Top Destinations for Solo Female Travelers: The Safest Places

by Mia Taylor Most recent update: 2:05 PM ET, Fri April 28, 2023

Over the past decade, the number of women traveling solo has experienced tremendous growth. According to data from the Solo Female Travelers Club, searches for the term "solo female travel" increased six times in the four years leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic. These search volumes eventually rebounded in 2022 as the pandemic became less of a concern.

Despite the rising trend of women embarking on solo travel, safety continues to be a major concern. The 2022 Solo Female Travel Trends Survey revealed that 65 percent of solo women travelers worry about their personal safety.

A new report from Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (BHTP) and GeoSure Global, a travel insurance provider, aims to address these concerns by identifying the top 11 safest cities and countries for women traveling alone. Interestingly, one country stands out among the rest.

Western Europe and Scandinavia Lead the Rankings

The undisputed winner in BHTP's overall ranking is Switzerland. Specifically, Basel, Switzerland claims the top spot as the safest city in the world, followed by Bern, Switzerland at number 3, and Zurich, Switzerland at number 4.

Woman traveler in a bright yellow puffer jacket (Photo via wmaster890 / iStock / Getty Images Plus)

Other destinations that made it to the top include Toronto, Ontario at number two, and Lisbon, Portugal at number 5. The number 6 spot is a three-way tie between Orebro, Vasteras, and Uppsala in Sweden, while Stockholm, Sweden takes the 7th position. The list concludes with Monaco; Salzburg and Innsbruck, Austria (tie); Pamplona and Oviedo, Spain (tie); and finally, Cannes, France. According to BHTP, women prioritizing safety during solo travel should consider Western Europe, Scandinavia, and Canada, as these regions dominate the list of safest cities and countries for women.

The travel insurance provider also highlighted that the safest countries for women traveling alone are not surprising, considering that the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Canada, Sweden, and Switzerland were all included in BHTP's separate ranking of the Top 10 Safest Countries for general travel.

Continue Exploring Fearlessly

In a blog post discussing their safety ranking for solo women travelers, BHTP further explained that "certain cultures worldwide objectify women or consider them inferior. Violence against women is not treated with the same gravity as violence against men in some countries, resulting in tragic consequences." However, BHTP emphasized that their ranking should not discourage women from traveling.

The company's blog post declares, "In fact, we aim to do the complete opposite. Our goal is to empower women, providing them with valuable information and facts to aid in their decision-making and, ultimately, ensure their safety during their travels." If you are considering embarking on a solo trip, we recommend checking out our TravelPulse podcast on tips specifically tailored for solo travelers.

To stay up-to-date with the latest travel news, updates, and exclusive deals, be sure to subscribe to our daily TravelPulse newsletter by clicking here.

Points of Interest Covered in This Article