Spain/Portugal - OK for woman solo?

Same than the other places you've mentioned. And just to point out... crime is lower in Spain and Portugal than in some of the places you've mentioned :)

I felt very safe in Spain, and I don't even remember people approaching/hassling me to try to sell things, get me to sign a petition, ask me if I speak English, etc (ie, the types of contacts that can lead to scams). I spent about 3 1/2 weeks there, split among Madrid, Toledo, and Avila.

However, in my experience, it was harder to find people who spoke English in Spain than anywhere else I've ever traveled. (For example, I started the trip at a professional meeting for English-speaking writers, but English was very limited at the front desk of the Madrid business-class hotel where the conference was held.) So my main suggestion would be to brush up on your Spanish.

Spain will be fine, it really should be no different than the other places you mentioned. Use the normal common sense you'd use anywhere else. Barcelona has a higher amount of pickpockets than some other places, so be aware of that.

Dinner is very late (like 10PM), so you will be out late, but so is everyone else. Walking home alone at 11 or 12 isn't odd or risky like it might be in a city that shuts down earlier. That said, if you do want to eat early, tapas bars are always open and you can get a simple meal there.

Also, yes, for some reason there is less English understood in Spain (especially in the south, in my experience). People are friendly and try to help, so be prepared with a phrase book and a good attitude. People also seem to like you trying their language - there isn't a sense of judgement about it if you mess up.

I retired solo to Portugal two plus months ago. I spent the first month in Lisbon before moving to Cascais for my permanent home. I've never felt In danger and have found the Portuguese people to be helpful with the majority speaking English. For the waiters who stand outside restaurants and other people who want you to buy something or give them money, " Nao, obrigada" works very well.
I've also traveled to Spain three times - twice with just myself and my daughter. I also never felt the least bit uncomfortable or at risk.

I have been twice solo. No issues other than mild street harrassment.

Definitely learn some Spanish, if you don't speak it already.

Hi Theresa,

My profile is similar to yours and I usually travel solo. 3 years ago, I began an unexpected love affair with Spain.

My first visit was to Andalusia in February, with a couple days in Madrid, and it was the first time I got up the courage to rent a car. A week into my 3-week trip, I knew I'd be back. Driving was easy (through the pueblos blancos, perhaps because it was February, there was less traffic.

Two years later, I went back for another 3 weeks in February, with more of Madrid, and added Toledo and Barcelona. I'm now planning my 3rd trip for this coming March, again 3+ weeks.

I haven't been to Portugal yet, but good friends were there in March and told me it would be easy for me solo and I'd love it. Caveat: they are neighboring countries and if you just look at a map, you think you can easily visit both on one trip, but in fact, the connections between them are pretty meager. There are no high speed trains, and there are huge drop-off charges if you rent a car in one and return it in the other. I think most people either fly from one country to the other or simply visit them on separate trips.

I found that outside the major cities, few people spoke English and I don't speak Spanish, yet people were friendly, patient, and so helpful that I've never had a problem.

I just walked through a big chunk of Spain doing the Camino. Solo woman, age 60. Everyone was wonderfully nice, and at no time did I have any fears. As others have already mentioned, expect little to no English especially if you go to some smaller towns. Even in larger cities like Pamplona, Leon, Palencia, Burgos, and Santiago where I stayed for 2 days each in small hotels or pensions, English speakers were rare. Lots of charades, writing down times and numbers and it was enough to get by, as my Spanish was rather minimal except for food item, please and thank you. Took the bus a couple of times, taxis a few times, and the train twice and was surprised that I managed so well.

Go and have a great time.

I agree with everyone else's posts, and just want to emphasize three things:

1) If you have been to all those other countries by yourself, Spain and Portugal will not present any special challenges.

2) Except, that is, for the one about there not being much English. Take this seriously for Spain - my "Spanish" got quite a workout in my trips there. I found more English in Barcelona than other places, but even in Madrid, I had to use Spanish a lot. In Portugal I found more English, but also used a fair amount of French (it's the only place where I've used a language extensively that was neither my first language nor theirs). While Portuguese can usually understand Spanish, they don't speak it, and understanding spoken Portuguese is not nearly as easy as understanding spoken Spanish.

3) Chani is quite right that seeing both Spain and Portugal in a single trip is much harder than you would think. Investigate transit between them carefully before making any final plans. Transit within each country, on the other hand, is easy. One difference from some places is that you will likely be taking more buses and fewer trains. The buses are fine - you get a reserved seat with your ticket, and neither the buses nor the stations are like Greyhound in the US.

Thank you all. Your answers told me pretty much what I hoped, but I always get a little nervous beforehand. And, yes I will brush up on my Spanish. As usual, this forum is wonderful! Theresa