by Alessia Cottrell
Solo travel can be scary, especially as a woman.
At 18, fresh out of A-Levels, I was suddenly thrown into an unplanned gap year before university. I had always loved travelling and decided this was the ideal time to start, solo. My mum was (understandably) terrified, so to calm her nerves I did what any reassuring daughter would do: researched the safest places for solo travel, highlighted Copenhagen at the top of the list, packed my bags and headed to the airport. Which is why number one pick for solo female travellers will always be:
1. Copenhagen, Denmark
I will recommend Copenhagen to anyone even remotely interested in solo travel. It’s consistently ranked as one of the safest places in the world and is perfect if you’re not used to being on your own. It’s peaceful, friendly, and has an individualist city culture that you very quickly stop feeling self-conscious about eating alone or doing things solo, that annoying “everyone’s looking at me” feeling disappears fast.
I stayed at Nyhavn63 Hostel, which has comfy, spacious capsule pods. It’s a great soft launch into hostel life while still keeping your privacy. Explore the palaces, walk along the canals, eat street food on the harbour steps, and wander through the botanical gardens. It’s calm, pretty, and a great segwey into solo travel.
2. Rhodes, Greece
Some of us (me) never got over the Mamma Mia Greek summer fantasy, and for good reason. There’s nothing quite like being solo and free on a Greek island, and Rhodes absolutely delivers. Picture idyllic side streets, insane archaeology (history lovers will love Rhodes), incredible food, beaches, and genuinely lovely people. Rhodes really has it all.
With Symi so close, you can hop on a short boat ride to explore a stunning little town, climbing up the valley to a tiny church with panoramic views. The people in Rhodes are so friendly, and I never once felt unsafe – even when my flight was delayed and I ended up walking through town at midnight with all my bags.
3. Tokyo, Japan
Japan is an amazing destination for first-time solo female travellers. It’s exceptionally safe, spotless, and incredibly easy to navigate. Public transport is reliable and well sign-posted, people are polite and respectful, and eating or exploring alone is completely normal.
With women-only train cars, capsule hotels, and hostels designed specifically with female travellers in mind, Tokyo feels built for solo female travel. Experience great food, unique attractions and peaceful shrines in this beautifully hectic city.
4. Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon is such a perfect first solo trip. It’s the kind of place where you accidentally make friends, take the train to the beach, browse hand-painted tiles, and find serene parks where you can sit and read while overlooking the entire city.
If you like having the option of nightlife while travelling solo, Lisbon is ideal. It’s walkable (though somehow you’ll always seem to be walking uphill), not too big, and there aren’t loads of dark alleys to worry about. And obviously, the pastel de natas alone are reason enough to go – genuinely life-changing pastries.
5. La Fortuna, Costa Rica
This was my second ever solo trip, and it was unforgettable. Costa Rica sometimes gets mixed opinions safety-wise, but honestly, it depends where you go, like anywhere. Places such as San José or Limón have higher crime rates, but more tourist-friendly areas like La Fortuna – with its stunning volcano overlooking over the town, and Tamarindo, with its surf vibe, are widely considered very safe.
It’s a great choice if you want to dip your toe into Central or South America. While people often avoid touristy spots, Costa Rica is different, the main attraction is the nature – incredible waterfalls, jungles, rainforests, wildlife, volcanoes, rivers and more, and joining group trips through your hostel is one of the best ways to experience it all while still feeling secure.
To Conclude
Through experience, I’ve found these cities are ideal for first-time solo female travellers – safe, welcoming, easy to navigate alone, and packed with things to do. While it’s always important to stay aware (petty crime exists everywhere), you should still feel confident packing your bags and heading out to experience these incredible places.