The U.S. State Department Has Warnings Against These European Countries

Germany was recently added to the list.

On May 1, 2024, the U.S. State Department issued a warning against Germany due to terrorism. The agency has placed the European country at Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution, explaining that terrorist groups keep planning attacks and they may come without warning. 

This comes right before a busy summer season in Europe, at a time when Germany is hosting the UEFA Euro 2024. But the western European country isn’t the only one where the State Department implores travelers to be cautious. There are many others where you need to be on guard.

Safest European Countries

You will find most European countries categorized as Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. The list includes Poland, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Belgium, Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Georgia, Greece, Luxembourg, Malta, Switzerland, Norway, and Portugal. Keep an eye on local news for any possible threats, but these countries have minimal risk of crime or terrorism as per the State Department.

You may be a victim of scams, frauds, or thievery, so it is recommended to take care of your belongings, change money at banks and legitimate kiosks, and drink in moderation.

Countries With Warnings

Ukraine is still being attacked by Russia, so it’s at Level 4: Do Not Travel warning. The warning explicitly tells Americans not to travel to Ukraine because the situation is unpredictable. Belarus is also at the same security alert level. Its warnings states, “Do not travel to Belarus due to the Belarusian authorities’ continued facilitation of Russia’s war against Ukraine, the buildup of Russian military forces in Belarus, the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, the potential of civil unrest, the risk of detention, and the Embassy’s limited ability to assist U.S. citizens residing in or traveling to Belarus. U.S. citizens in Belarus should depart immediately.”

No other European countries are at this highest level of warning.

Scandinavian countries are usually considered safe, but Denmark was placed at Level 2 by the State Department last summer, and releases notifications about possible attacks by terrorist groups. In December 2023, Danish police also made arrests over suspected terror plots.

The level warning was issued against the Netherlands, the U.K., Italy, Spain, Sweden, and France—all on July 26, 2023. These popular summer destinations have been on the radar due to possible terror attacks. The department also warns against demonstrations in Spain. In the U.K., there are additional risks of isolated violence by dissident groups in Northern Ireland, but the agency specifies that the military and police are targeted. 

For France, travelers should also be aware of protests and demonstrations that happen regularly and, in rare cases, turn violent. The nation has also earned a reputation for pickpocketing and snatching incidents that occur in crowded places and touristy areas. It is also worth mentioning that Paris is hosting the Olympics this year, so it’s going to be especially crowded this summer. The country is already on alert due to the international sporting event and it raised its terror alert to the highest level after the attack in Russia in March. 

Germany, which is also on this list, also arrested a terror suspect in December for plotting an attack on New Years. This March, too, two individuals were arrested in the country for planning attacks in Sweden to avenge Quran burnings in the Scandinavian nations. Another set of arrests happened last month and the country is planning to heighten security in the wake of these threats and the upcoming Euro Cup.

The U.S. State Department advises travelers to be aware of their surroundings, avoid demonstrations, follow the instructions of local authorities, and keep an eye on local media. You can also enroll in the SMART Traveler program to receive alerts about emergencies and help the embassy locate you.