Help me decide where to go on my first solo holiday.

[DobbyIsAFreeElf]

I have 9 days off work end of September early October. I'm looking at booking a short break maybe 4/5 nights at a max £300. I'm hoping for decent(ish) weather but cannot decide where to go. I'm open to city or beach. I've looked at Barcelona but many of my friends have said it's not the safest city especially for solo female travellers.

If it's city I would like lots of sights to see unless the hotel has swimming pool or the city is in a beach location. With beach holidays I prefer a swimming pool that I can lounge around reading all day and not too far from main resorts.

I usually holiday in Greece but this is likely to be to expensive because the flights are not cheap and I've already ruled out krakow due to planning a trip there with family next year.

I’ve had a great time alone in Venice, Berlin, Lisbon, Lausanne, Barcelona, Amsterdam and Paris.

Florence or Barcelona. Loved both!

I forgot Florence and Verona!

Barcelona is perfectly safe.
I prefer Italy myself, would probably go to Florence or Venice, love both those cities and never run out of things to do.

Budapest. I've been twice and there is tons to do. Beautiful and interesting. September is a great time to go as summer can be too hot.
I've heard Barcelona is dodgy at night and when my husband went with some friends one of them got mugged.
Plus Budapest will be cheaper.
I've also heard fantastic things about Berlin but not been myself.
I went to Krakow earlier this year and while it was l8vely, the one night I walked home alone I felt a bit unsafe and got a bit of unwelcome attention.

Lots of fantastic ideas here- but can the OP do them within her budget?

I'm looking at booking a short break maybe 4/5 nights at a max £300

I think Barcelona would be fine. Just stick to the main, busy tourist areas and don’t go down any empty side streets. At night I’d probably get a taxi back to the hotel.

I've been alone to Barcelona, Prague, Budapest, Madrid, Vienna, Berlin, Bratislava (amongst others)...all v safe

My top pick would be Madrid

I’ve done Lisbon and Madrid as a solo traveller. Both great cities, great food and I felt very safe on my own.