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the safest destinations for solo female travelers
February 2, 2023
More and more women are opting to travel solo — choosing to backpack and brave new continents despite extra precaution. While it might seem daunting to decide to trailblaze alone, many female travel bloggers have begun sharing tips and words of wisdom for fellow ladies who love adventuring abroad. Traveling alone as a woman can often be an empowering experience — and a whole lot of fun — but make sure that you know what to expect on the road ahead and have family and friends back home who always know your whereabouts and planned itinerary.
When visiting a foreign country, OZZI is an incredibly useful tool that maps out safe neighborhoods for hotels and exploring. You can also use the app to receive real-time travel advisories to learn of recent unrest, terrorism, environmental hazards, or other threats to your safety and security.
Before you depart, do a little digging to learn about any cultural differences that might affect American women visiting your destination. In many countries, especially in Africa and the Middle East, traditional gender roles affect how women are expected to dress, act, and speak to others, so you need to make sure you know what type of behavior and attire is culturally appropriate. OZZI has 11 guides that explain and provide advice for local customs, public transportation, and more. You can avoid getting into trouble by dressing and acting like the local women.
Pro Tip: This might be a great opportunity to ask a local woman for guidance and make a new friend!
According to Diversity Abroad, some great questions to research are:
- Is it safe for me to go out alone at night in my host country? Are there specific areas or places I should avoid?
- How are women expected to behave in my host country?
- How do men in my host country treat women?
- What are the cultural norms in my host country regarding friendship and dating?
- Do people in my host country have stereotypes of American women?
If you’re still unsure about where to go, OZZI can also help you decide where to head next! These five locales received top marks on OZZI’s safety scale.
Taipei, Taiwan
With an extremely low crime rate and some of the friendliest people on Earth, this tiny island in the Pacific is perfect for enjoying a bustling nightlife scene, shopping, and indulging in late-night grub at local street markets. Solo female travelers will feel comfortable with the relaxed dress code (seriously, wear whatever you want!), brightly lit (and clean) public transportation stations, many English-speaking locals who will go out of their way to help you, and an abundance of clean (and safe) female-only hostels.
Galway, Ireland
If you’ve been to Ireland, you’ll know that the locals are more than helpful if you experience any sort of bad luck. Solo female travelers will feel cozy alone in a hotel room and quite comfortable walking through the quaint Irish city on the coast — even at night. As one of the safest countries in the world, Ireland takes care of its tourists with low levels of discrimination, violence against women, and gender inequality. You’ll definitely leave this city a “Galway girl.”
Melbourne, Australia
Another city that welcomes women is Melbourne. Like most large cities, OZZI maps neighborhoods which might present extra risk to travelers. Melbourne is taking another unique approach by crowdsourcing data so officials can address poor lighting and work to improve public spaces. Australia also boasts a low number of crimes against women and cases involving sexual violence.
Ghent, Belgium
The safest city in Belgium is a great alternative to often-intimidating Paris or the bigger Belgian city of Brussels. Ghent is a university town, which means it’s very pedestrian-friendly and relatively safe to explore. Solo female travelers will love exploring the 12th-century Gravensteen castle, the flower shops, and the Graslei, a row of guildhalls along the stunning Leie river. Francophiles should keep in mind that the primary language spoken in this part of Belgium is Dutch — not French!
Reykjavík, Iceland
Known for its natural beauty, Iceland is the land of fire and ice. Exploring many of the Nordic nation’s volcanoes, geysers, hot springs, glaciers, and lava fields is exciting, but solo female travelers will also love the quiet pace of life in the capital of Reykjavík, which is one of the safest cities in the world. With such low crime rates, the city is a breath of fresh air for women to completely unwind and enjoy their adventure.
