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Solo travel has been seeing a steady increase in popularity over the years with Google Trends data showing that in the past year, searches for this kind of travel have been more popular than ever.
The ability to travel on your own and being able to decide when, where and how you travel is enticing to most. However, it’s interesting to note that research suggests that women are more frequent solo travellers than men.
A 2018 study by Hostelworld concluded that bookings by female solo travellers increased by 45% from 2015 to 2017, with just a 40% increase for men. Also in 2018, British Airways found that 50% of women have taken a solo trip with 75% planning a solo holiday in the next few years. However, travelling alone as a woman comes with its own specific considerations.
The cost of living, the number of interesting activities to do in an area and the weather are all important to consider when choosing a country to visit. But when you’re a woman, you’re likely to put more emphasis on things like crime rate and attitude towards women. That’s why we’ve put together a study exploring the metrics women care about the most to discover the best destinations to visit.
With more women choosing to travel solo than ever, which countries are best for females to visit on their own?
How We Conducted the Study
To find out which countries are best for women travelling solo, MoneyTransfers.com scored countries on multiple criteria which meant that women would have a better time in each location. This included factors related to comfort such as temperature and the number of hostels as well as more serious factors like safety and crime rates.
We looked at the below metrics:
The average cost of a one-way transport ticket
Number of group activities and tours per 100,000 people
Average hotel price
Number of hostels per 100,000 people
Crime index score
Safety index score
Average annual temperature
The average annual amount of precipitation
Gender Equality Index (GEI) rating
These factors were then calculated into an overall index score for each country which was ranked to indicate the countries that are best for solo female travellers.
Top 10 Countries for Solo Female Travellers
The study reveals the following countries to be the best places for solo female travellers in the world:
Croatia, Europe
The coastal country of Croatia is the top destination for solo female travellers, according to our study. The country brims with historic cities and natural beauty making it a lovely spot for the more adventurous. With a high number of activities per 100,000 people and lots of hostels to choose from (3.28 per 100,000 people), any female traveller will feel at home. The country also enjoys low crime rates making it an incredibly safe place to be.
New Zealand, Oceania
A little further afield is New Zealand, the second best country to visit as a woman travelling alone. The country is known for its adrenaline-packed activities and friendly locals, but our study also reveals that it has the lowest Gender Equality Index rating than any of the other locations on our list making it a great place for women to visit.
Portugal, Europe
With sun, sea and surf, Portugal attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists a year, but did you know it’s particularly good for solo female travellers? Whether you’re looking to visit historic Lisbon or chill by the beach, there’s lots to do with 177 activities and tours per 100,000 people and a low crime index of 30.7.
Sweden, Europe
It’s no surprise that most of the Nordic countries feature on our top 10 list. Sweden has always been seen as a progressive country, and with gorgeous rural landscapes, it’s also a hub for travellers. Featuring 4th in our index, Sweden scores well for the Gender Equality Index rating at 27.91, only second to New Zealand.
Japan, Asia
As one of the most wish-listed countries on our list, many people will be ecstatic to know that Japan is a great country for women to visit alone. We’ve all heard about the cherry blossoms, vibrant nightlife and a country brimming with culture, but Japan’s low crime rate of 22.9 makes it a top choice for women. In fact, its crime score is the lowest than anywhere else in the world, and you have 296 hostels to choose from per 100,000 people.
Netherlands, Europe
When you think of the Netherlands, you probably start to imagine canals, tulip fields and windmills, as well as the bustling capital of Amsterdam. But did you know it’s a popular destination for women to travel alone? The Netherlands has 92 cultural activities and tours per 100,000 people so you’re never bored and a low crime score of 26.2 meaning women are safe as they explore.
Norway, Europe
Known for its Norwegian Fjords, plenty of hiking opportunities and the possibility of spotting the Northern Lights, Norway is a great holiday destination for those looking for a chillier experience. Although the annual temperature hits 2.06 °C on average, if you wrap up warm, you have 146 tours and activities per 100,000 people to get stuck into and a high safety score of 67.5.
Spain, Europe
Each corner of Spain has something for everyone, whether that’s chilling by the beach at San Sebastian or choosing to explore the cosmopolitan city of Barcelona. For women, Spain has 131 tours and activities to enjoy per 100,000 people and a relatively low Gender Equality Index score of 50.74.
Australia, Oceania
Australia is one of those countries that attracts people from all over the world. They have great visa options for travellers, so people tend to stay there for long periods of time. In terms of solo female travellers, there’s a lot to like about the country. Australia has a high average annual temperature of 22.06 °C and the 5th lowest Gender Equality Index ranking of any other country at 34.83.
Finland, Europe
Our final Nordic country to feature in the top 10 list of best countries for female solo travellers, Finland, is often dubbed as the happiest country in the world. It's known for incredibly high living standards that are often extended to visitors. Finland has a high safety score of 73.5, 7th in the world and a low Gender Equality Index score of 51.63.
Of the top 10 best countries for solo female travellers, seven of them are based in Europe meaning that travelling through this continent is a good starting point for new travellers. Two are in Oceania and the remaining one is in Asia.
Bottom 10 Countries for Solo Female Travellers
The study reveals the following countries to be the worst places for solo female travellers in the world:
South Africa, Africa
Of all the countries in our ranking, South Africa is the worst to visit as a solo female traveller. Although the country has some of the best food and wine in Africa, it doesn’t score well for metrics that matter most to women. As safety is a big factor in where women travel, South Africa has the highest crime rate of any other country at 75.7 and the lowest safety score at 24.5. The matter isn’t helped by its high Gender Equality Index score of 97.39, the 6th highest in the world.
Brazil, South America
Brazil is a country teeming with diverse wildlife and the largest rainforest in the world, the Amazon. While from the outside it might look like a beautiful place to visit, it’s actually not suited for solo female travellers. It has a low number of tours and activities at just 17 per 100,000 people and 0.18 hostels per 100,000 people. However, its greatest detriment might be its high crime score of 66.1, the 3rd worst in the world.
Peru, South America
Known for Machu Picchu and its rich cultures, Peru is famous for attracting travellers from all over the globe to explore its vibrant landscapes. While it’s a popular destination, it doesn’t favour solo female travellers. Peru has the second worst crime rate of all countries, only second to South Africa at 67.5. Similarly, it also has a low safety rating of 32.5, the second lowest of all countries analysed.
Chile, South America
Chile in South America is the 4th bottom country for solo female travellers. Known for its exceptional vineyards, expressive street art and natural wonders, the country is a great place to visit, but not for women travelling solo. Chile has a high crime index of 58.7 and a high Gender Equality Index score of 88.5, meaning it doesn’t favour women’s rights and safety.
Argentina, South America
While Argentina generally enjoys low costs which benefit solo travellers such as $0.21 for a one-way transport ticket, it doesn’t score well for the more important metrics that matter to women. For example, the crime rate in Argentina is the 4th highest in our study at 64 and has a low safety score of 36.
Dominican Republic, North America
The first of two North American countries that come in as the worst countries for solo female travellers is the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean. While people rave about the destination’s white beaches and clear waters, it doesn’t bode well for female travellers looking to visit the country. The Dominican Republic has a low number of activities and tours per 100,000 people at 29 and just 0.15 hostels per 100,000, giving low opportunities to meet fellow travellers.
Malaysia, Asia
Malaysia is the first Asian country on our list to be in the bottom 10 countries for solo female travellers. The country has seen an increase in popularity recently, especially for digital nomads looking for a cheap place to stay for an extended period of time. However, for women, the country has the highest crime rate of any other Asian country at 51.6. It also has the second worst Gender Equality Index rating of any other country in the world at 99.54.
Colombia, South America
Coming in as the 5th South American country in our study to be in the top 10 worst countries for solo travellers, Colombia is at 8th place overall. Not the most popular choice among travellers who choose to visit its more famous neighbours, the country is a haven for nature. In terms of solo female travellers, the country has a high crime rate score of 60.8 and a Gender Equality Index rating of 91.18, the 10th highest in the world.
Mexico, North America
Mexico is a go-to destination for anyone living in America. The country has a vibrancy that’s hard to match with incredible food, great beaches and nightlife anyone would love to experience. However, Mexico has the lowest number of tours and activities per 100,000 people than any other country with just two to choose from. Not only this but the safety score is relatively low at just 45.9.
Indonesia, Asia
While Indonesia comprises hundreds of islands such as Bali, which seems to be a traveller favourite, the rest of the country as a whole doesn’t create a safe and welcoming atmosphere for women. Indonesia scored the highest on the Gender Equality Index than any other country at 99.65. It also has just eight activities and tours per 100,000 people and just 0.16 hostels per 100,000 people.
It’s interesting to note that of the bottom 10 countries for solo female travellers, five of these countries are in South America. A further two are in North America, two are in Asia and the top country on our list is in Africa.
Safety a Top Consideration for Female Solo Travellers
While solo travellers often take into account the cost of staying in a specific location, how much there is to do and how easy it is to meet fellow travellers, as a woman travelling alone, the topic considered is often safety.
A survey conducted by Solo Female Travelers Club found that 65% of solo female travellers worry about safety more than anything else. The same study found that 69% of women who have never solo travelled only choose not to do so because of their concern about safety.
This is no surprise when a study by Journey Woman found that nearly 86% of women have felt somewhat threatened or uneasy when travelling alone.
Places with a high crime rate such as South Africa, Peru and Brazil in our study are enough to put a woman off from visiting these locations, no matter how beautiful or culturally diverse they may be.
However, it’s important to keep this in mind when travelling solo as a woman, but it’s also important to make sure that these concerns don’t overshadow the experiences and opportunities that solo travel can provide.
Thinking of Taking Your Own Solo Trip?
If our study has inspired you to pack your bags and take a solo trip into the unknown, check out our money transfer services.
Methodology
To find the best countries for solo female travellers, MoneyTransfers.com analysed data on the average cost of one-way transport ticket, the number of group activities and tours per 100,000 people, the average hotel price, the number of hostels per 100,000 people, crime index score, safety index score, average annual temperature, average annual amount of precipitation and the Gender Equality Index (GEI) rating.
Using this data, we then weighted each metric and calculated a final score. Countries were then ranked from best destinations for solo female travellers to least.
Our data was collected in August 2023.
Sources
Cost of One Way Transport (USD):
Source: Numbeo
URL: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_price_rankings?itemId=18
Group Activities and Tours:
Source: TripAdvisor
URL: https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attractions-g153339-Activities-oa0-Canada.html
Average Hotel Price (Last Two Fridays):
Sources:
Kayak Canada: https://www.ca.kayak.com/stays
Trivago Business Blog: https://businessblog.trivago.com/trivago-hotel-price-index/
Budget Your Trip: https://www.budgetyourtrip.com/hotels/canada-CA
Number of Hostels:
Source: Hostelworld
Crime Index:
Source: Numbeo
Safety Index:
Source: Numbeo
Mean Annual Temperature:
Sources:
World Population Review: https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/hottest-countries-in-the-world
Climate Knowledge Portal (World Bank): https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/download-data
Mean Annual Precipitation:
Sources:
World Bank: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/AG.LND.PRCP.MM
The Global Economy: https://www.theglobaleconomy.com/rankings/precipitation/
Trading Economics: https://tradingeconomics.com/country-list/precipitation
Gender Equality Index:
Source: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
URL: https://hdr.undp.org/content/2023-gender-social-norms-index-gsni#/indicies/GSNI
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