Last reviewed: October 2026. Facts and sources checked against the original studies.
After reading the article “8 Hot tips for solo female travellers,” one of my collaborators shared with me the importance of women continuing to support and care for each other on their individual paths.
Thinking about it, I went above and beyond, separating all relevant information I gathered from days of research, comparison, and accuracy verification to compile as much pertinent information as possible (for myself, including) and share with you, my violet Jamaican chocolate bar, a practical guide for your solo female travel in 2026.
This post will be in Q&A format and full of lists, because I am really focusing on utility. Sorry, no storytelling this time. Without delays, let’s go to the facts, sista.
💡What are some benefits of travelling solo?
As Dr Hilary Brewster, Associate Professor of English and Director of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Marshall University, explains with humour in her TEDx talk Forget Eat, Pray, Love: Way Better Reasons to Travel Alone, travelling solo forces you to consider your values, get out of your comfort zone, and defy gender rules, thereby opening your mind.
Although solo travel can beautifully exercise your problem-solving skills and make you more independent, Dr Hilary advises women, very wisely, to learn how to shift between happiness and solitude and to prepare to learn some hard truths about themselves and work on their worst fears.
She says, “How you handle loneliness halfway across from anyone you truly know says a lot about you. Will you fall in love with a man in Bali? Or fall in love with yourself? There’s only one way to find out.”
If you want to learn the proven scientific benefits of solo travelling, read more in my latest article: 8 Science-backed benefits of travelling solo: What happens to your brain when you explore alone?
💡 What are the safest destinations for solo female travel in 2026?
Hello-o, let’s be honest: if you are born a woman, living is dangerous for you! Travelling will demand courage, no matter where you go. Yet women are leading the solo travel boom: at some tour companies, like Road Scholar, up to 85% of solo guests are women.
And why? Because we can go wherever we want, whenever we need.
Still, it is worth carefully researching the safest countries for solo female travellers. I started my saga by reading page after page of blogs, and it seems most lists are based on personal experience, which doesn’t make much sense to me. Anyways, these are the most voted countries within the blogging community:
- Iceland
- Finland
- New Zealand
- Canada
- Japan
- Switzerland
- Norway
- Denmark
- Portugal
- Austria
As much as I appreciate other people’s opinions (or not), I’m very data-oriented, so I checked two official rankings.
The Women, Peace and Security Index 2025/26, by Georgetown University and the Peace Research Institute Oslo, is the one made for us. It ranks 181 countries on women’s inclusion, justice and security, including how safe women feel in their community. Its top five are Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Finland.
The Global Peace Index 2026 measures general safety: conflict, crime and political stability. Its top 10:
- Iceland
- New Zealand
- Switzerland
- Slovenia
- Ireland
- Austria
- Portugal
- Singapure
- Finland
- Japan
Notice who’s on both lists? Iceland and Finland. Not bad, Nordic sisters!
You can always access the Global Travel Advisories website, which offers an overview of the world map of green, yellow, and red-flag countries, as well as a country-by-country overview.
💡 How do you find other solo female travellers if
you’re tired of travelling alone?
If you know where to look, you’ll find a massive network of solo female professionals. You can also check my profile on Join My Trip to see the adventures I design exclusively for groups of women.
Here are some valuable groups and apps to help you meet other women while you travel alone:
Please use them wisely, and ALWAYS meet strangers for the first time in public places.
Facebook Groups:
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💡5 Amazing apps for female travellers that you
probably haven’t heard about:
📲Packpoint analyses your destination, personality, activities, the weather, and the season to deliver a complete packing list, including all the accessories you can’t forget. It has a free version and a paid update.
📲NomadHer is a community where every woman is verified, so you can share travel experiences, stories, pictures and find like-minded women to travel together. Our transgender sisters are also welcome! 💛
📲With Locals connects you with local guides in cities across Europe and Asia so that you can discover hidden gems and less crowded spots.
📲Papago is a translation app loved for real-time conversations, especially in Korean, Japanese and Chinese. Tip: add your sentences the way you would say them out loud, so you don’t get mechanical or robotic dialogue.
📲Airalo sells eSIMs for over 200 countries, so you get mobile data without roaming fees. It’s especially praised for its excellent customer service.
💡How do solo female travellers take pictures of themselves?
If you’re using a smartphone, activate the self-timer mode for 3 or 10 seconds. You can also use a Bluetooth remote tripod, a selfie stick, a GorillaPod, or simply ask somebody.
If you spot someone with a big camera, a tripod, or who takes their photos seriously, I highly recommend approaching them. These lovely photo ninjas will take the challenge seriously and deliver a professional book.
I also recommend checking out the Camera Setup profile on Instagram for inspiration and numerous creative examples. I promise you, it’s 100% worth it!
Talking about Security:
💡How can I become a confident solo traveller?
▪️Be patient and kind to yourself. Take it easy, invest in self-care and give yourself all the breaks you need, whether from places or people.
▪️Find your why and stick to your purpose. Keep a journal or set an image as your wallpaper to remind you why you travel when things get hard.
▪️Have a plan and know exactly how to trace it. Gather all relevant contacts, know where to get cash and have a flexible plan B in case of an emergency.
▪️Find people to cheer you up and incentivise you. Run from those who doubt your capacity or project their insecurities onto you and your plans.
▪️Keep in touch with your friends and family back home. Bring an object or a picture to teleport you back when you’re homesick.
▪️Avoid negative and sensationalist news before your travel. We know it is vital to stay informed, but please filter the energies you’re receiving before your adventure!
💡How can I look confident, even if I don’t feel it?
In her TEDx Bellevue Talk, CEO, speaker and facilitator Montana Von Fliss says that “how you show up really matters.” So, how do you do it? She has five tips for you to seem confident, even if you’re not:
★ Turn up the energy and speak up. Your tone matters.
★ Pause… Like a boss. Speaking too fast shows insecurity.
★ Superhero stance! Your posture and body language say a lot.
★ Practise with purpose. Put it in a script and practise it every day.
★ Be present. Have the purpose of your words clear in your mind before communicating them.
Chin up, make eye contact, and keep your voice firm. Breathe, and try your best to act logically rather than emotionally when faced with a sudden situation.
Your facial expressions will speak louder than your words. If you’re not keen on doing something or even talking to someone, keep a serious, steady face and stand up for yourself. Speak slowly and clearly, be assertive in your answers, defend your values and keep your promises. No means no!
💡How to start a conversation with strangers?
If you’re shy and have no idea of how to start a conversation with somebody you’re seeing for the first time, these ideas may help:
🗣️ Ask for information.
If you really need that information, asking is a good way to start a conversation. Even if you just use this as a tactic, try it and see how it goes!
🗣️Pay a genuine compliment.
Find the courage to pick something you like about the person and improve their day by simply telling them.
🗣️Show interest and ask questions.
Nobody deserves to spend hours trying to pronounce a single sentence with someone who sounds like a machine gun.
🗣️Find things you have in common.
This will help the conversation flow and keep things more interesting. You may learn a lot from the other person!
🗣️Talk about the weather.
I know it’s cliché. But every cliché is a cliché for a reason: It works.🤷🏽♀️
💡How can I deal with unwanted attention
while travelling alone?
⚈ Do not smile if you’re saying no.
⚈ Act as if you don’t understand their language.
⚈ Ignore people and don’t feel guilty about it.
⚈ Learn how locals dress and respect it.
⚈ Learn martial arts and defend yourself!
💡5 Creative and revolutionary products for female
solo traveller safety:
Hyper whistle
Designed at the request of US Navy officials for crews on aircraft carrier decks, it’s billed by its makers as the world’s loudest whistle, at around 142 dB, audible up to a few kilometres away.
It comes with earplugs, and you’ll want them!
Bellroy Travel Folio
A slim travel wallet that keeps your passport, cards, cash and boarding pass together in one place, with a built-in micro pen for filling in arrival forms. Choose the RFID-protected version to block scanners from skimming your cards and passport details.
Flight Pickpocket-Proof Underwear
Soft, breathable underwear made from bamboo fabric, with a hidden zip pocket for your passport, cards or emergency cash. Perfect for overnight buses, crowded markets and long flights, when your bag is out of sight, or you’re too tired to watch it.
Solar Panel Biolite 5+
A compact, foldable solar panel that charges your phone from the sun, so you’re never stuck without maps, translation apps or a way to call for help. Clip it to your backpack on hiking days, or prop it on a windowsill in places with unreliable power.
Anti-Drink Spiking Stopper: Small reusable plugs that fit into the neck of a bottle, so no one can slip anything into your drink while you dance, chat or look away. They only work on bottles, not glasses, so pair them with the basics: watch your drink being poured, keep it in your hand, and if you leave it unattended, get a new one.
💡 Preparing a first aid kit for my first solo female travel:
Just a reminder that I am not a doctor, okay?
In accordance with the Red Cross recommendation, these items are essential for a complete and efficient kit:
🟣Adhesive Bandages
🟣Antiseptic wipes or spray
🟣Gauze
🟣Medical Tape
🟣Elastic bandage wraps
🟣Cotton pads and swabs
🟣Gloves
🟣Scissors
🟣 First-aid guide
🟣Thermometer
🟣Face mask
🟣Aloe Vera for minor burns
🟣 Hydrocortisone cream for bites, stings and skin irritation
🟣Medication: pain relief, antacids, anti-diarrhoea, cold and cough, anti-nausea and antihistamines
I know this post has plenty of lists and a lot of information, but I hope it’s been helpful and has given you extra confidence as you plan your female solo travel.
I can’t wait to hear the stories and lessons from your future adventures, too! 💛
Frequently asked questions:
Not strangers. If someone asks, it’s fine to say you’re meeting a friend or your partner is back at the hotel. Share your real plans only with people you trust at home, and keep your accommodation address to yourself.
Book your first night before you arrive and choose a well-reviewed place in a central area. Aim to land in daylight, arrange your transport from the airport in advance, and save the address offline in case your phone loses signal.
Report it to the local police and get a written report, then contact your country’s embassy or consulate for an emergency travel document. Keep a photo of your passport in your email or cloud storage to speed up the process.
Yes, even more than if you’re travelling in a group. With no one to lend you money or accompany you to hospital, insurance covers medical care, emergency flights home and stolen belongings. Check that it covers the activities you plan to do.
