Solo Female Travel Guides
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Planning your next trip as a solo female traveler? You’re in the right place with my solo female travel guides!
I embarked on my first trip as a solo female traveler (to Vienna) at the end of my study abroad semester in 2017, and I never looked back. Since then, I have traveled to 17 countries solo…and that list is still growing.
You may have heard the saying “if you wait for others to join you, you’ll never go!” This is the #1 reason why I’ve fallen in love with solo travel. If I had waited for a travel buddy to visit all 17 of these countries with me, I probably would have never seen them at all.
I have stayed in hostels all over the world and have made lifelong friends from every corner of the globe. There’s nothing like a good dose of solo travel to teach you what you’re made of – and give you a sense of power and independence you won’t find anywhere else.
Below, you’ll find my best solo female travel guides to teach you everything you need to know before booking your next trip as a solo female traveler! We’ll start with solo travel safety tips and move on to other topics like taking high-quality photos as a solo traveler, and the best ways to make friends on the road. The whole world is your oyster…if you’re brave enough to take it on alone.
Happy travels! xx Madison
Solo Female Travel Tips
Solo Female Travel in Europe
Solo Female Travel in Asia
Solo Female Travel in Central America
Helpful Resources
Facebook Groups for Solo Female Travelers
One of the best ways to make friends while solo traveling is through solo travel-specific Facebook groups. I’ve linked a few of my favorites below! If you’re looking to make some friends or get a group together for a trip, these groups are a great resource to connect you with other like-minded travelers venturing out into the world solo.
Destination-specific Facebook groups are also really helpful to reach people who are already in your city. For example: Girls in Bali.
- Solo Girls Travel
- The Solo Female Traveler Network
- Travel Meet Ups – The Solo Female Traveler Network
- Solo Female Travelers
- Single Women Solo Travel
How to Take Beautiful Photos as a Solo Female Traveler
One of the biggest challenges I faced when I started to travel solo was getting high-quality travel photos without a friend behind the camera. Since that struggle in 2019, I have mastered the art of solo photography! Don’t believe me? Scroll to the top of the page – those three images are just a few of the fantastic travel photos I’ve taken on solo trips.
Want to find out how I did it? Click here to download my guide: 6 Steps to Stunning Solo Travel Photography!
Travel Essentials for Solo Female Travelers
- Airalo eSIM. The #1 most important thing for any solo female traveler to have is reliable internet. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been saved from a potentially unsafe situation by simply being able to map my way home or call an Uber. Internet/cell service seems so simple, but it really is the most important thing to guarantee your safety. Use code “MADI15” for 15% off your first order, or “MADI10” for 10% off as a returning customer!
- A portable charger. Your phone is of no use to you if it’s dead. I used to travel with 2x fully charged portables just in case I needed them (but that was mostly because I was traveling with an iPhone 7 😂).
- A fake wedding ring. Men can be awfully forward, especially if they know you’re traveling alone. Although a fake wedding ring definitely won’t keep everyone away, it’ll at least defer some of the inevitable male attention. (Don’t wear this in places where flashy jewelry is discouraged).
- Door stop alarm. I wouldn’t personally bother with this unless I was staying somewhere very sketchy, but a door stop alarm can make you feel a lot safer when staying in hotels or Airbnbs alone. You simply wedge it under the door and, if anyone tries to open it, a loud alarm will sound.
- Passport scarf. Amazon and other retailers sell circle scarves with a hidden pocket for your passport, cash, or other valuable items. Nowadays, a money belt might be kind of obvious, but no one would expect you to have valuables stashed in your scarf!
- A personal alarm. Clip this little alarm to your bag or backpack, press the button if you feel unsafe and it’ll let out an ear-piercing wail to draw the attention of people nearby and hopefully scare off any would-be attackers or pickpockets.
Solo Female Travel FAQ:
Where is the safest place for a woman to travel alone?
In 2022, CNN rated Ireland as the best country for solo female travelers to visit. Austria came in 2nd, Norway in 3rd, and Slovenia and Switzerland held the 4th and 5th slots.
These are all wonderful places to start your solo traveling journey since they are easy to travel and will have relatively low culture shock for anyone from North America. However, don’t write off a destination as a solo female traveler just because it didn’t make the list of the safest countries in the world.
What places would you recommend an amateur female solo traveler?
The first solo trip I ever did was to Vienna during my semester abroad, followed by Budapest, Kraków, Prague, and Lake Como in 2019.
I think Europe is a great place to start solo traveling since you’ll have no trouble getting around speaking English and it feels a lot more similar to home than other continents do.
However, if you did decide to start your solo travel journey in Asia (mad respect), Koh Tao, Thailand; Ubud, Indonesia; the Gili Islands; and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia are super safe and social destinations for solo female travelers.
How can a woman start traveling alone?
Start by choosing your destination! Ask yourself, where have you always wanted to go?
If you’re concerned about safety in that destination, consult some solo traveler Facebook groups to get opinions from other solo travelers who have already visited that destination.
Once you’ve decided on a location, it’s time to start planning. Start by reading my solo travel safety tips and planning your trip accordingly. You can also browse the solo female travel safety gadgets listed above for maximum peace of mind.
Now, it’s time to book your flights, find accommodation and plan out your day-to-day. Consult my free guide to learn how I plan out each and every trip.
How do I find friends while traveling alone?
Thankfully, there are tons of strategies to make friends as a solo female traveler in a new destination. Hostels, co-working spaces and group tours are a great place to start, but you can also make friends online through destination-specific Facebook groups and apps like Bumble BFF.
Why would a girl travel alone?
The better question is why WOULDN’T a girl travel alone! One of the best reasons to travel alone is that you have to make zero compromises.
The trips I’ve done solo have been the only times I’ve hit every single activity and restaurant on my bucket list. I returned home fully satisfied that I had enjoyed every minute of my trip without a single regret.
Additionally, solo travel is empowering! There’s power in doing something that scares you and, to many, solo travel can seem scary at first. Proving to yourself that you can venture out in the world on your own, meet new people and create your own fun is one of the most empowering feelings in the world.
Lastly, sometimes you’re craving a visit to a new and exciting destination and you just can’t find anyone to go with you. Don’t let that stop you! Book that flight, plan that trip and show the world what a badass bitch you truly are.
Where should I sleep when traveling alone?
Hostels are my favorite places to stay as a solo female traveler. They offer budget-friendly, dorm-style accommodation and are designed to turn strangers into friends. If you’re uncomfortable staying in a mixed-gender dorm room, many hostels offer female-only dorms for a slightly higher price.
If dorm-style sleeping is not for you, consider booking a hostel that offers private rooms, or book separate accommodation but book all your activities and tours through a nearby hostel.
What is the safest way to travel alone?
Be smart, use common sense, and act confident. Confidence is my #1 tip for being safe as a solo traveler. If people believe you know what you’re doing, then you’re not an easy target.
How do you deal with loneliness when traveling alone?
If you ever feel lonely while solo traveling, the first step would be to head to the common area in your hostel and see if there’s a group hanging out. You can also ask the front desk if there are any activities going on that day.
If you’re not staying at a hostel, find one nearby and head over for a drink.
If that doesn’t work, try posting in a destination-specific Facebook group seeing if there are any activities for solo travelers happening in your area.
Book group tours like cooking classes and boat trips to get to know other travelers in your destination. If all else fails, there’s a simple pleasure in grabbing a book, heading to a restaurant, and people watching over food and a couple cocktails. You could even bring your headphones and FaceTime your family and friends back home.