When it comes to wanderlust, women seem more keen to grab their passports and follow it.
Women travel more often than their male peers, making up 56% of leisure travelers, according to travel media brand AFAR. And increasingly, those trips are solo trips, with nary a spouse, friend or family member in sight.
But traveling alone, especially as a woman, can be intimidating. Seventy percent of women worry about their personal safety while traveling alone, according to a recent poll from the popular travel site Solo Female Travelers.
Those concerns are heightened for women who are minorities. If you’re a queer woman, for instance, you might wonder how likely you are to get weird stares or harassed, especially if you’re with your partner.
When you visit a location that makes you feel safe, you want to share it, not gatekeep it. With that in mind, we asked travel writers to share the international travel destinations that made them feel extra safe as women solo travelers. See what they had to say below. (And, of course, still make sure you do your own research about the safety of places you want to travel to — whether they’re mentioned here or not.)
Ecuador
“As an older woman, one country I loved traveling on my own to is Ecuador. I stayed in small towns in both of these places for several months and found the people welcoming, and after a while, I just became a part of the community. I don’t think it’s the place that makes you feel secure — I think it’s the way you approach and view the world. When you trust yourself and have faith in others, safety becomes less destination-specific and more about being aware of where you are and the potential risks. When you treat others as you would want to be treated, the world is a welcoming place.” ― Carolyn Ray, CEO and editor at JourneyWoman
“I have spent a lot of time in Latin America, and while some of the countries left me feeling on edge, Ecuador ― specifically Quito, Ecuador ― was the complete opposite. This is one of the warmest countries I have been to, and it’s so easy to make friends and build a community. For me, after a long time traveling through the Amazon, I was finally able to feel secure again in Quito.” ― Amy Aed, a travel writer from Swansea, Wales, who runs the blog Wandering Everywhere
Thailand
“This is a country where I’ve made many incredibly dumb choices ― like passing out solo at a rasta bar on Railay Beach. But when I woke up, the bartender had covered me with a towel and locked up my purse behind the bar. Thailand has a tourism-driven economy, and they know how to take care of their guests. They even have a dedicated tourist police division. In a place where hospitality is practically a national sport, it’s easy to feel safe, even when your judgment might be a bit ... compromised.” — Alexa West, a travel writer who lives in Seattle
Guatemala
“I loved Guatemala and rave about it as a solo travel destination that is really safe and easy to travel for anyone. As a solo female traveler, I felt very safe there, which was a vast contrast to the comments I had received before traveling to Central America solo. I was told by someone very well-traveled that I would get shot, and yet I felt safer walking alone at night than I have done in the UK. Guatemala is a beautiful country with friendly, warm and welcoming local people and incredible experiences such as volcano hikes and hiking through jungles to hidden temples. It’s also really easy to meet other travelers, which adds a layer of security and comfort for solo travelers.” ― Lucy Ruthnum, creator of the solo travel blog Absolutely Lucy
Slovenia
“I got into solo travel in 2015 when I wanted to take a trip but my friends weren’t available. At first, I was worried I might get lonely, but I learned there were usually friends to be made. Once I got used to my own company, I never looked back. As for favorites, Slovenia is one place I felt totally safe in. The peaceful nature and small lakeside towns felt idyllic. Knowing the country has such little crime was a reassuring statistic.” ― Rose Munday, travel writer at Where Goes Rose?
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
“Knowing the U.S.’s history with Vietnam, I wasn’t sure how I’d be received. It was a bucket list destination, and I had read about mixed experiences. I found that the people are incredible, and they went out of their way making me feel welcomed in their city. It began my first night and ended my last afternoon. I usually keep my head on a swivel and am skeptical of people’s intentions, but I accept there needs to be some trust when engaging with others I don’t know.
I had read about the ‘Saigon shuffle,’ the act of safely crossing the street in a city with millions of motorbikes that don’t stop. In an act of trust, the way to cross the street is just step out into motorbike traffic and walk steadily across, and the motorbikes will maneuver around you, as if you’re a log floating across a river and the water moves around you. (Sidebar: This does NOT work with cars/trucks, you need to wait for them to stop at lights, etc.) I had also read that if a local notices a Westerner looking nervous about crossing the street, they’ll jump in between the Westerner and oncoming traffic to escort them across.
During my first night, this is exactly what happened. After settling in my Vietnamese hotel, I walked to find dinner and was nervous crossing the main thoroughfare, it was a stream of endless motorbikes. I took a breath, stepped into traffic and prayed I wouldn’t get hit. My panic must have been evident because as I stepped off the curb, a local, young woman jumped to my side, guarding me from oncoming traffic, and when we reached the double yellow line in the road, she jumped to my other side, shielding me from traffic coming in the other direction. When we safely crossed, I said, ‘cảm ơn’ (‘thank you’ in Vietnamese), and we parted ways.
As I explored by foot, locals approached wanting to practice English. At first, this was intimidating, but I embraced the opportunities and viewed them as mini cultural exchanges.” ― Jennifer Huber, a travel writer from North Port, Florida, who runs the travel site SoloTravelGirl.com
The Greek Islands
“I love the Greek islands, specifically the island of Milos. I felt incredibly safe visiting this Cycladic island alone. What I loved most about Milos was how relaxed, friendly and genuinely welcoming everyone was to me as a solo female traveler. Milos is a quieter island without the intense nightlife you’d find on other islands like Mykonos, which I appreciated. It’s a destination where I could truly relax, free from worry or judgment for being on my own. Navigating the island was easy! Renting a car wasn’t scary because the island is very mellow. And when I didn’t feel like driving, I could rely on the public bus, which was clean and safe.” ― Melissa Byron, a travel writer from Boston currently living in Lisbon, Portugal, who runs the blog A Solo Woman Traveling
Bosnia And Herzegovina
“A recent trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina put this lesser-known country high on my radar for solo travelers. It’s such an underrated gem in the heart of Europe, with such a sad history but such a beautiful and vibrant culture that you simply need to experience. My lack of knowledge about this country made me feel unsure of what to expect, but I felt really safe and comfortable walking around solo, even with a distinct language barrier. The hospitality of the local people makes you feel instantly at home, and if you love getting outdoors and active, there are amazing hikes with breathtaking scenery of mountain vistas, waterfalls and gorges. I even had the opportunity to visit the most isolated and remote mountain village in the entire country and ended up dancing with the locals while dining on the local delicacies.” ― Ruthnum
Taiwan
“Taiwan is one of the safest and most welcoming places I’ve visited. The cities of Taichung and Taipei in particular. I was told you could leave your bag on a table and leave and no one would touch it. Everyone is super friendly and helpful. When I visited, I was waiting for the bus, and a local was helping me make sure I was on the right bus and even pointed me to the stop I needed to get off of. I loved the cafe culture here. There were so many cute cafes, and it was the perfect place to hang out as a solo traveler. There are many fantastic places to discover in Taiwan, and it’s super underrated.” ― Jackie Rezk, a travel writer from London who runs the site JouJouTravels.com
Ireland
“I have traveled solo to Ireland four times. I love it! It’s honestly an amazing destination for solo female travelers: small, safe, English-speaking and full of friendly locals. In addition to being safe for solo female travelers, it’s also just a fantastic destination to visit with wonderful nature, music, pubs and scenery. I particularly recommend traveling to Dingle and the west coast of Ireland.” ― Ashley Fleckenstein, a travel blogger and freelance writer
Panama
“Petty theft is something to consider when visiting Panama solo, but after two weeks there I never had any issues. The people were friendly, and I was able to figure everything out even with really bad Spanish skills. I sailed on a boat with strangers in the middle of nowhere. I took the local buses. I was even there during a protest that stayed peaceful. The worst thing that happened was a catcall in Panama City, but that never made me feel scared. I just kept walking along, and it stopped right away.
The hostels there are amazing for solo travelers ― they’re some of the best I’ve stayed in. I’d recommend Bambuda Lodge in Bocas del Toro and The Lost and Found Hostel in the jungle.” ― Allison Kowalkowski, travel writer at The Daydreamer Next Door
Argentina
“I’m obsessed with Argentina ― totally fell in love with it ... I have never met nicer, more welcoming, exceptionally friendly people. They want you to feel at home, and they love to create a good impression. They are an incredibly passionate country and do this always with passion and a smile on their face. Like any place with big cities, there are nice areas and some less nice areas. I traveled around for six years alone and always felt secure.” ― Kirsteen Cowan, a travel writer and creator of the program Solo Travel Masterclass
