As a woman, it’s not uncommon to fear travelling by yourself. If you’re worried about solo travel, you’re not alone but there are many beautiful countries known for being safe. So let’s get into the top 10 safest countries for female travel!
*Disclaimer*: Before we get to it, know that no country is perfect and bad things happen everywhere in the world. It’s important to practice standard safety measures no matter what country you’re exploring. Also, while I’m including factual information about the safety of these countries, remember that I’m speaking to my personal experiences.
Singapore
While I only had the chance to visit Singapore during a quick 24-hour layover, I was able to get a glimpse of what travelling in Singapore would be like. The streets were incredibly clean and the city is on top of all things technology. The country also ranked in the top 10 on the Global Peace Index in 2020, making it a great option for solo female travel!
Iceland
Iceland has also been known as one of the safest countries for female travel! I had an amazing experience travelling through Iceland for a week in 2017 and I’d highly recommend visiting. It actually happened to be my first solo trip (due to unforeseen circumstances that occurred with the ‘friend’ I went to Iceland with).
After being involved in a situation where the police were called at my hostel (watch my video linked above for the full story), I saw firsthand how crime and assault are dealt with in Iceland. About eight police officers came to the hostel to deal with an incident only involving the girl I had come to Iceland with. Now, if that doesn’t speak to Iceland’s safety, I don’t know what does! On top of that, it ranked first on the Global Peace Index for 2020.
From then on, I made friends at my hostel, renting a car and travelling with another girl I had met from Canada. We were never worried travelling together and felt safe the entire length of our stay.
Read my 1 week Iceland backpacking guide here!
Portugal
Portugal is another country I’ve had the pleasure of visiting.
While it’s a stunning country, I also felt safe when I was there. I was travelling with a few friends but even when I went off on my own to do things, I wasn’t any more worried than I’d be in my home country. It was incredibly easy to get around Portugal and the beautiful cities and beaches are worth the trip!
Portugal also ranked 3rd on the Global Peace Index in 2020, making it a great place for women to backpack.
Find my Portugal backpacking itinerary here!
Uruguay
While I haven’t yet travelled to Uruguay, it’s known as a very safe country in South America. Ranked first in democracy and peace in Latin America, as well as their absence of terrorism, it sounds like a great option for travellers who are nervous about travelling solo in South America. The landscape is mostly made up of rolling hills and the country experiences different seasons but the winters don’t usually drop below 15 degrees Celsius during the day and 8 degrees Celsius at night.
If you’re after a low-key spot that isn’t packed with tourists, Uruguay might be right up your alley!
Canada
Canada, eh! I couldn’t leave my home country off this list of the safest countries for female travel. Since the start the pandemic, I’ve been lucky enough to explore more of Canada and although the country isn’t devoid of crime, I’ve always felt safe. Of course, I’m always aware of who and what is around me and act as I would travelling through any other country.
You can find a two week road trip itinerary for British Columbia here!
Japan
Japan is another country I hope to visit someday in the near future. I’ve only ever had the pleasure of walking through the Tokyo airport a handful of times but I’ve heard amazing things about Japan. The mix of old traditions paired with advanced technology makes for an interesting and beautiful place to travel through.
Japan also made it in the top 10 of the Global Peace Index in 2020 and their big cities such as Tokyo and Osaka are some of the most well organized and clean cities you’ll come across!
Australia
If you’re new to travel, Australia is one of the best destinations! It’s easy to get around, a wonderful place to live and work and has a high standard of living. After spending a semester studying abroad and then completing a working holiday visa upon graduating in Melbourne, Australia, I loved my time in this country.
When it comes to safety as a female traveller, I generally felt as safe as I would living in Canada. With that being said, Australia’s non-partner sexual violence numbers ranked second worst out of 50 countries in 2019 and I can attest to the sexual harassment that happens on a regular basis. Of course, those types of situations can occur to a woman travelling in any country (sadly), so you shouldn’t let it stop you from visiting Australia. I’d just suggest avoiding walking alone at night if you can, which shouldn’t be a problem considering how easy it is to make new friends travelling through Australia!
Switzerland
Switzerland is definitely one of the safest countries for female travel! Having spent a week backpacking on my own, navigating trains, almost sleeping in a train station (I was kindly kicked out by security) and going on various hikes by myself, I can attest to feeling safe in Switzerland. It’s a beautiful country with so many activities to do while enjoying nature.
Not only is it a beautiful place to visit but it’s been ranked as one of the most peaceful countries in the world, according to the Global Peace Index, making it one of the safest countries for solo female travellers!
Namibia
Namibia is a country in Southern Africa. When it comes to travel in Africa, Namibia is one of the safest countries for female travel. It’s home to deserts and beautiful coastlines and a great country to do a road trip through. It’s on my list of places to visit in 2021 and also happens to be a fairly inexpensive country to visit in Africa.
Read more about cheap travel destinations for 2021 here!
New Zealand
Last but not least on my list of the safest countries for female travel is New Zealand! I spent a year travelling through New Zealand in 2019 and had an amazing time. As a solo traveller, most people buy a pass for a hop-on-hop-off bus pass such as Kiwi Experience or Stray. I found it the best way to make new friends and see as much of the country in a short amount of time.
When it comes to safety, I felt completely safe the entire time I was in New Zealand. The locals are some of the friendliest I’ve ever met and made me feel right at home!
You can find my New Zealand backpacking itinerary here.
What Country Will You Visit First?
After taking a look at some of the top safest countries for female travel, which one are you going to visit first? I can’t wait to explore the countries I haven’t have a chance to travel through yet, Namibia probably being at the top for me! I’ll be back next week with another blog but feel free to DM me on Insta if you want to talk travel.
Cheers,
Amy x
One thought on “10 Safest Countries for Female Travel”