Best Solo Travel Destinations for Women: 15 Safe & Amazing Places to Visit

Planning a trip alone as a woman? This guide lists the best solo travel destinations for women, based on real safety data, not personal opinion.

Many travel blogs choose places because the writer had a good time there. We did it differently. We checked every country against two official safety rankings. We also checked each travel detail on official tourism websites.

Below, you will find 15 countries that are safe and great to visit alone. For each one, we tell you what to see, the best time to go, and which city to stay in.

If this is your first trip alone, also read our solo travel guide for first-time travelers. It explains the planning basics step by step.

1. How We Chose These 15 Countries

We used two trusted rankings.

1. The Global Peace Index 2026 - It is published by the Institute for Economics and Peace. It ranks 163 countries on crime, safety, and conflict. All of its top 10 countries are on our list.

2. The Women, Peace and Security Index 2025/26 - It is published by Georgetown University. It ranks 181 countries on how safe and fairly treated women are. This matters because a peaceful country is not always a good place for women.

These two rankings show the safest countries for solo female travelers. Then we asked one more question: Is the country also good for a solo trip? We looked for easy public transport, chances to meet other travelers, and good tourist services.

• Please remember: no ranking can promise your safety. The data shows these countries are low-risk. You still need normal care, like in any place.

2. The 15 Best Solo Travel Destinations for Women

Here is a quick summary. “GPI” is the Global Peace Index 2026 rank. “WPS” is the Women, Peace and Security Index 2025/26 rank. A lower number is better.

A dash (-) means the country is not in the GPI top 10. It does not mean it scored badly.

1. Iceland

Waterfalls, black-sand beaches, and hot springs make Iceland one of the most beautiful countries in the world. It has also been number one on the Global Peace Index for 19 years in a row, and it is second in the world for women's safety.

What to see: the Golden Circle route, the waterfalls and black-sand beaches of the south coast, and a geothermal lagoon.

Best time to go: June to August for long daylight hours. September to mid-April if you want to see the northern lights.

Where to stay: Reykjavík. From there, you can join day tours or rent a car.

Solo tip: The main risk in Iceland is bad weather, not crime. Check Safetravel.is before any drive or hike. For routes and costs, read our Iceland travel guide.

2. New Zealand

If you love the outdoors, New Zealand is hard to beat. Hostels are friendly, and it is easy to meet other travelers. The country ranks second on the Global Peace Index.

What to see: a boat trip on Milford Sound, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing hike, and the hot springs and Māori culture of Rotorua.

Best time to go: December to February is summer. March to May also has good weather and fewer tourists.

Where to stay: Queenstown on the South Island; Auckland or Rotorua on the North Island.

Solo tip: Before a long hike, tell someone at home your route and return time. The emergency number is 111.

3. Switzerland

Clean, on-time trains make Switzerland one of the easiest countries to explore alone. You do not need a car. It ranks third on the Global Peace Index.

What to see: the Glacier Express scenic train, the Jungfraujoch mountain trip from Interlaken, and a boat ride on Lake Lucerne or Lake Geneva.

Best time to go: June to August. Switzerland Tourism says these are the warmest months with the most sunshine. For snow, come from December to March.

Where to stay: Lucerne or Interlaken.

Solo tip: Buy the Swiss Travel Pass. It covers trains, buses, and boats, and gives free entry to more than 500 museums. Switzerland is expensive, so see our Switzerland trip cost guide before you plan.

4. Slovenia

Slovenia has Alpine lakes and mountains like its neighbours, but it costs less and has fewer crowds. It ranks fourth on the Global Peace Index.

What to see: Lake Bled and the church on its island, Lake Bohinj, Postojna Cave, and the seaside town of Piran.

Best time to go: June to August. Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj are popular for swimming in summer.

Where to stay: Ljubljana, the capital. Cars have not been allowed in the city centre since 2007, so it is quiet and easy to walk around.

Solo tip: Slovenia is small. You can visit most places as day trips by bus or on a small group tour.

5. Ireland

Ireland is one of the easiest places to meet people. Pubs with live traditional music make it simple to start a conversation, even when you are alone. The country ranks fifth on the Global Peace Index.

What to see: the Cliffs of Moher, the Dingle Peninsula, and the Wild Atlantic Way. This coastal route is about 2,500 km long and runs from County Donegal to County Cork.

Best time to go: June to August. These are Ireland's warmest and sunniest months, with July and August averaging about 15°C.

Where to stay: Dublin first, then Galway for the west coast.

Solo tip: Cars drive on the left in Ireland. If you do not want to drive, take a guided coach tour of the coast.

6. Austria

If you enjoy music, history, and cafés, Austria is a strong choice. It is sixth on the Global Peace Index and ninth in the world for women's safety.

What to see: the palaces and coffee houses of Vienna, the old town of Salzburg, and the lakeside village of Hallstatt, which is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Best time to go: May to September for lakes and mountains. November and December for Vienna's Christmas markets.

Where to stay: Vienna, then Salzburg.

Solo tip: Austria's Nightjet night trains let women book a ladies-only compartment. It is a comfortable way to travel to other European cities overnight.

7. Portugal

For a first solo trip, Portugal is our top pick. People are friendly, cities are easy to walk around, and prices are lower than in most of Western Europe. It ranks seventh on the Global Peace Index.

What to see: the viewpoints of Lisbon, the palaces of Sintra (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the riverside in Porto, and the beaches of the Algarve.

Best time to go: April to June, or September to October. The weather is warm and there are fewer crowds.

Where to stay: Lisbon, then Porto.

Solo tip: Both cities have friendly hostels and walking tours, so you can meet people easily. Wear shoes with good grip because the stone streets are steep.

8. Singapore

In Singapore, 98% of people say they feel safe walking alone at night. That was the highest score of all countries in Gallup's 2025 Global Safety Report. Singapore is also eighth on the Global Peace Index.

What to see: Gardens by the Bay, the areas of Chinatown, Little India, and Kampong Glam, and a hawker centre (local food court). Singapore's hawker culture was added to UNESCO's heritage list in 2020.

Best time to go: Singapore is warm all year. February is usually the driest month. November to January is the wettest.

Where to stay: Any central area close to an MRT (metro) station.

Solo tip: Four or five days is enough. It also works well as a stopover on a longer trip.

9. Finland

Finland is calm, clean, and full of forests and lakes. It ranks fifth in the world for women's safety and ninth on the Global Peace Index.

What to see: Helsinki's design district and public saunas. Then Lapland for husky rides, reindeer, and the northern lights.

Best time to go: Late August to April for the northern lights, according to Visit Finland. In summer, Lapland has the midnight sun, when it stays light all night.

Where to stay: Helsinki, then Rovaniemi in Lapland.

Solo tip: Finland's everyman's rights allow you to walk freely and pick berries in nature, as long as you do not damage anything. For winter trips, read our Lapland travel guide.

10. Japan

Clean trains, polite people, and restaurants where eating alone is normal make Japan easy to travel alone. It ranks tenth on the Global Peace Index.

What to see: the different areas of Tokyo, the temples and gardens of Kyoto, the street food of Osaka, and a night in a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn).

Best time to go: late March to April for cherry blossoms. November for autumn leaves.

Where to stay: Tokyo and Kyoto. Osaka is easy to add.

Solo tip: Tokyo Metro has women-only train cars during the morning rush hour. To plan your route, see our Japan travel guide.

11. Denmark

No country ranks higher for women's safety than Denmark. It is number one on the Women, Peace and Security Index, making it the highest-ranked country on this index.

What to see: the colourful harbour of Nyhavn, Tivoli Gardens (open since 1843), and a bike ride along Copenhagen's waterfront.

Best time to go: June to August for the warmest weather. April and May are also mild and quieter.

Where to stay: Copenhagen.

Solo tip: Denmark is expensive. Plan your food budget, and rent a bike to save on transport.

12. Norway

Norway has some of the most beautiful mountains and fjords in Europe. It is also third in the world for women's safety.

What to see: the Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord (both UNESCO World Heritage Sites), the old Bryggen wharf in Bergen, and Tromsø for the northern lights in winter.

Best time to go: May to September for the fjords. Autumn and winter for the northern lights.

Where to stay: Bergen, the main starting point for fjord trips.

Solo tip: You do not need a car. Trains, ferries, and buses reach the main fjords. If you want to drive, read our Norway fjords road trip guide.

13. Canada

Canada gives you big, safe cities and huge national parks in one country. It ranks 16th in the world for women's safety.

What to see: Banff (Canada's first national park), Lake Louise, Stanley Park in Vancouver, and the old town of Quebec City.

Best time to go: June to September for national parks. Mid-September to mid-October for autumn colours in Ontario and Quebec.

Where to stay: Vancouver or Banff in the west. Montreal or Quebec City in the east.

Solo tip: Canada is very large. Choose one region per trip instead of trying to see everything.

14. Taiwan

Night markets, hillside towns, and low prices make Taiwan a good solo female travel destination in Asia for value. It ranks 27th in the world for women's safety.

What to see: the night markets of Taipei, the hillside town of Jiufen, Sun Moon Lake, and the temples and food of Tainan.

Best time to go: October to November, or April. Typhoons are most common from July to September.

Where to stay: Taipei. Then take the high-speed train south.

Solo tip: Save Taiwan's free 24-hour tourist helpline: 0800-011-765.

15. Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a strong choice on this list for wildlife and rainforest, but it needs extra care. It ranks 34th in the world for women's safety. The U.S. State Department rates it Level 2, "exercise increased caution," because of crime (advisory issued April 2, 2026). Petty theft is common, and violent crime also affects tourists.

What to see: Arenal Volcano, the Monteverde cloud forest, and the wildlife of Manuel Antonio.

Best time to go: December to April, the dry season on the Pacific side. March is usually the driest month.

Where to stay: La Fortuna first, then Monteverde and the Pacific coast.

Solo tip: Stay in lodges with good reviews and use shared tourist shuttles. If this is your first solo trip, consider choosing a destination with fewer reported safety concerns.

3. Which Destination Is Right for You?

Use this simple guide to choose.

First solo trip: Portugal or Ireland. Both have easy transport, group tours, and friendly people.

Nature and hiking: New Zealand, Iceland, or Norway. Always tell someone your plans before a hike, because weather can change fast.

Culture and food: Japan, Austria, or Taiwan. Eating alone is normal, and public transport is easy to use.

Short trip of 4–5 days: Singapore or Denmark. Both are small, so you spend less time travelling around.

Lower budget: Slovenia, Portugal, or Taiwan. They generally cost less than many Western European destinations.

Before you book, check the visa rules for your passport. Some countries take several weeks to process a visa.

For safety tips on arrival, packing, and staying in touch, read our solo female travel guide.

4. CONCLUSION

The best solo travel destinations for women are places that are safe and also enjoyable. All 15 countries in this guide were selected using official safety data and travel information.

Choose the one that fits your budget and travel dates. If you feel nervous, start with an easier country like Portugal. After your first trip alone, the next one may feel much easier.

When you are ready to plan, SuperJourneys Hybrid AI Trip Planner can create a day-by-day itinerary for your pace and budget in minutes. It is built on more than 20 years of real travel experience.

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