Updated: April 2022
Going on a solo trip is one of the best travel experiences you can give yourself. It’s an empowering way to see the world with all the trip decisions in your hands.
Want to sleep in late or wake up for sunrise? No problem. Want to spend the whole day exploring museums or relaxing on the beach? There’s no else around to say otherwise.
But solo travel can be daunting — especially if it’s your first time. Things like safety, budget, and the types of activities are all important things to consider when planning solo trips.
Curious about solo travel for women?
I’ve put together a list of my favorite solo travel destinations to help make it easier for you!
Iceland
If there’s one country perfect for solo female travelers — it’s Iceland. The small Nordic island nation is one of the safest countries in the world, it’s easy to get around and is full of incredible adventures!
Spend your trip driving the famous Ring Road, diving between the frozen fissures, watching the Northern Lights, chasing waterfalls, or relaxing in the world-famous Blue Lagoon.
Being one of the safest countries, solo female travel in Iceland is an ideal pick! Here are 10 tips for traveling around Iceland!
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Type of Traveler: Adventurous
Safety Rating: 5/5
Daily Budget: $110 per day
Sapa, Vietnam
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia is a firm favorite with backpackers, making the region a good start for solo female travelers on a budget. With cheap flights between the countries as well as public buses and trains, you can easily hop from one destination to the next.
The most popular backpacking route is the countries of Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, but you can easily adjust the itinerary to suit your interests.
Whether you’re looking to party it up at Thailand’s famous Full Moon Party, explore the ruins of Angkor Wat in Cambodia or trek through the rolling rice paddies of Sapa, Vietnam — there’s something for every kind of traveler!
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Type of Traveler: Budget
Safety Rating: 4/5
Daily Budget: $25 per day
Hobbiton
New Zealand
New Zealand is one of the easiest solo travel destinations. The country has excellent infrastructure, it’s safe and the perfect choice if you love the outdoors and adventure sports.
Plus, Americans can get a working holiday visa!
The North Island is famous for its beautiful beaches and snowcapped volcanos. The South Island is renowned for its steep fjords, glaciers, and wildlife.
If you’re looking to meet other travelers, join an adventure tour or stay in one of the many hostels. For those looking to get away from the world for a bit, you can rent a motorhome and go on a self-driving tour of the country.
Doing a New Zealand road trip is an extremely popular way to see the gorgeous country and all it has to offer.
Just keep in mind that a trip to New Zealand can get pricey — so budget more than you think you’ll need. Here are my tips for traveling New Zealand on a budget!
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Type of Traveler: Outdoorsy
Safety Rating: 5/5
Daily Budget: $60 per day
Tokyo
Want to travel to a destination that’s completely different from your hometown? Book a ticket to Tokyo, Japan!
With its fascinating Japanese culture, a trip to the Land of the Rising Sun is an incredible experience. Tokyo is generally a safe city to explore for solo female travelers, and you can get pretty much everywhere with the city’s efficient train system.
Plus, there are female-only train cabins, and some hotels have female-only floors!
Spend your trip belting out tunes at karaoke, eating your way through the best food in Tokyo, or exploring the famous Harajuku district. If you’re a major foodie like me, you’ll definitely want to sample these local Japanese foods.
There are also plenty of day trips you can take to destinations like Kyoto, Osaka, and Mt. Fuji!
Here are 10 tips for traveling around Japan!
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Type of Traveler: Foodie
Safety Rating: 5/5
Daily Budget: $70 per day
Paris
West & Central Europe
If it’s your first time going on a solo travel trip abroad, visiting Western or Central Europe is a great place to start. Not only is it extremely safe, but there’s so much to see!
Backpack your way through England, Italy, France, and Germany, or visit more luxury destinations like Sweden, Belgium, and Switzerland.
Here are the best solo travel destinations in Europe for women!
No matter where you decide to go, there are usually cheap flights around the different countries with budget airlines like Ryanair. If you’re American, you’ll get a 3-month visa on arrival for the EU making it super easy to explore multiple countries in one trip!
You may even want to consider train travel through Europe!
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Type of Traveler: Beginner
Safety Rating: 4/5
Daily Budget: $85 per day
Canada
If you’re not ready to venture off too far away from home, go on a solo trip to Canada! The country has a low crime rate, it’s easy to navigate, and you can experience a bunch of different cultures all at once.
Canada is also massive, and there are tons of hiking trails and other outdoor activities for adventure junkies at the various national parks.
Make your way to the west coast and stop by Vancouver—the bustling seaport is home to a thriving art, music, and theater scene. For something completely different, visit the city of Montreal.
Placed on an island in the Saint Lawrence River, its narrow streets are lined with cute boutiques and bistros, and you can soak up the city’s unique French colonial heritage.
Solo travel for women sounds pretty great in Canada, eh?
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Type of Traveler: Beginner + Outdoorsy
Safety Rating: 5/5
Daily Budget: $80 per day
Isla Holbox
Riveria Maya, Mexico
Over the last six years, I’ve spent a lot of time traveling through Mexico. While it’s not the safest destination on this list, I still think the Riveria Maya is a great place for experienced solo female travelers looking for some R+R.
If you plan a trip here, make sure you take those extra steps of safety. Let your hotel or hostel know you’re traveling alone and ask them to check in with you.
I’d also recommend skipping Cancun and instead, exploring Playa del Carmen, Isla Holbox, or Tulum!
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Type of Traveler: Experienced
Safety Rating: 3/5
Daily Budget: $30 per day
South Africa
South Africa has a bad reputation for its high levels of crime. But if you practice common safety tips in South Africa, like not flashing your valuables or walking alone at night, it’s an easy destination to explore as a solo female traveler.
Plus, it’s super cheap for US citizens and Europeans!
When I traveled to South Africa for the first time in 2016, I found it easy to get around. Out of all the big cities in the country, Cape Town has the best and safest public transport system with stops at all the major tourist attractions.
There are also backpacking buses that take you from one hostel to another. It’s a safe way to move around the country and meet other travelers at the same time!
If you’re not ready to travel the country on your own, you can join my TBA Escapes Tour. It caters to solo female travelers, and the itinerary includes Cape Town, the Cape Winelands, a Big 5 safari, and more!
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Type of Traveler: Adventurous + Foodie
Safety Rating: 3/5
Daily Budget: $40 per day
Bazaruto Island
Mozambique
Mozambique is an easy country to explore from South Africa. It’s a popular holiday destination for South Africans, and it’s the perfect choice for solo female travelers looking to get off the beaten track.
The country is known for its incredible coastline, excellent scuba diving conditions, and nearby islands waiting to be explored.
You can fly into the capital city of Maputo or further up the coast to the town of Inhambane. If you want to travel with the locals, there are cheap minibus taxis that go between Maputo and various destinations like Tofo and Xai Xai.
Keep in mind that Mozambique is a developing country, and while corruption is on the decline, things don’t always work or run on time!
Here are the top things to do in Mozambique!
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Type of Traveler: Adventurous
Safety Rating: 3/5
Daily Budget: $40 per day
Machu Pichu
Peru
Peru is an amazing destination to explore. It’s home to the famous Inca ruins, the Andes Mountains, and the unusual delicacy of fried guinea pigs.
If you are thinking about doing the strenuous hike, you’ll absolutely want to prepare for hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
The well-trodden tourist path is relatively easy to navigate on your own. There’s regular public transportation to hot spots like Lima or Machu Picchu, and you can meet up with other travelers at hostels along the way.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that Peru is a big country and some remote Andean villages live in complete isolation. If you want to get off the beaten track, it’s best to hire a Quechua-speaking guide or join a tour group to avoid disturbing villages that don’t welcome visitors.
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Type of Traveler: Outdoorsy
Safety Rating: 3/5
Daily Budget: $30 per day
Panama
Panama is where I first got my PADI Open Water certification and fell in love with scuba diving. It’s an easy solo travel destination to explore and a great spot if you’re a surfer.
While there are some spots to avoid in the country, you should always exercise caution when traveling solo. I recommend avoiding hiking in the Bastimentos Islands and walking home alone at night, especially in dimly lit streets.
That being said, it’s a fascinating spot to visit if you’re comfortable traveling alone!
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Type of Traveler: Experienced
Safety Rating: 3/5
Daily Budget: $40 per day
Overall
No matter where you decide to visit, if you exercise caution, traveling solo is one of the best ways to see the world. You get to craft your itinerary and create the vacation of your dreams!
Where are you traveling solo this year? Let me know down below!
The Ultimate Solo Female Travel Guide
Solo travel for women can be challenging — I’ve learned so much over the years (and I’m continually learning!). I put together this comprehensive guide to solo travel destinations and taking solo trips so you can better prepare for your next trip!
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Hi, I’m curious why you recommend avoiding hiking on Isla Bastimentos. The adventure of getting dropped off at Red Frog beach, traversing the island to the Palmar resort, and then leaving everything behind on a coast-side walk through Caribbean-front jungle to Playa Larga was among my favorite activities while in country, though I do love an outside-the-box adventure. It felt entirely safe, if only very isolated. Anyone comfortable in wilderness would relish the experience equally. Getting in the surf on a desolate beach with potential undertow might have been a bit risky, but the hike itself was devoid of threats (and our taxi boat picked us up right on schedule 7 hours later, so I’m wondering where the caution comes from. Thanks.
It has been many years since I was there, but there was a history of muggings there—and even a murder of a young woman. That tip is mostly for women to use extra caution and I specify (at night or alone) for that reason.