Calling all solo female travelers! Know you want to travel more but aren’t a group trip kinda lady? Looking for the best places to travel in 2023? You’re in luck!
Whether you’re looking for ideas for upcoming solo trips or planning a vacation with the family, we’ve compiled a list of the 5 best destinations for women to travel to in 2023.
From exotic locales to bustling metropolises, these are some of the most exciting, safe, and welcoming places on the planet for solo female travelers. Whether you’re looking for a huge city or a quiet getaway with great day trip options, these destinations truly have it all.
If you’re ready for a solo adventure, these are the places we love most and always recommend.
New Zealand
This breathtaking country is home to some of the most stunning landscapes on Earth, from rolling green hills and snow-capped mountains to pristine beaches and thundering waterfalls.
New Zealand is also a culturally rich destination, with plenty of exciting things to see and do. From exploring vibrant cities like Auckland and Wellington to discovering charming villages and ancient Maori sites, there’s so much to keep you busy, but plenty of places to stop and chill, too. New Zealand is consistently rated one of the safest places in the world for solo travelers and it is definitely the best place for a woman to vacation alone.
When I first started traveling, this was my home for a year, and it changed my life completely. I always recommend it to solo female travelers and I always recommend it as a great destination for a solo trip when you need to get away and reconnect with yourself. I lived in the small mountain town of Queenstown, famous for adrenaline activities, delicious food, live music, friendly locals, and so much more. Adventure lovers, rejoice!
Iceland
Iceland is one of the safest countries in the world, and it’s a great destination for a solo female traveler.
The country is known for its stunning landscapes and friendly locals, and it’s one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations. Iceland is also very safe, with a low crime rate and few dangers posed to tourists. It’s an incredible destination for your first solo trip because there are activities you can sign up for year-round. Visit in the winter to see the Northern Lights, or visit in the summer to enjoy endless sunshine and a buzzing capital city (Reykavik).
Absolutely do not miss the Blue Lagoon. This bucket list destination is close to the airport, so we recommend going just before you depart. It’s so nice to have a relaxing soak in those hot springs before you spend hours flying!
The other reason Iceland tops our list for solo travel? Icelandair offers free stopovers when you’re traveling to another European country from the United States. So you’re basically taking a short flight and getting a free trip – and it’s the trip of a lifetime!
Portugal
If you’re looking for an affordable and welcoming European city to explore on your own, look no further than Lisbon.
Lisbon is a vibrant and culturally rich city that’s perfect for solo travelers. The locals are friendly and welcoming, and there’s plenty to see and do in the city center. You can easily walk from one end of the city to the other (mind those cobblestone streets), or take advantage of Lisbon’s excellent public transportation system (we recommend staying within walking distance of a metro station).
There are also plenty of great restaurants and bars in Lisbon popular with locals and travelers alike (that are open super late!), making it the perfect destination for a solo vacation. The language barrier might be a little tough at times, but you’re likely to connect with other solo travelers at restaurants and on the streets who are going through the same thing – so you can help each other!
We love Lisbon and you should absolutely put it on your list for your next solo trip.
Georgia
Georgia is a small, safe country in the Caucasus region that’s perfect for solo female travelers. We always say it’s the best-kept secret in eastern Europe. This place is such a gem! Tbilisi is such a great city with wonderful nightlife, affordable restaurants and bars, an international airport, and amazing food. There are a lot of English speakers so the language barrier isn’t terrible.
This gorgeous country with a buzzing city center and rich history is honestly a dream for the solo traveler and offers you plenty of chances to take it at your own pace. Oh, and if you’re a wine drinker then you will LOVE Georgia – it’s the birthplace of wine and one of the largest exporters of natural wine!
It might not seem like the first place you might think of to travel solo, but the ease of the pace of life in Georgia and the insane natural beauty and great food, PLUS the fact that it’s a really very safe country, should change your mind.
Don’t want to travel solo here? Are group trips more your jam? Come with us to Georgia!
Switzerland
OMG, Switzerland. If you want to be blown away by natural beauty – this is the place for you! Almost every travel blog that writes about solo female travel will list Switzerland at the top of their must-see lists for solo travelers — for good reason! This is one of the top destinations for solo female travel on the planet.
Switzerland is a great destination for solo female travelers. The country is known for its stunning landscapes and friendly locals, and it’s one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations. Switzerland is also very safe, with a low crime rate and few dangers posed to tourists. It’s an incredible destination for your first solo trip because there are activities you can sign up for year-round. Visit in the winter to see the snow-capped mountains or visit in the summer to enjoy lush green valleys.
Absolutely do not miss the Jungfraujoch – aka “the top of Europe.” At over 11,000 feet above sea level, this mountaintop railway station offers stunning views of the Swiss Alps (and even into France and Germany on a clear day).
Thailand
Solo travelers (like us) loooove Thailand. They don’t call it the land of smiles for nothing. Thailand is one of the best destinations for solo female travelers because it has a great tourist trail firmly in place (which means lots of other people traveling via bus or plane, which means safer). It’s also incredibly affordable, has the best food of maybe anywhere, and beautiful beaches.
It recently reopened to international travel – so go there! Take a walking tour in Bangkok, listen to live music, or try karaoke with new friends in Chaing Mai.
A lot of people skip over Bangkok in favor of the beaches in the south, but we love this vibrant city, its grand architecture and temples, and the incredible street food scene here. We guarantee you’ll have an amazing time. Don’t want to go solo? Come with us! Meet other travelers like you on our small group tour to Thailand.