiest Countries to Adopt a Baby From

Is the country a signatory of the Hague Adoption Convention?

The Hague Adoption Convention is a transnational agreement about international adoption. Its goal is to protect those involved from the corruption, child trafficking, and exploitation that can sometimes go along with international adoption. The agreement is important because it establishes formal international acceptance of intercountry adoptions to make sure the process will normally be recognized in other countries.

That is the reason you will not see in this list popular names like Ethiopia, since the country is not a signatory of the convention.

Is it possible to adopt a child from this country to the United States or Europe?
Average Adoption Cost (according to consideringadoption.com, unless stated otherwise).
Is there a minimum age requirement to adopt a child? If so, what is a child’s minimum legal age for adoption?
What are the requirements for adoptive parents?

The Easiest Countries to Adopt a Baby From

(They are not necessarily in order, but all of them meet the above-mentioned criteria.)

Colombia – The Easiest Country to Adopt From Latin-America

Colombia — One of the easiest countries to adopt from. Image customized by the author.

Is the country a signatory of the Hague Adoption Convention?

Yes

Is it possible to adopt a child from this country to the United States or Europe?

Yes

Average Adoption Cost:

The cost of a typical adoption process for a child from Colombia is around $35,470. This does not include airline tickets to and from Colombia, hotel accommodations, etc. Be warned that travel advisories have been confirmed by the US State Department due to criminal activity and terrorism connected to narcotics.

Is there a minimum age requirement for the adoptive child?

Children eligible for international adoption are at least 6 months old.

What are the main requirements for adoptive parents?

Single women or married couples are allowed.
For couples to adopt together, the country demands a minimum of two years of marriage.
Positive net worth and an annual income of at least $10,000 per family member, including the adopted child.
There can be no more than two misdemeanors in a person’s lifetime and no history of felonies.
Applicants who have or have had a life-threatening or contagious disease or other condition that affects their ability to parent and/or the quality of life of a child are not allowed to adopt.

Moving Out, Working Abroad and Keeping Your Sanity Cover — Recommended book: Moving Out, Working Abroad, and Keeping Your Sanity

Thailand

Is the country a signatory of the Hague Adoption Convention?

Yes

Is it possible to adopt a child from this country to the United States or Europe?

Yes

Average Adoption Cost:

According to ThaiEmbassy, agencies give a wide range of prices for, but most of them are between $10,000 and $18,000. But don’t be too excited about the low price: it doesn’t include travel costs or fees for visa processing.

Costs to stay a few months during the process in Thailand, however, are not expensive (in fact, costs are very low, and that is why many remote workers choose to live in Thailand).

Is there a minimum age requirement for the adoptive child?

Babies are available from 10 months old, nevertheless, most of them are around 2 years old.

What are the main requirements for adoptive parents?

Candidates must be at least 25 years old.
Candidates who are single or have been married for at least two years to a heterosexual partner.
Before they can adopt a child in Thailand, parents must show proof that they have a stable income.

China – The Easiest Country to Adopt In Far-East Asia

China — One of the easiest countries to adopt from

Is the country a signatory of the Hague Adoption Convention?

Yes

Is it possible to adopt a child from this country to the United States or Europe?

Yes

Average Adoption Cost:

According to ConsideringAdoption, here is a breakdown of the costs:

Agency Application: $1,000-$2,500
Home Study: $1,000-$3,000
Program Fees: $8,000-$12,000
Travel Costs: $7,000-$14,000
Documentation: $1,000-$3,000
U.S. Entry Visa Application: $300-$500
Post-Placement Fees: $500-$1,000
Orphanage Donation (required in China): $5,000-$6,000
I-800 Visa Application: $500-$1,000
Third-Party Fees: $2,000-$3,000

Is there a minimum age requirement for the adoptive child?

What are the main requirements for adoptive parents?

The minimum age for candidates is 30.
Neither parent should be more than 50 years older than the child they are adopting. You cannot be more than 45 years older than the adopted child if you are a single parent.
Married couples must have no more than five children, none of whom are younger than a year old. Single parents may have no more than three children in their home, none of whom must be under the age of six.
Married couples must be married for a minimum of two years, and remarried couples must be married for a minimum of five years. A maximum of two divorces are permitted.
Married couples must have a minimum net worth of $80,000 and earn $10,000 per child in the home, including the prospective adopted child. The requirements may be more stringent for single parents.
Anyone considering adoption must be in good health.

With the worsening economical situation in China, there is a chance the number of kids put for adoption will increase in the next years.

Haiti

Is the country a signatory of the Hague Adoption Convention?

Yes

Is it possible to adopt a child from this country to the United States or Europe?

Yes

Average Adoption Cost:

Depending on the specifics of your adoption process, the total cost could range anywhere from $25,000 to $40,000, including travel expenses.

Is there a minimum age requirement for the adoptive child?

Adoptable children must be at least three months old and no older than sixteen years old; if they are older than 12 years old, they must express their consent to the adoption.

What are the main requirements for adoptive parents?

If you are going to adopt as a couple, at least one of you must be 30 or older. If you’re a single parent, you must be least 35 years old to adopt.
Candidates above the age of 50 are not allowed.
Heterosexual couples (married and unmarried) are ok. You must show proof of at least 5 years of marriage or co-residence.
Candidates must provide proof of employment and a stable income. There are no explicit guidelines for how much money a family must earn.

India

Is the country a signatory of the Hague Adoption Convention?

Yes

Is it possible to adopt a child from this country to the United States or Europe?

Yes

Average Adoption Cost:

It ranges from $30,000 to $40,000, including travel costs.

Is there a minimum age requirement for the adoptive child?

There is no minimum age for adoptive children.

What are the main requirements for adoptive parents?

Candidates must be at least 25 years old and no more than 45 if adopting a child under the age of four. If the kid is between the ages of four and eight, both candidates must be at least 29 and no older than 50. If the kid is over the age of eight, the candidates must be at least 33 and no older than 55.
Adoption can be done by married couples or single women.
Couples (only heterosexuals) must be married for at least two years.
Candidates must have no more than four children.

The easiest country to adopt from in 2023 — Bulgaria

Bulgaria — The easiest country to adopt from.

Is the country a signatory of the Hague Adoption Convention?

Yes

Is it possible to adopt a child from this country to the United States or Europe?

Yes

Average Adoption Cost:

A Bulgarian adoption will generally cost you around $40,000. The $30,500 in costs can be directly linked to the procedure. The rest includes air travel and hotel accommodations abroad.

Is there a minimum age requirement for the adoptive child?

A child older than 12 months can be adopted by parents between the ages of 23 and 49. Parents between the ages of 50 and 55 can adopt a child who is at least 5 years old.

What are the main requirements for adoptive parents?

Candidates must be at least 15 years older than the child they intend to adopt.
Candidates can be either a heterosexual married couple or a single parent.
Before a kid can be adopted, parents must spend at least 5 days with them in Bulgaria.

The Fastest Adoption Process for US Citizens

If you are purely interested in a (relatively) speedy process and have no issues with a child that is older (the average child there is 6.5 years old), you can always look into the US Foster Care system. Currently, there are over 400,000 kids in the US foster care system.

It is possible to finish the adoption process for a child who is in foster care in less than a year. If you adopt within your own state, there are no expenses and you do not need to travel for the process.

International Adoption Questions

These are some of the most common questions candidates to become adoptive parents hear during the “interviews” along the way.

How old are you?
How healthy are you and what is your BMI?
Are you married, and for how long? Have you been divorced?
How much money do you make, and how long have you been working in a stable, long-term job?
Is there a stay-at-home parent available to care for the child?
Do you have multiple children at home already?
What are their sexes and ages?

Remember that these are some questions, but not all of them. Also, there is a good chance that US homeland security will ask more questions (the feared “red sheet”) when the adopted child is brought to the US.

A Couple of Questions You Should Ask Yourself Before Adopting

Why do you want to create a family through adoption?

Are you prepared to become a parent to a kid that does not have the same genetic makeup as you do?

Parenting takes a lot of selfless love because it often means putting your own needs aside for someone else’s, and the results aren’t always clear right away.

As soon as you are able to respond to those questions in a manner that is honest to yourself, it is a good idea to speak with a credible adoption center, either in your local region or in any of the countries that were listed earlier.

There are a great number of youngsters in need of parents who are caring and committed all around the world. By adopting them, you can save them from violence or extremely harsh conditions to live in.

Also, there are a lot of scams out there, so watch out.

Personal Stories of International Adoption

During the research for this article about the easiest countries to adopt from, I came across some interesting stories of international adoption. Two of them are below.

Sarah (fictional name) adopted a child from Uganda.

I have several friends who have adopted abroad, and the process was extremely smooth and extremely short compared to friends who have adopted from Uganda, like we did. There were eight countries that we could not even qualify for based on our family size or our inability to live in a foreign country for 3–6 months.

Robert (fictional name) adopted two kids from Russia years ago.

I adopted two children from Russia. One was 20 months old, and the other was about 4 years old. This is my qualification to speak on the subject. Sadly, Russia no longer adopts children from the US because we sanctioned them.

The fact of the matter is that it is easier to fly all the way around the world two times, like an astronaut, to get a child in Russia than it is to adopt a child in the US State of Washington (and presumably other U.S. states).

Be Aware of Physiologic or Genetic Traits That Are Challenging in Some Places

This is the last tip, and maybe somehow polemic for this article about the easiest countries to adopt from.

It is understandable that many people would enjoy having a kid from a different part of the globe join their family.

But people in some areas have developed certain traits over thousands or even millions of years, and the only reason for this was to help them fit in with the natural environment there.

I give my own example: I am an olive-skinned South American living in a cold part of Europe.

Summers here are relatively short, and winters are long and dark. Very dark. The locals are white, so their skin is optimized to absorb the most sunlight to create Vitamin D, essential for good health.

My skin, however, gets tanned VERY quickly, and for a very long time. I went to the beach for a few days in early September, and almost 2 months later, I am still tanned.

While this is a good device my body has to protect me from skin cancer — a danger in my home country, Brazil, it also reduces the amount of Vitamin D I absorb from sunlight.

That is why, during my first years in Europe, I suffered from a severe deficiency of Vitamin D during the winter that made me sick and weak almost all the time, even affecting my fertility. The problem was only solved by taking supplements, which I must take at least 6 months per year as long as I live in Europe.

There is no escape from that. (In another article, I explain why Vitamin D supplementation is one of the 5 simple-but-crucial tips for moving to Europe).

This is just one example, quite anecdotal, but it exemplifies why it is important to consider physiological and genetic characteristics when adopting abroad.

If you enjoyed this article about the easiest countries to adopt from, here are a few other reading suggestions for you:

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Prepare for Winter: 16 Uncommon (And Crazy Cheap) Ways in 2022

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Why This Country in Africa Is Growing So Fast?

Levi Borba is the founder of The Expatriate Consultancy, creator of the channel The Expat, and best-selling author. Some of the links of this article may be affiliate links, meaning that the author will have a commission for any transaction.

Best Countries Ranking

Retire in Bali, Indonesia: Pros, Cons, Costs and All…

A dream of many people is to retire in Bali, Indonesia, and it’s not that hard to do it.

Have you caught yourself wondering if it is a good idea to retire in Bali, the sun-kissed island between Indonesia and Australia? In this article, we will explain everything to you, and give some well-needed context.

Our consultancy’s team wrote this article after similar pieces about other hot retirement destinations, such as:

Is Bali a Good Place to Retire?

Yes, and that is proved by the enormous number of western expatriates that choose this island on the other side of the world to spend their time.

Be aware, however, about one thing: to talk about retirement in Bali is completely different from talking about retirement in other parts of Indonesia, which is not one of the best countries in the world to retire in.

Bali is different from the rest of the country. It has a good infrastructure. differently than Indonesia or other countries with pollution problems.

For most people, retirement is the golden age of their lives. They can enjoy their time without compulsory schedules and, more often than not, get to do so with a growing nest egg, which gets bigger year after year thanks to the magic of compounding interest.

So why spend this time hearing the loud sirens of a large city and dealing with long traffic jams?

The good weather, relatively cheap cost of living, magnificent beaches, rich history, and strong traditions combine together to make living in Bali the archetypal tropical paradise for people wishing to move out of noisy, polluting, and crowded metropolitan zones.

Retire in Bali Pros and Cons

As nearly every area in the world, it has its pros and cons, and even some bureaucracy, albeit significantly less than many other destinations.

Pros of Living in Bali

The weather. Yes, it was obvious this was going to be the first point (although the others are not in order of importance) of the pros of retiring in Bali. While you might encounter some tropical rain and thunderstorms during the rainy season, overall the weather in Bali is lovely. Sunny and warm days year round, great for escaping those cold winter days back home. If you would prefer cold weather, check our article about retirement in Finland.
Healthy living. Bali is a paradise for those who love working out, yoga, and surfing. Bali’s healthy food is another reason why so many people visit. It has also plenty of western food options. Places like Canggu have healthy food stores and cafes with the best options; many dishes are so good you won’t even wish for fast-food anymore!
The people. Balinese people are friendly, welcoming, and willing to help. Expatriates often fall in love with Bali because of its friendly people, and you may feel the same way.
The large expat community. Bali is a popular destination for expats and digital nomads, making it easy to find people with similar interests. Join Facebook groups like Bali Expats Group. Before you arrive, connect with these groups.
Very low cost of living (when compared to America or Europe). Bali’s cost of living is lower than in North America, Europe, and Australia. Eating out, grocery shopping, activities, and specially rent are cheaper. The lower living costs are also one of the reasons a place like Argentina is attractive for retirement. We’ll explain how much is the cost of living in Bali in the sections below.
Coworking spaces (If you decide to make some extra money as a remote worker during your retirement). As the expat and remote-workers community grew, so did the number of coworking spaces and cafes with decent wifi, and great places to work while exploring the island. You’ll find these spaces in Canggu and Ubud, where many expatriates and digital nomads live.
Plenty of activities to do. Not only the great prices, healthy lifestyle, and kind people draw travelers to this island, but also the beautiful sights and activities. White and black sand beaches, rice fields, waterfalls, and a sunrise-climbable volcano. Due to the island size, every place is 3 to 4 hours away, no matter where you live.
Your family and friends will be glad to visit you. Who doesn’t love a sunny island with sandy beaches? Costs and expenses to fly so far aside, nobody will refuse to spend some time in Bali with you in your new home.
The Internet Connectivity is excellent. It is easy to understand why Bali attracts so many remote workers. The internet is lightning fast! It’s faster than in some developed countries like Australia and very reliable. And connectivity issues are quickly sorted out.

Locals from Bali, Indonesia. — The kind and friendly local population is one of the pros of living in Bali

Cons of Living in Bali

Public transportation. Bali’s public transport system is a big drawback. In Bali, scooters are the best method to move about fast. If you’re not comfortable driving a scooter in Bali, it could be difficult to get around.
Distance. It is far if you are from the American or European continent, like me. Flights can be expensive when you want to visit your family and friends. If you looking for a similar climate (and don’t mind the higher costs), check Honolulu or Jamaica.
Traffic (if you need to move from one city or town to another). Bali’s traffic might be too heavy for the narrow roads connecting numerous places. A distance of 30 kilometers between two takes 45 to 1 hour on a scooter, however, if you are moving by car you may easily double these times since nearly half the journey you will be detained in traffic, especially during rush hour and high season when the island is loaded with people.
Healthcare. Healthcare may be a concern in Bali. Many tourists suffer from what is known as “Bali belly.” Dengue fever and scooter accidents occur. Accidents occur frequently, and people die from not using a helmet or intoxicated driving. Pay for a good health and life insurance and see what’s covered. Bali hospitals won’t treat you without insurance (or money).
The process of obtaining a visa. You will read more about the retirement visa process below, but overall acquiring the visa and extending it may be rather time-consuming. If you’re moving to Bali, learn about visas and extensions. They aren’t that complex once you’re familiar with the process, although it may take some time to adjust.

Do They Speak English in Bali?

First of all, Bali has many expatriates, and nearly all of them speak good English.

Outside the expat community, most locals in Bali know a little bit of English. In particular, the younger urban generation speaks English. Head into the villages however and there’s a strong possibility you’ll have to depend on hand gestures to converse with the inhabitants.

And a curiosity: Indonesian is a simple language to learn. Although speaking Indonesian is not a need for living in Bali, I would still advise taking at least a week of courses. People will value the work you put in. More people will grin at you, and it creates the possibility of amusing conversations.

Book: Budget Travelers, Digital Nomads & Expats: The Ultimate Guide: 50 Tips, Tricks, Hacks, and Ways to Free Stuff & Cheaper Flights — Recommended book: Budget Travelers, Digital Nomads & Expats: The Ultimate Guide: 50 Tips, Tricks, Hacks, and Ways to Free Stuff & Cheaper Flights

Retirement Visa Indonesia – Steps to Have a Visa to Retire in Bali

There are undoubtedly a lot of things about this tropical island that draws you in, whether it be the people, the beaches, the sunsets, the culture, or everything in between. It’s time to move on to the qualifications once you’ve verified that Bali does really provide everything you want.

What Are the Requirements to Retire in Bali?

Picture of Bali with the illustration of a visa — The visa application can be done either via the closest Indonesian embassy or with the Indonesian immigration office.

There are multiple types of visas to live in Bali:

The Single Entry Visa, often used by digital nomads.
The Multiple Entry Visa, used among others by people visiting constantly relatives who live on the island.
ITAS / KITAS (The limited stay permit, also known as a temporary residence permit), utilized by foreigners who choose to stay in Bali for a few years. This permit can be for reasons like for investors, for workers, or for family stay.With a KITAS, you are also allowed to bring your spouse or children to live in Bali (they need to apply for a dependent visa).
The Bali Retirement Visa, which we will give the details below.

Before applying for a retirement visa, it is common practice for people to arrive in Bali as tourists to check the local real estate market, study possible places to settle, or just to feel the island and discover if that is the place where they want to live. If you decide to go through this path and arrive first with a single entry visa, it is highly recommended that you have some sort of travel insurance or health insurance. One firm we recommend for this is Ekta.

Bali Retirement Visa

A retirement visa requires you to:

Be 55 years old, or older
Have health and life insurance
Rent a property that costs over US$380 a month with a lease agreement for a minimum of one year. If you are married to a local and live in a home registered in your spouse’s name, you can circumvent this criterion.
In terms of money, you must have a pension fund of at least US$1,520 a month or must produce evidence of a lump sum of US$18,000 income per year to meet living expenditures alone (this data may change with inflation).
In addition, you can’t work and must hire an Indonesian domestic helper or household worker.
As of 2022, retirement visas are not granted to any of these countries: Afghanistan, Cameroon, Guinea, Israel, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, or Somalia.

Remember that the retirement visa (also known as a retirement KITAS) is a one-year temporary residency permit with a five-year extension option. After five years, you will be able to apply for a KITAP, or permanent stay permit. The retirement visa allows you to open a local bank account, obtain a local driver’s license, sign a lease agreement, etc.

The fantastic news is that retirees in Bali who have valid retirement visas are eligible to purchase a house. Real estate is negotiated with a 25-year lease that can be extended for an additional 20 years. If you want to buy a more expensive property, one way often used by expatriates is to purchase it as a foreign investment through a foreign-owned company (PT PMA).

Properties are very affordable in Bali when compared to western standards. And since we are talking about affordability, time to enter the next (and probably most expected) point.

House and swimming pool in Bali, Indonesia. — The affordable real estate prices make the idea of retire in Bali attractive.

Is It Cheap to Retire in Bali?

Yes, it is very cheap to retire in Bali. There are not many places in the US (if there is any) where you can live in a nice villa with a private pool for the prices you will find in Bali.

And the numbers below will prove that. I will not compare the living costs of Bali with New York or London, because nearly anywhere in the world is cheaper than those two cities. Let’s compare the cost of living in Bali with the best city for retirement in Europe (Valencia, Spain) and one of the favorite cities for pensioners in the USA (Tampa, Florida).

All prices are from Numbeo and Expatistan, two websites that crowdsource prices and living costs from thousands of users and contributors.

Cost of Living in Bali vs Valência (Spain) and Tampa (the USA)

Values in USD	Bali	Valencia	Tampa
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant	1.64	11.59	22
Domestic Beer (0.5-liter draught)	2.97	2.9	6
Eggs (regular) (12)	1.48	1.98	3.3
Chicken Fillets (1kg)	4.37	6.4	11.64
Gasoline (1 liter)	0.81	1.56	1.2
Utilities (Electricity, Water, Garbage, etc.) for 85m2 Apartment, monthly	46.05	128.6	156.61
Internet (60 Mbps or More)	26.93	31.88	63.85
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat	3.6	7	14
Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes)	16	73	98
Standard men’s haircut in expat area of the city	10	20	23
Rent of an apartment (1 bedroom) in the City Centre	482.81	720.77	2,035.75
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment in the City Centre	1,056.21	2,999.91	4,635.63

Cost of different items in Bali (Indonesia), Valencia (Spain), and Tampa (Florida, the USA).

That is what I call cheap, right? So what are your opinions about the idea of retire in Bali?

If you enjoyed this article about how to retire in Bali, here are a few other reading suggestions for you:

The 10 Most Dangerous Cities in Europe This Year

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The Easiest Countries to Adopt a Baby – A Guide.

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The Most Violent Cities in Europe by Country

Some surprising conclusions about the most dangerous city in each European country.

When people ask why I left Brazil, a warm country full of natural wonders, and moved to a cold place somewhere between central and eastern Europe, there is only one answer that raises no doubts:

To escape the violence.

I say that at the very beginning of this article to answer a possible criticism: none of these cities are really that violent when you compare them to the average city in South Africa, Mexico, Colombia, or Brazil (even relatively safe cities in Mexico, like Guadalajara, are more dangerous than the cities on this list).

Even with the drastic reduction of crime in Rio during the last decades, or with the quickly decreasing homicide rates in Sao Paulo, both cities are still more dangerous than almost all places on this list. Buenos Aires, in Argentina? Same story.

TL;DR: The European cities with the highest crime rates are often safer than the safest cities in places like Latin America or Africa, as you will see below.

I hope no resident of Bradford, Craiova, or any other municipality gets offended, especially considering the fact that I tried to make this as objective as possible, by using real criteria, like:

The registered homicide rate
The crime rate (and the violent crime rate).
Property crimes, like robberies and burglaries.
The Crime Index Score, an index developed by Numbeo using data from cities all over the world and their local inhabitants to determine the severity of perceived crime and safety levels.

The ranking below has the most dangerous place in each European country, but if we also wrote about the 10 most dangerous cities in Europe, and the dirtiest cities in the world (it has 1 European country mentioned). Needless to say that none of the cities mentioned in this list are among the best places to retire in the world.

With no further ado, let’s start our list of the most dangerous places in Europe.

The Most Dangerous City in the UK

When we talk about the United Kingdom, we are not talking about a country alone, but about four (or five, depending on the definition) under the same crown.

I tell you that because the most violent city in the UK is not in England, but Scotland. Therefore, our conclusion here also answers another question:

What is the most dangerous city in Scotland?

And it is Glasgow (we even wrote a complete guide regarding the safety of Glasgow).

Worst indicator of the city: Crime rate, where Glasgow had 1600 crimes per 100 thousand residents, according to the Institute for Economics and Peace.

Why Is Glasgow So Violent?

Glasgow is a city of extremes, from its architecture to its people. The city’s history is one of poverty, deprivation, and depression. In the 19th century, Glasgow was the center of the world’s cotton industry and was nicknamed “the Second City of the British Empire”.

However, by the start of World War I, it had become an industrial backwater compared with other industrial cities such as Manchester and Liverpool. The decline continued throughout the 20th century until it became known as “Glasgow’s darkest hour” in the 1990s when it suffered a financial crisis that saw more than 20% unemployment among young people and many large businesses going bust or relocating overseas.

Poverty and inequality are two key factors driving violence in Glasgow. The city has some of the worst health statistics in the UK; life expectancy is lower than the national average and rates of heart disease, diabetes and stroke are higher than elsewhere.

Glasgow also has one of the highest levels of child poverty in the UK — 32% compared to 20% of Edingburgh, the other large Scottish city. By the way, Edinburgh, a relatively safe city, was analyzed by us here.

The Most Dangerous City in England

If we consider only England, the most violent city is Bradford, in West Yorkshire.

Not only Bradford is the city where residents feel the most unsafe, but it is also in the center of one of the most violent regions in England.

Worst indicator of the city: Sexual offenses (22,870 cases in a single year). West Yorkshire also performs remarkably badly in the violent crime rate, with 111.6 violent crimes per 100 thousand residents.

Why Is Bradford So Bad?

The first reason why Bradford is so violent is that it has a high population density, meaning that many people are living in close quarters with each other. This makes it easier for criminals to escape detection, as well as makes it harder for police to patrol the streets.

The city also has a large number of gangs who fight over territory and control their respective areas by any means necessary. Many members of these gangs are former drug dealers or addicts themselves, who have turned to crime out of desperation or boredom after being expelled from school or work.

The city has also been hit by race riots and sexual crimes are tremendously high.

Bradford is one of the Unsafest Cities in Europe for Woman

The main causes of crime in Bradford are drugs, prostitution, and violent crimes. Bradford’s downtown is the most unsafe area, but Girlington, Clayton, Little Horton, and Manningham are also dangerous.

The city was notorious for rapes and sexual assaults for a while, especially in Keighley, a Bradford neighborhood that also harbored one of the many child grooming gangs that were active in the UK not long ago.

Bradford, one of the European cities with the highest crime rates, and one of the most violent cities in Europe. — Bradford, in England, is one of the European cities with the highest crime rates. Photo by Jon Farman, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Most Violent Place in Austria

To talk about the most violent place in Austria is complicated because there is not really any violent place in Austria.

Even the Austrian capital (and largest city), Vienna, is among the safest in Europe. When Viennese people tell you that a place is “unsafe,” they mean “at risk of seeing drunk people somewhere.”

There is, however, one of its districts that has a higher number of property crimes.

It is called Favoriten.

Worst indicator of the place: Burglaries. A few years ago, Favoriten had over 4 thousand occurrences of this crime in a single year.

The Most Dangerous City in Belgium

No surprise here. Brussels is the most dangerous city in Belgium.

Brussels is also one of the few cities on this list that has levels of violence comparable to some large cities in Latin America or Africa.

Crime rate in Brussels: 8.45 homicides per 100 thousand residents per year. This is comparable to São Paulo in Brazil.

The Most Violent Areas in Brussels

1) Molenbeek

Molenbeek is a commune in the city of Brussels. It is known for being a predominantly Muslim area, with many residents of North African descent. The area was originally a small village outside of Brussels that was eventually incorporated into the city. Molenbeek has become a hotbed for Islamic terrorism and radicalization in recent years.

2) Anderlecht

Anderlecht is known for its high crime rate and poverty. The neighborhood is mostly inhabited by foreign nationals from Africa and Asia, which makes it difficult for police to make arrests because many of those involved in criminal activity are undocumented immigrants.

In recent years, Belgian authorities have tried to improve conditions in Anderlecht by building new housing units and increasing police presence in the area. However, these efforts have yet to see significant results as many residents still feel unsafe living there.

3) Schaerbeek

Schaerbeek is a district in Brussels with a population of 100,000 people. It has been called “the jihadi capital of Europe” and “Europe’s most dangerous place.” It has been associated with numerous terrorist plots, including the deadly attacks on Brussels Airport and Maalbeek metro station in March 2016.

The Most Violent City in Finland

Finland is another remarkably safe whose most violent city could figure among the safest cities in the US.

The most violent city in Finland when we consider the homicide rate is Lahti, the capital of a region known as Päijänne Tavastia, a bit more than 100 kilometers distant from Helsinki.

Why it is considered the most dangerous city in Finland? Because Lahti had 80 homicides…

…in the last 20 years.

Marseille: The First Among the Most Dangerous Cities in France

The city’s high crime rate is due to several factors: an estimated 20 percent unemployment rate; a large immigrant population; and its proximity to North Africa, where drug trafficking routes originate.

Marseille’s proximity to North Africa makes it an attractive location for drug traffickers from Algeria and Morocco who smuggle narcotics into Europe through the port. The city also has a high number of young men between the ages of 15 and 24 who are unemployed or underemployed. This demographic is known for violent crime in many cities throughout Europe.

Worst indicator of the city: the Crime Index Score, with a score of 61.65.

Frankfurt: The 1st Among the Most Dangerous Cities in Germany

Just like Finland, the most dangerous city in Germany would figure among the safest in many countries outside Europe.

Still, Frankfurt, the German financial capital, is relatively dangerous when compared to other cities in Germany.

Worst indicator of the city: General crime. Frankfurt registered 16,378 crimes per 100,000 inhabitants in 2006, making it Germany’s most dangerous city

Why Is Frankfurt Dangerous? (At Least Relatively)

The first thing about Frankfurt that makes it dangerous is its location. It is located near three countries: France, Belgium, and Luxembourg. This makes it easy for international criminals to cross over from these countries into Germany and commit crimes there.

Second, there are many impoverished immigrants in Frankfurt. Many of them believed in welfare promises or fake international job agencies offering highly-paid jobs. Some of them, after facing the reality, resort to committing crimes.

Third, there are also many young people who live in Frankfurt who have no job or are sub-employed. Since the city has a high cost of living, they resort to crime to pay for their necessities.

The Most Dangerous City in Greece

Again, no surprise: the most dangerous city in Greece is Athens.

Personal anecdote: I spent 3 days in Athens with my parents. In this short period, thieves stole both me and my father (on different days). Here you can read more about my experience of (un)safety in Athens.

Worst indicator of the city: Property Crimes.

Areas to Avoid in Athens

There are many areas to avoid in Athens, Greece. Here are three of them.

Omonia — Omonia is a busy area and there’s always something going on. This is also the place where my car door was broken by thieves and they stole everything inside.

Many homeless people in this area may not be able to tell you where they are from or speak English well. They may ask you for money or food so be careful when interacting with them as they may try to rob you or hurt you if they feel threatened by you in any way.

Monastiraki Square — Located just outside of Plaka, an old town near Syntagma Square which is where parliament meets. This area contains many hotels, restaurants, shops, and other businesses but it can also be quite crowded with tourists and locals alike so it can be easy for someone to steal from you without being noticed by anyone else nearby due to all of the noise coming from different directions at once. This is exactly how my father had his cellphone pickpocketed.

Gazi — Gazi is an industrial area of Athens that has grown into a popular residential neighborhood over time. It’s known for its nightlife scene but also has some problems with crime including theft, drugs, and prostitution.

The Unknown Champion Among the Most Dangerous Cities in Ireland

Many people believe that the most dangerous city in Ireland is Dublin. But the Irish capital has a close 2nd place (in fact, Dublin is a relatively safe city considering its size), losing to Waterford, the country’s oldest city.

Worst indicator of the city: Assaults and weapon crimes.

What Is the Most Dangerous City in Italy?

Catania.

It is a close dispute between Naples and Catania about which one is the most dangerous city in Italy, with the Sicilian city having a slightly higher perceived crime than Napoli. There are also complex issues with organized crime (also known as mafia) that, for decades, haunted the region.

Worst indicator of the city: Crime Index Score (60.36).

Budget Travelers Digital Nomad and Expats Book — Book recommended: Budget Travelers, Digital Nomads & Expats: The Ultimate Guide: 50 Tips, Tricks, Hacks and Ways to Free Stuff & Cheaper Flights

Among the Most Dangerous City in the Netherlands, The Capital

One of the most visited capitals in Europe, Amsterdam is also the most dangerous city in the Netherlands, just above Eindhoven and Rotterdam (the best cities to retire in the Netherlands are, as you can imagine, none of the three).

Worst indicator of the city: Robberies, with 226 in a single year.

What should I avoid in Amsterdam?

Red Light District

The red light district is home to many prostitutes and drug dealers. It is also one of the most popular tourist areas in Amsterdam. However, it is not safe to wander around alone at night or during the early hours of the morning. Many tourists have been robbed there.

Sint Annekerkplein

This square is located behind Central Station (Centraal Station) and is a popular hangout spot for drug addicts and homeless people. Crime rates are high here so you should avoid this area at all costs unless you are going there with a group of people or if you want to take pictures of the famous Amsterdam windmills nearby.

Jordaan area

This neighborhood is known for its narrow streets and canal houses but it has become rather unsafe over the years due to drug trafficking and prostitution activities taking place there. There have been several reports of violent crimes being committed in this neighborhood so it would be wise to keep your distance from it if possible

Siemianowice Śląskie: The Most Dangerous City in Poland

If there is one city on this list that you never heard about (or can even pronounce its name), I bet it is this one.

This industrial city is part of the metropolitan area of Katowice, the largest conurbation in the Silesian region. Silesia was once prosperous due to mining activities, but due to pressure from the European Union, multiple mine-related industries closed and the municipality faced considerable social issues.

Worst indicator of the city: Violent Crimes, with 36 per 1000 residents.

Albufeira: The Least Safe Town in Portugal

Here is another example of a very safe country where the most violent town is really not that unsafe.

Portugal is such a peaceful country that its capital, Lisbon, is among the safest in Europe.

Albufeira is a Portuguese city in the Faro District, a district and sub-region of the Algarve, with a population of roughly 40,000 people. It is the capital of a municipality with a total area of 140.66 km2 and a population of 40,828 people.

Worst indicator of the city: Crime Rate, with 8.35 cases per 1000 residents per year.

Romanians Put Craiova in the Top of the Most Dangerous Cities in Romania

Craiova is a city in the middle of Romania. It has a population of almost 300,000 people and it is the capital of Dolj County. Some parts of the city are beautiful and have many attractions for tourists. But Craiova also has a dark side.

The city is known as one of the most dangerous cities in Romania, if not the most dangerous (competing with the capital, Bucharest). The crime rate is way above the national average.

The reasons why Craiova is dangerous are:

-The high unemployment rate means that many people don’t have money to spend on things like food and clothes, so they turn to crime;

-The high poverty rate means that some people have no choice but to steal or beg on the street to survive;

-Ethnic tensions.

-There are gangs in Craiova who control parts of the city where they sell drugs or rob houses (these gangs often recruit new members from schools).

Worst indicator of the city: Crime Index Score (56.2).

The 2 Most Dangerous Cities in Spain

Here, exceptionally, instead of one city we list two since they are basically merged into a single metropolis. The most dangerous cities in Spain are El Prat de Llobregat and Barcelona (the capital, Madrid, despite its 3 million inhabitants, is safer than these two cities).

(If you ever took a flight to Barcelona’s main airport, one of the most affordable to land in Europe, you actually landed in the city of El Prat).

To walk in the touristy core of Barcelona while not paying attention to your surroundings is among the most stupid things you can do in Europe.

Worst indicator of the cities: Crime Rate, with 86 (El Prat de Llobregat) and 71 (Barcelona) cases per 1000 residents per year.

Grenades and Gangs in Malmo: The Most Dangerous City in Sweden

Malmo, Sweden’s third-largest city, has become one of Europe’s most dangerous cities in the last years and has been compared to Chicago in the issue of street violence.

Malmo had 65 shootings in a single year. Now, considering that Malmo only has close to 345 thousand people, you can see how harsh this Swedish city has become.

Worst indicator of the city: Crime Index Score (56.75)

Image of Malmo, Sweden, a city that frequently figures among the most dangerous in Europe — Malmo, Sweden, frequently figures among the most dangerous cities in Europe

Most Violent Cities in Europe by Country: Conclusion

Country	Most Dangerous Place	Worst-performing violence indicator
Austria	Favoriten	Burglaries
Belgium	Brussels	Murder rate
UK	Glasgow	Crime Rate
England	Bradford	Violent Crime Rate
Finland	Lahti	Homicides
France	Marseille	Crime Index Score
Germany	Frankfurt	Crime Rate
Greece	Athens	Property Crimes
Ireland	Waterford	Assaults and weapon crimes
Italy	Naples	Crime Index Score
Netherlands	Amsterdam	Robberies
Poland	Siemianowice Śląskie	Violent Crimes
Portugal	Albufeira	Crime Rate
Romania	Craiova	Crime Index Score
Spain	El Prat de Llobregat	Violent Crimes
Sweden	Malmo	Crime Index Score

Table with the most violent cities in Europe by country.

How to make your stay in the most violent cities in Europe a bit safer?

If you are just visiting, there are plenty of options in terms of luggage storage, so you don’t need to walk around with your carry-on bags. Reliable, convenient, and inexpensive luggage storage services (everywhere in the world!) can be found at Radical Storage.
If you want to walk around and see some beautiful spots without the risk of getting lost (or worse), hire a guide. You can find some amazing and reliable guides and tours at Viator. They will give you insider information about historical facts and curiosities, and also warn you of risky areas and keep you safe.
Areas surrounding airports and train stations can be dangerous. Book a transfer in advance from the airport/station to your destination and vice versa, so you can avoid scammers and criminals. I often used Get Transfer for that and it always worked fine.
Stay in a good hostel. Hostels are usually in the safest parts of cities (at least in Europe and South America), unlike hotels. Most hostels have private rooms that are as comfortable as a hotel, plus a friendly staff to give information. When looking for hostels, I visit Hostelworld and filter for those above grade 7.

If you enjoyed this article about the most violent cities in Europe by country, check also:

Argentina — Once a Paradise for War Criminals, Now a Great Place to Retire

The Best Cities to Retire in Europe

Best Place to Visit in Europe on Each Month of the Year

Subscribe (for free) to receive my articles directly in your inbox and receive a special gift. If you enjoy this article about the most violent cities in Europe, please consider becoming a Medium member by using this link and have access to premium, unbiased content from authors not tied to big media.

Levi Borba is the founder of expatriateconsultancy.com, creator of the channel The Expat, and best-selling author.

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The 10 Most Beautiful Gardens in Europe (2022)

The Best Gardens in Europe, from East to West

In this article, I will provide you with a list of the most beautiful gardens in Europe IMHO. They are NOT by order of preference but by alphabetic order.

Why?

Because gardens have a certain beauty to them that draws me in. But I’m not the type of person who goes to a park and just sits on the first bench.I enjoy walking around them, exploring their nuances, touching the leaves of their trees (when permitted, of course), and inhaling deeply to discover their scents.

It gives me an inexplicable calmness (and according to Cal Newport, it is also very beneficial to our brain).

That is why, whenever possible, I try to visit iconic gardens during my travels around the world.

And, with all due respect to other cultures, the Europeans excelled at creating scenic, aesthetically pleasing green spaces.

I hope you enjoy it, and any comments or suggestions are welcome!

Listen to "The 10 Most Beautiful Gardens in Europe🌻" on Spreaker.

Boboli Gardens (Florence, Italy)

Boboli Gardens Florence, one of the most beautiful gardens in europe — Neptune’s fountain: a central element in one of the most beautiful European gardens. Image by Fabio Zanchetta for Pixabay

Florence is a popular tourist destination, but it also boasts some beautiful gardens. The Boboli Gardens, part of the Pitti Palace complex in Florence, are well worth a visit.

Visit the website for hours and rates, and use Google Maps to get a glimpse of its splendor. In the high season, admission to the gardens costs EUR10, while in the off-season, it costs less. The ticket includes admission to the Porcelain Museum.

The Boboli Gardens in Florence are more akin to an outdoor museum than a garden, and they serve as inspiration for several well-known European gardens.

The Medici family bought the property and commissioned Niccolo Pericoli to develop the region in the early sixteenth century. Pericoli worked on it until his death, and his work was finished by Bartolomeo Ammannati. Later, still in the sixteenth century, Cosimo I de Medici bought the gardens and decided to establish their new ducal residence in the Pitti Palace (an impressive nearby edifice).

An inexpensive and interesting guided tour of the Casa Medici can be purchased here.

Keukenhof Gardens (Netherlands)

Keukenhof Gardens is a must-see attraction in the Netherlands for anyone who enjoys flowers (or for the pensioners that are choosing this country to retire). The gardens are 32 hectares in size and feature 7 million tulip bulbs. They also have a castle, a clog museum, a maze, and four separate pavilions for flower exhibits and expositions.

Oh, and there’s a windmill as well! If you have the time, you can climb it and enjoy a view of the Lisse tulip fields.

Of course, this is not a winter attraction. The garden is most beautiful in late April or early May and can be reached from both Amsterdam and Leiden.

The flowerbeds are timed to correspond with the various bulb flowerings to ensure blooms throughout the park’s eight-week season. Three bulbs are planted in each location to ensure consistent bloom. For the first three weeks, the shallowest bulb will bloom, followed by the subsequent layers.

Many consider these gardens to be the most spectacular in the world, and nearly 1.5 million tourists visit each year, with foreigners accounting for 80 percent of the visitors.

You can purchase a spring cruise across the Keukenhof gardens and skip the lines here.

Parc de la Ciutadella (Barcelona, Spain)

The Parc de la Ciutadella, in Barcelona, is a prime example of a Mediterranean garden of Europe. Image by Iris von Lienen for Pixabay

Parc de la Ciutadella, Barcelona’s greenest park, provides a peaceful respite amid the city’s bustle (a metropolis that is also one of the cheapest destinations to fly to in Europe).

The ideal location for those looking to unwind for the afternoon, refuel their batteries and take a deep breath. This lovely park, which includes the Catalan Parliament and the Museum of Natural Science and Geology, is a popular spot for picnics and long walks.

Many native Mediterranean plants and trees thrive in the five-hectare green space. Several structures in the park are designed to promote biodiversity. Ping-pong tables and playgrounds are also available for children’s enjoyment. There is also a zoo and several museums in the garden.

One could argue that I should have included Barcelona’s more well-known Parc Güell instead of Parc de la Ciutadella. I agree that Parc Güell is one of the most architecturally appealing parks in the world, but we all know that its fame stems from the magnific masterworks of Antoni Gaudí displayed there, not from the green area itself.

Check this guide for backpackers in Barcelona on how to spend 24 hours.

Saxon Gardens (Warsaw, Poland)

The Saxon Gardens in Warsaw were once a sprawling complex that included a church, a palace, and other structures. It is one of the nicest places in the Polish capital.

Until World War II, when everything — or nearly everything — was destroyed.

The garden’s oldest section was built in the 16th century and opened to the public in 1727. It was originally a Baroque French-style park, but it was restored in the nineteenth century and transformed into a Romantic English-style landscape park.

The Marconi Fountain, one of the most beautiful attractions in the gardens, is near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, one of the few pre-war structures still standing. The fountain can be seen from almost anywhere in the gardens, including the main square. The Marconi Fountain and the Saxon Gardens are also on the 2.5-mile “Road of Kings” (Trakt Królewski), which connects the Wilanow Palace and the Royal Castle.

Talking about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, it is one of the most moving sights in the Saxon Gardens. This tomb was built in memory of the unknown soldiers who died while fighting for Poland. It is regarded as one of the most important symbols of the country, and presidents and kings from other countries who visit Poland frequently pay their respects.

Stanislaw Ostrowski designed the Tomb, which is the only surviving part of the Saxon Palace colonnade. The monument’s guard changes every hour, which is an attraction in and of itself.

Visit the garden during Autumn to see the incredible show of colors from the falling leaves.

Schonbrunn Gardens (Vienna, Austria)

Schonbrunn: One of the most impressive palaces also has one of the most beautiful gardens. Image by Meatle for Pixabay

The Schonbrunn Palace was the main summer residence of the Habsburg rulers, the family that once ruled the Austro-Hungarian empire, Europe’s second-largest state (just after Russia). The gardens, which feature long, tree-lined passageways, are among the most beautiful in Europe. A large palm house was built in the gardens in 1882, creating a tropical environment for visitors.

The park is massive, with various sections reflecting the various concepts and styles of the Baroque era. The Great Parterre leads from the palace and is divided into eight sections, including the Crown Prince Garden, the Orangery Garden, and the Botanical Garden. Aside from the Neptune Fountain, the park also has a zoo.

You can also explore the “Gloriette,” a structure with a sculpture that overlooks the garden, during your visit. Empress Maria Theresa decided that the Gloriette should glorify Habsburg power and the Just War (a war carried out out of “necessity” and leading to peace). It was destroyed during WWII, but it had already been restored by 1947.

You can purchase tickets that will allow you to skip the (often enormous) lines to Schonbrunn here.

Versailles Gardens (Versailles, France)

The lawns, parterres, and statues in this 17th-century garden are meticulously kept. In addition to the sophisticated fountains (more on that below), there are five greenhouses filled with orchids and other plants around the area.

It took almost 40 years to build and is now one of the world’s largest open-air sculpture museums. The gardens were designed by Andre Le Notre, a notable landscape designer who was a favorite of King Louis XIV. They were devoted to the king’s wish to display his magnificent residence.

Due to the limited amount of rooms that may be seen in the palace, the gardens are frequently regarded as Versailles’ main attraction.

Many consider this to be one of Europe’s most beautiful gardens, with the brilliant hues of spring bringing out the best in the blossoming plants.
The fountains, which date back to the reign of Louis XIV and still utilize much of the same hydraulic network as during the Ancien Régime, help to distinguish these Royal gardens.

You can purchase tickets that will allow you to skip the (often enormous) lines to Versailles here.

Villa d’Este Gardens (Tivoli, Italy)

villa-deste, Italy. It is no surprise that Italy is mentioned twice in the rank of the most beautiful European gardens. Image by lapping for Pixabay — It is no surprise that Italy is mentioned twice in the rank of the most beautiful gardens in Europe. Image by lapping for Pixabay

The Villa d’Este Gardens are a must-see destination located near Rome.

The gardens are currently a state monument and a UNESCO World Heritage They are known for their Italian Renaissance style and numerous fountains. From the top of a hill, you may get a panoramic view of Rome and Tivoli.

The gardens’ mystical and romantic beauty is accentuated by a plethora of fountains. Water features, which have played a part in the design and arrangement of the garden, are one of the gardens’ jewels.

The Owlet Fountain, which plays organ music, is possibly the most well-known water feature. Canals and waterfalls abound at the Hundred Fountains. All of these distinctive elements add to the allure of visiting the Villa d’Este Gardens.

Cardinal Ippolito, a favorite among his contemporaries, developed the gardens. Ancient Greek mythology, notably Hercules’ Labors, served as an inspiration to him.

Ippolito’s conception of the Villa D’Este was aided by the Hesperides’ narrative: three dusk nymphs are known as the Hesperides who care for a beautiful garden. They provide immortality to the residents in exchange. This image may be seen in the gardens of Villa d’Este.

Château de Villandry Gardens (Villandry, France)

The Loire Valley is regarded as “France’s Garden,” and the Chateau de Villandry is the most spectacular of them.

The early 1500s saw the construction of the Chateau de Villandry. It was one of the last Renaissance-era chateaux on the Loire. The gardens, which had been destroyed in the 19th century, were rebuilt in 1906 in keeping with the chateau’s style.

The grounds cover 9 hectares and include six unique areas: a water garden with ponds and fountains, an ornamental garden with elaborate patterns filled with different flowers depending on the season, and a vast vegetable section.

The vegetable garden is, surprisingly, one of the most attractive areas of the garden. It will inspire you to renovate your own vegetable patch when you return home.

Volksgarten (Vienna, Austria)

That is the second garden from Vienna, Austria’s capital, on our list, and for good reason: the city that gave the world brilliant minds like Mozart, Strauss, Haydn, and Schubert could not disappoint in the art of gardening.

Make time to see the Volksgarten, a park whose name translates to “People’s Garden.” It’s a section of the equally magnificent Hofburg Palace, which I visited several years ago. Because it was winter, I was unable to fully appreciate the garden’s splendor.

This park, built on the site of Napoleon’s fortifications, has fountains and, in the middle, the neoclassical Theseus Temple by Pietro di Nobile, finished in 1821. A coffee shop, erected between 1820 and 1823, is located on the premises. Johann Strauss I and Joseph Lanner, both Austrian Romantic composers, played there.

Vrtba Garden (Prague, Czech Republic)

The Vrtba Garden, in Prague, Czech Republic. A hidden gem of European architecture.

Here’s the thing: Prague disappointed me. Not because it is unattractive, but because scammers and tourist traps are everywhere. One of the reasons I don’t recommend traveling to Prague during winter is because you will miss gems like Vrtba.

This garden, on the other hand, is an exception, and it was one of the highlights of the trip. It is also less crowded than other more famous attractions like the St. Vitus Cathedral.

The Vrtba Garden is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located on the left side of Prague’s center, and it is open from March to October during the summer and is well worth a visit.

It was established around 1720 as part of the Vrtba Palace and is one of the continent’s oldest well-preserved gardens. The landscape was designed by architect Frantisek Maxmilian Kanka on the site of a former vineyard. Matyas Bernard Braun created the lovely sculptures in the yard.

It has a Baroque style, which is defined as a gardening style centered on symmetry and the notion of imposing order on nature. The style first appeared in the late-16th century in Italy, at the Vatican and Villa Borghese gardens in Rome, as well as the Villa d’Este grounds in Tivoli (mentioned previously on this list).

The 10 Most Beautiful Gardens in Europe: Conclusion

Mixing breathtaking green areas with architectural masterpieces, here is the list — not in order of preference but in alphabetical order — of the 10 most beautiful gardens in Europe.

On this website, you can buy tickets to skip the lines for most of these attractions.

Boboli Gardens, in Florence, Italy.
Keukenhof Gardens, in the Netherlands.
Parc de la Ciutadella, in Barcelona, Spain
Saxon Gardens, in Warsaw, Poland.
Schonbrunn Palce Gardens, in Vienna, Austria.
Versailles Palace Gardens, in Versailles, France.
Villa d’Este Gardens, in Tivoli, Italy.
Villandry Castle Gardens, in Villandry, France.
Volksgarten, in Vienna, Austria.
Vrtba Garden, in Prague, Czech Republic.

If you enjoyed reading about the most beautiful gardens in Europe, check also:

Best Countries to Visit in Europe Each Month of the Year

4 Ways to Save Money on International Flights

How to Save Money on a Hotel Room (You could save up to half of the total bill.)

First, subscribe (for free) to receive my articles directly in your inbox and receive as a special gift the digital book 20 Essential Hacks for Saving Money While Travelling.

Second, if you liked this article, please consider supporting me and other writers by becoming a Medium member. By using this link, you will directly support me with a piece of your fee; there will be no additional cost to you. Thank you a million times if you do!

Levi Borba is the founder of the Expatriate Consultancy, creator of the channel The Expat, and best-selling author. Some of the links in the article may be affiliate links, which means the author receives a commission on any purchases made by readers.

Best Countries Ranking

What Food is Portugal Famous For?

Discover Europe’s Culinary Jewel: What Food is Portugal Famous For?

This country is perhaps best known for having plenty of sun-soaked days and its stunning collection of beaches in places like the Algarve.

There is something magical about the simple pleasure of walking across Portuguese houses decorated with azulejos. And in their culinary, some plates will make you look forward to lunch the moment that you’ve finished breakfast.

What is Portugal famous for? Fabulous architecture, pleasant weather, and delicious food are all present.

If this sounds like your type of holiday, then this is the place for you (and remember that the best month to visit Portugal is July).

From the buzzy cities of Lisbon and Porto to the hilly oasis of the Douro Valley, Portugal is crammed full of gastronomical delights wherever you turn. Portugal is brimming with gastronomical delights. To get your tastebuds tingling, here are three reasons why you should plan plenty of time for your meals on your next holiday.

Let’s discover what food is Portugal famous for. But before, let’s talk about prices.

Is Food Cheap in Portugal?

The average cost of a meal in Portugal is around €16.

There are many restaurants in Portugal where you can get a meal for under €10, but the average cost of a meal at a mid-range restaurant comes in at around €16. In a cheap restaurant, your dinner will likely include bread, soup, salad, and the main dish.

Be aware that the bread that the waiter puts on the table is often not for free! If you touch it, you’ll pay a little extra.

If you want to eat out but keep your expenses low, you might want to consider street food, which is quite popular in Lisbon. Meals like sandwiches and wraps start around €4 and go up from there. You can also buy some great Portuguese pastries from street vendors for less than €1.

What Food is Portugal Known For?

Seafood

With the west coast of Portugal surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the country has access to a bounty of fresh seafood. As a result, there are plenty of beloved national dishes that celebrate these delicious local ingredients.

Why not be brave and try polvo à lagareiro? This dish of boiled then baked octopus is a common favorite and is traditionally served with baked potatoes. Whilst octopus might feel a little out of your comfort zone, it’s a simple dish that focuses on flavor, and you can be sure that your chef will know how to prepare it.

Another famous Portuguese food ingredient is the Bacalhau (codfish). Personally, this is one of my 3 favorite things to eat, not only among Portuguese stuff but overall.

Cod (Bacalhau), one of Portugal's most famous food dishes (Despite the fish being caught in international waters) — Cod (Bacalhau), one of Portugal’s most famous food dishes (Despite the fish being caught in international waters)

Bacalhau is also traditional in many former Portuguese colonies. I have good memories of having it for dinner during my childhood in Brazil.

There are numerous Portuguese bacalhau dishes to choose from. It can be baked, grilled, canned, served with potatoes or rice, and more. It’s worth noting that Portuguese codfish is usually dried and salted, and not sold as fresh fish but stacked in piles.

The origins of bacalhau were one of the things that surprised us the most. Surprisingly, bacalhau is not native to the Portuguese coast.

Bacalhau is a type of fish that is imported from Newfoundland or Norway. Since the 16th century, when Portuguese fishermen first brought it back from Newfoundland, it has been an integral part of Portuguese cuisine.

The three most common types of Bacalhau dishes are:

Bacalhau à Brás: Salted pulled Codfish, with eggs, and potatoes.
Bolinhos de Bacalhau: Dumplings of salted pulled codfish.
Bacalhau assado na brasa com batatas: Roasted Codfish, served with potatoes and lots of olive oil.

If you want to get involved with their national dishes, any major Portuguese local markets sell fish caught on the same morning at good prices. Even if you’re used to cooking with seafood, the quality of the ingredients will be enough to ensure that you experience your familiar dishes in a whole new way.

Pastéis de Nata

These tasty little tarts have expanded worldwide, but the best place to get them is the city where they were created — Lisbon. Originally, these tarts were made by the monks in Santa Maria de Belem. It was common to use egg whites for starching the nun’s habits, which left a large number of leftover egg yolks, so the monks got creative and the tarts were born.

There is plenty of debate over where Lisbon does the best tarts, and you’ll find that each location has its own slightly different recipe, so it’s worth leaving plenty of time to do your own taste comparison.

Portuguese Meat and Sandwiches

Meat has long been a historically important part of European diets. As well as being a status symbol, it was an essential source of protein, as there were not as many types of vegetarian protein available.

This has led to a wide range of meat dishes in Portuguese cuisine, particularly hearty stews, which combine seasonal vegetables with a rich sauce, as well as slow-roasted meats served with rice.

For a light snack, make sure to try out bifanas, a traditional Portuguese sandwich made with pork marinated in garlic, white wine, and paprika. The meat is served on white bread with a crunchy texture and is often accompanied by soup or fries.

You can also try the Portuguese adaptation of a croque monsieur, called a francesinha sandwich. This tasty treat is full of ham, sausages, and steak. It’s then covered with melted cheese and topped with an egg.

Portuguese Drinks and Beverages

The Portuguese take two drinks in particular very seriously: coffee and wine.

The idea of spending time in a coffee shop in Portugal literally is about the coffee itself. Locals often start their day with a cup from a neighborhood coffee shop, rather than a chain. They also use it as a social activity, and this has been an important part of Portuguese culture for many years.

The classic way of serving coffee in Portugal is called Bica and is somehow similar to what we know as espresso, although with some differences from the Italian version. It has more volume than the normal espresso, and it is smoother in taste.

Of course, you can order with your coffee a range of milk drinks too using the right terminology. Rather than the more common arabica beans, the Portuguese favor a blend that also has robusta beans, which is a light to medium roast.

The beans used in Portugal are usually brought from one of the best places in the world for coffee: Brazil, which is also one of their former colonies.

Later in the day, settle down with a glass of wine. If you’re looking for an immersive experience, then head to the Douro Valley wine region, which has been producing wine for over 2000 years. Not only does it offer the finest wine that Portugal has to offer, but it’s stunningly beautiful, with a winding river and luscious green slopes.

Portugal produces a wide variety of wines. The Porto wine is perhaps the most well-known, but what this Iberian country has to offer extends far beyond it.

Best Food Cities in Portugal

Portuguese cuisine has a variety of regional tastes. Unfortunately, we could not make justice to all of them, but here we selected the 3 cities to discover what food is Portugal famous for:

Lisbon — It is not only one of the most beautiful cities in Portugal but also the capital. It’s known for its great seafood restaurants and traditional dishes like bacalhau com natas (codfish with cream sauce). There, you can find some world-class restaurants, and great street food stalls as well. You can also try the curious mix of tastes caused by the enormous Brazilian diaspora in Lisbon.
Porto — Porto is not only famous for its port wine. This city offers some of the best street foods in all of Portugal, including Francesinha (a great sandwich, see what we wrote about it above), and Tripas à Moda do Porto (not to my taste but a lot of people enjoy it).
Portimão — The Algarve region is well known for its beaches, resorts, and as one of the best places in Europe to retire. However, not many people know about the excellent food you can find there. Apart from multiple fish dishes like in the rest of the country, Algarve has some specialties of its own such as the Polvo à Lagareiro that we described before.

Food and Wine Tours Portugal

Here is a selected gastronomical tour for you in 3 of the places we mentioned.

Lisbon: Treasures of Lisboa Food Tours
Porto: Porto: 3-Hour Food and Wine Tasting Tour – Guided Experience
Douro: Douro Valley Small-Group Tour with Wine Tasting, Lunch, and Optional Cruise.

If you enjoyed this article about what food is Portugal famous for, check also:

The Ten Most Dangerous Cities in Europe Right Now

Sleeping in Poland May Be More Expensive Than in Monaco

The Eight Safest Big Cities in the US in 2022

3 European Cities to Travel on 25 Euros per Day!

Some of the links above are affiliate links, which means the writer may receive a commission if you purchase through them. This has no bearing on their rating or their status as recommended attractions.

First, subscribe (for free) to receive my articles directly in your inbox and receive as a special gift the digital book 20 Essential Hacks for Saving Money While Travelling.

Levi Borba is the founder of the Youtube Channel The Expat, creator of a page for aspiring entrepreneurs, and best-selling author.

Best Countries Ranking

The 8 Safest Big Cities in the US Right Now

What Are the Safest Big Cities In America? (And how they compare to European Countries)

Big cities can be dangerous. That’s why in this article I present to you the eight safest big cities in the US right now.

The idea for this article came after the amazing (and polemical) repercussion of two of my previous writings: The 10 Most Dangerous Cities in Europe and Is São Paulo Safe? PS: Most People Answer It Wrong.

I could write about the most dangerous cities in the US just like I did with Europe, but everyone knows where they are, and there are plenty of lists on the internet with the same names: Detroit, Baltimore, etc.

I could also write about the safest cities in the US overall, without specifying only big cities. But then it would be a list dominated by tiny towns in the midwest.

That is how I came up with the idea of this list of the safest big cities in America.

But choosing the safest big cities in the US can be a difficult task — which starts by defining what “big” is. It’s certainly not easy to compare cities that are vastly different from one another.

In order to make your decision easier, we researched the data and gathered objective criteria to arrive at a definitive result.

The criteria used to define the safest big cities in the US

I considered only cities with more than 350 thousand residents. Yes, it is an arbitrary threshold, but if it was much lower, it would not be about big cities, and if it was higher, the number of candidates would be too small.

The indicators considered were:

Murder rate per 100,000 people
Rape rate per 100,000 people
Robbery rate per 100,000 people
Aggravated assault rate per 100,000 people

The fact that all of them are calculated by 100,000 people guarantees a fair comparison between cities of distinct sizes.

All the data provided is either from the FBI and documents published in 2020 or from the U.S. Census Bureau. The data regarding European countries comes from the World Population Review.

The comparisons with European countries are between homicide rates because while murders often have accurate numbers independent of their location, other violent crimes are subject to differences in the reporting methodology between countries.

Book cover of Moving Out, Working Abroad and Keeping Your Sanity: 11 secrets to make your expat life better than you imagine — Book recommendation: Moving Out, Working Abroad, and Keeping Your Sanity

The 8 Safest Big Cities in the US

08 — Tampa, Florida

Population: 384.360 inhabitants

Murder rate: 10.15

Comparable European country: Russia (8.21 murders per 100,000 people). Talking about Russia, check our article about what to do in case of war.

Rape rate: 31.48

Robbery rate: 105.63

Aggravated assault rate: 317.15

Total violent crime rate: 464.41

Recommended tourist attraction: The impressive Florida Aquarium (be aware that it may have lines to enter, but here you can buy tickets with skip-the-line).

Why Tampa is safe to live

Tampa, FL is the safest large city in Florida and the 8th safest in the entire United States. It is also a great place to live and work. Violent crimes are low compared to the rest of the United States, as are property crimes.

Florida is overall a safe state for US standards, and while the homicide rate of Tampa is quite high compared to other cities on this list, other crimes like burglary and theft have lower indicators.

Overall, it is a very safe city. For comparison, Orlando, also in Florida, has a violent crime 60% higher than Tampa.

07 — Mesa, Arizona

Population: 492,268 inhabitants

Murder rate: 4.67

Comparable European country: Lithuania (4.57 murders per 100,000 people)

Rape rate: 51.19

Robbery rate: 92.23

Aggravated assault rate: 267.74

Total violent crime rate: 415.83

Recommended tourist attraction: Aside from being entertaining, this scavenger hunt will teach you a lot about Arizona’s cultural capital.

Why Mesa is a safe place to live

According to the local website Ktar News, Mesa maintains the pressure on criminals through effective policing that includes community outreach, enhanced training, and openness for better accountability Residents of this highland and arid city enjoy lower-than-average crime rates.

Other large cities in Arizona like Phoenix and Tucson also have remarkably low violence numbers.

Check also: The World’s Dirtiest Cities.

06 — Austin, Texas

Population: 971,949 inhabitants

Murder rate: 2.57

Comparable European country: Hungary (2.49 murders per 100,000 people)

Rape rate: 85.81

Robbery rate: 101.55

Aggravated assault rate: 224.91

Total violent crime rate: 414.84

Recommended tourist attraction: This small-group driving tour of the best of Austin with a local guide

Why Austin is a safe place to live

It is a very active city with many ways to get involved in the community and meet people who share similar interests. The employment opportunities are abundant and unemployment rates are low.

Several other factors make Austin a safe place to live, including its police force and its community-oriented policies.

The Austin Police Department is well trained and professional. The APD has more than 1,600 officers, making it one of the largest departments in the US relative to the size of the city.

05 — San Jose, California

Population: 1,037,529 inhabitants

Murder rate: 3.08

Comparable European country: Hungary (2.49 murders per 100,000 people)

Rape rate: 55.03

Robbery rate: 132.62

Aggravated assault rate: 212.91

Total violent crime rate: 403.65

Recommended tourist attraction: An exciting day trip from San Jose to the majestic sequoias and dramatic landscapes of Yosemite

Why San Jose is a safe place to live

San Jose has a diverse economy that includes companies in advertising, biotechnology, computers, and electronic equipment manufacturing, food processing and packaging (canned fruit), healthcare services, hospitality management, insurance, medical technology, and software development.

This diversity helps to protect the city from economic downturns that lately are affecting more and more often the Californian cities. The unemployment rate in San Jose is among the lowest in California.

The San Jose police department works hard to keep crime rates low through community policing and strategic enforcement techniques. They work with community groups like the Citizens’ Police Academy and Citizens on Patrol to engage citizens and create a safer place for everyone to live or visit.

Honor Police Officers for Keeping Our Cities Safe

A safe city to live, work, and visit relies on harmonious and normal resident relations and an active and comprehensive law enforcement system. The police officers among these are an essential part of keeping our community safe and connected.

Nowadays, police coins serve as a popular way for honoring the bravery and dedication of our police department. If you are interested in showing thanks to the police officers in your community, adding meaningful ones to your coin collection, or planning in take part in activities in Police Week. Go visit GS-JJ to get inspiration with their online templates or design custom police challenge coins as you wish. Any logo, slogan, or quotation can be easily customized.

Police challenge coins. Good police coverage is one of the reasons why San Jose is a safe place to live.

04 — El Paso, Texas

Population: 688,667 inhabitants

Murder rate: 2.76

Comparable European country: Hungary (2.49 murders per 100,000 people)

Rape rate: 53.87

Robbery rate: 58.08

Aggravated assault rate: 264.13

Total violent crime rate: 378.85

Why El Paso is a safe place to live

El Paso is consistently ranked among U.S. cities with low crime rates because it has a large population of families and retirees who are attracted by the city’s affordable housing and high quality of life.

You read it correctly: Affordable housing. Despite its good quality of life, El Paso frequently tops the rankings of the most affordable homes in the US.

It’s affordable

You get more bang for your buck when living in El Paso. Many affordable neighborhoods offer good schools, parks, and restaurants with low crime rates. The cost of living is low compared to other major cities like Austin or Dallas making it easier on your budget.

The local Police Department has done a good job in deterring border crime. Because of El Paso’s proximity to Juarez, Mexico, they have an ample supply of people who can speak Spanish and can communicate with Mexican police officers when needed.

03 — San Diego, California

Population: 1,424,116 inhabitants

Murder rate: 2.46

Comparable European country: Hungary (2.49 murders per 100,000 people)

Rape rate: 39.25

Robbery rate: 99.01

Aggravated assault rate: 225.89

Total violent crime rate: 366.61

Recommended tourist attraction: Observe migrating whales and dolphins frolicking in the Pacific Ocean.

Why San Diego is a safe place to live

The overall crime rate in San Diego is extremely low by American standards. We may even consider it the safest big city on the US west coast (if we don’t consider the slightly safer Huntington Beach as a big city, of course). It is, for example, safer than Anaheim.

Many areas have a crime rate close to zero, meaning almost no crime has been committed there in recent years. These areas include Scripps Ranch, Carmel Valley, and Fairbanks Ranch.

In these districts, the crime rate is up to 83% lower than the national average.

There are also smaller cities near San Diego with decent safety numbers, like Santa Rosa, Escondido, or Chula Vista, close to the Mexican Border.

San Diego has adopted a data-driven approach to fighting crime and reducing re-incidence. The police force is highly trained and very well equipped. This is due in part to an exceptionally generous budget which allows them to recruit top officers and provide them with state-of-the-art equipment.

In addition, there are more officers per capita than in similar-sized cities, meaning you’re never far from assistance when you need it.

02 — Honolulu, Hawaii

Population: 990,384 inhabitants

Murder rate: 3.23

Comparable European country: Moldova (4.1 murders per 100,000 people)

Rape rate: 28.78

Robbery rate: 91.68

Aggravated assault rate: 122.68

Total violent crime rate: 246.37

Recommended tourist attraction: On this popular Oahu snorkel tour from Honolulu, you may see dolphins in their native habitat and swim close to green sea turtles.

Why Honolulu is a safe place to live

The low crime rates are attributed to several different factors, including the strong law enforcement presence throughout the city and surrounding areas like Waikiki and North Shore Oahu.

There are also community programs like the Neighborhood Security Watch that train volunteers to be security monitors for their neighborhoods. These volunteers are then able to help out with issues like graffiti and littering, in addition to reporting crimes so they can be solved quickly.

There is also the obvious geographical advantage that makes Honolulu safe (maybe the most important factor of all). Since it is located on an island, there is a strong incentive against criminality since it is much harder for criminals to escape to other states or countries. In most rankings, no matter the measure, the safest city in the US is often a relatively isolated place.

The Safest Big City in the Us: Virginia Beach, Virginia

Population: 454,353 inhabitants

Murder rate: 3.08

Comparable European country: Hungary (2.49 murders per 100,000 people)

Rape rate: 22.45

Robbery rate: 59.87

Aggravated assault rate: 52.16

Total violent crime rate: 137.56

Recommended tourist attraction: A 2-hour kayak tour from Virginia Beach allows you to observe native dolphins in their natural habitat.

Why Virginia Beach is a safe place to live (and perhaps the safest city in the US)

Virginia Beach residents benefit from a thriving economy, a 3.6 percent unemployment rate, a wellness culture, and the lowest tax rate in the Hampton Roads area.

This is combined with a long-standing core community that is strongly committed to the safety of Virginia Beach, both financially and in terms of time.

Regarding safety, Virginia Beach is a world away from most large American cities, and it may be the only large city in the US with a truly European level of crime (or even lower, if we consider some of the most dangerous cities in Europe).

Virginia Beach is a wonderful destination to visit, live, and raise a family. It is a tourism center in the state of Virginia, and it is heavily impacted by the hotel elite. That means things can get expensive, but not violent.

How to Make Your Stay Even Safer in These Cities

If you are traveling to any of the cities listed in this ranking, you don’t need to be paranoid about crime. However, there are a few things you can do to travel even SAFER and avoid any unpleasant surprises.

1st – Buy travel insurance that also covers theft-related expenses. Although it is often very inexpensive to purchase such insurance in Europe, many people ignore this small precaution and end up disappointed. I recommend the company Ekta, which provides some of the most innovative solutions for travelers, allowing you to relax and enjoy your vacation without worry.

2nd – Don’t be taken in by “drivers” who offer to pick you up from the airport or train/bus stations. They are frequently con artists, which can be dangerous. I prefer to use GetTransfer, a website that compares multiple, reputable transfer providers and offers you the best price. It is the best way to plan ahead of time.

3rd – Avoid walking around with your luggage. Radical Storage is a website that shows safe locations where you can leave your luggage, pay a small fee, and pick it up after touring the city.

What are the safest big cities in America: Conclusion

The 8 safest big cities in the US are:

Tampa, Florida
Mesa, Arizona
Austin, Texas
San Jose, California
El Paso, Texas
San Diego, California
Honolulu, Hawaii
Virginia Beach, Virginia (The safest big city in America)

Now some additional stats:

None of the safest cities in the US is localized above latitude 37. The northernmost city is Virginia Beach. Meanwhile, when we consider the most violent cities in the US, the majority are in the northern portion of the country.
5 of the eight are close to the ocean.
The safest cities in the US are distributed among 6 states, where 2 are governed by Democrats and 4 by Republicans.

If you enjoyed this article about the safest big cities in the US, check also:

Is Rio de Janeiro Safe?

Argentina — Once a Paradise for War Criminals, Now a Great Place to Retire

The Best Cities to Retire in Europe

Best Place to Visit in Europe on Each Month of the Year

First, subscribe (for free) to receive my articles directly in your inbox and receive as a special gift the digital book 20 Essential Hacks for Saving Money While Travelling.

Levi Borba is the founder of the Expatriate Consultancy, creator of the channel Small Business Hacks, and best-selling author.

Best Countries Ranking

South Africa Honeymoon

The Top 10 Honeymoon Destinations in South Africa

If you’re looking to celebrate your honeymoon in South Africa, there are plenty of exciting options open to you. From adventurous safaris and luxurious hot springs to breath-taking coastal views and charming seaside towns, there’s something for every couple to enjoy on their romantic holiday in South Africa.

I took a road journey with my wife and family from Johannesburg to Capetown a few years ago. I compiled this list based on the advice of multiple experts but also on my own experiences.

If you would like to go a bit more to the north in Africa, check this article I wrote with the top 10 honeymoon destinations in Tanzania and Zanzibar.

Here are some of the top 10 honeymoon destinations in South Africa.

Cape Town — a victorian honeymoon itinerary

The romantic Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, and the penguins of Boulders Beach are just two of the top attractions that will make you bedazzled (in a positive tone) by Cape Town. The vibrant city is a great place to explore with your spouse, and the natural beauty of the area should keep you coming back for more.

Head out on a sunset cruise from the V&A Waterfront, which also has tons of shopping, restaurants, and bars to choose from. You could also go out on a day trip for whale watching at Hermanus — one of the most popular things to do in the Western Cape and something experienced by many of the visitors.

For those who love wine, there’s De Grendel Wine Estate and Restaurant where you can taste local flavors along with wines from all over South Africa. When my wife and I went to Cape Town, we also had a guided bike tour across Cape Peninsula until the Cape of Good Hope, where we could see monkeys and ostriches in their natural habitat.

Cape Town one of the best honeymoon destinations in Africa — Cape Town: one of the best honeymoon destinations in Africa

Tsitsikamma National Park: Nature comes together on a honeymoon to South Africa

This natural park is perfect for those that love hiking and camping. Not only does it offer a stunning location, but it’s also near several beaches, giving you more than one opportunity to enjoy your honeymoon. The hiking trails are well-maintained and showcase some of nature’s beauty through rainforests and canyons.

If you want to head back towards civilization, there are plenty of hotels nearby where you can rest after a long day. There’s no way you will be disappointed with your trip here because Tsitsikamma National Park has everything from tropical rainforest to a mountainous jungle.

If you have no problem with height, remember to take a walk across the Storms River suspension bridge. It was originally built in 1969 within the Tsitsikamma National Park but has subsequently been restored to assure its stability and safety. It’s only seven meters above the swirling waters of the river as it joins the bubbly Indian Ocean.

Durban

A sophisticated coastal city with energetic nightlife, Durban is another of South Africa’s top honeymoon destinations. With its fun vibes and beautiful beaches, it’s easy to see why newlyweds are drawn to its shores. After a day of sunbathing on North Beach or going on a dolphin cruise, grab some dinner at casual restaurants like The Grill Jichana or Dukkah Restaurant & Bar before heading out for some cocktails at The Chairman.

In addition to great food and drinks, Durban offers plenty of things to do: get active with watersports (try surfing) or take a sunset cruise.

Garden Route

The Garden Route is a prime destination for honeymooners. There are scores of little towns and beaches along this coastal stretch.

The route goes from the Storms River in the Eastern Cape province and ends in Mossel Bay in the Western Cape province offering a romantic sense of solitude. Mossel Bay and the Robberg Nature Reserve are popular choices; they each have their own unique charms and activities.

Mossel Bay also offers visitors plenty of fun water-related activities (scuba diving, deep-sea fishing, watching dolphins) to enjoy over the course of their stay. The Robberg Nature Reserve is great for outdoorsy couples who enjoy hiking. If you’re visiting from June to October you can also see whales migrating past the coastline!

Kruger National Park — the place for a South African safari honeymoon

Kruger National Park is a vast wildlife preserve that covers almost 5 million acres and spans across two of South Africa’s 9 provinces.

The park has been visited by millions of tourists and hikers, including a former United States President. Marloth Park, also located near Kruger National Park, has great accommodation options for any type of budget and is an excellent place to spend time exploring on foot or by car.

You can arrange a safari through Kruger during your visit or opt for other alternatives like boat trips or horseback riding. This unique park is home to more than 3,500 species of animals, including the big five:

African Buffalos
African Rhinoceros
Elephants
Leopards
Lions

Stellenbosch: Enjoy the wine capital of South Africa during your honeymoon.

One of SA’s top wine regions, Stellenbosch has a charming village atmosphere that offers plenty of scenic beauty and recreational opportunities. With nearby wineries like Vilafonté, Peter Falke, and Tokara, there’s no shortage of places to indulge your newlywed status. In addition to vineyards, the area is known for its craft breweries and cafés.

The ultimate can’t-miss attraction for honeymooners, Stellenbosch has many of SA’s best wine estates with award-winning wines combined with a few world-class restaurants. Rounding out honeymoon itineraries are natural attractions like the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve.

A winery in Stellenbosch, one of the best honeymoon destinations in South Africa

Port St Johns

Port St Johns is among the most well-known beach destination in the Eastern Cape since it’s hard to beat its pristine beaches and ample wildlife. Between long walks along white sand and excursions to Silaka Nature Reserve (where you can take an extra special walk down the aisle), a Port St Johns getaway is perfect for an outdoorsy couple looking to relax and unwind with no real pressure of specific sightseeing.

Port Elizabeth

Port Elizabeth is the largest city in the Eastern Cape, and it’s known for its natural beauty. It sits on Algoa Bay, which makes it a popular destination for fishing, boating, and dolphin-watching.

If you want to get out of the city while you’re there, take an excursion to one of Port Elizabeth’s national parks or hire a guide who can introduce you to the area’s wildlife up close. One option is sandboarding at the Sunday River Valley; if you’d rather get out of town completely, head north where is the Addo Elephant National Park.

The Addo Elephant National Park near Port Elizabeth

This is a great choice for an African safari and it doesn’t cost too much either. The park features one of the densest African Elephant populations on earth. The best way to explore Addo is by car with local guides. Include in your honeymoon plans an accommodation at one of Port Elizabeth’s hotels with safari drives available as part of your stay.

Plettenberg Bay

Plettenberg Bay, an upmarket town known for its beautiful beaches and a number of activities on offer, is great for active couples and honeymooners. Those looking to explore nature can try hiking the Robberg Nature Reserve or the Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre, where wild animals are rehabilitated.

For those who’d rather be relaxing, there are a number of white-sand beaches around Plettenberg Bay where you can do just that. Birdwatchers will also have an excellent time, at the splendid Birds of Eden Free Flight Sanctuary. The area is perfect for couples who enjoy spending their time together outdoors, with plenty of fun things to do and exciting wildlife to discover.

Knysna

Knysna has an incredibly scenic landscape, thanks to the Knysna Lagoon and the Indian Ocean. The Knysna Elephant Park offers an up-close view of elephants and is a good example of Knysna’s wildlife diversity. Mention how romantic it is here in autumn with no crowds, although there are still restaurants open for fine dining. Recommend taking a cruise along the lagoon to get a different perspective on the scenery.

Safety issues in South Africa

Maintaining a low profile while visiting South Africa is recommended, particularly if your nationality and skin color stand out. Outside of touristic areas, foreigners may be at increased risk of attack by members of both local and foreign criminal organizations and are encouraged to review their security measures carefully, especially at night.

The best recommendation, however, is to follow the advice of hotel concierges and local, verified guides.

How to Travel for a Honeymoon to South Africa

When I went to South Africa, I flew with Qatar Airways.

Qatar Airways connects South Africa to North America, Europe, and Asia via Doha, one of the most modern airports in the world.

The airplanes are modern, and the cabin service is excellent, which reflects why Qatar Airways has received the World’s Best Airline award several times.

Other convenient alternatives you can find at Trip.com.

If you enjoyed this article about the best places in South Africa for a honeymoon, check also:

The Best Countries for Coffee in The World

Where will alcohol be at the Qatar World Cup?

Best Place to Visit in Europe Each Month of the Year

First, subscribe (for free) to receive my articles directly in your inbox and receive as a special gift the digital book 20 Essential Hacks for Saving Money While Travelling.

Levi Borba is the CEO of expatriateconsultancy.com, creator of the channel Small Business Hacks, of a page for Small Business Owners, and best-selling author.

Best Countries Ranking

The Best Countries for Coffee in The World

What Country Has the Best Coffee?

What does coffee (and the best countries for coffee) have to do with international travel?

For some, nothing at all. For others, everything! Many people travel the world to try different kinds of coffee from countries around the globe, and in the process, they get to see stunning sights and meet fascinating people while indulging their taste receptors with the dark, bitter grain.

In this article, I will show you five of the best countries to drink coffee in the world.

But before, a little disclaimer. When we talk about the best country for coffee, there are two different questions, with different answers. So to avoid confusion, let’s define what each question should consider:

What country has the best coffee?

The answer to this question means the best country to sit in a café, restaurant, or lounge and sip a delicious espresso, or filtered coffee, or Americano (I not judging you if you enjoy Americanos…not yet). The coffee may not be produced in this place, but is definitely blended and sold there.

If this is the case, as you may read below, I would say that the best country for coffee in the world is Italy (although Portugal deserves an honorable mention for their bica).

Where does the best coffee come from?

This question must be answered in a different way than “what country has the best coffee?”, because here we want to know where the best grains are produced, or which “procedure” label we should look for in the supermarket. Let’s understand this as which country produces the best coffee beans?

So for this question, the discussion is ampler, and, I dare to say, more open to polemics between the greatest contestants: Colombia and Brazil, with other countries being eventually mentioned.

1) Italy

Italy is widely recognized as one of, if not, the best coffee blending countries on earth.

And here’s something to keep in mind: Italy is not a coffee-producing country. They get their beans from places like Brazil, Ethiopia, and Indonesia. They are, nevertheless, masters of the craft of mixing several types to get the most sublime quality.

Renowned for its cappuccinos and espressos, quality coffee is an art in Italy, and it’s an art that they do extremely well. Even non-coffee drinkers can usually find themselves sipping a high-quality Italian espresso or cappuccino because they don’t think of it as just coffee like people do when drinking out at home.

Famous Italian Coffee Brands

If you are an average coffee appreciator, there are several Italian brands you’ll have heard of. You may have even had one of their coffees before.

What about Lavazza, Kimbo, illy, Vergnano and Segafredo? These brands dominate Italy when it comes to coffee. It’s not hard to see why they’re so popular: they use high-quality beans which can be found throughout Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

If you want a great cup of Italian-style coffee (and don’t mind shelling out), visit the country (we suggest the month of November), and then try any of these three.

What type of coffee do Italians use?

Southern Italians, particularly in Sicily, prefer a stronger-flavored blend of arabica and robusta, whereas northern Italians prefer a full-arabica type.

What coffee to drink in Italy?

Caffè normale is simply an espresso, served black and in one shot. Italians drink caffè normale all day long and at any time — with breakfast, between meals, etc. Take your espresso calmly and feel the scent before drinking it.

Drinking coffee in Italy is like a daily rite (sometimes multiple times per day). Almost every town you go to, even some small villages, will have a cafe with incredible coffee for you. So what kind of coffee should you drink in Italy? Should you stick with Italian brands or try something new?

It depends on where exactly you’re going and what your preferences are but here are a few suggestions to get you started. First, if you’re only going to be spending time in Rome then head over to Sant’Eustachio Il Caffe on Via del Corso as soon as possible!

Remember that there is a significant difference in the coffee blends used in southern Italy (where often baristas use a mix of Robusta and Arabica beans) and northern Italy (favoring 100% Arabica beans).

But independent of the place, it is unlikely to get wrong with coffee in Italy.

Picture of Rome, Italy, to illustrate article about what country has the best coffee — Coffee is not grown in Italy, but the Italians mastered the art of blending, preparing, and serving the perfect cup. Therefore, for the question *What country has the best coffee?* they are my first answer.

2) Brazil

Simply put, Brazil is the world’s largest coffee grower.

So it should come as no surprise that they also have some excellent coffee.

Brazilian coffee can be a little on the sweet side, but don’t let that deter you from trying them. If you’re a regular coffee drinker, you’ll notice that Brazilian coffee comes across differently than what you may be used to: for example, espresso is milder; beans are roasted darker and give off less acidity; but what’s most distinctive about Brazilian coffees are their notes of chocolate and nuts, when compared to the fruity flavor of Colombian beans.

Where does coffee grow in Brazil?

Brazil is home to more than 300 thousand coffee farms, and the top two growing regions for coffee beans in Brazil are Minas Gerais (with more than half of the national production), Espírito Santo, and São Paulo.

How is coffee transported from Brazil to Europe?

Although coffee is grown primarily in warmer climates, its production requires an extreme amount of attention and patience. From bean selection to packing, care must be taken at every step of the process to ensure that each cup is as full-flavored as possible. In fact, transporting coffee from a major producer such as Brazil to European markets requires a whopping two weeks of travel on ships and railroads.

This journey exposes coffee beans to heat, humidity, and air — three elements that can impact flavor — and it’s up to companies like Tchibo, Segafredo, or Vergnano to make sure each batch tastes as delicious as possible when you get your hands on it.

Due to logistical problems, coffee exporters have recently resorted to using airplanes to get the beans to Europe on time.

Best places to drink coffee in Brazil

Brazil was one of the first countries in Latin America to roast coffee beans on large scale and produce coffee at mass levels. This likely explains why almost 80% of all Brazilians drink coffee every day.

Brazil is home to several world-renowned cities for coffee lovers, including São Paulo and Campinas.

3) Colombia

Colombia isn’t just one of the best countries for coffee; it’s also one of our favorite travel destinations. Home to many UNESCO world heritage sites, including El Penol and Parque Nacional del Cafe, Colombia’s landscape is as diverse as its culture.

Visit Bogota for some stunning architecture or spend a few days in Medellin exploring art galleries and boutiques; either way, you won’t be disappointed by Colombia’s unique mix of history and opportunity.

As for their famous brew? We dare you not to fall in love with a cup (or two) from any one of these five cities:

Popayan
Pereira
Manizales
Salento
Armenia.

What does Colombian coffee taste like?

Colombians are proud of their coffee and have a lot of reasons to be. Growing in terroirs that favor high acidity and fruity flavors, Colombian coffees tend to have more acidity than Brazilian ones do.

Image of a woman drinking coffee to illustrate article about where does the best coffee come from — In your opinion, Where does the best coffee come from? Brazil or Colombia?

4) Indonesia

Surprise: Indonesia is actually one of the best countries for coffee tasting. With its low average wage and high consumption rate, Indonesia has become a popular place for coffee growers and drinkers alike. But it’s not just that simple — Indonesia produces some of the best coffee beans in all of Asia. It also helps that their capital city, Jakarta, has 2 Starbucks stores per 100,000 people — the highest concentration of Starbucks locations anywhere on Earth!

The Jambi province of Indonesia is also one of the producers of a rare type of coffee called Liberica.

How to make Indonesian coffee

Kopi Tubruk is an Indonesian-style coffee where coarse coffee grounds are boiled along with sugar. The result is a thick, sweet, and milky coffee that has become a staple of traditional Indonesian culture. After brewing or mixing together, Kopi Tubruk (Indonesian coffee) is poured from a tall glass or earthenware pot into small cups and served with snacks, such as krupuk (crispy crackers made from ground rice or cassava), on nearby plates.

In Indonesia, it’s not uncommon for children as young as five years old to drink a small cup of kopi tubruk after coming home from school.

5) Ethiopia

Ethiopia is an emerging country often referred to as the birthplace of coffee and there’s no doubt that it produces some of the world’s finest beans. The main region coffee producing regions are:

Yirgacheffe
Sidamo
Kaffa
Harar
Djimmah
Limu

These regions are thought by many connoisseurs to produce some of Africa’s best Arabica beans. Whether you’re drinking a coffee from Yirgacheffe or any other, it’s hard not to get excited about Ethiopian coffee. And even better than its drinkability, Ethiopians have long been known for their love of coffee culture.

What is Ethiopian Yirgacheffe coffee?

Ethiopian Yirgacheffe coffee is a wet-processed coffee grown at elevations from 1,700 to 2,200 meters, or 6,500 to 7,500 feet. This Arabica is hardy and drought-resistant. Its clean flavor notes and floral aroma won’t overwhelm your senses like some bolder coffees. If you’re new to drinking specialty coffee or just want a taste of quality without any spice added — Yirgacheffe is a great place to start! It pairs well with yogurt and citrus fruits.

Conclusion: The Best Countries for Coffee

Five countries where you should taste a cup (or multiple cups) of coffee:

Italy, for its espressos and carefully crafted blends.
Brazil, for the local arabica beans with notes from chocolate and low acidity.
Colombia, for their beans with fruity notes and complex flavors.
Indonesia, to experience the Kopi Tubruk and try a cup of the rare coffee liberica.
Ethiopia, to taste the Yirgacheffe coffee.

The price of a cup of coffee or cappuccino in the best countries for coffee.

According to Numbeo, these are the prices you should expect (on average):

Country	City	Average Price of a Coffee/Cappucino (USD)	What you should try
Italy	Milan	$1.83	An espresso with the Milanese blend (100% Arabica)
Italy	Palermo	$1.77	An espresso with the Sicily blend (Arabica and Robusta)
Brazil	São Paulo	$1.45	A typical coffee made with mogiana beans.
Colombia	Medellin	$1.23	A cup from the many local family cafés (forget Starbucks)
Jakarta	Indonesia	$2.56	A traditional Kopi Tubruk
Addis Ababa	Ethiopia	$0.82	A cup from the traditional coffee from Yirgacheffe

Average Price of a Coffee/Cappucino in major cities from the best countries for coffee.

If you enjoyed this article about the best countries to drink coffee, check also:

Argentina — Once a Paradise for War Criminals, Now a Great Place to Retire

The Top 10 Honeymoon Destinations in South Africa

International Flight Tickets: 4 Tips to Pay Less

Best Place to Visit in Europe on Each Month of the Year

First, subscribe (for free) to receive my articles directly in your inbox and receive as a special gift the digital book 20 Essential Hacks for Saving Money While Travelling.

Levi Borba is the CEO of expatriateconsultancy.com, creator of the channel Small Business Hacks, of a page for Small Business Owners, and best-selling author. Subscribe to my articles (for free) and receive (also for free) the ebook “The Blueprint for First-Time Business Owners”.

Best Countries Ranking

The Most Dangerous Cities in Europe

The 10 Most Dangerous Cities in Europe in 2022

Have you ever asked yourself what is the most dangerous city in Europe?

The old continent has a much lower level of violence than Africa or Latin America. To put it in perspective, São Paulo, the safest of the 27 Brazilian state capitals, would still be more violent than any European country except Russia (which has many similarities to Brazil). So it may sound odd an article about the most dangerous cities in Europe. You can be sure that even the most unsafe city in this ranking is not among the most dangerous cities in the world.

But violence is not always inexistent in Europe. After all, the old continent is home to 44 countries and nearly 800 million people.

While it is safe in general, it is also a very unequal continent. In western Europe are some of the most developed countries in the world, but eastern nations like Belarus, Albania, or Moldova have a development level comparable to places in Latin America or Asia.

When we talk about the ten most dangerous cities in Europe, one might assume that the majority of them are in the poorer nations of Eastern Europe.

But nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, nine of Europe’s ten most dangerous cities are located in developed, western countries. Needless to say that none of the cities mentioned in this list are among the best places to retire in the world.

Check also: Hold Your Breath: The Dirtiest Cities in the World!

Before starting the list of the 10 most dangerous cities in Europe, it is important to understand the criteria behind this ranking.

The criteria to define the most violent cities in Europe

Numbeo’s Crime Index is built using data from cities all over the world and its local inhabitants to determine the severity of perceived crime and safety levels. The survey is conducted twice a year. It focuses on increases in crime over the previous three years, as well as issues regarding break-ins, thefts, robberies, and being attacked in the city.

The statistics are derived from a variety of sources, such as surveys. The questions in these surveys are similar to those in many other scientific and government assessments, and they are treated to eliminate outliers or untrustworthy data.

Numbeo uses data up to 36 months old to generate the index (which is constantly updated). They only include cities with a sufficient number of data points to be statistically reliable.

What is considered “Dangerous” or “Safe”?

Cities with a crime index value of less than 20 have a low prevalence of crime. Some examples of cities with index values less than 20 are Zurich, Bern, Lugano (all of them in Switzerland, explaining why it is among the best retirement destinations for the rich), and Funchal in Portugal. The worst city in the world in this index is Caracas, in Venezuela, with an index value of 84, followed by Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, and Pretoria, South Africa, both scoring 82.

The most dangerous city in Europe scored a whopping 70.76. This is worse than São Paulo (Brazil) or Mexico City. Time to reveal its name and the entire top ten.

A reminder that these numbers don’t take into consideration the recent war between Russia and Ukraine. By the way, we also wrote an article about what you should do in case of conflict.

Is Europe Dangerous?

Europe isn’t dangerous; that’s a simple fact. Comparatively, the violence rates in Europe are incredibly low. Across Europe, the annual homicide rate is 3.5 murders per 100,000 inhabitants. In comparison with the United States, Africa or Latin America, that is very low. However, as you may discover in the next paragraphs, some cities are becoming increasingly violent, including crimes like sexual assault.

You may also get surprised by the absence of some names in this list, cities that once were famous for their violence, like Belgrade in Serbia, but now are relatively safe.

The ranking below has the most dangerous cities in Europe, but if we also wrote about the most dangerous city in each European country.

The 10 Most Dangerous Cities in Europe to Visit

10th — Malmo, Sweden

Crime Index Score: 56.75

Comparable to: Indianapolis, IN (USA) or Johor Bahru (Malaysia)

Why is Malmo so dangerous:

Over the past two years, Malmo, Sweden’s third-largest city, has become one of Europe’s most dangerous cities and is sometimes compared to Chicago in the US.

In one single year, Malmo had 65 shootings. Consider that the city has less than 350 thousand inhabitants and this data gives an idea of how violent this Swedish city became.

There were also cases of attacks with hand grenades.

Swedish media say that half of these victims are connected to organized crime networks and gangs. Others attribute it to the city’s changing demographics: Malmo has become a magnet for immigrants over the years —almost 40% of its population comes from abroad.

The Best (and Safest) District to Stay if You Are Travelling to Malmo

If you are visiting Malmo, the finest (also in terms of cost-benefit) area to stay in is near Gamla Staden. It’s convenient to everything, and it’s also one of the most attractive places, rich with historical buildings. Furthermore, it is far safer than areas such as Rosengard.

09th — Naples, Italy

Crime Index Score: 58.52

Comparable to: San Francisco, CA (USA) or Noida (India)

Why is Naples so dangerous:

As the regional capital of Campania, Naples is one of the largest cities in Italy. It has a long and rich history, and it’s filled with amazing architecture, arts, and sounds. Unfortunately, Naples is also famous for its crime rate.

This southern Italian city is chaotic and sometimes dangerous. In 2020, Naples was the #1 province in Italy in terms of robberies, which happened at a rate of 95 per 100,000 people.

One Italian described his impressions of Naples for the website The Top Tens:

I am Italian and have actually been to Naples a few times. The first time I was in middle school, I got my wallet stolen as soon as I got there. Then I went again recently for business. The city is, in all honesty, a mess. It’s dirty, noisy, smelly. There are ALWAYS people harassing you, even multiple times in a single day.[…] On the good side, the food is just amazing. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!

The Best (and Safest) District to Stay if You Are Travelling to Naples

Last time in Naples, we chose to stay in the Capodimonte district, and we did not regret it! Aside from being considerably cleaner than the city center, the rates are reasonable, and there are several great local trattorias and bakeries nearby. The region’s proximity to major sites such as the Capodimonte Palace and the Catacombs of Saint Januarius is a great bonus.

08th — Nice, France

Crime Index Score: 58.85

Comparable to: Nairobi, Kenya, or Washington, DC, in the United States.

Where should you avoid in Nice?

Nice’s most dangerous neighborhoods are those on the outskirts of the city center, where crime is much higher.

Often residents of these areas fear going out at night or running into criminals while walking around their neighborhood because they are not sure what will happen. Because the police presence is so low in these areas, they are more vulnerable to crime.

With over 2348 CCTVs installed in the streets, public transportation, and parking lots, the center and other districts are relatively “safe.”

Many people remember Nice for what happened on July 14, 2016. On this day, a 19-tonne cargo truck was purposefully pushed into a crowd of people, killing 86 innocents.

However, this was not the city’s first (or last) encounter with violence.

The Best (and Safest) District to Stay if You Are Travelling to Nice

The region around the Massena square is a favorite of tourists visiting Nice for a few reasons: besides being safe, it is beautiful and well-connected.

07th — Minsk, Belarus

Crime Index Score: 59.85

Comparable to: Delhi, India or Nantes, France

Is Minsk safe to visit?

While statistics from Belarus may not be the most reliable in Europe, it is no wonder to find Minsk among the most violent cities in this ranking.

The most common crimes in Mink are theft and assault. Street crime is not a common occurrence in the Belarussian capital, but harassment from both organized crime and public agents are among the reasons locals few unsafe.

The US Department of State recently issued a Do Not Travel memorandum for all American citizens, citing, among other things, the possibility of foreigners being harassed by local officers.

There was also the prominent case of a KGB officer involved in a double homicide in 2021.

06th — Nantes, France

Crime Index Score: 60.06

Comparable to: Brasilia, Brazil, or Catania, Italy

Is Nantes a safe city?

Nantes, located on the Loire River’s bank, is the most dangerous city in France on this ranking.

The total crime rate in Nantes has increased during the last years. The most common crimes in Nantes are assaults, fights, rapes, thefts, and burglaries. Especially the districts of Centre-Ville and Les Hauts-Pavés/Saint-Félix are dangerous because the number of assaults occurring there is high.

The Best (and Safest) District to Stay if You Are Travelling to Nantes

Our choice here is Centre-Ville, since it has a decent structure and is one of the most connected districts in Nantes.

05th — Catania, Italy

Crime Index Score: 60.36

Comparable to: Ghaziabad, India

Why Catania is dangerous?

Catania is the second-largest city in Sicily and has been hit by earthquakes over the years that left their mark on the city. If you look at pictures of the city, you will see that there are large areas of wasteland, abandoned buildings, and factories.

The city has a certain reputation. It is not just tourists who are at risk of being targeted by thieves but also those who live there. The streets are loaded with people who want to make money from tourists, so you need to be careful when you go out after dark.

There are also complex issues with organized crime (also known as mafia) that, for decades, haunted the region. The catholic church in the city even banned nominated godfathers during baptisms to avoid the blessing of criminal ties.

04th — Birmingham, United Kingdom

Crime Index Score: 61.53

Comparable to: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, or Anchorage (Alaska), in the United States.

Why is Birmingham so dangerous?

In 2021, Birmingham had 116.93 crimes reported for every 1000 inhabitants. The third-largest city in England (the 2nd is Manchester, which is safe compared to Birmingham) also has the second-worst robbery rate among large English cities, with 3.36 currencies for every 1000 people.

Birmingham has some of the highest crime rates in the country, and many parts of the city are blighted by gangs and drugs.

The Best (and Safest) District to Stay if You Are Travelling to Birmingham

03rd — Marseille, France

Crime Index Score: 61.65

Comparable to: Guadalajara, Mexico

Why is Marseille so dangerous?

According to the French writer Charles Dantzig, Marseilles is a port city with a tradition of gangsters.

And he is right. Marseille is a port city on France’s southeast coast, near the mouth of the Rhone. It’s one of France’s largest cities and has a population of nearly 900,000.

Unfortunately, Marseille suffers from high levels of crime (compared to other parts of France), with gang violence and pickpocketing being the most common offenses affecting tourists.

The most dangerous areas to avoid in Marseille are the northern suburbs — neighborhoods such as L’Estaque and Le Panier are plagued by crime. However, it’s important to realize that other parts of Marseille can be equally dangerous — especially at night.

In 2021, a string of murders in Marseille has sparked a political uproar over drug gang turf wars terrorizing poor housing estates, where one recent shooting victim was only 14 years old.

The Best (and Safest) District to Stay if You Are Travelling to Marseille

The Old Port district of Marseille is the heart of the city, very close to the antique Hellenistic port. Nowadays it offers a nice walk on both side, with many bars and restaurants.

02nd — Coventry, United Kingdom

Crime Index Score: 69.45

Comparable to: Lima, Peru, or Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Why is Coventry so dangerous?

Coventry is an English city located in the West Midlands, approximately 100 miles northwest of London. It is the tenth-largest city in England and the 12th largest in the United Kingdom.

The city is known for being the birthplace of St. George, but also has a history of figuring among the most dangerous cities in the UK and Europe.[

The crime rates, however, are falling drastically in Coventry, and maybe these rankings are being slightly unfair. Between 2020 and 2021, the city had a decrease of almost 50% in its crime rate. While in 2020, Coventry had 29,615 crimes, in 2021 there were only 15,258 occurrences.

Therefore, it is understandable why, this year, Coventry lost the top spot to another British city.

01st — The most dangerous cities in the UK is also the most dangerous city in Europe

Bradford, United Kingdom

Crime Index Score: 70.76

Comparable to: Saint Louis, MO, United States, or Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Why is Bradford so dangerous?

Bradford is a city in the North of England. It’s quite a dangerous city, with crime rates almost twice the national average.

Crime in Bradford is mostly centered around drugs, prostitution, and violent crime. The most dangerous part of Bradford is the city center, but other areas such as Girlington, Clayton, Little Horton, and Manningham are also quite dangerous.

For a few years, the city was a hotspot for rapes and sexual assaults, particularly in Keighley, a Bradford district that was also home to one of the many child grooming gangs operating in the UK at the time.

Bradford is a relatively poor city by UK standards. The government is pouring money into the city in the hope that better living conditions will also help to solve the violence problem.

In one year Bradford, a city with 536 thousand residents, had

1,724 Occurrences of burglary
2,448 Occurrences of Vehicle Crime
4,888 Occurrences of criminal damage and arson

And here is the most impressive statistics:

22,870 Sexual offenses, and it is getting worse. Sexual offenses correspond to 42% of all crimes committed in Bradford.

Travel Safety Tips

If you are traveling to any of the cities listed in this ranking (or elsewhere), there are a few things you can do to travel SAFER and avoid any unpleasant surprises.

2nd – Don’t let “drivers” trick you by offering to pick you up at the airport or train/bus stations. They often try to cheat people, which can be dangerous. I prefer to use GetTransfer, a website that compares multiple, reputable transfer providers and offers you the best price. It is the best way to plan ahead of time.

3rd – Avoid walking around with your luggage. Radical Storage is a website that shows safe locations where you can leave your luggage, pay a small fee, and pick it up after touring the city.

Conclusion: Crime in Europe – The Most Dangerous Cities

According to the Numbeo Crime Index Ranking, these are the 10 most dangerous cities in Europe.

10th — Malmo, Sweden
9th — Naples, Italy
08th — Nice, France
07th — Minsk, Belarus
06th — Nantes, France
05th — Catania, Italy
04th — Birmingham, United Kingdom
03rd — Marseille, France
02nd — Coventry, United Kingdom
01st — Bradford, United Kingdom

Some curious facts about them:

None of the most dangerous cities in Europe analyzed are even close to being among the most dangerous cities in the world, although Bradford comes close in terms of sexual assaults.
60% of all the cities in this ranking are either in the UK or France.
Only 1 city is located in eastern Europe: Minsk.
This ranking didn’t take into consideration the current conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

So, in this article we told you which cities are NOT that safe in Europe, but where are the safe ones? Are there places where I can enjoy the European atmosphere without the need to worry much?

Yes, and here are some ideas (tested by our own editors!):

If you enjoyed this article about the most dangerous cities in Europe, check also:

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Levi Borba is the CEO of expatriateconsultancy.com, creator of the channel Small Business Hacks, and best-selling author. Subscribe to my articles (for free) and receive (also for free) the ebook “The Blueprint for First-Time Business Owners”.