The U.S. State Department has released an updated travel advisory map ranking countries by risk level for American travelers, with Iran carrying the highest danger designation amid ongoing regional tensions.
Iran holds a Level 4 advisory, the most severe rating the department assigns. Americans face a range of dangers there, from wrongful detention and arbitrary arrest to kidnapping and terrorism, with widespread civil unrest adding to those concerns.
Several Gulf nations neighboring Iran also saw their ratings increase. Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain were all elevated from Level 2 to Level 3, shifting the travel guidance for those destinations from exercising increased caution to reconsidering travel because of serious safety risks.
State Department map flags 20 countries as most dangerous
Alongside those country-specific changes, the department issued a worldwide security alert. It warned that groups backing Iran could target American interests or people connected to the United States in locations across the globe.
Officials said U.S. diplomatic posts in multiple regions have already been targeted, and airspace closures continue to disrupt flight routes. Americans in the Middle East and elsewhere were told to monitor guidance issued by nearby U.S. embassies and consulates.
The advisory system assigns one of four levels to every destination. Level 1 calls for normal precautions. Level 2 advises increased caution.
The State Department has updated its travel advisory map ranking countries by danger level for American travelers heading abroad this April. See which destinations to avoid. pic.twitter.com/23LdL7Qua1
— Tom Marvolo Riddle (@tom_riddle2025) March 26, 2026
Level 3 urges travelers to reconsider visiting because of potential dangers such as terrorism, inadequate medical infrastructure, elevated crime, or kidnapping risks. Level 4 warns Americans not to travel at all.
The State Department color-codes the map for all countries to make those levels easy to identify. Blue marks Level 1, yellow Level 2, orange Level 3, and red Level 4.
Russia and Mexico also draw elevated warnings on the advisory list
Russia and Ukraine are among the current Level 4 countries. In some of those nations, U.S. consular operations have been limited or could be halted with minimal warning. The department has separately flagged Russia’s track record of detaining American nationals on minor charges and holding them for lengthy periods.
Mexico carries a Level 2 rating overall, but several states face steeper warnings. Following recent cartel attacks, Sinaloa and Colima were raised to Level 4, while Jalisco and Baja California moved to Level 3.
The department recommends that Americans traveling abroad enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, known as STEP.
The free service delivers security alerts and emergency notices, including natural disaster warnings, from U.S. embassies and consulates. Officials also advised travelers to follow the department’s security updates through WhatsApp and X.
Greece at the Lowest Risk Level
Greece is classified at Level 1, the lowest risk category in the U.S. State Department’s travel advisory system, meaning travelers are advised to exercise normal precautions. The country is considered a stable and generally safe destination, especially compared to higher-risk regions, with no major security concerns affecting everyday travel.
Greece is rated safer than several other European countries that fall under higher advisory levels, including France, Germany, Italy and Spain, which are all classified at Level 2, advising increased caution.
‘Level 4 Advisories’ for the most dangerous countries
Level 4 is the most severe designation the department issues. Americans are advised against traveling to any of these destinations, as conditions there present the highest level of risk to personal safety.
1. Afghanistan
2. Belarus
3. Burkina Faso
4. Central African Republic
5. Haiti
6. Iran
7. Iraq
8. Lebanon
9. Libya
10. Mali
11. Myanmar
12. Niger
13. North Korea
14. Russia
15. Somalia
16. South Sudan
17. Sudan
18. Syria
19. Ukraine
20. Yemen
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
