A Guide to Solo Travel for Women

By Bec Milligan.

Travelling alone as a woman is wonderful. It builds confidence. It’s empowering. Not to mention, you can literally do whatever YOU like. 

But us gals need to stay safe while adventuring solo. So, no matter where you travel to, you need to keep your wits about you. Of course, some countries can be safer than others…

What are the safest countries for solo female travellers?

1 Denmark

There’s a low crime rate and strong legal protections for women in place. Plus, Denmark’s capital city Copenhagen is flat, bike-friendly and well lit – even late at night. 

2 Iceland

There’s an extremely low rate of violent crime in Iceland. It’s also one of the easiest countries to explore independently by car, with a single ring road connecting most of the major sights.

3 Switzerland

Switzerland is known for being orderly. The efficient trains and clean, well-lit cities make it an easy country to navigate solo. There’s also a low crime rate. Just be mindful that Switzerland can be on the pricier side. 
 

4 Norway

Norway has strong gender equality laws and social protections, so women venturing out on their own aren’t an unusual sight in both cities and remote fjord towns alike. Crime rates are pretty low too.

5 Japan

Not only does Japan have a low crime rate, but there are also women-only train carriages that run during rush hour on busy lines, like the Saikyo and Chuo. On top of that, the culture respects personal space, so you will rarely feel like someone’s too close for comfort. 

6 Finland

Helsinki, Finland’s capital city, is compact, walkable and safe to navigate on foot at most hours. Finns also value personal space and quiet, so you can sit alone in a café for hours without anyone batting an eye (or bothering you).

7 Portugal

Considerably more affordable than its Western European neighbours, Portugal has a low crime rate, and English is widely spoken in both Lisbon and Porto. 

8 Canada

Canada has a well-deserved reputation for being one of the friendliest countries on Earth, perfect for solo travellers. Plus, the crime rate is consistently low and there’s something for every woman, from cities to wilderness to skiing. 

9 Singapore

Singapore has a low crime rate as well as excellent public transport, which makes it simple (and pretty safe) to get around day or night without needing your own car. 
 

Where is the best place to travel solo as a female?

If we had to pick a ‘best’ place, we’d go with Japan. Like we mentioned above, the crime rate is low and there are cool practicalities like women-only train carriages. 

Plus, solo dining and solo sightseeing are both completely normal in Japan, so you’ll never feel judged for wandering or exploring alone. Not to mention, it’s a pretty easy country to navigate. 

But if Japan or the other destinations listed above aren’t quite what you’re after, these places also deserve serious consideration for a female solo trip:

1 Slovenia

Slovenia is considerably cheaper than its neighbours Italy and Austria, but also less crowded. Best of both worlds!

2 Ireland

The culture encourages striking up a conversation with a stranger, so it’s hard to feel isolated in Ireland. 

3 Costa Rica

Costa Rica’s tourism industry is well set up for independent travel, and the country’s rainforest and wildlife are breathtaking sights well worth seeing. 
 

4 Vietnam

The locals are hospitable and there’s a well-worn backpacker route. Just be mindful that Vietnam is best suited to women who’ve already got a solo trip or two under their belt, since it takes a bit more street smarts than some of the other destinations we’ve mentioned. 

5 Uruguay

If South America is on your bucket list, Uruguay is a great place to start (especially as it has a low crime rate by South American standards). Capital city Montevideo has a lovely seaside setting and Colonia del Sacramento’s cobbled old town makes for a nice day trip. 

What is the cheapest way to travel solo?

The cheapest way to travel solo is to cut costs wherever you can. Accommodation, food, transport; it all adds up, especially when you don’t have someone to split it with.

Hostels are a great way to score cheap accommodation, not to mention they make meeting people a breeze. Plenty will let you book a female-only dorm, and if you’d rather have your own space, many offer private rooms for much less than a hotel room. 

Street food and local markets are almost always cheaper than sit-down restaurants, and the food’s usually more authentic anyway. 

As for transport, flying midweek rather than on a Friday or Saturday tends to be cheaper. Booking one-way flights separately sometimes costs less than a return, especially on budget airlines. And if you’re travelling to a few destinations, try to book a bus or a train instead of a plane. 

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