Best Solo Female Travel Destinations: How to Choose Where to Go

If you've ever scrolled past a woman riding a camel through the desert and thought, "Could I actually travel solo?" or wistfully searched "solo female travel destinations" on Instagram, this is the post for you.

I can honestly say that one of the most exhilarating moments of my life was boarding a flight to London all by myself, knowing I wasn't going to be home for two months, and not having my entire trip booked straight through. For maybe the first time, I was flying internationally without someone to meet up with when I landed and no real plan for how to spend my time when I got there. It was just me, myself, and — yes, my work laptop(s).

Looking back, I'm not sure I wanted to give myself credit for being "brave" while it was happening because it felt like too much personal credit at the time. Occasionally, though, I think back to my 15-yr-old self and I just know she would think I was such a badass. The world can be a really scary place for women, and solo travel just seemed like a risk I never thought I'd take when I was growing up.

If you're like I was before I booked my first solo trip, you're constantly seeing other women travel alone online, and you're dying to book the flight, but you're not really sure how to get started, or even how to choose where to go. Here's my get-started guide to choosing a travel destination as a first-time female solo traveler.

Choosing your destination: Start with your personal comfort level — not someone else's itinerary

London was a natural starting point for my first extended solo travel journey because I had been there before. It was a comfortable place to start before hitting countries I'd never visited.

Before you get defensive, hear me out: It's not that these aren't helpful tools, and it's not that I don't often look at guides or itineraries myself. I just don't think this is the best starting place if you're a first-time solo traveler.

When you start Googling "solo female travel itinerary" or typing "solo female travel" into Pinterest, you're going to be overwhelmed with guides and itineraries from hundreds of destinations, which makes it hard to choose where you'll end up. Everyone has a story to tell, and everyone wants to share their experience (and I'm certainly no different). Instead of telling you where to go, though, I'm of the opinion that your final destination should really be dependent on what you think you're ready for.

This can be a fine line, and we know I'm certainly not one to tell you to play it safe, but if you've never traveled by yourself or you're an inexperienced traveler, maybe hiking Kilimanjaro isn't where you want to get started.

Instead, make a list of cities or landmarks you've always wanted to visit, gather intel on each of those places, and once you feel like you have a better understanding of each place (or even as part of your research), then you can consult someone's itineraries.

What to research before deciding where to travel solo

As you start digging into each place, there are a few things you should try to get a sense of:

• Solo-friendliness: How easy is it for one person to get around? Are there public transportation options? Would Uber or Lyft be an option, or is it a taxi city? What are your options for accommodation? Also, look into the general culture surrounding women traveling alone. Just because it's unusual for a woman to travel alone in a place doesn't necessarily mean you shouldn't visit, but it might mean you need to take more care, or put it off until you're more experienced.

  
  

• Safety: Look into how "safe" a location is by researching government advisories, women's travel groups (I'm in several on Facebook), and subreddits. You'll find that everyone has a different experience, and even though someone had a great, safe time somewhere, someone else might not have. Weigh those stories to get a general feel for the place.

  
  

• Language barriers: Generally speaking, this is less of a concern in some places rather than others. As you begin to travel alone, you'll discover how you can in fact communicate through a language barrier, but if it's your first time traveling solo and you're nervous, look into how comfortable people in your destination are with your language.

  
  

• Cost: Some places are more solo-traveler friendly for your wallet than others. For example, I spent minimal money in Barcelona, but spent just as much in less than half the time in Venice. Budget isn't the only concern, though: Understand that as a woman traveling alone, it can in some cases be worth paying more to arrive at a certain hour, or to take a car late at night rather than public transport.

How to gather honest intel on solo female travel

When gathering intel for your first solo trip, it's important to make sure you're getting good info, which means moving past the listicles titled "Best Solo Travel Destinations for Women" (but if you're looking for inspiration, by all means, check these out, too!). While I always take travel advisories into account, I also rely heavily on lived experience from those who have been there, done that. A few of my favorite resources are:

• Girls LOVE Travel: If you aren't in this Facebook group, but you're thinking of taking a solo trip, you absolutely should be. It's full of women all over the world sharing travel advice, solo travel stories, and — most importantly — resources on everything from budget travel to navigation to safety tips.

  
  

• r/solofemaletravel or r/solofemaletravellers: These are two other resources I consult frequently, and believe other solo female travelers should, too. Unlike Girls LOVE Travel, both of these subreddits are primarily dedicated to solo travel.

  
  

• r/solotravel: Again, I've found this subreddit to be very helpful over the years, but keep in mind it isn't tailored to solo female travelers specifically.

Event the most up-to-date information doesn't prepare you for what might be going on when you get there. I visited Paris during the trash strike in 2023. I never felt unsafe, but when I was swallowed by a protest, I listened to my gut and got myself back to my hostel.

Instagram and TikTok are great for getting a feel for a place, too, and the travelers posting their trips often respond to comments about their experiences. Regardless, make sure you're looking at current information from recent posts, as things in various destinations can change for the better (or worse) over time.

When to listen to your gut

When it comes to taking your first solo trip, I'm not sure "being ready" truly exists — instead, I think the best you can hope for is "as ready as you'll ever be." Going somewhere alone (especially if it's a new country) is a scary thing, and it's not without risk. But there are plenty of things we do everyday that involve a lot of risk; instead of avoiding them, we just inform ourselves on the best way to do them. I think solo travel is much the same.

That doesn't mean you have full permission to be reckless, though. Being scared to try something new isn't a reason to miss out on something; if I had listened to myself when I was scared, I never would have camped in a van in Ibiza. But if your gut is telling you something is off? Never ignore that feeling. If there's one thing you learn about yourself through solo travel, it's how to trust your intuition.

Solo travel has given me so many gifts — it's taught me how to rely on myself in sticky situations, it's shown me that I'm capable of more than I ever thought possible, and in a lot of ways, it's raised my standards for what I want for myself. I truly believe every woman should take a solo trip at least once in her life, no matter her age, relationship status, or career, even if it's just to a city in the next state over. I promise, you won't regret it.