5 Best Countries For First-Time Solo Female Travelers
Solo travel can be a daunting thing, especially as a female. Unfortunately we still live in a World where females are in way more danger than men, so believe me when I say that I understand the fear of venturing out there on your own as a woman.
But there are good news: you are not alone! More and more women are starting to travel solo for so many different reasons and it’s such a revolution that is empowering us and giving us so much freedom!
I have traveled solo to 22 countries and it’s by far my favorite way of traveling, so keep reading if you wanna know what I think are the 5 best countries to visit as a first-time solo female traveler.
Thailand
My absolute favorite country for solo female travelers and my top recommendation for girls traveling alone for the first time is Thailand!
I have so many great memories from this gorgeous country and it will always have a special place in my heart, so let me tell you some of the reasons why it would be the perfect place for you to start your solo adventures.
First of all, I loved traveling in Thailand because it’s so easy to meet people! If you’re feeling scared about traveling solo for the first time because you fear being lonely, Thailand has got you covered! This country is such a paradise for tourism in general and especially backpackers, so I can guarantee you that you will meet new people all the time on your solo trip to Thailand.


I had such a great time exploring Thailand with fellow solo travelers
Apart from that, Thailand is also a country where you don’t have to worry about feeling bored. There is so much to see and do, so I always felt super excited to explore while I was solo traveling there!
From tropical islands with paradisiac beaches to History and towns full of beautiful temples, Thailand is such a complete destination that will make you fall in love with it instantly.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE: Best Islands to Visit in Thailand
Another very important aspect that makes me recommend Thailand to all the girls who ask me about the best countries for first-time solo female travelers is that it’s a country where I always felt safe.
Thailand is known as the Land of Smiles and after being there three times, I really understand why. The thai people are so friendly and nice that you will feel right at home the moment you arrive! I always felt like I could ask anyone for help and they would do whatever they could to help me with what I needed, which is such an important thing to feel safe and welcomed as a solo female traveler.


The thai people are some of the friendliest people I have ever met
Last but not least, I think that Thailand is the perfect country for your first solo trip because it’s such an easy country to travel in.
If you’re planning a trip to Thailand and want to book your transportation in advance, I really recommend 12goAsia: it’s by far the best and most reliable website to book transportation in all of Asia. But if you are thinking of going to Thailand on a more go with the flow kind of vibe, fear not, because Thailand has got you covered!
When you’re walking along the streets in Thailand, you will quickly notice that there are travel agencies everywhere. They will be your best friends during your solo trip there!
I used to walk up to any of them just a day or two in advance (and sometimes even the night before I wanted to travel) and ask for help to get from point A to B. They never failed me and they won’t fail you either! Thailand is so well prepared for tourism and their transportation system is proof of that.
Norway
My second favorite country for first-time solo female travelers is one of the most beautiful countries I have ever visited.
Located in the North of Europe, Norway is part of Scandinavia and with that comes lots of stereotypes. People expect Scandinavian countries to be clean, organized, reliable, safe and developed, amongst many other things.
After having lived in Sweden for nearly 8 years and visiting all Scandinavian countries, I’m very pleased to tell you that, in my experience, all of those stereotypes are correct and Norway is no exception!
I found it to be a super organized and easy country to travel in, which made my solo trip there so smooth and pleasant.


Norway is a super organized, clean and reliable country
Besides being famous for having so many qualities, Scandinavians are also known for being cold and reserved people. After living in Sweden for so many years, I have to confirm that it’s true. But I also have to admit that I found the Norwegians to be quite friendly and nice people who were willing to help more than I would expect any Scandinavians to do!
I usually felt comfortable asking for help or directions on my solo trip to Norway, which I think is such an important aspect for solo female travelers.
Besides, I don’t think there are many other countries where I felt as safe as in Norway. It’s a country that is known for being really advanced when it comes to women’s rights and equality, which I really felt when I was there.

I found the Norwegians really nice and respectful of women
One of the few downsides of traveling in Norway as a solo traveler is that it’s not easy to meet people. Since it’s an expensive country, it doesn’t really attract a lot of backpackers or other types of solo travelers, which can make it quite difficult to come across people you would be able to hang out with in case you wanted to.
That being said, I really think that Norway is an amazing country for your first solo trip, especially if you want to truly experience some alone time! It’s such a beautiful country with so much to see and do that, in my opinion, it is best experienced in the peacefulness of your own company.
You won’t feel bored in such a beautiful country as Norway
Taiwan
Even though it’s not a very popular country to visit, I really think that Taiwan is a great destination for any traveller and especially for solo female travelers.
I didn’t even plan on going to Taiwan but ended up getting accepted for a volunteering position there, so I decided to give it a chance and ended up completely falling in love with that country!
One of the reasons that makes me think that Taiwan is a great choice for your first solo trip is that fact that it’s such a small and compact country. When you’re embarking on your first-ever solo trip, the last thing you will want is to arrive in a huge country that feels super overwhelming.
That’s the exact opposite of what Taiwan feels like! I always felt so at ease there and didn’t have to worry one bit about transportation, since their transportation system is so great and the island is quite small, making most places very easily accessible.
Taiwan is a really compact and easy country to travel in
Another thing I really loved about traveling solo in Taiwan was the fact that I always felt so safe there.
I mostly stayed in Beitou, which is the area where my volunteering position was, and I felt ultra safe there no matter the hour. Even when I traveled to other places in Taiwan, such as Hualien and Chiayi, I always felt really safe when going from place to place alone, even if I arrived somewhere at night.
I always felt safe to travel alone in Taiwan no matter the hour
Besides being such an easy and safe country to travel in, another reason that made me really love Taiwan as a solo female traveler was the friendliness of the taiwanese people.
I lost count of how many times I asked for help with directions and the local people of Taiwan went all-in to make sure they helped me get to where I wanted to go, even though there was quite a big language-barrier sometimes. I will also never forget the conversations I had with random people in Taiwan, which left me with such great memories of that country.
The people of Taiwan always went above and beyond to help me with directions
Hungary
Another one of my favorite countries for first-time solo travelers is Hungary and there are so many reasons for that!
First of all, I absolutely love Budapest. It’s my favorite european capital and I will always return to that amazing city no matter how many times I have visited. It’s so beautiful, full of things to do and perfect for a solo weekend on their many thermal baths.
I have visited Budapest several times as a solo traveler and it became my favorite european capital
Apart from Budapest, there is so much more to explore in Hungary. I visited Eger, a hidden gem nearby and the famous Miskolctapolca Cave Bath all on my own and had the time of my life! Apart from those places, there is so much more I would love to explore in that amazing country, so I am sure I will take another solo trip there whenever I have the chance.
I loved exploring Hungary outside of Budapest as a solo traveler
While I was exploring Hungary, I always found the locals to be super nice and helpful no matter where I was.
An example that truly made me feel welcome in that country was when I arrived in Eger at night and could somehow not make my internet work so I was completely lost, and the locals did everything in their power to help me find my way to the hotel I had booked. That’s exactly the vibe you want in the country where you’re taking your first ever solo trip.
Another reason why I loved Hungary as solo traveler was the fact that it’s such a cheap country.
One of the downsides of traveling solo is that some things can become more expensive, such as accommodations and transportation in some occasions. If you are looking to keep costs down as much as you can, you could always stay at hostels; but if you would like to take advantage of the low prices in Hungary, you could even have a private room for the same price as a hostel bed would cost you in other countries.
Italy
Last but not least, I have to mention one of my absolute favorite countries on this list. Including Italy on a list of best countries for first-time solo travelers might be controversial but I do believe it’s a good choice for your first solo trip, even if some precautions are needed!
Italy is known for having a very warm culture and people. The italians have a temperament and they are very outspoken people, which can be both good and bad. It makes for a very fun population but it can also bring some problems, especially if you’re a woman! All I mean is this: be prepared to be cat-called or even hit on, because italian men do have that tendency. It can be annoying but I wouldn’t say it’s dangerous for solo female travelers.
That being said, Italy is one of my absolute favorite countries to take solo trips in and I’m sure it will make for a perfect first solo trip when you decide to venture out there on your own!
Italy is one of my favorite countries to take solo trips in
If you decide to choose Italy as the destination of your first ever solo trip, simply keep in mind these basic solo female traveler rules and I’m sure you will be fine:
If possible, don’t arrive late at night – When you’re booking your flight to Italy, try to choose one that doesn’t arrive late at night. I have always felt safe in Italy except when I arrived really late somewhere, so I have learned to avoid it.
Be careful with your valuables – There can be quite some pickpocketing in Italy, so don’t let your guard down.
Try to not walk alone at night if you’re visiting a big italian city – There are bad areas in all the major italian cities, so except when you’re in the italian countryside, try to be back at your hostel/hotel at an early hour.
I always take these precautions when I visit Italy on a solo trip and it helps me feel safe every time, in order to enjoy that amazing country that has so much to offer!
With the right precautions, Italy is an amazing country to visit as a solo female traveler
Now let’s talk about the exciting parts of visiting Italy as a solo traveler!
Italy is an amazing country full of things to see and you, which is why I believe it would be a great choice for your first solo trip. The food, the culture, the landscapes and all the History in this country is unprecedented, which is why it’s basically impossible to feel bored in Italy.
If you’re looking for inspiration to take the final step and finally book that flight to Italy, watch the movie “Eat, Pray, Love”. Julia Robert’s solo journey of self-discovery starts in the land of La Dolce Vita and if that doesn’t make you want to instantly hop on a plane and head there, I don’t know what will!
The food, the culture and the History in Italy make it the perfect country to explore as a solo traveler
From romantic Verona to chaotic Naples, Italy is by far the most alluring country I have ever visited. No matter how many times I visit, there seems to be no end to how many places I have on my italian bucket list and I am sure I will be going back to explore more of this unique country until I die.
I hope this list has made you excited about your first solo trip and that it had given you some good ideas of destinations that could suit your needs. I know it can feel like a huge step to head out there on your own but after visiting more than 20 countries solo, I can guarantee you this: solo traveling is the most special experience anyone can have and after the scary first step of actually going out there alone, everything becomes easier.
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