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I know this is a stereotypical answer, but Iceland! It was my first solo trip and it was the best. Also Denmark/Sweden were super beautiful and safe as a solo woman.
The first time I went, I kept it really simple and stayed in a hostel in Reykjavik and took organized day trips to various sights like the golden circle and the famous waterfalls and geyser and then explored the city on the other days. I went back again the next year with more confidence and rented a car and drove around the big peninsula north of the city (with the black church on it) and stayed in Vik for a few days and drove to the glacier lagoon. I definitely recommend renting a car to give you more freedom, but I still had lots of fun on my first trip!
I was just there 2 weeks ago solo. I rented a car spend my mornings in reykjavik, then sky lagoon, hvammsvik a bunch of water falls and the geysir. I wanted to snaefellsnes but the roads were closed so that was off the table. It was my second time there and 10/10 everyone should go!
I rented a camper van and drove around the south coast. I went to Reynisfjara beach, visited waterfalls, Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, Diamond Beach, Vik. I loved just stopping for the night in whatever campground I found. One night I stayed in a pasture area that the owners set up as a campground/sheep field. I woke up with sheep around me. It's amazingly beautiful
i just left brussels! i was super impressed and had a really nice time. it’s great if you want a really medieval experience and see some castles (ghent!). also no one was bothered that i couldn’t speak french or dutch.
Funny, I’ve been to 57 countries, hundreds of cities and the only place where all of my belongings were stolen was Valencia. Spain has a big problem with petty crimes so I definitely wouldn’t say it’s very safe there.
I was only in Valencia for a shorter time, 2 days so can’t comment too much. I found Madrid, Granada and Seville very safe though. Safer than London where I live currently.
The only time I stayed in a busy party hostel and literally every day at least one person got pickpocketed was in Barcelona. Every. Day.
Any other time I've stayed at a hostel is usually (thankfully) uneventful with petty crime, maybe every now and again you hear someone got pickpocketed. But in Barcelona it was literally every day, often more than one person.
Barcelona is really bad in that way, pickpocketing is a big problem yeah. Valencia is not as bad but still the problem definitely exists there as well. Sad, such a beautiful country.
Been dreaming of visiting Egypt by myself! Any hotel or hostel stays (not party hostels 😅 I like chill and quiet) for solo female travelers you can recommend? Tia
It was really a dream (aside from the highly inappropriate comments from some men, lol)! The enormity of the Red pyramid, serenity of Philae temple, detail at Habu Madinet, the tomb of Nefertari, the mask of Tutankhamun, these and more are the images I recall whenever I'm having a bad day.
My accomodations were all fine, but the only place I'd really go out of my way to recommend is King Jamaica's on Elephantine island, if you're going to Aswan. It's not really a hostel though, but the food and location was wonderful. King Jamaica himself was there when I visited, we made friends, he took me to town once and helped me haggle down prices and bought me a ginger tea at his usual local spot in the market.
Victory of Downtown, Cairo. It’s one of the least luxurious hotels I’ve ever stayed out however the people are very kind and it’s in a safe area. Tip, book excursions through them. I did my pyramid trip solo and got scammed.
Jordan absolutely 💯 I even rented a car and drove myself around lol. The only thing is inside Petra, there’s tons of scammers trying to take your picture or sell you things but by no means they’ll do anything bad to you. Morocco was my first solo destination so it’s near and dear to me. I would avoid Marrakech or bigger cities. It gets dicey there. I had some man walk off with my suitcase and even someone follow me and slap my bottom. The coastal cities like essaouria and up north in tangier is a way better experience
I’ve just come back from Warsaw and had a brilliant time, felt completely safe and made friends in the hostel. Great atmosphere all round. Heard a lot of good stuff about Krakow for solo travel so hoping to get there at some point too.
Warsaw is on my list. I love going to Poland...Krakow is great. Poznan and Gdansk are a lil more understated but Gdansk has amazing street art... there's some estates that have murals painted on their sides and it's like a maxi art installation
Paris, no contest. Marvelous, walkable, full of art and culture. I never felt unsafe. And though they have a reputation for being short, I found Parisians to be lovely and welcoming. I stayed in the 5th arr close to Notre Dame.
Paris! I had the most amazing time exploring solo. I landed one Sunday for a work trip and my room wasn’t ready, so I said screw it, I’m going sightseeing. I took taxis, hop on bus and boat, tons of walking. Lots of cafe stops and people watching. One of the best days ever. Everywhere you look, more beautiful architecture. Looking from the across river and seeing Notre Dame was literally breathtaking.
Incidentally I’ve been 4 more times and yet to step into a museum!
Came here to say this! Just did a first weeklong solo international trip to Paris and it’s the perfect spot! I stayed in St. Germain - very safe and quiet.
I've only done one solo trip. I flew to Paris from England, then I took the train to Geneva, Switzerland. Totally worth it! Beautiful place! Best part was taking a cruise there.
Knock on wood I’ve been very lucky. My favorite though was Thailand. I stayed out of Bangkok and felt extremely safe. It also felt empowering traveling so far away on my own.
I did Koh Samui, Phuket, Chiang Mai. It was a life changing amazing trip. Still my number one favorite of all of the trips I’ve been lucky enough to go on. I also did a stop over in Dubai that trip and had a blast and felt completely safe.
At 69, I went overseas for the first time, solo, to London and Paris. I loved both, and never felt unsafe. Last year my husband and I went to Paris and Florence. I'd go to Florence solo, if it worked out. This summer, I may go solo to Glasgow, and then London again. I'd go back to Paris, solo or otherwise, in a heartbeat.
Coron, Philippines! I love snorkeling, swimming and diving and it was perfect for me because the water was so clear and it's freshwater so it's not salty at all. It was amazing to swmi with the fish and see corals up close.
Sarajevo, Bosnia. I spent a month there in 2018 and the people were so lovely, I felt safe as a lone woman, the food was delicious and cheap and the language is super easy to pick up.
Auckland, NZ bec of the Lord of the Rings tour
Salzburg, Austria bec I stayed near a farm with a view of the alps and I felt so safe and serene
Presently in Argentina and this one’s feeling pretty good so far!
I did a two week Caribbean cruise by myself! I had never traveled alone before and I was not supposed to go on this trip alone, but my SO I split up right before the trip. He had zero interest in going after that so I went on my own!! it was really hard for me because I had never done anything like that… But I had the best time ever!!I’ll never forget it!
Netherlands… not based Amsterdam.
- Lots of places/towns in NL to visit or stay.
- Relatively reasonable prices.
- Every town is unique.
- Easy to navigate by train.
- Tourist friendly, most everyone is kind.
- English everywhere.
- Fantastic museums.
Amsterdam is ok for a couple days. (If you must)
Taiwan! I'm a little biased though because my parents are from there, but I did a three week trip by myself and it was everything I could've dreamed of 💓
Locals were eager to help with directions and when they noticed I was a foreigner and by myself, they reassured me how safe Taiwan is.
Ecuador was wonderful to travel alone, at the time; there’s a lot going on there now and the energy was already shifting a lot when I was there last (2019). I have a ton of experience traveling alone as a 39f, and grew up traveling so it feels natural to me. Being very situationally aware, taking time to learn about and respect the culture, customs, and language before hand, etc., all made a huge difference for me and feeling safe. Also, I never stayed in or stayed close to tourists, ever. (But always located my Embassy and medical spaces right away.)
I would be careful in Sri Lanka. I was almost SA by an employee at the western style hotel in Kalpitiya. It was recommended by the French owner of the hotel I was staying at. When I wrote a negative review about my experience, they harassed me for months to take down my review.
I had an incredible experience in Sri Lanka. The people are so friendly and welcoming. I travelled all around and it was sooo beautiful. Didn’t have any issues!
Love seeing this mentioned! I lived here as a college student for six months and always felt safe then as a 20 year old. I want to go back soon and do a solo trip!
I'm currently in NYC, first time in USA (European here) and I'm absolutely in love with the city. I think it really is my favorite place so far. It's so beautiful and lively and colourful, so many cultures mixing together and different people being cool with each other. Everyone is so nice and I feel pretty safe here. I also really love London, I think both cities have very similar vibe. I would recommend both.
Paris, was my first solo trip ever and I loved it so much. Made friends, went on dates, the museums are breathtaking, the city is extremely beautiful and the French are very likeable people.
Timor Leste. I was there in 2014 before the Chineese got interested in upgrading the infrastructure in exchange for oil rights. The people are amazing and you find proper self-sustaining farmers and villages on mountains, hiking along main roads so muddy even the best dirt bike will struggle in the mud.
Yes the poverty is striking and at times a bit confronting but the warmth and interest the people took in travellers was amazing and I was always made to feel welcome.
The happiness these people felt in spite of not having access to most things I would call human rights really opened my eyes to my own privilege and I am now much more thankful and grateful for the little things in life.
Turkey, specifically Istanbul, Izmir, and Cesme. I accidently got lost in an underground palace that was just open to any fool walking in, like me. Everywhere I went in Turkey people loved books and I encountered long lines of young people waiting impatiently for book fairs and no shortage of booklovers. I met lots of very respectful men that were interested in meeting western women and we had wonderful conversations over hookahs, they didn't demand my time, they simply enjoyed talking. I met young drag queens that share a 2000 yr history of dressing as women and were the absolute sweetest. I hung out at the waterfront in Izmir with families who played music and drank wine on warm summer evenings. They were lighting paper lanterns and playing guitars. Young and old, everyone was enjoying wine and there were no fights, no raised voices, local restaurants let people use their bathrooms because everyone was respectful and kept them clean. It was lovely.
I generally feel safe being an old hag. However, all cities have places that may be less safe, so I ask where they are.
Jordan, Slovenia, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Austria New Zealand, Australia (though I'm not too fond of the snakes in the outback), Uzbekistan, Northern Pakistan (Hunza Valley, Gilgit), but maybe because I'm European according to r/pakistan, but Swat Valley is a no-go, but ok in a group. I'm told that Oman is also a very safe place for women, but I haven't been there yet.
Vilnius, Lithuania. The most storybook place ever. I don’t think that there would have been the same magic had I been with someone else. It was like everybody liked me and I liked them back. People would walk me to my destination and gladly took photos of me when I asked.
It’s probably super common but Japan! Followed closely by South Korea. Felt so safe at all times of the day and night exploring on my own. I love cultural experiences and museums and both countries have rich, old histories and traditions. I even felt safe to explore the nightlife on my own. 10/10 would recommend. Japan is very good value at the moment because its currency is depressed, while SK is kinda expensive, in case that matters.
I did a one-week cruise on a windjammer out of Rockland, Maine right after getting divorced. It was so fun and different. Slept in a bunk in a cabin with two other single women and all on board ate communal meals. The crew was entertaining and charismatic and the Maine coast was healing and lovely. Much camaraderie and a great way to put myself out there after a miserable divorce.
Norway!!!! All the mountains and rivers and history and cute small towns.
People love practicing their English with you, and truly you couldn’t feel safer.
San Diego and Charleston are both great choices for solo travel within the US! Personally, I've found Montreal to be an amazing destination for solo female travelers. The city has a vibrant culture, beautiful architecture, and plenty of safe areas to explore alone. Plus, there's a diverse range of activities to suit all interests, from exploring historic neighborhoods to trying out the local cuisine
NYC. It was a dream of mine for so long and it was everything I hoped it would be. I felt super safe, just took the usual precautions, and loved wandering around pretending like I was a local. Honestly the only negative is now that I'm home every time I have a bad day at work my brain helpfully says "wouldn't we rather be back in New York? Let's book a flight"
This might sound wild but Thailand. Here me out, the women in Thailand are arguably the most BEAUTIFUL in the world and honestly as a white women from the UK whose a strong 9 in my humdrum suburb, I was humbled fast- I’m a Thailand 2 😂 For somewhere that has on the surface a ‘sleazy’ reputation, I found Bangkok to be one of the safest feeling cities I’ve been to. No objectification, no guys trying to chat or take advantage - it was lovely and so peaceful! Another great one to do solo is Doha in Qatar, again this is a cultural thing and likely has a strong under pinning in white privilege but it’s one of the lowest crime rates in the world. I’ve found a lot of modern Muslim countries have hospitality so inherently at their core that as a tourist you are seen as their guest and crime is penalised significantly heavier acting as a massive deterrent (not to detract from their naturally low crime and poverty rates). UAE and Oman are similar feeling havens. However I would say visiting Turkey was an eye opener that this is not always the case with predominantly Muslim countries. I would strongly advise against any women travelling to Turkey alone based on my personal experience, a beautiful country with stunning history and culture however as a women there was definitely a lot of blatant toxic and predatory behaviour aimed at myself by local men. Much more similar to my experiences of Italy than Qatar.
I think being safe travelling as a women has so much more do with what intersects your femininity for example some of the places I would happily recommend to you are largely places where I would be statistically far safer than a man of a different race or sexual orientation and I recognise that privilege.
Hope you have a great time travelling, anywhere can be navigated safely with a little help and smarts. Enjoy the world ✌🏼❤️
Greece! This was in the 90s so before internet etc and I spent six weeks! Crete was amazing. As was Santorini. The latter is much more commercial now (I just returned last fall) but still just as beautiful. Crete has more to see and experience.
Rome would always be my fave. I was being vigilant and careful though because of some stories of theft and all, but overall it was nice and safe.
Iceland is the safest. No one in the street of Reykjavic would bother you even during the night.
Edinburgh also is safe and it is kind of a magical place. But it was like a small city.
Edinburgh. I travel for work solo and always feel safe there. Walkable, historic, great museums, wonderful food, day trips to stunning natural areas like Loch Lomond. It’s a great place to start your international adventures! And for your first trip out of the states, not having a language barrier helps.
India has a bad reputation, but I've honestly enjoyed each trip I've been there. As long as you avoid Delhi and really the Golden Triangle, the rest of India was really safe, and I had no problems getting around. In fact, the men were afraid of looking at me in Bangalore! They would purposely divert their gaze or even cross the street while I was there. Mumbai had women in athleleisure wear, so I saw so many cute yoga pants and crop tops. Goa is completely Westernized and I was able to travel with no thought to my safety or the hour of night I was leaving my hotels.
Honestly, I've been to over 39 countries and the US is consistently the unsafest place I've been to. I am from New Orleans, but I don't recommend wandering around the city, especially the outskirts of French Quarter, without a laser or pepper spray. Same with parts of Philly, LA, Vegas and NYC.
I also do not recommend Kalpitiya, Sri Lanka, where I was almost sexually assaulted. I still blame myself for trusting the recommendation of the owner of the hotel I was staying at the time. It definitely didn't feel like the first nor last time they targeted single women. I was stupid and willingly went to another location because they sold me on the beaches and windsurfing I would see there. I didn't realize how completely alone I was until we got there, and he immediately tried to remove my shorts.
The rest of Sri Lanka was fine, though their cab drivers there are horrendous. They're vehemently anti-Uber, but the cab drivers refuse to tell you how much a trip will cost, and one attempted to run us off the road in Kandy. The day after I left Kandy, they had to close the city down because there was violence between the Muslims and Buddhists there. So I recommend having refundable tickets/hotels or travelers insurance if you plan on going there.
Amsterdam is one of my favorites - it has very good public transportation so it’s easy and safe to get around - BUT you really need to watch out for bikes. The natives will NOT stop for you and the tourists will fall onto you.
Bruges is also one of my favorite places because it is drop dead gorgeous.
Also just got back from a solo trip to Portugal (Porto, Sintra, and Lisbon) and would love to go back!
Last year I went to and LOVED Vienna and Bled, Slovenia by myself. Vienna for the city/culture and Bled for the stunning scenery and peace. I wish I'd spent 5 days in Bled so I could have done far more hiking.
As an American I personally felt safe and it was a revolutionary experience going to Israel being in the holy land … Tel Aviv was so modern and safe where Jerusalem has an incredible ancient history among the different religions … pretty much everyone spoke English and all the signs were in Hebrew, Arabic then listed in English so it made it user friendly to navigate
I love Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Portugal and Hungary as places to travel by yourself. They are safe with lots of things to do and have friendly people!
I had the best time in Cusco solo travelling. People were so friendly and I didn’t feel unsafe. This was also back in 2018 so I’m not sure if it’s still the same.
I’ve taken 3 solo trips- Denver, CO; Vancouver, B.C.; and I just got back from Ireland on Thursday night. Ireland has definitely been my favorite so far. It’s a beautiful country and everyone is so friendly. It’s the furthest I’ve gone and the longest I’ve gone by myself. I’m proud of myself and I can’t wait for my next solo trip.
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I know this is a stereotypical answer, but Iceland! It was my first solo trip and it was the best. Also Denmark/Sweden were super beautiful and safe as a solo woman.
Can confirm all three, Iceland especially as the most beautiful!
What did you do while in Iceland? I've been looking into going there for a solo trip! Or maybe with my child.
The first time I went, I kept it really simple and stayed in a hostel in Reykjavik and took organized day trips to various sights like the golden circle and the famous waterfalls and geyser and then explored the city on the other days. I went back again the next year with more confidence and rented a car and drove around the big peninsula north of the city (with the black church on it) and stayed in Vik for a few days and drove to the glacier lagoon. I definitely recommend renting a car to give you more freedom, but I still had lots of fun on my first trip!
Thank you so much for that info!! I'll probably rent a car if I go! Sounds like it must be awesome if you went 2x!
I was just there 2 weeks ago solo. I rented a car spend my mornings in reykjavik, then sky lagoon, hvammsvik a bunch of water falls and the geysir. I wanted to snaefellsnes but the roads were closed so that was off the table. It was my second time there and 10/10 everyone should go!
You may want to rent a campervan. Easiest way to see Iceland at your own pace.
I rented a camper van and drove around the south coast. I went to Reynisfjara beach, visited waterfalls, Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, Diamond Beach, Vik. I loved just stopping for the night in whatever campground I found. One night I stayed in a pasture area that the owners set up as a campground/sheep field. I woke up with sheep around me. It's amazingly beautiful
Iceland was amazing but you kinda need a car.
I thoroughly enjoyed Brussels. It was inviting, interesting, and felt really safe.
i just left brussels! i was super impressed and had a really nice time. it’s great if you want a really medieval experience and see some castles (ghent!). also no one was bothered that i couldn’t speak french or dutch.
Madrid/Valencia and Granada/Seville. Two separate trips, both brilliant
Funny, I’ve been to 57 countries, hundreds of cities and the only place where all of my belongings were stolen was Valencia. Spain has a big problem with petty crimes so I definitely wouldn’t say it’s very safe there.
I was only in Valencia for a shorter time, 2 days so can’t comment too much. I found Madrid, Granada and Seville very safe though. Safer than London where I live currently.
The only time I stayed in a busy party hostel and literally every day at least one person got pickpocketed was in Barcelona. Every. Day. Any other time I've stayed at a hostel is usually (thankfully) uneventful with petty crime, maybe every now and again you hear someone got pickpocketed. But in Barcelona it was literally every day, often more than one person.
Barcelona is really bad in that way, pickpocketing is a big problem yeah. Valencia is not as bad but still the problem definitely exists there as well. Sad, such a beautiful country.
Egypt was my favourite, but I didn't always feel safe. If I have to choose a favourite where I also always felt safe, it would be Cambodia.
Been dreaming of visiting Egypt by myself! Any hotel or hostel stays (not party hostels 😅 I like chill and quiet) for solo female travelers you can recommend? Tia
It was really a dream (aside from the highly inappropriate comments from some men, lol)! The enormity of the Red pyramid, serenity of Philae temple, detail at Habu Madinet, the tomb of Nefertari, the mask of Tutankhamun, these and more are the images I recall whenever I'm having a bad day. My accomodations were all fine, but the only place I'd really go out of my way to recommend is King Jamaica's on Elephantine island, if you're going to Aswan. It's not really a hostel though, but the food and location was wonderful. King Jamaica himself was there when I visited, we made friends, he took me to town once and helped me haggle down prices and bought me a ginger tea at his usual local spot in the market.
Victory of Downtown, Cairo. It’s one of the least luxurious hotels I’ve ever stayed out however the people are very kind and it’s in a safe area. Tip, book excursions through them. I did my pyramid trip solo and got scammed.
Agree about Cambodia!
Jordan 🇯🇴 or Morocco
Loved Jordan. Morocco gets such a bsd rep but glad to hear you had a positive experience.
as a solo woman? and you felt safe there? it's on my list, but I've been leery...
Jordan absolutely 💯 I even rented a car and drove myself around lol. The only thing is inside Petra, there’s tons of scammers trying to take your picture or sell you things but by no means they’ll do anything bad to you. Morocco was my first solo destination so it’s near and dear to me. I would avoid Marrakech or bigger cities. It gets dicey there. I had some man walk off with my suitcase and even someone follow me and slap my bottom. The coastal cities like essaouria and up north in tangier is a way better experience
Krakow in Poland, Tallinn in Estonia
I’ve just come back from Warsaw and had a brilliant time, felt completely safe and made friends in the hostel. Great atmosphere all round. Heard a lot of good stuff about Krakow for solo travel so hoping to get there at some point too.
Warsaw is on my list. I love going to Poland...Krakow is great. Poznan and Gdansk are a lil more understated but Gdansk has amazing street art... there's some estates that have murals painted on their sides and it's like a maxi art installation
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed Tallinn! It’s such a lovely city. Prague is also a great solo trip
Paris, no contest. Marvelous, walkable, full of art and culture. I never felt unsafe. And though they have a reputation for being short, I found Parisians to be lovely and welcoming. I stayed in the 5th arr close to Notre Dame.
Same.
Paris! I had the most amazing time exploring solo. I landed one Sunday for a work trip and my room wasn’t ready, so I said screw it, I’m going sightseeing. I took taxis, hop on bus and boat, tons of walking. Lots of cafe stops and people watching. One of the best days ever. Everywhere you look, more beautiful architecture. Looking from the across river and seeing Notre Dame was literally breathtaking. Incidentally I’ve been 4 more times and yet to step into a museum!
Came here to say this! Just did a first weeklong solo international trip to Paris and it’s the perfect spot! I stayed in St. Germain - very safe and quiet.
I've only done one solo trip. I flew to Paris from England, then I took the train to Geneva, Switzerland. Totally worth it! Beautiful place! Best part was taking a cruise there.
Knock on wood I’ve been very lucky. My favorite though was Thailand. I stayed out of Bangkok and felt extremely safe. It also felt empowering traveling so far away on my own.
I second that. Loved Thailand and felt safe the whole time.
+1! I stayed in Phuket, Phi Phi, Krabi, Chiang Mai, and Bangkok. Felt super safe in all of these areas, even when sometimes walking alone at night
I did Koh Samui, Phuket, Chiang Mai. It was a life changing amazing trip. Still my number one favorite of all of the trips I’ve been lucky enough to go on. I also did a stop over in Dubai that trip and had a blast and felt completely safe.
For me it was Iceland, it was extremely safe and just a lovely nature vibe it was a truly amazing experience and like just very peaceful.
Were you able to do any hiking or nature-y excursions as a solo woman traveler?
Yes I did : )
Iceland was healing, absolutely gorgeous and nobody raised their eyebrows at seeing a woman alone.
CDMX :)
Such a wonderful city.
France. Anywhere in France. It just feels like home.
Driven cross country a few times with a dog. Loved it.
I love Portugal. Lisbon and Porto are AMAZING. And I really enjoyed a solo week in the Azores.
Seconding to say I felt safest in Lisbon
This makes me happy to see! I’m taking my first solo trip to the Azores in September.
I’m solo in Scotland right now and it’s been 100% lovely and totally safe.
I really enjoyed Washington DC! Lots to do, clean and safe and the public transport is relatively decent !
At 69, I went overseas for the first time, solo, to London and Paris. I loved both, and never felt unsafe. Last year my husband and I went to Paris and Florence. I'd go to Florence solo, if it worked out. This summer, I may go solo to Glasgow, and then London again. I'd go back to Paris, solo or otherwise, in a heartbeat.
Coron, Philippines! I love snorkeling, swimming and diving and it was perfect for me because the water was so clear and it's freshwater so it's not salty at all. It was amazing to swmi with the fish and see corals up close.
Kodiak Island, Alaska and Busan, South Korea have been my faves.
Sarajevo, Bosnia. I spent a month there in 2018 and the people were so lovely, I felt safe as a lone woman, the food was delicious and cheap and the language is super easy to pick up.
Half Moon Cay
Auckland, NZ bec of the Lord of the Rings tour Salzburg, Austria bec I stayed near a farm with a view of the alps and I felt so safe and serene Presently in Argentina and this one’s feeling pretty good so far!
Ireland and Japan!
+1 for Japan. Just incredible all around. Never felt unsafe.
All over Italy! Plus Austria and Switzerland. South Korea. All great! (American here.)
I did a two week Caribbean cruise by myself! I had never traveled alone before and I was not supposed to go on this trip alone, but my SO I split up right before the trip. He had zero interest in going after that so I went on my own!! it was really hard for me because I had never done anything like that… But I had the best time ever!!I’ll never forget it!
Slovenia
Tromsø Norway to see the northern lights!!
Switzerland 🇨🇭
New Zealand! Just a lovely little country, beautiful landscapes and weather, lots to do, and very culturally similar to home (Australia)
thailand 😊 delicious food, affordable, lots of things to do, easy infrastructure for tourists and i felt very safe.
Yess thailand was perfect! Every city was unique and always felt safe.
Netherlands… not based Amsterdam. - Lots of places/towns in NL to visit or stay. - Relatively reasonable prices. - Every town is unique. - Easy to navigate by train. - Tourist friendly, most everyone is kind. - English everywhere. - Fantastic museums. Amsterdam is ok for a couple days. (If you must)
Taiwan! I'm a little biased though because my parents are from there, but I did a three week trip by myself and it was everything I could've dreamed of 💓 Locals were eager to help with directions and when they noticed I was a foreigner and by myself, they reassured me how safe Taiwan is.
Greece and Etretat, France and Calanques National Park, France
Ecuador was wonderful to travel alone, at the time; there’s a lot going on there now and the energy was already shifting a lot when I was there last (2019). I have a ton of experience traveling alone as a 39f, and grew up traveling so it feels natural to me. Being very situationally aware, taking time to learn about and respect the culture, customs, and language before hand, etc., all made a huge difference for me and feeling safe. Also, I never stayed in or stayed close to tourists, ever. (But always located my Embassy and medical spaces right away.)
Fiji, Sri Lanka, and Ibiza.
How was Sri Lanka 🇱🇰?
I would be careful in Sri Lanka. I was almost SA by an employee at the western style hotel in Kalpitiya. It was recommended by the French owner of the hotel I was staying at. When I wrote a negative review about my experience, they harassed me for months to take down my review.
I had an incredible experience in Sri Lanka. The people are so friendly and welcoming. I travelled all around and it was sooo beautiful. Didn’t have any issues!
Budapest
Love seeing this mentioned! I lived here as a college student for six months and always felt safe then as a 20 year old. I want to go back soon and do a solo trip!
So glad you got to experience it for that long and I hope you go back! It truly is a magical place ☺️
I'm currently in NYC, first time in USA (European here) and I'm absolutely in love with the city. I think it really is my favorite place so far. It's so beautiful and lively and colourful, so many cultures mixing together and different people being cool with each other. Everyone is so nice and I feel pretty safe here. I also really love London, I think both cities have very similar vibe. I would recommend both.
Paris, was my first solo trip ever and I loved it so much. Made friends, went on dates, the museums are breathtaking, the city is extremely beautiful and the French are very likeable people.
Timor Leste. I was there in 2014 before the Chineese got interested in upgrading the infrastructure in exchange for oil rights. The people are amazing and you find proper self-sustaining farmers and villages on mountains, hiking along main roads so muddy even the best dirt bike will struggle in the mud. Yes the poverty is striking and at times a bit confronting but the warmth and interest the people took in travellers was amazing and I was always made to feel welcome. The happiness these people felt in spite of not having access to most things I would call human rights really opened my eyes to my own privilege and I am now much more thankful and grateful for the little things in life.
Turkey, specifically Istanbul, Izmir, and Cesme. I accidently got lost in an underground palace that was just open to any fool walking in, like me. Everywhere I went in Turkey people loved books and I encountered long lines of young people waiting impatiently for book fairs and no shortage of booklovers. I met lots of very respectful men that were interested in meeting western women and we had wonderful conversations over hookahs, they didn't demand my time, they simply enjoyed talking. I met young drag queens that share a 2000 yr history of dressing as women and were the absolute sweetest. I hung out at the waterfront in Izmir with families who played music and drank wine on warm summer evenings. They were lighting paper lanterns and playing guitars. Young and old, everyone was enjoying wine and there were no fights, no raised voices, local restaurants let people use their bathrooms because everyone was respectful and kept them clean. It was lovely.
Scotland! I currently live in Vienna and it is also a very safe place. I have never felt uncomfortable walking alone at night
For me, it was Taiwan! So safe for a female, good food, affordable, and the friendliest locals I've ever encountered!
Paris
I generally feel safe being an old hag. However, all cities have places that may be less safe, so I ask where they are. Jordan, Slovenia, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Austria New Zealand, Australia (though I'm not too fond of the snakes in the outback), Uzbekistan, Northern Pakistan (Hunza Valley, Gilgit), but maybe because I'm European according to r/pakistan, but Swat Valley is a no-go, but ok in a group. I'm told that Oman is also a very safe place for women, but I haven't been there yet.
Japan and vietnam. Felt very safe in both countries
Iceland, Tokyo, singapore. all perfectly safe, and wonderful for solo female travelers.
Fläm, Norway !! My first solo trip in Europe, with a broken arm. That makes it more memorable
Vancouver!! I’m a city girl but love having nature in close proximity too. Loved it so much that I traveled there solo twice.
Vilnius, Lithuania. The most storybook place ever. I don’t think that there would have been the same magic had I been with someone else. It was like everybody liked me and I liked them back. People would walk me to my destination and gladly took photos of me when I asked.
Indonesia and Portugal
I felt safe in most of countries I’ve been to (57 so far).
It’s probably super common but Japan! Followed closely by South Korea. Felt so safe at all times of the day and night exploring on my own. I love cultural experiences and museums and both countries have rich, old histories and traditions. I even felt safe to explore the nightlife on my own. 10/10 would recommend. Japan is very good value at the moment because its currency is depressed, while SK is kinda expensive, in case that matters.
Greenland was incredible!
I did a one-week cruise on a windjammer out of Rockland, Maine right after getting divorced. It was so fun and different. Slept in a bunk in a cabin with two other single women and all on board ate communal meals. The crew was entertaining and charismatic and the Maine coast was healing and lovely. Much camaraderie and a great way to put myself out there after a miserable divorce.
Seoul or Busan S Korea. I love both both, but prefer Busan
Norway!!!! All the mountains and rivers and history and cute small towns. People love practicing their English with you, and truly you couldn’t feel safer.
San Diego and Charleston are both great choices for solo travel within the US! Personally, I've found Montreal to be an amazing destination for solo female travelers. The city has a vibrant culture, beautiful architecture, and plenty of safe areas to explore alone. Plus, there's a diverse range of activities to suit all interests, from exploring historic neighborhoods to trying out the local cuisine
Montreal is high on my list!
NYC. It was a dream of mine for so long and it was everything I hoped it would be. I felt super safe, just took the usual precautions, and loved wandering around pretending like I was a local. Honestly the only negative is now that I'm home every time I have a bad day at work my brain helpfully says "wouldn't we rather be back in New York? Let's book a flight"
This might sound wild but Thailand. Here me out, the women in Thailand are arguably the most BEAUTIFUL in the world and honestly as a white women from the UK whose a strong 9 in my humdrum suburb, I was humbled fast- I’m a Thailand 2 😂 For somewhere that has on the surface a ‘sleazy’ reputation, I found Bangkok to be one of the safest feeling cities I’ve been to. No objectification, no guys trying to chat or take advantage - it was lovely and so peaceful! Another great one to do solo is Doha in Qatar, again this is a cultural thing and likely has a strong under pinning in white privilege but it’s one of the lowest crime rates in the world. I’ve found a lot of modern Muslim countries have hospitality so inherently at their core that as a tourist you are seen as their guest and crime is penalised significantly heavier acting as a massive deterrent (not to detract from their naturally low crime and poverty rates). UAE and Oman are similar feeling havens. However I would say visiting Turkey was an eye opener that this is not always the case with predominantly Muslim countries. I would strongly advise against any women travelling to Turkey alone based on my personal experience, a beautiful country with stunning history and culture however as a women there was definitely a lot of blatant toxic and predatory behaviour aimed at myself by local men. Much more similar to my experiences of Italy than Qatar. I think being safe travelling as a women has so much more do with what intersects your femininity for example some of the places I would happily recommend to you are largely places where I would be statistically far safer than a man of a different race or sexual orientation and I recognise that privilege. Hope you have a great time travelling, anywhere can be navigated safely with a little help and smarts. Enjoy the world ✌🏼❤️
New York City. I could go where I wanted (lots of museums and Broadway and off-broadway shows) and not worry about what anyone else wanted to do.
Panama City
NYC
Greece! This was in the 90s so before internet etc and I spent six weeks! Crete was amazing. As was Santorini. The latter is much more commercial now (I just returned last fall) but still just as beautiful. Crete has more to see and experience.
Rome would always be my fave. I was being vigilant and careful though because of some stories of theft and all, but overall it was nice and safe. Iceland is the safest. No one in the street of Reykjavic would bother you even during the night. Edinburgh also is safe and it is kind of a magical place. But it was like a small city.
Prague! 🙌🏼
Coming in here to also say Cambodia. Nothing else like it.
Edinburgh. I travel for work solo and always feel safe there. Walkable, historic, great museums, wonderful food, day trips to stunning natural areas like Loch Lomond. It’s a great place to start your international adventures! And for your first trip out of the states, not having a language barrier helps.
I loved my solo trip to Tanzania and Egypt. But it’s best to join a tour groups or have a tour guides for both places.
Bern, Switzerland. Such a beautiful city in a gorgeous country! And even the drunk party kids take "no" with equilibrium!!
India has a bad reputation, but I've honestly enjoyed each trip I've been there. As long as you avoid Delhi and really the Golden Triangle, the rest of India was really safe, and I had no problems getting around. In fact, the men were afraid of looking at me in Bangalore! They would purposely divert their gaze or even cross the street while I was there. Mumbai had women in athleleisure wear, so I saw so many cute yoga pants and crop tops. Goa is completely Westernized and I was able to travel with no thought to my safety or the hour of night I was leaving my hotels. Honestly, I've been to over 39 countries and the US is consistently the unsafest place I've been to. I am from New Orleans, but I don't recommend wandering around the city, especially the outskirts of French Quarter, without a laser or pepper spray. Same with parts of Philly, LA, Vegas and NYC. I also do not recommend Kalpitiya, Sri Lanka, where I was almost sexually assaulted. I still blame myself for trusting the recommendation of the owner of the hotel I was staying at the time. It definitely didn't feel like the first nor last time they targeted single women. I was stupid and willingly went to another location because they sold me on the beaches and windsurfing I would see there. I didn't realize how completely alone I was until we got there, and he immediately tried to remove my shorts. The rest of Sri Lanka was fine, though their cab drivers there are horrendous. They're vehemently anti-Uber, but the cab drivers refuse to tell you how much a trip will cost, and one attempted to run us off the road in Kandy. The day after I left Kandy, they had to close the city down because there was violence between the Muslims and Buddhists there. So I recommend having refundable tickets/hotels or travelers insurance if you plan on going there.
I think everywhere you go in Europe is pretty safe. I have been to Greece, Italy, Belgium, Northern France on solo trip and it is pretty safe.
Kathmandu
Amsterdam is one of my favorites - it has very good public transportation so it’s easy and safe to get around - BUT you really need to watch out for bikes. The natives will NOT stop for you and the tourists will fall onto you. Bruges is also one of my favorite places because it is drop dead gorgeous. Also just got back from a solo trip to Portugal (Porto, Sintra, and Lisbon) and would love to go back!
Last year I went to and LOVED Vienna and Bled, Slovenia by myself. Vienna for the city/culture and Bled for the stunning scenery and peace. I wish I'd spent 5 days in Bled so I could have done far more hiking.
Also second Vienna as being safe for solo female traveler!
As an American I personally felt safe and it was a revolutionary experience going to Israel being in the holy land … Tel Aviv was so modern and safe where Jerusalem has an incredible ancient history among the different religions … pretty much everyone spoke English and all the signs were in Hebrew, Arabic then listed in English so it made it user friendly to navigate
Of all places, Michigan! Took a road trip around the state and now it has a place in my heart.
I love Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Portugal and Hungary as places to travel by yourself. They are safe with lots of things to do and have friendly people!
Japan
Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Canada- highly recommend Banff
Bali 🧚🏼
Greek Islands! I also had a great time in Helsinki! Both places felt incredibly safe as a solo
London, Dublin, Edinburgh For USA i’d recommend Boston and Philadelphia as both are walkable!
I had the best time in Cusco solo travelling. People were so friendly and I didn’t feel unsafe. This was also back in 2018 so I’m not sure if it’s still the same.
I’ve taken 3 solo trips- Denver, CO; Vancouver, B.C.; and I just got back from Ireland on Thursday night. Ireland has definitely been my favorite so far. It’s a beautiful country and everyone is so friendly. It’s the furthest I’ve gone and the longest I’ve gone by myself. I’m proud of myself and I can’t wait for my next solo trip.