8 Ideal Female Solo Travel Destinations In Europe

Let’s talk about the best female solo travel destinations in Europe.

I have traveled a lot and most of my travels are done alone. There are many countries I am planning to visit, but it takes time to get to all of them.

Therefore, I asked some other travel writers where they thought the best place to travel alone to was. Below are their experiences in Europe and the United Kingdom.

Additionally, you can read about their solo travel experiences in Eastern and Western Countries here. Be sure to come back and read about them all.

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So, in no specific order, here are the recommendations and experiences for best places solo female travel destinations in Europe and the UK.

Table of Contents

Singles Holidays in Madrid, Spain

It’s pretty hard not to fall in love with Madrid, the vibrant Spanish capital. It combines the traditional and the modern so well together and offers something for any type of traveler.

One of the best destination for solo female travel, you’ll want to be able to get around easily and feel safe, and Madrid ticks both of these boxes.

Madrid’s Metro system is very extensive, extremely easy to use, and well-connected to the airport. Apart from pickpockets (that is not uncommon in Europe), Madrid is also a very safe city, and you should be able to walk around freely.

Another great thing about Madrid, Spain as a solo travel destination is that you can enjoy everything it has to offer, no matter what your budget is. You can find many hostels and cheap Airbnb rooms, attractions that you can visit for free, and many affordable dining options.

Let’s also not forget about all the incredible tours and activities in Madrid. If you want to explore the city’s classical side, go see the city’s historical landmarks or head to La Latina neighborhood for charming old town streets and squares, and traditional taverns and tapas bars.

To see Madrid’s modern and cultural side, wander the streets of Malasaña or Salamanca neighborhoods, visit local indoor markets, take a stroll in one of Madrid’s parks or visit a museum.

Madrid’s gastronomic scene is also something to be recognized. From the oldest restaurant in the world to the trendiest cafes and bistros, this city is a culinary power.

With so many more surprises up its sleeve and cool alternative things to do, Madrid is the perfect choice for your first solo trip and a must-have on your travel bucket list.

Recommended by Or Amir from My Path In The World.

If you love Spain, you may also want to check out the 13 Best Things To Do In Malaga.

Solo Travel in Prague, Czech Republic

Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic. This beautiful city on the Vltava river is one of the most welcoming, safe, and colorful in Europe for solo travelers. Thanks to a very easy-to-use public transport system, which includes metro, tram, bus, and train, it’s easy to explore the city, making it the perfect first female solo trip destination. You can spend two days in Prague or more: there are quite a few nice towns that you can add to your itinerary as day trips.

While at night it’s always a good idea to keep your eyes open, wherever you go, in Prague it’s good to watch out for the tourists. The locals, in fact, make it a point not to drink too much when they’re out.

If someone makes a fool out of themselves, their friends won’t invite them to go out again. On the contrary, due to the delicious and very cheap beer, tourists often tend to drink too much. Yet while sometimes this can result in a few drunken passes, Prague is usually a pretty safe destination!

The city is full of things to see and do. From museums to art collections, to the amazing Prague Castle. Even just strolling through the narrow roads sided with brightly colored houses is an unforgettable experience!

Overall Prague isn’t an expensive destination: you can eat delicious street food for a few dollars and drink a pint of beer for something around $4. Always keep in mind that the priciest pubs are specially meant for the tourists, while those where a pint is less expensive are the traditional ones where the locals like to go to! Traditional Czech cuisine can be found throughout the city; however, it is a lot better if you leave the touristy areas for it. If you enjoy drinking wine, then you’ll want to check out the Top 10 Places For Czech Wine In Prague. You should definitely try a craft beer and food tour and learn about all the great local products they have.

Recommended by Danila Caputo from Travelling Dany.

Go Travel The Portuguese Coastal Way to Santiago

Cathedral-of-Santiago-de-Compostela-in-Galicia — Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia

Since the Middle Ages, people have walked The Way to Santiago de Compostela from all corners of Europe. Being the French path the most famous to date, there are many others well worth checking out.

Like the Portuguese Coastal Way, which starts in the picture-perfect city of Porto and passes through iconic villages such as Vila do Conde, Viana do Castelo, Caminha, A Guarda, and Baiona before merging with the Portuguese Central Way in Redondela.

From May to September, the chances of meeting like-minded hikers are a must if you are looking forward to a more sociable experience. Otherwise, the Way is an all-year-round activity, and perfectly safe for a female solo trip.

The complete route is 260 km long and one can take as many days as needed to walk it. Usually, people take between 10 and 15 days, but it all depends on everyone’s mood, fitness, and desired pace.

Also, on how much time you want to enjoy the tasty Portuguese cuisine, the cozy accommodation spots dotting the way (such as Sea Porto Hotel, Design&Wine in Caminha, Boega hotel in Gondarém, and Quinta do Caminho in Pedreira), and the aforementioned stunning villages you will walkthrough.

Check out our complete listing of all the 

Portugal Tours, Tickets, Activities & Things To Do

I’ve walked several traits of different Caminos since I was a teenager. Some of them alone, some of them in a couple, and some of them with a group. And, overall, enjoyed all of them.

After all the challenges faced, the joy felt when reaching Santiago de Compostela is something that can’t be explained and must be experienced at least once in a lifetime.

Recommended by Inma Gregorio from A World to Travel.

Solo Holidays in Switzerland

It’s hard to imagine a better solo travel destination than Switzerland. Topmost among reasons is the country’s safety; check any crime index and you’ll see Switzerland is among the safest countries in the world, whether day or night.

Some of this security comes from gender attitudes, with women receiving as much respect as men and not being considered in any way unequal.

Switzerland has a magnificent public transportation network, with buses, trains, and boats reaching the remotest villages. This makes it very easy to enjoy activities and tours throughout Switzerland.

These are frequented by solo women at all hours and carry visitors to corners of unbelievable beauty – soaring Alpine scenery, white with snow or sizzling with sunshine, or to one of the country’s many shimmering lakes – officially, Switzerland counts 7000 bodies of water but a solid 100 ‘large’ lakes.

All that public transportation will come in handy to visit the thermal spas that dot the mountainsides, the result of all that runoff high terrain. Switzerland is for nature lovers and unlike in many countries, women on their own can easily follow mountain and lakeshore paths without worrying about unpleasant encounters.

The paths are all well marked, frequented, and easily reachable by public transport. In winter, of course, there are snow sports and again, being a woman alone won’t even be noticed.

The best of Switzerland includes the country’s towns and cities as they are as enticing as its countryside. Nibbling chocolate, sipping coffee, and watching people go by can be fun from Geneva to Zurich to Lugano.

Museums, specialty foods, and centuries-old history and architecture all combine to beckon the solo traveler. The joy of being able to walk around almost any neighborhood of any city is a freedom that is becoming rare.

Recommended by Leyla from Women On The Road.

Traveling Alone in Paris, France

Paris is the perfect destination for a first solo traveler. The city is safe and there are lots of things to see and do. Paris is a very walkable city and for longer distances, the Parisian Metro makes it very easy to get around. Come to Paris, if you are especially interested in history, arts, and culture. Additionally, Paris is also a great city for food lovers, with many yummy proposals from cheap eats to Michelin starred restaurants.

If you are planning a trip to Paris, France you may want to see some of its main sights, like the Louvre Museum, the Eiffel Tower, and Notre Dame Cathedral. Read some information and plan the visit of these places in advance to get the most out of them and avoid the crowds.

See our complete listing of 

Paris Tours, Tickets, Activities & Things To Do

Apart from the top sights, the city has many outdoor opportunities and we recommend spending some time wandering around the historic neighborhoods of Paris or enjoying a stroll in one of the city’s many parks.

The city is crossed by the River Seine and we definitely recommend taking a boat tour. There are many kinds of boat tours, from romantic boat tours for couples to millennial tours or budget tours so we are sure you can find the perfect boat tour for you.

Finally, it may be also interesting to join a guided tour. Guided tours are a great way to explore a particular neighborhood in Paris or to know more about a specific subject, as well as being an entertaining activity and a good opportunity to meet other people.

Food tours and wine tasting tours, for example, are very popular in Paris and a great opportunity to taste the typical food in Paris.

Recommended by Elisa Subirats from World in Paris.

Looking for a great place to stay? Read about A Room in Paris Bed and Breakfast.

Solo Travel Ideas in Austria

Not only should Austria be very high on your bucket list, but it’s also the perfect destination for your very first female solo trip. Many times, overlooked by its neighbors Italy, Switzerland, or Germany.

Austria has a very special identity and a strong personality. First-time travelers will enjoy it there a lot, because of excellent and affordable public transportation that makes renting a car mostly unnecessary. There’s plenty of train connections and bus services that will get you pretty much anywhere.

You’ve probably heard that Vienna has been named the most liveable city in the world. And not once. Not twice.

But an astonishing nine times in a row! That definitely says something about a place and while I highly recommend taking your time to discover the capital city with its very unique coffee house culture, the palaces, and the parks, it’s also what lies beyond the city’s borders.

If you’re after a hip and young city, head to Graz and discover the city walking around its neighborhoods. If you like industrial chic with a modern twist, then Linz is your go-to. Looking for some romantic atmosphere and gorgeous buildings and a castle to top it all off?

Salzburg is your destination. As much as I enjoy the cities with the numerous activities and tours, Austria’s true heart and spirit can be found in more rural places. One of my favorite regions is the Salzkammergut – which translates to Salt Chamber.

This is where Hallstatt is located – the most Instagrammed town in Austria. While it is indeed very beautiful there, make sure to visit places like St. Wolfgang, Gmunden, and Gosau. And while you’re there: make sure to cool off in one of the many lakes in the region.

Recommended by Viktoria Urbanek from Chronic Wanderlust.

Single Travel Destinations in Scandinavia

Scandinavia makes for a great destination for a first female solo trip. Scandinavia is made up of three or five fabulous countries, depending on who you ask: Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, and sometimes Finland and Iceland are also included.

First, you will have a wonderfully diverse range of experiences in Scandinavia. In Norway, you can cruise the fjords, ride a funicular to the top of a mountain, and do some epic hikes, such as to the top of Pulpit Rock. Bergen and Stavanger are wonderful cities to visit on the first trip to Norway.

In Iceland, you can see magnificent waterfalls and swim infamous hot springs.

Visit our Complete listings

Iceland Tours, Tickets, Activities & Things To Do

Norway Tours, Tickets, Activities & Things To Do

Sweden Tours, Tickets, Activities & Things To Do

Denmark Tours, Tickets, Activities & Things To Do

Finland Tours, Tickets, Activities & Things To Do

In Denmark and Sweden, you can take your pick of wonderful museums, palaces, and castles. You can climb to the top of church towers for Instagram-worthy rooftop photos.

You can stroll through the historic Old Towns: Stockholm’s Old Town, Gamla Stan, which should definitely be part of your itinerary in Stockholm.

In Helsinki, Finland’s young capital, you can browse or shop the Design District…Scandinavia is known for its cutting-edge design. And in all these places, you can sample mouthwatering cuisine, from Swedish meatballs to Danish open-faced sandwiches, and pastries and great coffee everywhere.

Scandinavia is not an inexpensive destination, but you can buy city cards in most major cities, and the public transport systems are excellent. All these countries pride themselves on being clean and green, so if you love to travel to sustainable places, you will be in heaven in Scandinavia.

It’s a safe, scenic place to travel on your own. It’s also not too difficult to get from one country in Scandinavia to another: they are well linked by train, or ferry, or air.

Recommended by Dhara from It’s Not About the Miles.

A Solo Trip to Iceland

One of my very first trips abroad was to Iceland. I didn’t know what to expect, but I did know that it was ranked as one of the safest countries in the world and was stunning, perfect for a solo female travel trip.

There are also many things to do in Iceland, especially if you love nature and being outdoors. Iceland is a small island located near Greenland, Norway, and the United Kingdom.

The first reason it’s great for solo female travelers is that the crime rates are low. With a murder rate that is the lowest in the world, you very rarely have to worry about violent crime.

However, of course, you do have to watch your back with Mother Nature as Iceland is a lot of wilderness and requires common sense.

One of my favorite things to do in Iceland is driving around the ring road. If you’re wondering what the ring road is, it’s exactly what it sounds like – a ring around the whole of Iceland! The road covers around 1,300 kilometers and circumnavigates the whole country.

Views out the window are breathtaking, and you will likely want to stop for photos every five minutes. The whole route would take you around 16 hours if you never stopped; however, I would recommend taking 10 days to do the whole drive and enjoy it to the max.

There are so many epic waterfalls, volcanoes, geothermal hot springs, glaciers, and a few beautiful Icelandic horses as well. The best time to drive the ring road is from April to October as this provides the best weather in Iceland. Here is a complete list of all the tours, tickets, activities, and things to do in Iceland.

Recommended by Natasha Alden from The World Pursuit.