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Safe for a solo female?

88 replies

YourBrickTiger · 28/07/2025 16:25

Hi - I'm hoping that I might soon be able to take a break from everything and am not afraid to travel alone. There are a lot of holiday destinations now that are more available than even 10 years ago.

Apart from really obvious places like warzones, where would you recommend and where would you consider is definitely NOT safe for a female travelling alone? Can be anywhere in the world.

Thank you!

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VanessaFence · 28/07/2025 19:01

I'm really surprised by people saying Sri Lanka, I've always felt really safe there. I never felt unsafe in SE Asia but I agree with PPs that I would avoid any areas known for sex tourism. The vibe is uncomfortable (and a bit threatening) as a solo female traveller.

WanderingGiraffe · 28/07/2025 19:23

My ‘nos’ as a solo female traveller would be - India, Morocco, Egypt (and I’m sure other North African countries) - didn’t feel massively unsafe but did feel harassed at times. Italy is the only place I’ve been physically attacked by a man, so I’d cross that one off too.

I’ve been to every country in C America (and can tag Mexico and Ecuador in to this group) and never felt unsafe as a woman if using common sense - there are generally unsafe areas, but if avoided then I generally fr v safe and love it there.

Malaysian Borneo and Laos felt extremely safe and v enjoyable as a solo woman. Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand also felt safe too.

Nepal generally felt ok. I enjoyed Zim and South Africa but wouldn’t spend any prolonged amount of time alone there. Same for the few Caribbean places I’ve been.

Menonut · 28/07/2025 20:07

I’ve never done Asia or Africa, but the only place I’ve ever felt unsafe in Europe was in Paris.
We accidentally got off at the wrong metro stop so we were off the familiar tourist spots and I felt very uncomfortable and I had my husband and son with me.

i dare say that I would feel the same in various other cities if we stayed off the beaten track a bit.

mumto2dd · 28/07/2025 20:13

Turkey and Egypt for me. I went to both with my Husband and I was actually grabbed at/touched/letchy shouts and whistles by locals in both countries. They are as bold and brass over an English woman. Don’t care if you’re with your partner or kids. Never again for me.

I probably wouldn’t go to Florida either solo, I have family there so even before I met DH I was never “alone” much there but yeah, I don’t think I’d want to walk about on my own evening/night.

Summertimegladness · 28/07/2025 20:17

Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka - all felt very safe to me as a solo female traveller (aged 32-36 during this time).

Jeevesnotwooster · 28/07/2025 20:25

The only places I've felt seriously unsafe (and been manhandled/in danger) were Mexico (especially Mexico City) and Turkey. Western Pakistan was also iffy but I was in a group and you probably wouldn't go there now anyway as it's very near Afghanistan. There are also parts of the US where it's wise to be careful.

I've traveled a lot, both on my own, and with others across lots of Europe, Middle East, North America, India and sub-saharan Africa so have a fairly wide experience to draw on.

lljkk · 28/07/2025 20:34

I had a fab time in Egypt 8 months ago as a solo female traveller.
I wasn't sexually harrassed even once.
Presumably helps that I'm "old" with gray hair and that I move fast and have no interest in night life. Also, this was Sinai peninusula and the riffraff are definitely kept out of that region. I don't think I saw a single beggar the whole time I was there.

Mexico city felt unsafe when I travelled on the underground there in the late 1980s with my mom.

I totally acknowledge that my 23yo pretty DD would have a very different experience... everywhere.

Horserider5678 · 28/07/2025 20:35

YourBrickTiger · 28/07/2025 16:25

Hi - I'm hoping that I might soon be able to take a break from everything and am not afraid to travel alone. There are a lot of holiday destinations now that are more available than even 10 years ago.

Apart from really obvious places like warzones, where would you recommend and where would you consider is definitely NOT safe for a female travelling alone? Can be anywhere in the world.

Thank you!

Just don’t come to Kent! Reform who control the cancel have rejected a motion giving more security to woman and girls! So I would say Kent is about to become the unsafest county to females!

VeronicaRaven · 28/07/2025 20:37

I don't know if this is something you are considering but I go on cruises a lot, not as solo traveler, but there is always loads of solos on every cruise. Just make sure you pick a cruise that is best suited to what you want. If you are 25 and like to party you may want to cruise with Virgin, if you are a little more fancy and 50+ consider Ambassador or Cunard. Anything in-between: look at Marella, P&O or MSC etc. I'm simplifying massively but you got the picture.

SleepyLion123 · 28/07/2025 20:39

Why don't you try solo travel groups like G Adventures, Intrepid, Explore!. As a solo female traveller, I have been to some amazing places like Costa Rica and Uganda, but in the comfort of a group of people in the same situation and I felt safe

G5000 · 28/07/2025 20:45

Felt unsafe: Egypt, Morocco, Turkey.

Fine pretty much everywhere else - need to be mindful of pickpockets and scammers in bigger cities, but they generally don't target solo women only. Never any issues in Scandinavia or Baltics. But clearly experiences differ - for example I went to Mexico City just last year and was commenting how safe I felt and how there was 0 harassment.

Cappuccino5 · 28/07/2025 20:48

SleepyLion123 · 28/07/2025 20:39

Why don't you try solo travel groups like G Adventures, Intrepid, Explore!. As a solo female traveller, I have been to some amazing places like Costa Rica and Uganda, but in the comfort of a group of people in the same situation and I felt safe

DD did one with Tru Travels - it was absolutely brilliant!

SlothCat · 28/07/2025 20:51

I've solo travelled around Northern Europe and felt safe all over. Norway is beautiful and felt very safe. Copenhagen and Tallinn are great cities. Visby is a lovely island off the coast of Sweden. I've been advised to avoid Tunisia and Morocco because I was thinking about going there a few years ago. I didn't go to Greece alone but would feel safe there on my own. I'm thinking of going to Japan in a few years time and will do it alone and don't worry about that at all.

Klp122 · 28/07/2025 21:02

I felt very safe in NZ, Austria, Switzerland, Provence and Bordeaux, New York and Scotland. I also found the western Scottish Islands very safe. Funnily enough I always feel safe solo in London but would say I felt safer in New York. Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain all fine too, at least they were for me. Hong Kong is supposedly safe too but I haven't been.

I wouldn't recommend Spain for solo travel - especially the Canaries - where in Tenerife male hotel staff harassed me and repeatedly entered my locked room including at night. I cut my trip short. I also didn't feel at all safe in Norway.

I can't comment on the likes of Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco as never been, but probably wouldn't recommend them.

YourBrickTiger · 29/07/2025 10:28

Thank you everyone. I've been to Hungary and Poland without any issues at all, and a lot of the USA. USA doesn't scare me at all and probably should! Turkey I was with friends but the men did not leave us alone - very offputting.

I sort of knew that some of the suggestions would not be safe, but am frustrated about India and Sri Lanka. I realise as a white blonde woman I would stand out but these are two countries that really are high up for me and I wish there weren't the dangers that there are. These are the places I'd love to go to and it would be alone.

  1. Sri Lanka
  2. India
  3. Chile
  4. Mexico
  5. Russia
  6. UAE
  7. Egypt - what if I just stay around the hotel?! lol
  8. South Africa
  9. Japan - I'm very intrigued now and it does sound safe!
  10. Bahamas or Barbados
  11. Bali
  12. Maldives
  13. Seychelles (wayyyyyyyyy out of my price range!)
  14. Namibia
  15. Morocco
Argh I hate being held back because I'm alone! I am careful and don't take unnecessary risks but I don't want to stand out like a spot on a domino either.

Thank you for all the amazing feedback and advice. x

OP posts:
Holluschickie · 29/07/2025 10:33

You can go to India with a guided tour and more expensive hotels. Southern India, especially Kerala, is safer and very underrated as most tourists go to the Golden Triangle.

I think Sri Lanka is still possible as a white blonde woman if you spend a little more and go for well known hotels which will provide safe drivers.

UK2HK · 29/07/2025 10:37

Hong Kong is very safe.
I've gone out for McDonald's in the past at 3 am and nothing happened.

Helenloveslee4eva · 29/07/2025 10:40

Travelled solo
all over Europe - no issue.

recently went to Istanbul with adult son as thought maybe not ideal as lone female. Was fine too except I would have felt a bit uncomfortable in the east over the river as it was much more conservative and male dominated with few families with small kids

HundredMilesAnHour · 29/07/2025 11:28

Maybe start with Japan or Bali and go from there.

As a tall blonde woman, it can be a pain as not only are you a magnet for some of the more dubious locals, but it’s also impossible to blend in.

I agree with everyone to avoid Egypt. We went as two blonde women and that was spectacularly stupid. It got to the point that we had to quietly open our hotel room door to check the coast was clear and then leg it down the fire exit. And this was at a hotel that my father had recommended as he and his partner had stayed there many times and loved it. And running the gauntlet of the male hotel staff was just the start of it. Outside on the street it got much worse.

By contrast, I used to live in Hong Kong (as a single woman) and that’s completely safe. You might get a few mainlanders taking photos of you because of your blonde hair (and height also for me) but that’s it. I travelled round most of East / South East Asia alone and was fine. Obviously you’ll never pass as local but you might get away with passing as an expat if you’re savvy.

I had zero problems in Qatar as a solo blonde so maybe that might be an option instead of / as well as UAE? Or Oman?

I‘be been to Morocco quite a few times as a solo female and it has felt quite intimidating (and I’m not easily intimidated!) but I got round that by staying at places I trust (Riad Capaldi in Marrakesh, or Hotel Capaldi in the Atlast foothills - owned by a lovely Western couple) and using local guides (recommended by the hotel / riad) when I was out and about. The riad / hotel staff also really looked after me and gave great advice.

It’s not ideal but throwing money at the problem with a local guide can really help as it builds your confidence as well as you learn so much, and have experiences you would struggle to have travelling alone when you don’t know the language, customs etc. Some of my best holidays have been solo where I’ve booked a local guide and had the most incredible times. Vietnam especially.

PurBal · 29/07/2025 11:33

@dizzydizzydizzygenerally I agree but have you been recently? Trinidad and Tobago have issued a state of emergency.

IkaBaar · 29/07/2025 11:38

I wouldn’t say it was unsafe, but away from the tourist resorts Fiji is the most sexist place I’ve been (worse than Morocco, Jordan etc.).

I agree if you’re on an organised group tour then many of these places will be fine, I’ve been to Morocco on one.

VanessaFence · 29/07/2025 11:49

Sri Lanka - I've spent loads of time in SL and never had a problem. Never experienced any staring or harassment, I think it's a very safe country. It's also very touristy so no one will take any notice of you (my experience anyway).

India - personally I wouldn't just because I can't be arsed with the staring

Chile - never had a problem there, generally felt safe

Egypt - what if I just stay around the hotel?! - honestly I just wouldn't bother

South Africa - I've travelled across much of SA and I don't think you're particularly less safe as a lone woman than as a white tourist. It's just a dangerous place in general unless you're in e.g. Stellenbosch or on safari

Bali - fine

Namibia - if you're travelling in Africa you either need to be street smart or do an organised thing. I've backpacked around much of Africa on my own and I was fine, you just have to have your wits about you. I'd choose Southern Africa on my own over India or North Africa.

Morocco - not for me, I just have no tolerance left for male harassment. I also just hate being treated like some sort of hussy / mad woman for travelling on my own.

NPET · 29/07/2025 12:07

I'm not sure how far you want to venture, but imo New Zealand is safer than most places. I'm 21 and last year I spent a month there, a week or so on my own. Had a few biccups with men of course but nothing too heavy and nothing I couldn't handle. And the women and girls I met were VERY supportive and ready to fight off men and boys on my behalf (not that they needed to).

harperdanielspetname · 29/07/2025 12:12

notevencharging · 28/07/2025 16:38

I don’t think I’d go to India as a lone female. DS and his partner went and she said she got stared at a lot, she wouldn’t have felt safe alone.

India was horrendous for me but I’m less than 5ft and naturally blonde so was grabbed, bum pinched even by male KIDS but then I wore a hijab and the atmosphere completely changed so there is that option

YourBrickTiger · 29/07/2025 13:09

Kinda gutted about Egypt. I am a real introvert and organised tours unless they are to historical places (did one recently to Auschwitz and needed that as I wouldn't have got there by myself), aren't for me, I like to do my own thing. But as many of you comment, they are probably necessary if I wanted to go to the Egyptian pyramids or into the jungle!

Curious about the poster who didn't feel safe in Norway? I've also walked in Florida alone. Oops.

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