Have you ever traveled solo before? As a female, it can be quite intimidating to choose the best location and then actually get on that plane and go. People thought I was insane when I planned my first ever solo trip to Munich over a year ago. They’re the crazy ones for not believing in my abilities and my common sense! Common sense is really super important for any trip outside of your comfort zone. I love proving to people that I am independent and my trip to Munich did just that. Aside from my stubborn independence, I really learned a lot and gained a new perspective on traveling! You can read more about my trip to Germany here. I will give you my favorite 4 destinations for solo travel. There are many places besides these 4 that I will write about, but these are the ones I am most familiar with! I’m trying to figure out where to go next on a solo trip, so all suggestions are welcome!!!
Get my 8 tips for staying safe as a solo female traveler here.
Germany– First on my list for MANY reasons. I felt so safe while in Munich. According to many other blogs and sources, people have felt the same way in other parts of Germany. I would not hesitate to visit other destinations in Germany as a solo traveler. I did frequently spend some time alone while it was dark, but this is something one should consider when traveling in the winter time. Shorter days means that it starts getting dark very early and in Munich it began to get dark around 4pm. This is very important to consider if you don’t feel safe being somewhere late at night. That being said, in Germany I had zero issues after dark. The female instinct in me caused me to have a danger high on my radar, but since I was careful and used common sense, I never ran into safety problems. I would hate for someone to take this as post about letting your guard down, because I had to be on high alert while being alone, but since Germany is relatively known to be a safe country, I didn’t experience anything out of the ordinary.
Portugal– While I have never traveled to Portugal alone, Portugal is still considered to be a safe country to travel to. Once again, while I am one who tries not to stay out super late at night, if you go into populated and crowded areas at night during the summer, everything is so friendly and lively! Summer is the best time, in my opinion, to visit the Algarve region. Portimão, in particular is so beautiful this time of year and there are so many places you can visit with ease. Lisbon, being a large city and the capitol, has so many things to do and experience. The people are so friendly and the architecture is beautiful! Be more alert in the cities at night for sure, but I would not hesitate to visit Portugal again alone. I miss the people for sure and can’t wait until my next adventure out there!
Amsterdam– Be sure to use common sense and a little extra caution to places you go in the evening. I have traveled with a couple of people in Amsterdam before and the weather in the summer was chilly and rainy. None of us were prepared, being this stop was not something we planned. I am thankful for the plane delay that gave us a lovely evening in Amsterdam. On the other hand, I revisited in the summer of 2021 for a couple of days and the weather was perfect! This time was a part of a solo trip I was already taking! Amsterdam is an incredible destination with so much history. Visiting the Anne Frank House was on my bucket list and had been forever, so I finally checked it off!!! The people here are friendly and getting around the city is relatively easy. There are also great day trips you can take from Amsterdam. Want to know another reason I will return to Amsterdam one day? The TULIPS!!! In April is when the tulips begin to bloom and visiting the tulip field is a bucket list item as well. There is so much to do in this city so don’t overlook it when planning your European travels.
Austria– I visited Salzburg over a year ago as a solo traveler. I did a tour of the city with a group and then spent some time touring alone. During the time I went, they had the most beautiful Christmas Market set up which is always a highlight of visiting Europe in the winter time. I felt so safe in Salzburg, even as I navigated the city alone. I really didn’t encounter too many natives, many people were tourist just like me. I can’t speak for the country as a whole, but the Austrians seem to be so friendly! I wish I would’ve gotten to go back this year. I had a trip planned to the capital, Vienna, but that had to be cancelled due to COVID as well. Austria is packed with so much history and beautiful architecture. According to other sources and blog, this is also listed a perfect destination for solo travelers. Hopefully I will find myself back in Austria soon!
Dubrovnik- I just recently completed a solo trip to Dubrovnik, Croatia and I absolutely loved being there! I felt so safe at all times and the people were the most friendly people I’ve met abroad. There are many hostel and hotel options which are budget-friendly to make traveling solo a bit more affordable. I am so glad I decided to visit here solo, I was a blast! The beaches are perfect for getting away from it all and relaxing. I found that there is so much to do, that you can never possibly get bored! And with all the tourists in the summer, you’re definitely never alone!
