Perhaps one sentiment which separates those who do travel from those who simply dream about it is that they know the big, bad world isn’t always as bad as you might think.

From the welcoming and inspirational people you might meet on your journey, to the experiences you approached with trepidation but now will treasure forever, it’s likely that if you’re a frequent traveller you will have observed the many ways in which fear can hold you back from living life to the full.

However, even the most hardened explorer should ensure they have a thorough understanding of the destination they choose to visit so that they can take the necessary precautions to stay safe.

Whilst some cities in the world might be no-go areas due to issues such as political instability, others are renowned for their safety records. Research by the Economist Intelligence Unit measured a variety of factors from health security to personal safety in order to compile a list of the safest cities in the world. Here are the top 10:

10. New York

The Big Apple dazzles visitors with Broadway, shopping and sights straight off the silver screen, but it apparently also ranks second in the world for health security, meaning that if a disease breaks out, the city has got you covered.

9. Melbourne

Cosmopolitan Melbourne frequents the most liveable city in the world lists so it was no great surprise that it made the top 10 for safety. With minimal road and rail accidents, the Aussie metropolis has one of the highest ranking infrastructure records in the world.