REUTERS/Jacky Naegelen
The US State Department advises American tourists exercise increased caution in France due to terrorism and civil unrest.
- Before you plan your European vacation, it's worth checking out which countries are the most dangerous and why.
- The US State Department ranks countries as Levels 1 through 4, from least dangerous to most dangerous.
- Twelve European countries are ranked Level 2, and the agency recommends American visitors exercise increased caution when visiting them.
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Europe may include some of the most popular
The State Department uses four levels of travel guidance to offer Americans advice, set boundaries, and describe the risks of each country:
Level 1 - Exercise normal precautions
Level 2 - Exercise increased caution
Level 3 - Reconsider travel
Level 4 - Do not travel
Eleven European countries are ranked Level 2, but apart from regions in Russia designated as Level 4, there are no countries the State Department warns against visiting altogether.
Elsewhere, there are several countries in Africa, Latin America, South America, and the Middle East ranked Levels 3 and 4. These include Venezuela, multiple regions in Mexico, Libya, Sudan, Somalia, Yemen, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and North Korea.
Here are the travel advisories for every country in Europe, ranked from most to least risky based on the State Department's designation levels.