A destination that is safe, has easy access to transportation, and is culturally diverse will ease your worries and allow you to focus on experiencing the exciting adventure ahead. And a destination that has a variety of hotels, entertainment, and attractions in an easily accessible area will make it easier for you to mingle with the local community and fellow travelers. Here is a list of the best destinations for solo female travelers.
Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona is a very walkable city and it is impossible to get lost here, as long as you have a map in hand. In the city, you can walk along Las Ramblas shopping street, stroll along the beach promenade and wander through Gaudi's Park Güell. And Barcelona's cuisine is also very suitable for a solo traveler, you can eat Al fresco at the paella restaurants on the riverside or choose one of the bars in the city.
Seattle, USA
Thanks to Seattle’s omnipresence of coffee culture, solo dining (or wine bars) are quite common in Seattle. Plus, the proliferation of coffee shops means rest stops between visits to Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, or the Museum of Pop Culture. The relatively compact downtown area makes it easy to navigate between attractions, restaurants, and shopping on foot—and farther-flung destinations are easily accessible by train.
Munich, Germany
The cheerful German spirit shines through in this Bavarian town, with locals smiling and welcoming visitors, whether at a small bakery or the bustling Olympiapark tower. What to do to soak up the Munich lifestyle? Order a pint at a local beer garden (biergarten) or scour the Christmas market for a glühwein (mulled wine) stall, where locals gather around the bar, ready to chat (or offer advice) while you warm up your traditional drink.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Croatia's growing tourism industry has made getting around easier, and the country's low crime rate has added to its appeal. Just look at the medieval seaside city of Dubrovnik, preserved within nearly 2,000 metres of pristine walls. Cobblestone streets lead past artisan shops and local eateries, while walks along the walls offer seagull-like views of the Adriatic coast. There are also plenty of other activities for solo travelers: there's a beach just minutes from the Old Town, with plenty of kayaking and diving tours.
Austin, Texas, USA
Austin's festival culture attracts all types of visitors and is a great way to meet new people. You can wander to the snack bars in the parks, with popular ones like the Gourdough donuts that have lines well past midnight. You can also attend the ATX Television Festival or concerts at X Games Austin. If you need a little quiet, head downtown for some sightseeing or to see the bats flying over the Congress Avenue Bridge.
Salzburg, Austria
With the hilltop Hohensalzburg Castle and the Salzach River running through town, Mozart's hometown has attracted countless visitors over the years. After visiting the atmospheric Mirabell Gardens and Nonnberg AbbeyThe Sound of MusicYou can relax with a coffee on the terrace of Cafe Tomaselli or a glass of wine in the 1,400-seat outdoor garden of Austria's largest biergarten, Augustiner Bräu. Salzburg is also one of the most bike-friendly cities in the country, with over 112 miles of bike paths.
Taipei, Taiwan
Taiwan's capital is a perfect blend of history and modernity: there are traditional night markets (good for snacking and shopping for accessories and souvenirs) and temples, as well as skyscrapers and shopping malls. Taipei has the hustle and bustle of a major Asian metropolis as well as all the essential urban amenities. Street signs and public transport are all in English. Crime rates are low. The metro system has marked safe waiting areas on the platforms, closely monitored by security cameras, ensuring the safety of female passengers at night.
Saba, Caribbean
The five-square-mile Dutch-owned island is just a 15-minute flight from St. Maarten. Diving and hiking are available for a wide range of interests. The Caribbean island boasts crystal-clear waters, turtles and fish swimming among pristine coral reefs, and a mountain peak towering over 2,800 feet above sea level is set amid stunning scenery.
Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen is a great place to have a one-person party. From Copenhagen’s iconic Nyhavn canal with its colorful houses, take a boat tour of the city, then enjoy a delicious meal at Cap Horn. At tourist sites, there are always many solo travelers, and they happily exchange cameras so everyone can have memorable photos to remember Copenhagen by.
Melbourne, Australia
Melbourne is one of the two most developed cities in Australia. If Sydney is vibrant and modern, Melbourne has a more peaceful and classic beauty. There are many interesting attractions in Melbourne waiting for you to explore such as the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel, Carlton Gardens and Federation Square. And at the end of the journey, you will understand why this place has been named “The most livable city in the world” for many years.
Stockholm, Sweden
This stylish Swedish city attracts a lot of solo travellers – especially women. The winding streets of Old Town, or Gamla Stan, with its cafes, restaurants, shops and even a castle, will keep you wandering for hours, while the more modern areas, easily accessible by metro, are packed with art galleries.
Okinawa, Japan
For a taste of Japan without the hustle and bustle of the megacities, head to Naha, the capital of Okinawa. The rail system makes it easy to get from the airport to the city centre and the famous Shuri Castle. And a short walk from the city centre is Naminoue Beach, the Tsuboya pottery district and Makishi Market, with its small food stalls perfect for solo travellers.
The fjords of Norway
There’s nothing quite like sailing through the blue mountains and blue waters of Norway’s fjords. From Bergen, take the train to Fløibanen and enjoy local eateries like the Bjellands Kjøkken restaurant, then take the day-long Bergen Railway to Voss. From there, take a bus to Gudvangen, then continue by train through the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord. Equally impressive is the Flåm train, with views from the train windows ranging from blue waters to snow-capped mountains.
Washington DC, USA
Washington DC is known as the most beautiful city in the United States with many great architectural works that attract tourists such as Capitol Hill, the White House, the Washington Monument... This place is also an ideal shopping and dining destination for fashionistas and tourists. With 440 Capital Bikeshare stations stretching to Arlington, Alexandria and Montgomery County, as well as 91 DC Metro stations, you can easily visit many beautiful sights of the entire city, games, entertainment activities... And if public transport does not take you to your destination, book an Uber: DC is one of the first cities in the world to have Uber service.
Kripalu Center in Berkshires, Massachusetts, USA
Kripalu is a 300-acre sanctuary nestled in the Berkshire Mountains between the woods and the tranquil Mahkeenac Lake. The center is essentially a yoga and wellness facility with a focus on guiding people into self-discovery. Whether it’s through guided kayaking trips, walking through a meditation labyrinth, or solo hikes in the woods, the programs are designed to be a comfortable retreat for solo travelers.
London, England
It’s easy to travel solo in the British capital, spending days cruising along the Thames, browsing Harrods and snacking at the 1,000-year-old Borough Market. Each night, you can sit in a bar chatting with locals or catch a show in the West End, then grab a late-night bite in nearby Chinatown. The nearly endless sights and entertainment are easily accessible via the 250 miles of London Underground.
Iceland
On the roads between the waterfalls and glaciers on the southern edge of Iceland’s Ring Road, you can go half an hour without seeing another human being. But if there is someone, it’s usually a female traveler hiking or cycling the lonely miles. And it’s no wonder: Iceland topped the Institute for Economics & Peace’s Global Peace Index and the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap last year. So safety and gender equality are not major issues in this stunning destination.
