Wonderful Destinations Where I Felt Safe As A Solo Female Traveler

This is probably one of the questions I am asked most often when I travel: what’s the safest destination you’ve been to as a solo female traveler? And although, I’ve never found myself in very dangerous situations (fingers crossed), mainly thanks to my instincts and/or following safety rules, I’ve started compiling a list of the safest places I’ve traveled to in order to help other women take the leap and travel alone, or simply to reassure them for their upcoming trips.

Of course, I haven’t visited every corner of the world yet, so this list is bound to grow. Still, here are some of my favorite destinations as a solo female traveler!

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Why solo travel?

First, let’s talk about why I often encourage everyone, men and women alike, to travel alone. I’ll give you 5 simple reasons:

• self-discovery: be it at the other end of the world or just an hour away from home, a solo trip is a great way to discover yourself, your strengths, your weaknesses, and to focus on your feelings and priorities without the judgment of others. It’s also a great way to stimulate your creativity, for example.
  
• experience new cultures: whether it’s trying new foods, learning about a different way of thinking or living…, traveling alone and traveling in general is perfect if you want to broaden your horizons.
  
• meeting people: this is even more true when you’re all by yourself but don’t really want to stay alone for your entire trip. When traveling alone, you’ll quickly see how easily people approach you and want to get to know you, and you’ll quickly make friends all over the world.
  
• freedom: by relying only on yourself, not only will you see how free you are from others’ opinions and judgements, but you’ll also feel liberated since you’re accountable only to yourself.
  
• empowerment: I’ve never felt as confident as when I found myself alone in an unfamiliar country. Travel has taught me that I’m more responsible, stronger and capable of overcoming challenges on my own than I ever thought possible.

As always, remember that safety comes first and that it’s essential to follow a few rules or simply your instinct if you want to make your trip even more enjoyable!

Click here to find out how to start traveling solo as a woman or read my 15 rules!

Destinations where I felt safe as a solo female traveler

1. Corfu, Greece

I could actually add all the Greek islands I’ve visited, except for the most festive ones, as I’ve never been there, but the ones I enjoyed, especially Corfu, proved to be welcoming, tranquil, safe and beautiful.

Located in the Ionian Sea and surrounded by a few islands that are easy to visit on a day trip (I’m thinking of Paxos and Antipaxos), Corfu is a little paradise where there’s so much to do that you could easily spend a week relaxing on one of the turquoise-water beaches, with sand between your toes, or visiting a Byzantine castle, not to mention tasting the famous and delicious Greek cuisine.

If you ever visit Corfu, don’t miss the charming village of Paleokastritsa.

Another one of my favorite islands include the romantic Naxos!

2. Portugal

Beach lovers, foodie, adventurers, I invite you to enjoy the coastal landscapes of Portugal without having to fear about your safety.

First of all, let me tell you that I’m far from being a huge fan of big cities, and as a solo female traveler, I tend to be even more wary of them, since more people often equal more trouble. But I actually found Lisbon to be pretty chill and pleasant compared to other large cities or capitals I’ve visited, even at night.

In fact, whether you visit the cities or more rural areas of Portugal, the country is not only easy to travel around, but also agreeable for solo travelers thanks to its friendly locals. I’d also say that it is an excellent option for those visiting Europe for the first time.

3. Sweden

People from Nordic countries may often seem less approachable due to their cool exteriors, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t friendly, far from it. I really loved their humility, respect for privacy and how polite they were.

Traveling in Sweden felt so safe that even the sometimes gloomy weather couldn’t get me down. I loved getting lost in small alleys, reading a book in a park without being disturbed, and hiking on secluded trails in Abisko.

Sweden: definitely a place I’d like to return to during a sunnier season, this time!

4. Montenegro

Ah Montenegro… I could talk endlessly about the beauty of this country and its many charms. But as we’re here to talk about destinations where I felt safe, let me add this one to the list!

Want to go on an 8 hour-hike, wait indefinitely for a train in the middle of nowhere, or enjoy a meal alone without being bothered? Welcome to Montenegro!

Not only is it one of the safest destinations I’ve been to in Europe, but the fact that’s it’s also budget-friendly and you don’t need a car and can easily get around by bus made a huge difference in choosing this country for a last minute trip!

And let’s not forget all the funny and friendly locals I met!

If you like lakes and are an outdoor enthusiast, Switzerland is another safe destination for solo female travelers. The budget won’t be the same, though!

5. Australia

Australia aka the first country I flew to, and where I discovered that it was actually normal to walk around alone at night without fearing for your life. It’s also a place where you can dress however you want without fear of being judged, walk barefoot if you feel like it, and live the “no worries” way.

If you ever want to check the famous saying “the grass is greener elsewhere”, I’d say starting by Australia would be a great choice.

A land with a pleasant climate, fun activities, memorable road trips, barbies, kangaroos, koalas and sometimes scary animals (you can’t have everything, come on), Australia wishes you a G’Day mate!

6. New Zealand

Our Kiwi friends aren’t to be left out, of course! Between stunning landscapes, interesting culture and unique species, a trip to New Zealand is what every adventurous or nature-loving person is looking for, making it the perfect destination for a solo female traveler.

With two islands to explore and a country that has more sheep than people, New Zealand is undoubtedly one of the safest destinations you’ll fall in love with.

Plus, here you can forget about scary animals, because even land snakes are absent, a good thing to know for the more scaredy cats among us.

7. South Korea

One of the few countries where I enjoyed leaving all my belongings unattended and finding them untouched, without a single scratch, waiting patiently for me.

And that’s just one of the many small advantages of traveling to South Korea, where crime rate is rather low, it’s easy to get around, people are polite and friendly, and the food is crazy good and quite cheap.

Not to mention that, contrary to what many people think, the country is inexpensive and you can really say you got your money’s worth.

Safe, beautiful, cheap and welcoming, put South Korea on your travel bucket list now!

Japan and Singapore are good alternatives as safe destinations for solo female travelers, although Singapore requires a slightly higher budget!

8. Taiwan

Looking for a mix of culture, nature, delicious cuisine, welcoming locals, and safety? Head to Taiwan: Asia’s underrated island!

The bubble tea nation is so much more than that: it’s a place where vibrant culture, friendly locals, beaches, mountains, hot springs, and lively traditions await you!

A destination where there’s always something new to discover and where you can easily tour the island in two weeks by bike.

9. Vietnam

If you want to find an even more affordable destination, rich in beautiful symbols, world-famous dishes and natural wonders, then you can’t go wrong with Vietnam!

Not only that, but it’s also a very safe country, even for a solo female traveler, thanks to the warmth of its people.

Between the diversity of the landscapes, crossing roads amid a swarm of motorbikes, tasting unique coffees, and the richness of its history, one thing’s for sure: you won’t easily get bored when visiting Vietnam.

10. Laos

There’s something so peaceful about Laos that even as a solo female traveler, whether browsing the various stalls at night markets or finding myself in remote areas, I never felt unsafe.

I also found it quite easy to make friends with the locals, as they’re very warm and welcoming toward foreigners and love to share their culture if you show even the slightest interest.

With its stunning landscapes and serenity, a trip to Laos felt like such a sweet escape that I’d choose to visit again and again!

Planning a trip as a solo female traveler soon, but don’t know where to go to feel safe and welcome? I hope this list will ease your worries and show you that the world isn’t so scary after all!

Any other destinations where you felt safe as a woman traveling alone? Leave them in the comments!

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