My 21 Favourite Destinations for Solo Female Travel

TripAdvisor just released its annual Travelers’ Choice “Best of the Best” rankings for solo travel, and while its list is excellent, it got me thinking about my own. I travel solo. Almost everywhere, almost always. Not out of necessity (oh well, also that), but out of pure preference.

There is a particular kind of freedom that comes with traveling alone: you move at your own pace, follow your own curiosity, eat when you’re hungry, linger when you’re moved, and leave when you’re ready.

As a solo female traveler, I also know that safety, ease, and a sense of genuine welcome matter enormously. The destinations below are places where I’ve experienced all three, places where I’ve wandered freely, slept soundly, and come home feeling more myself than when I left.

This is my list. My experience. My heart.

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1. Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Playa del Carmen was one of the first places I visited completely on my own, back in the days when it was not so crowded, and the city was half the size or even smaller, and it immediately made me fall in love with solo travel.

Despite the exponential growth, the vibe here is still relaxed, open, and incredibly social, it’s almost impossible to feel lonely.

The famous Quinta Avenida pedestrian street is lined with restaurants, cafés, and boutiques where you can wander for hours. The beach is stunning, the cenotes are magical, and getting around is easy and safe. Locals are warm and welcoming, and there’s always a tour, a yoga class, or a day trip to Tulum to join if you want company.

2. La Paz, Mexico

La Paz is one of Mexico’s best-kept secrets and one of the most underrated destinations for solo female travelers. It’s actually one of my favorite places to go in Mexico for many reasons.

This laid-back Baja California Sur city sits on the Sea of Cortez and moves at its own gentle pace. It’s the Mexican state capital, but it holds the small town feel.

The Malecón boardwalk is perfect for solo evening strolls, sunsets here are absolutely breathtaking, and the local seafood scene is world-class. Cute cafes offer a cozy atmosphere where to relax while sipping your coffee after a day exploring, or while working online. I loved that.

But my favorite thing to do in La Paz is boat tours. In winter, you can go and swim with whale sharks, go and meet the friendly gray whales up north on the Pacific coast, or the humpback whales in Cabo, or the blue whales in Loreto.

And you can swim with sea lions all year round. It’s a bucket-list experience you can easily do through any local operator. The city feels genuine, untouristy, and incredibly safe, a rare combination that makes you want to stay longer than planned.

3. Oaxaca, Mexico

Oaxaca is a city that feeds your soul (and palate) in every possible way, through its food, its art, its colours, and its deep indigenous culture. As a solo traveler, I found it endlessly fascinating. The markets of Mercado Benito Juárez and Mercado 20 de Noviembre are a sensory overload in the best way, and the mole, tlayudas, and mezcal are reason enough to visit.

The city’s cobblestoned streets are safe and walkable, the arts scene is vibrant, and day trips to Monte Albán or the petrified waterfalls of Hierve el Agua are easy to arrange. Oaxaca is pure magic.

4. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

There’s something about San Miguel de Allende that makes you feel like you’re living inside a painting. The pastel-coloured colonial architecture, the rooftop bars with views of the Parroquia’s neo-Gothic spires, the art galleries tucked into every corner, it’s all incredibly beautiful.

This is a city that’s very accustomed to independent travelers, especially women, which means the infrastructure is excellent and the community welcoming. Cooking classes, language schools, art workshops, and yoga retreats make it easy to structure your time. Evenings in the jardín, watching the world go by over a glass of local wine, are pure bliss.

5. Mexico City, Mexico

Mexico City surprised me in the best possible way. It’s enormous, yes, but it’s also one of the most culturally rich and culinarily exciting capitals in the world. Neighborhoods like Condesa, Roma, and Coyoacán each has its own distinct personality and is safe and easy to explore on foot.

The food scene is extraordinary, from street tacos to Michelin-starred restaurants in Roma Norte and Polanco, especially. Do not miss Mexico City street food, though. It’s out of this world.

World-class museums like the Museo Nacional de Antropología and the Frida Kahlo Museum kept me busy for days. The metro is cheap and efficient, Ubers are everywhere, and the city’s energy is completely addictive. I left planning my return trip.

6. Antigua, Guatemala

Antigua is one of Central America’s most beautiful cities, and it’s genuinely one of the most welcoming places I’ve traveled solo. Surrounded by volcanoes, this compact colonial gem is easy to navigate on foot and full of color, history, and character.

The cobblestone streets are lined with Spanish colonial architecture, colorful markets, and excellent coffee shops. The local Spanish schools attract travelers from all over the world, creating a naturally social atmosphere.

Hiking Volcán Acatenango for a sunrise above the clouds is one of the most spectacular experiences of my life — and something every solo traveler can do.

7. Cusco, Peru

Cusco is the kind of city that takes your breath away, literally, at 3,400 metres above sea level, and figuratively, because it’s jaw-droppingly beautiful. The former capital of the Inca Empire is steeped in history, with Incan stonework visible beneath Spanish colonial buildings at every turn. The Plaza de Armas is one of the most spectacular main squares in South America.

Solo travelers are extremely well catered for here, with endless tours, treks, and day trips to choose from. Machu Picchu is obviously the headline attraction, but the Sacred Valley, Rainbow Mountain, and the city itself are equally worth your time.

8. Quito, Ecuador

Quito is totally underrated as a solo travel destination and one of the cities I feel most comfortable recommending to women traveling alone. Sometimes it makes news for not being so safe, but I spent about a month there, and I loved it. Obviously, I was careful, avoiding shady areas and going out at night.

The beautifully preserved historic center — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — is one of the largest and best-restored in Latin America.

The city sits dramatically in an Andean valley at 2,850 metres, and the views from the Telefèrico cable car are extraordinary. Quito is also the perfect base for exploring Ecuador: the Galápagos Islands, the Amazon, and the Avenue of Volcanoes are all within reach. The people are genuinely lovely, and the local food scene is quietly excellent.

9. Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon has a way of wrapping itself around you. The light here is unlike anywhere else in Europe — golden and warm, bouncing off the river and the azulejo-tiled facades.

It’s a city best explored slowly: riding the vintage trams up to Alfama, lingering over a pastel de nata in a sun-drenched café, watching the fado singers in a dimly lit tasca.

For solo female travelers, Lisbon is near-perfect: walkable, affordable, incredibly safe, and full of other independent travelers to connect with. The nightlife is vibrant but never overwhelming, and the locals are among the most welcoming in Europe.

10. Porto, Portugal

Porto charmed me completely and without warning. I spent the entire month of August in the city, and although I wasn’t pleased by the summer crowd and the unbearable heat, I still managed to fall in love with it.

This riverside city in northern Portugal is smaller and quieter than Lisbon, but no less captivating.

The Ribeira neighborhood, with its crumbling, beautiful buildings stacked along the Douro River, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that looks like a film set.

The port wine caves of Vila Nova de Gaia are an obvious highlight, but it’s the bookshops, the azulejo-covered churches, the magnificent bridges, and the incredibly affordable restaurants that make Porto so irresistible.

As a solo traveler, I felt completely at ease here — it has a village-like warmth despite being a proper city.

11. The Azores Islands, Portugal

The Azores are one of Europe’s great hidden treasures and one of the most surreal, beautiful places I’ve ever visited. No wonder they call it the Hawaii of Europe.

This Portuguese archipelago in the middle of the Atlantic feels like the edge of the world in the best possible way, with volcanic crater lakes, thermal hot springs, dramatic ocean cliffs, and lush green landscapes straight out of a fantasy novel.

São Miguel is the most accessible island and a great starting point, but each island has its own character. The Azores are incredibly safe for solo travelers, the locals are wonderfully hospitable, and the pace of life is beautifully slow and restorative.

I have been there twice, but for a total of 4 months, and I have just planned my third trip for next June. Spring is the best season to travel for fewer crowds, lower prices and still good weather.

12. Madrid, Spain

Madrid is one of those cities that reveals itself slowly — and the more time you give it, the more it gives back.

The Spanish capital operates on its own schedule: late lunches, even later dinners, and a nightlife scene that genuinely doesn’t get going until midnight. For solo female travelers, Madrid is brilliant.

The world-class museums, the Prado, the Reina Sofía, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza — could each occupy a full day.

The tapas culture is social and easy to navigate alone, and the city’s many barrios, from Malasaña to La Latina, each offer a completely different atmosphere. I never once felt unsafe or lonely here.

13. Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh is one of the most dramatically beautiful cities in the world. A medieval castle perched on volcanic rock, gothic spires cutting through the mist, hidden closes and wynds tucked off the Royal Mile, it’s the kind of city that makes you feel like you’ve walked into a novel.

For solo travelers, it’s wonderfully manageable: compact, walkable, and deeply sociable, especially in its many cozy pubs.

The arts and culture scene is world-class, particularly during the famous August Fringe Festival. Arthur’s Seat offers a stunning hike right from the city center, and day trips to the Highlands are easy and unforgettable.

14. Dublin, Ireland

Dublin has just been named the world’s top solo travel destination by Tripadvisor, and having spent time there, I completely understand why. The city has a warmth and openness that makes strangers feel like regulars almost immediately.

The pub culture is genuinely social: live traditional music flows freely, and conversations with locals start effortlessly.

Trinity College, the Book of Kells, St. Stephen’s Green, and the Guinness Storehouse are all brilliant and within easy walking distance of one another.

Phoenix Park, one of Europe’s largest urban parks, is a wonderful escape. For English-speaking solo travelers especially, Dublin is an absolutely seamless, joyful experience.

I took a few walking tours in Dublin, the best way to explore its secret corners, explained by its passionate locals, usually the best historians and storytellers.

15. Milan, Italy

Milan is where I studied and worked before leaving Italy for my nomadic life, but it’s also the city where I go back to every time I return to my home country, and I appreciate how beautifully it has changed over the years.

It often gets dismissed as merely a fashion and business capital, but I think that reputation undersells it significantly.

Behind the designer boutiques and glossy magazines, Milan is a city of extraordinary art, incredible food, and a buzzing, sophisticated energy that I find genuinely inspiring.

The Duomo is one of the most stunning cathedrals in Europe, and Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper is an unmissable experience (book well in advance). The Navigli canal district comes alive in the evenings with aperitivo culture, a solo traveler’s dream. The city is safe, efficient, and far more personable than its reputation suggests.

16. Brescia, Italy

Brescia is the kind of Italian city that most tourists bypass completely, and that’s precisely what makes it so special.

Sitting between Milan and Verona in Lombardy, this mid-sized city has a remarkably rich history, a beautifully preserved historic center, and an incredibly authentic local atmosphere.

Roman ruins, a medieval castle, Renaissance churches, and excellent regional cuisine coexist here without the tourist overwhelm of better-known destinations.

As a solo female traveler, I felt completely comfortable wandering its piazzas and side streets at any hour. Brescia is proof that Italy’s magic isn’t limited to the big names, sometimes the quieter cities say the most.

17. Turin, Italy

Turin is one of Italy’s most elegant and underappreciated cities, and I fell in love with it quickly. The city’s long arcaded streets, over 18 kilometres of covered porticoes, make it uniquely walkable in any weather, which is a gift for solo travelers.

The café culture here is legendary: Turin claims to have invented the concept of the Italian café, and sipping a bicerin (a hot drink of espresso, chocolate, and cream) in one of the city’s historic coffeehouses is a ritual not to miss.

The Egyptian Museum is world-class, the Mole Antonelliana is iconic, and the food and wine scene is superb.

18. Paris, France

Paris has been written about endlessly, and yet it never loses its power to astonish. I’ve visited multiple times, and it still gets me every time, the light on the Seine, the smell of warm croissants, the way the Eiffel Tower materializes unexpectedly around a corner.

As a solo female traveler, Paris is both incredibly easy and incredibly rewarding. The metro and bus system is efficient, the neighborhoods are distinct and walkable, and there is genuinely no better city in the world to sit alone in a café with a glass of wine and watch the world go by. Paris belongs to everyone, especially solo travelers.

19. Tromsø, Norway

Tromsø is unlike anywhere else I’ve ever been, and it remains one of the most extraordinary travel experiences of my life. I went to Tromsø multiple times for my swimming with Orcas experience.

Located 350 kilometres above the Arctic Circle, this small Norwegian city is one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights, and seeing them, rippling silently across a dark sky, is something I will never forget.

In winter, the city operates under the polar night, a strange and beautiful phenomenon. In summer, the midnight sun means daylight at all hours. The city is compact, very safe, and welcoming. Dog sledding, reindeer encounters, and fjord cruises make every day feel like an adventure.

20. Oslo, Norway

Oslo is Scandinavia’s most underrated capital, in my opinion, and one of the most comfortable cities in the world for a solo female traveler.

It’s clean, efficient, extraordinarily safe, and packed with world-class museums and galleries. The Viking Ship Museum, the Munch Museum, and the Fram Museum, dedicated to polar exploration, are all outstanding.

The city’s waterfront has been completely transformed in recent years with striking architecture and excellent restaurants. Yes, Oslo is expensive, this is Norway, after all, but a little planning goes a long way. The surrounding fjords and forests are easily accessible and absolutely breathtaking.

21. Bruges, Belgium

Bruges is a city that looks almost too beautiful to be real, a perfectly preserved medieval gem of canals, cobblestone streets, gothic belfries, and chocolate shops that seems frozen in the most glorious of centuries.

For a solo traveler, it’s an absolute delight to explore on foot or by bicycle. The compact city center means you can cover a lot in a short time, and there’s something wonderful around every corner.

The Belgian beer culture is world-famous, and the local breweries and cozy taverns are welcoming even when you’re on your own. Bruges is small, safe, romantic, and endlessly charming.

Final Thoughts: How to Choose Your Perfect Solo Destination

Solo travel is one of the most liberating things you can do for yourself, but choosing where to go is deeply personal, and no list (not even mine, not even Tripadvisor’s) can make that decision for you.

When I’m choosing my next destination, I ask myself a few simple questions. How do I want to feel on this trip? Do I need stillness, or do I crave energy? Am I chasing culture, nature, food, history, or simply a change of perspective? The answers shift every time, and that’s exactly the point. Solo travel is the one journey where you get to be completely honest about what you need, because there’s no one else to negotiate with.

From there, I think practically. How easy is it to get around alone? Is the language barrier manageable? Does the destination have a natural social infrastructure, the kind of hostels, food markets, walking tours, or café culture that makes it easy to connect with others when you want to, and retreat into yourself when you don’t? Safety matters, of course, but so does comfort, that quiet confidence of walking down a street and feeling like you belong there.

The cities on this list gave me all of that, in their own very different ways. Some were loud and electric. Some were slow and meditative. Some surprised me completely. But every single one of them sent me home with something I didn’t have before: a story, a friendship, a meal I still think about, or simply a deeper understanding of who I am when no one is watching.

The best destination for solo travel isn’t Dublin or Paris or Oaxaca. It’s wherever calls to you right now.

So — where is that for you? Drop your favourite city for solo travel in the comments. I’d love to build this list together. ✈️