Top 10 Safest Countries for Women Traveling Alone

Are you tired of waiting for others to travel with you? Want to explore places by yourself? It’s time to go on a solo trip!

For women traveling alone, we’ve made a list of the safest places to visit. We considered safety, crime, equality, and how women are treated.

Start planning your next adventure to one of the 10 safest countries for solo female travelers!

Reasons to Travel Solo

Thinking about traveling alone? After talking to many women who travel solo, we found five great reasons to try it yourself:

1. You grow as a person: Traveling alone helps you become more confident and learn new things about yourself.
2. You can do whatever you want: You don’t have to worry about what anyone else wants to do. You get to decide everything.
3. You meet new people: Traveling solo makes it easier to connect with others and make new friends.
4. You learn to handle challenges: Going alone teaches you to solve problems on your own and handle tough situations.
5. It’s empowering: Being independent on your travels can make you feel strong and proud of yourself.

Solo Female Travel: Safety Stats, Insights, and Challenges

Traveling alone as a woman can be fun, but there are some safety concerns. Many women worry about their safety when traveling. In fact, 80% of women think about safety when planning their trips, and 2 out of 5 women face uncomfortable situations or unwanted attention while traveling.

We’re not saying you shouldn’t travel alone, but it’s important to be careful. Solo travel can be safe if you plan and take the right steps to protect yourself.

Safety Concerns for Women Traveling Alone

When a woman travels alone, safety is a big concern, even though solo trips can be exciting. We looked at popular travel places to find the safest ones for women traveling alone.

1. Gender gap: This shows how men and women have different access to things like education, healthcare, and jobs. In places with a bigger gap, women might face more risks. Solo women travelers can help by supporting women-run businesses and sharing their stories.
2. Crime rates: Solo women travelers can be more likely to become victims of crime. It’s important to know the crime rates in a place before visiting and to take steps to stay safe.
3. Violence against women: We also looked at how common domestic violence and sexual violence are in different countries, as these can affect how safe women feel traveling alone.

Criteria for Ranking the Safest Countries for Solo Female Travelers

To rank the safest countries for women traveling alone, we looked at these important things:

1. Actions to protect women – How much the country does to keep women safe.
2. Friendliness – How friendly and welcoming the people are.
3. Crime rates and violence against women – How much crime and violence against women happens in the country.
4. How easy it is to get around – How easy it is for women to travel and move around the country.
5. Global Peace Index – A ranking that shows how peaceful the country is overall.
6. Global Gender Gap Index – A ranking that shows how equal men and women are in the country.

List of Top 10 Safest Countries for Women Traveling Alone

1. Switzerland

Switzerland is a very safe country with low crime rates. Only 2% of women say they have experienced violence from men. It has beautiful mountains and great views, and it’s famous for its good roads, friendly people, and tasty chocolate.

Women in Switzerland generally feel safe because the country has strict laws to protect them from violence.

How Switzerland ranks in different areas:

• Protecting women: 5 out of 5
• Friendliness of people: 4 out of 5
• Violence and crime rates: 5 out of 5
• How easy it is to visit: 4 out of 5
• Peace level: 5 out of 5
• Gender equality: 4 out of 5

2. Ireland

Ireland is a very safe country for women traveling alone, with a safety score of 7.88. Many women visit Ireland because of its beautiful landscapes, like the cliffs at Slieve League and the Connemara National Park. The people in Ireland are friendly and helpful, making solo female travelers feel welcome.

Some details about how safe and friendly Ireland is:

• Steps taken to protect women: 4 out of 5
• Friendliness of people: 5 out of 5
• Gender-based violence and crime: 3 out of 5
• Accessibility (how easy it is to get around): 5 out of 5
• Global Peace Index (how peaceful the country is): 5 out of 5
• Gender Gap Index (how equal men and women are): 4 out of 5

3. Canada

Canada is a safe place for women who travel alone, with a safety score of 7.69. The country has low crime, even though it is very busy and modern.

When you travel alone in Canada, you can feel free and not worry too much about danger or losing your things.

Canada has beautiful mountains and wildlife, which is great for people who love nature.

How we rank Canada:

• Steps taken to protect women: 4 out of 5
• Friendliness of people: 5 out of 5
• Gender-based violence and crime: 3 out of 5
• Overall accessibility: 5 out of 5
• Global Peace Index: 5 out of 5
• Gender Gap Index: 4 out of 5

4. Finland

Finland is a safe and friendly place for women traveling alone, with a high safety score of 7.76.

The people in Finland are very well-off, and the country has great healthcare and schools. Finland is often called the happiest country in the world. It’s known for beautiful places like Lapland, where you can see the northern lights, its traditional saunas, special food, and as the home of Santa Claus.

How Finland ranks in different areas:

• Protection for women: 4 out of 5
• Friendliness: 4 out of 5
• Crime and violence against women: 3 out of 5
• Ease of getting around: 5 out of 5
• Peacefulness: 4 out of 5
• Gender equality: 4 out of 5

5. Iceland

Iceland is known for being a very safe place, especially for women. Many women traveling alone feels safe and respected there, which makes it a great choice for those who like to explore on their own.

Iceland has beautiful and amazing nature, like the Northern Lights, the Blue Lagoon, volcanoes, glaciers, and big waterfalls. The country also has a rich history, especially from the Vikings.

How Iceland is rated:

• Safety for women: 4 out of 5
• Friendliness: 4 out of 5
• Crime against women: 3 out of 5
• How easy it is to visit: 5 out of 5
• Peace level: 4 out of 5
• Equality between men and women: 4 out of 5

6. Sweden

Sweden is a safe country with a high score of 7.85 for safety. It has a low crime rate which makes it a good place for solo female travelers. Sweden is perfect for nature lovers, with 29 national parks and over 100,000 lakes.

You can easily visit these places from cities, as everyone has the right to enjoy nature (this is called “allemansrätten”).

How Sweden is ranked in different areas:

• Women’s safety: 4/5 (they take good steps to protect women)
• Friendliness: 3/5 (people are friendly)
• Gender-based violence and crime rates: 2/5 (there is some violence, but it’s not very high)
• Accessibility: 4/5 (easy to visit)
• Global Peace: 5/5 (very peaceful country)
• Gender equality: 4/5 (good, but there’s still some gap)

7. Norway

Norway is one of the safest places to visit because it has very low crime rates. People from all backgrounds are welcomed, including women traveling alone and LGBTQ+ travelers.

Even though Norwegians can be a bit shy, you can still enjoy great experiences with them.

Norway is known for its beautiful nature, with events like the Arctic lights and the stunning Lofoten islands.

How we rate Norway:

• Steps to protect women: 4 out of 5
• Friendliness: 3 out of 5
• Gender-based violence & crime rates: 2 out of 5
• Overall accessibility: 4 out of 5
• Global peace: 5 out of 5
• Gender equality: 5 out of 5

8. Denmark

Denmark is a great place to visit if you’re traveling alone. It’s known for being very safe, happy, and easy to live in.

The capital city, Copenhagen, is famous for its food, with top restaurants like Noma and Geranium that have won awards.

Denmark is also famous for its beautiful design and buildings. The country’s public transport system works well, even in small towns.

How Denmark scores in different areas:

• Steps to protect women: 5 out of 5 (they do a great job).
• Friendliness: 4 out of 5 (people are friendly).
• Gender-based violence & crime: 2 out of 5 (there is some crime, but it’s not very high).
• Accessibility: 3 out of 5 (it’s okay but could be better).
• Global Peace Index: 5 out of 5 (Denmark is very peaceful).
• Gender Gap Index: 4 out of 5 (Denmark is good, but not perfect).

9. Netherlands

The Netherlands is considered a safe and friendly place for women traveling alone, with a safety score of 7.62. It is known for its beautiful nature, windmills, and tulip fields.

Cities like Amsterdam, Utrecht, and Rotterdam are full of culture, history, and unique buildings, making it a great place to visit.

How the country ranks in different areas:

• Steps taken to protect women: 3 out of 5
• Friendliness: 4 out of 5
• Gender-based violence & crime: 3 out of 5
• Accessibility (how easy it is to get around): 4 out of 5
• Global Peace Index (how peaceful the country is): 5 out of 5
• Gender Gap Index (how equal men and women are): 3 out of 5

10. Austria

Austria is a safe country for women traveling alone. It has beautiful cities and nature, and it’s known for being one of the safest places in Europe.

The people are friendly and helpful. The country has great public transport and many places to stay, no matter your budget.

Austria is known for its beautiful mountains and villages. It has a mix of nature, history, and culture that makes it special.

Some ratings:

• Steps to protect women: 4 out of 5 (Good protection)
• Friendliness: 4 out of 5 (Friendly people)
• Gender-based violence & crime rates: 3 out of 5 (Some crime, but not too high)
• Overall accessibility: 3 out of 5 (Good, but could be better)
• Global Peace Index: 4 out of 5 (Quite peaceful)
• Gender Gap Index: 3 out of 5 (Some gaps between men and women)