19 Best First Time Solo Travel Destinations For Female
Traveling solo can be liberating and empowering, but it can also be scary if you haven’t venture out on your own before. I remember the first time I traveled by myself; I went to Seoul and was very nervous and worried about safety - yet knowing Seoul was a very safe place. But it just takes a little practice to conquer the fear of traveling alone. Numerous of solo trips later, I can tell you it was the best decision ever.
I have put together a list of my top Best First Time Solo Travel Destinations For Female to help you jump-start your solo adventures. These cities are considered very safe, easy to navigate, and with plenty of things to do to keep you busy all day.
My rating system:
Safety: 10 - No worries, 9-7 Stay alert, be aware of pick-pocketer and some scams (i.e. “free” friendship bracelet but then ask for money) but nothing serious in general, No recommendations below 7
Language barrier: Low - Easy to find people that speaks english, Mid - You may find some people that doesn’t speak any English, High - Hard to find people that speaks English
Transportation: Easy - Very simple and sometimes unnecessary as you could walk everywhere, Mid - Transportation system is more complex usually normal in bigger cities, Hard - Takes a minute to fully master it, but nothing to worry about.
1. Reykjavik
With plenty of cheap flights, Reykjavik seems like a logical choice. There are plenty of things to do in this quirky city like exploring the Golden Circle or have a spa day at the Blue Lagoon. If you are terrible at directions but also want to do the Ring Road, go for it! You can't get lost in the only road circling the country. With more visitors than residents, you are bound to make new friends everywhere you go. Reykjavik is a great place to make new friends!
Rating:
Safety: 10/10
Language Barrier: Low
Transportation: Easy
Find out more about Reykjavik:
2. Gothenburg
Photo via Ckanani
If you want a little more adventure, Gothenburg is the right place for you. The city is the second largest in Sweden with plenty of things to do. Its easy-to-navigate transportation system makes it a great place for first-time solo female travelers. Gothenburg is also the gateway to more than 8,000 – yes that’s the correct amount of zeros – islands, making it the perfect spot to embark on your west Sweden road-trip.
Rating:
Safety: 10/10
Language Barrier: Low
Transportation: Easy
Find out more about Gothenburg:
3. Seoul
If you are looking for something more livelily, look no further. Whatever you want, around the clock, Seoul can provide. Start with an early morning stroll at Samcheong-dong followed by a photo sesh at Bukchon. Fuel your body with delicious snacks at one of the many food tents and head to Hongdae for a shopping spree. Follow this with a mouthwatering BBQ at Itaewon and you won't even realized a day has passed. It’s a great place to get lost in the buzzing streets.
Rating:
Safety: 10/10
Language Barrier: Mid (many understand english, but may have a hard time speaking)
Transportation: Easy - Mid
4. Copenhagen
Labeled as the coolest city in Scandinavia, Copenhagen offers hygge to its visitors - not a thing but a cozy feeling. As a solo traveler, you won’t be disappointed. Rent a bike and tour the city in search of its hidden gems. The Danish capital offers excellent restaurants and coffee shops, so go on and enjoy all the cozy feelings you can get.
Rating:
Safety: 10/10
Language Barrier: Low
Transportation: Easy
Find out more about Copenhagen:
5. Lyon
With a large World Heritage Site, Roman ruins, and more than 2000 years of history, there is no shortage of things to see and do in Lyon. Highly regarded as one of the most underrated cities in France, Lyon can cater to everybody including foodies, history buff, and even shopaholics.
Rating:
Safety: 8/10
Language Barrier: Low
Transportation: Easy
Find out more about Lyon:
6. San Sebastian
San Sebastian - a small beautiful town - packs charm, lively people, and great food. Start your day by taking a stroll on their famous promenade followed by pintxos galore. Then get lost in their old town and find your way to bridge Maria Cristina for a beautiful Basque sunset. San Sebastian is the perfect place to get lost in the old town, eat your way around, and enjoy breathtaking views - whether you visit solo or not, you are going to love it!
Rating:
Safety: 9/10
Language Barrier: Low
Transportation: Easy
Find out more about San Sebastian:
7. Lisbon
If the pastel de nata hasn’t convinced you to visit this charming city, maybe the plethora of colorful buildings will! You may not even want to leave ever after exploring Alfama, Chiado, and Bairro Alto. The colorful town is perfect for first time female travelers as it is considered pretty safe, lots of coffee shops for you to enjoy, and plenty of charming alleyways for you to explore.
Rating:
Safety: 8/10
Language Barrier: Low
Transportation: Easy
Find out more about Lisbon
8. Seville
Seville, Spain is another incredible place that you could easily travel solo to. It’s a very walkable city, plenty of things to do, and very safe! Oh and if you are a foodie, you are going to love it! Don’t worry about eating solo, there are plenty of travelers in the city that eating solo is just part of it. People in Seville are super outgoing and friendly, if you like make new friends, this is the place for your first solo travel!
Rating:
Safety: 8/10
Language Barrier: Low
Transportation: Easy
To learn more about Seville, check out:
9. Genoa
Genoa is a breathtaking town located in the Liguria region - made famous by Cinque Terre. If you get overwhelmed by big cities, Genoa is the perfect place to visit solo. It’s a very walkable city, rich in history, and with plenty of delicious food! And if you feel adventurous, you can hop on a train and day-trip to Cinque Terre and other nearby towns. It can get very lively if you visit in the weekend (college students from nearby universities return home for the weekend.)
Rating:
Safety: 8/10
Language Barrier: Mid
Transportation: Easy
To learn more about Genoa, check out:
10. Edinburgh
Shot by This Darling World
Edinburgh has been on my list for a very long time and I can’t wait to visit soon. But Lily from this Darling World, went and she couldn’t get enough of it! Medieval architecture, bagpipes being played on the streets, and everything around is simply jaw dropping. The town is small and easy to navigate, just get lost and explore it’s charming nooks!
Rating:
Safety: 10/10
Language Barrier: Low
Transportation: Easy
To learn more about Edinburgh, check out:
11. Paris
Yes, Paris is one of the most “romantic cities” and perfect to visit with a special someone, but it’s also a great place to travel to alone - call it self-love trip. Roaming around the prettiest streets, visiting museums, or sipping coffee and people watching are great solo activities that you could do in Paris. The metro system is easy to navigate and if you like to wander around and get lost, there’s plenty of that too.
Rating:
Safety: 7/10
Language Barrier: Mid
Transportation: Mid
To learn more about Paris, check out:
12. Brussels
Brussels was one of the first places I visited alone. I really liked how easy it was to navigate the city and everything was at walking distance. Plus, waffles and chocolate - that’s all they needed to convince me to go. The city is very charming and the people are friendly. Brussels also makes a great home base if you want to day trip to nearby towns like Antwerp or Bruges.
Rating:
Safety: 7/10
Language Barrier: Low
Transportation: Easy
To learn more about Brussels, check out:
13. Florence
Florence is a great place to visit solo as it has plenty of things to do and see! It’s a very popular city so you will never feel like the only tourist sticking out. But if you want to escape the crowd, you could easily step out of the tourist center and get lost in the local neighborhoods. And if you feel like you don’t want to do things alone, you an also join a tour - walking tours and food tours a very popular among visitors.
Rating:
Safety: 7/10
Language Barrier: Low
Transportation: Easy
To learn more about Florence, check out:
14. Bucharest
You may be surprised to learn that Bucharest, Romania is actually a great place to travel solo! It’s a very safe city, with plenty of cafes, rich history, and very friendly locals eager to make every visitor feel welcomed. If you love to make new friends, find hidden gems, and love history, Bucharest is the place for you. Oh, and it’s very budget friendly!
Rating:
Safety: 9/10
Language Barrier: Mid
Transportation: Easy
To learn more about Bucharest, check out:
15. Amsterdam
Shot by Christie from Ckanani.com
Amsterdam is probably on everybody’s bucket list - if you haven’t been yet. There are PLENTY of things to do to keep you busy on your entire visit, whether that is 3 or 10 days. The city is very pedestrian and bike friendly - in case you are up for a bike tour! Christie from Cknani has a great list of things to do in Amsterdam beside your typical touristy to-do list.
Rating:
Safety: 9/10
Language Barrier: Low
Transportation: Easy
To learn more about Amsterdam, check out:
16. Tokyo
Photo by Chris Barbalis
Tokyo is another great place to travel solo, yes this is a list of Best First Time Solo Travel Destinations post, but hear me out. Tokyo is a very safe city. You can leave your stuff on a table for hours and nobody will touch it. Locals are very respectful and if you need help, they will gladly assist - even if they speak limited English. You may encounter a little bit of a language barrier, but nothing that a quick snap on Google Translate app can’t fix. Oh and if you worried about eating alone, fear not. There are plenty of people that eats solo in Tokyo - many restaurants are bar style where you can sit facing the bar/kitchen - no more awkward meals in a table for two. And if you want to skip the restaurant, you can check out 7Eleven for great snacks on the go. I have been to Tokyo twice already and I can’t wait to go back!
Rating:
Safety: 10/10
Language Barrier: Mid - High (most understand english but may have a hard time speaking)
Transportation: Hard
17. Budapest
Budapest is an incredible city with lots of hidden gems. It is full of beautiful architecture, cute cafes, buzzing nightlife - if you are into that - and plenty of sightseeings. The pretty yellow tram are great to get around, and there’s also the subway which is super easy to navigate. Budapest is a very walkable city and if you do, you will uncover many gems.
Rating:
Safety: 8/10
Language Barrier: Low
Transportation: Easy
To learn more about Budapest, check out:
18. Milan
I have been to Milan twice, and twice has been solo trips. I absolutely love this Italian city full of live and delicious food. And although there are plenty of sightseeings in Milan, my favorite thing to do is to get lost wandering around the city. Learn a few Italian words and practice with locals, they will really appreciate it!
Rating:
Safety: 7/10
Language Barrier: Low
Transportation: Easy
Safety tips to keep in mind when traveling alone
Do your research - Research the neighborhood you are staying in. Make sure the area is safe and well lit.
Blend in - Try not to stick out and blend in with the locals.
Limit your night excursions and transit in well lit and busy areas.
Do not reveal every detail of your travel plans to strangers.
Be mindful of the people approaching you on the street.
Update a friend or family member about your location.
Don't flaunt your cash even if they are just singles.
Make copies of all your important documents.
Act confident even when you have no clue what you are doing - fake it until you make it!
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