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Safe countries for women travelling solo

Would appreciate hearing about European and/or South American countries that are safe for women to travel alone through? Thanks!

Posted by
11037 posts

Which of the 63 countries do you have in mind to travel in/through?

Check the State Dept site for warnings/alerts of unsafe areas.

Posted by
26840 posts

I've traveled alone in Romania, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Serbia as well as much more frequently visited European countries. No problems whatsoever.

Posted by
7049 posts

Can't think of a single European country that's not safe to travel through. I've been to Argentina only, so can't speak to all South American countries (obviously not Venezuela). My friend just went to Peru alone and there were no issues at all for her. Such a broad question about entire continents is not going to get great responses (it even depends what you mean by "safe"...safe from what exactly?), you should do your own research as to what to expect depending on which South American country you want to visit. The one thing I would say is that machismo culture reigns in many areas and you'll be thought odd to be a single woman traveling alone (but that doesn't necessarily mean you'l be unsafe, it's just that your behavior will seem strange to some). Personally, I would not let that stop me from going.

Posted by
6113 posts

There aren’t any European countries that I wouldn’t travel to, but there are areas within each that are less desirable. Not Europe, but I wouldn’t travel to Morocco or Turkey on my own.

I have been to Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Bolivia and I felt safe in all of these places.

Posted by
1443 posts

Would appreciate hearing about European and/or South American
countries that are safe for women to travel alone through? Thanks!

Definitely stay away from the Iron Islands and probably Bravos as well. Highgarden is lovely in the spring and generally quite safe. The Riverlands are also enjoyable but avoid Walder Frey's B&B - he can be absolutely murder on his guests.

Posted by
169 posts

Oh Fasteddie, I want to like your reply so many times!!! It is great.

For the question asked, I am just now in my thirties (but apparently look younger, I was told I look about 20), and have traveled to: Ireland, Wales, England, Hungary, Romania, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, and France. (I think I am missing a couple) And never felt unsafe alone. Even in Venice after my flight got in at about midnight and I got lost trying to find my hotel after getting to Venice I felt safe enough that when a local asked if I needed help I took it and he guided me in the right direction. In Hungary and Romania I never felt unsafe. Most people didn't pay attention to me, they just went about their lives.

I would advise treating traveling to Europe the same as visiting any where in the US. Keep your wits about you and pay attention to your surroundings.

Posted by
1056 posts

No offense meant, but your question about safety in entire continents is akin to asking which US states are safe for single travel. I’ve traveled alone in many European countries and plan to do so again in the near future. Europe is very safe. You need to narrow down your search based on other criteria, based on the type of travel you enjoy and the places you like to visit. If you’d like some strategies for traveling alone, you can listen to Rick Steves’ recent radio show on this topic. You can get it via his podcast stream.

Posted by
171 posts

Don’t go to Oktoberfest with Mike Beebe.

Posted by
11037 posts

Don’t go to Oktoberfest with Mike Beebe.

Mike is married and his wife is, from inference, the jealous type.

Posted by
3551 posts

If u are uncertain just take a guided tour. Besides Rick steves, there is smartours and gate one tours that i recommend. Do not skip somewhere u wish to go just take a guided tour.

Posted by
419 posts

Consider Japan. I use to live there and took the family for a 3 week vacation last summer. Shockingly, Japan is not expensive as I thought it would be. Way cheaper than New York, London, and France. We had an awesome time and definitely a safe place for solo female travelers.

Posted by
32523 posts

Not as dangerous as Mr Beebe. When he has had, say one or two

Posted by
3067 posts

Watch the original film version of "A Room With A view."
There is a character called "Mr. Beebe" in it.
Mike: are you like him?............ ;)

Posted by
7130 posts

To answer your question, here's some recent countries I've visited where I would feel completely safe to travel alone: Austria, France, Spain, Switzerland, Italy.

Posted by
4684 posts

Chiming in to say that there are absolutely no entire European countries that I would consider unsafe for a lone woman. There are specific neighbourhoods in just about every city that I would recommend avoiding, but they tend to be in places that it's unlikely a tourist would stumble into accidentally unless they were deliberately going a long way off the beaten path.