Best Solo Female Travel Destinations 6 Places to Go Now

OK so picture this: It’s freaking 2:17 AM (I remember checking my phone in disbelief), my contacts are practically glued to my eyeballs after a 14-hour flight, and I’m standing in Kansai Airport holding a crumpled printout of directions to my ryokan. In KYOTO. BY MYSELF. This moment perfectly captures why Kyoto ranks high on my list of Best Solo Female Travel Destinations one of the 6 Places to Love for any woman ready to explore the world independently.

God, I was terrified. Like, stomach-in-knots, what-the-hell-was-I-thinking terrified.

The funny thing? I’d stayed up countless nights planning this trip, reading every blog post, watching every YouTube video—but somehow completely forgot to consider how it would ACTUALLY FEEL to land in Japan alone at stupid o’clock in the morning. With exactly zero Japanese language skills. Smart, Sarah. Real smart.

I still don’t know how I managed to find the right train. Some kind businessman probably took pity on my confused face and pointed me in the right direction (thank you, random suit guy!). When I finally stumbled into my ryokan, the elderly owner was waiting up, looking simultaneously annoyed and concerned. I still cringe thinking about it.

But then… morning happened.

I woke up disoriented, slid open those paper doors, and BAM—sunshine streaming over a tiny garden, the smell of something amazing cooking downstairs, and this overwhelming feeling of “Holy crap, I DID THIS.” Just me. Nobody else.

That’s the moment that hooked me on solo travel. Seven years and a ridiculous number of passport stamps later, I’m still chasing that feeling.

Why Solo Travel Is Worth Every Moment of Fear

Let’s be real—planning your first solo trip is scary. Actually, even planning your fifth solo trip can be intimidating! But the benefits? They’re absolutely worth pushing through those jitters.

When I took my first solo trip in 2018, I was going through a rough breakup and desperately needed to prove to myself that I could be happy on my own. What I discovered was so much more valuable than just independence.

Here’s what solo travel gives you that nothing else can:

• Nobody tells you what to do — Want to spend 4 hours in a random bookstore? Eat ice cream for breakfast? Change plans because you’re just not feeling it? DONE.
• You meet wayyyy more people — I’ve made friends with an 80-year-old Japanese calligraphy master, a Danish family that later hosted me in Copenhagen, and countless other travelers who spotted me looking pathetically alone and adopted me for the day.
• Problem-solving muscles get RIPPED — Nothing builds confidence quite like figuring out a transit system in a language you don’t speak while it’s raining and your phone is dead. (True story. Athens. Not my finest hour.)
• You learn what you actually like — Turns out I hate organized tours but could spend days exploring local grocery stores. Who knew?

The strangest part? I started traveling to run away from myself but ended up running straight into a better version of me. Cheesy but true.

What Makes a Place Not Completely Terrible for Solo Female Travelers

I’ve had my share of “never again” destinations (looking at you, certain parts of Italy where apparently a woman eating alone is FASCINATING to every man within eyeshot). Over time, I’ve gotten pickier about where I go alone.

My non-negotiables:

1. Can I walk around after dark without feeling like prey? (Basic, but surprisingly rare)
2. Is public transport reliable or are taxis safe? (Nothing worse than being stranded)
3. Can I eat alone without becoming a spectacle? (The Morocco incident still haunts me)
4. Are there natural ways to meet people? (Because sometimes you DO want company)
5. Will locals help if I’m in trouble? (The kindness of strangers is not universal)

So without further drama, here are the six places where I’ve felt most at home while being completely alone:

1. Kyoto, Japan: Where I Learned What “Safe” Actually Feels Like

Japan ruined me for life. No joke. After experiencing Kyoto’s level of safety and organization, everywhere else feels slightly chaotic.

I spent nearly a week there in August 2019 (mistake—it was BOILING), wandering the alleyways of Pontocho and Gion at all hours. The thing about Kyoto is that it’s orderly to the point of being almost eerie. Trains arrive EXACTLY when the schedule says. People wait at crosswalks even when no cars are coming. If you drop your wallet, someone will chase you down to return it.

One night around 11pm, I was trying to find this tiny jazz bar somewhere near Kawaramachi Station. Got completely turned around (those streets all look THE SAME at night!). A young woman noticed me squinting at Google Maps and stopped to help. Then she WALKED ME THERE. Like, 15 minutes out of her way. I was simultaneously grateful and mortified.

The best/worst thing I did? Signed up for a meditation session at Kodai-ji temple at 6am. Dragged myself there half-asleep and ended up having the most profound experience sitting in silence watching the garden wake up. Then practically fell asleep face-first in my ramen at lunch. Worth it.

Stuff you should know:

• When to go: NOT August unless you enjoy melting. April (cherry blossoms) is gorgeous but packed. I’d aim for October/November for fall colors with fewer crowds.
• Where to sleep: I splurged on a ryokan for two nights (Yuzuya Ryokan near Yasaka Shrine) then switched to a more affordable hotel. That traditional ryokan experience is worth eating convenience store food for a few days to balance the budget.
• Pro tip: 7-Eleven in Japan is NOTHING like American 7-Eleven. Their onigiri (rice balls) saved me many times when I was too tired to sit in a restaurant alone.

2. Lisbon, Portugal: Where Even Getting Lost Feels Magical

Europe can be a mixed bag for solo women. Some cities have a weird vibe about dining alone (Paris, I love you but WHY must your waiters look so pitying?). Others are beautiful but so stupidly expensive that solo travelers get financially punished with single supplements.

Then there’s Lisbon—my unexpected love affair.

I booked a last-minute trip there in March 2022 after a work project fell through. Literally chose it because the flight was cheap and I’d heard the weather was decent year-round. BEST RANDOM DECISION EVER.

The city feels like someone took the best parts of Europe, added extra sunshine, subtracted the attitude, and threw in some incredible food. I spent my days just… wandering. Those pastel buildings and mosaic sidewalks make even aimless meandering feel purposeful.

My favorite memory happened on day three. I was trying to find this viewpoint (miradouro) that supposedly had the best sunset views. Got hopelessly lost in Alfama’s twisty streets and ended up on someone’s tiny residential stoop, consulting my phone map while trying not to look like a complete tourist failure.

This older Portuguese woman opened her door, took one look at my confused face, and said something I didn’t understand. When I apologized in my terrible Portuguese, she literally GRABBED MY ARM and started leading me through alleyways. I had that brief “is this how I disappear forever?” panic until she deposited me at a local’s-only hole in the wall bar with the most incredible view of the city. Then refused to let me pay for the ginjinha (cherry liqueur) she insisted I try.

What makes Lisbon perfect for solo adventures:

• It’s affordable (I paid €42/night for a cute Airbnb in Bairro Alto)
• The city is walkable (though those hills are NO JOKE)
• People are genuinely nice to travelers (not just tolerating us)
• The solo dining scene is chill (especially at Time Out Market)
• English is widely spoken but people appreciate any Portuguese attempts

3. Ubud, Bali: The Place Where “Eating Pray Love” Clichés Actually Come True

Look, I went to Ubud determined NOT to have some spiritual awakening. I’d roll my eyes whenever people talked about “finding themselves” in Bali. Eye roll eye roll eye roll.

So naturally, the universe made sure I had exactly that experience. Just to teach me a lesson about being judgmental.

I initially booked just 5 days there in June 2023 (part of a longer Southeast Asia trip). Ended up staying for THREE WEEKS. Canceled flights, rearranged plans, the whole deal.

It wasn’t instant love. My first impression was “hot, touristy, and too many yoga people.” Then I moved from my original guesthouse near the main road to a family compound about 15 minutes walk from the center. Game changer.

The family basically adopted me. The grandmother would leave little offerings of fruit outside my door. I started joining their compound-wide breakfast every morning, picking up just enough Indonesian to make them laugh at my terrible pronunciation.

Through them, I got invited to a local wedding (crashed it, really, but they insisted), a temple ceremony, and a cooking class in someone’s actual home kitchen rather than the tourist versions.

The magic of Ubud for solo travelers:

• You’re never truly alone unless you want to be
• Super affordable (my beautiful room was $22/night INCLUDING breakfast)
• Classes and workshops where you meet people naturally
• It’s easy to extend your stay when you inevitably fall in love with it

Word of warning: Ubud has a way of turning practical people into crystals-and-chakras people. I went from scoffing at sound healing to religiously attending weekly sessions. I now own not one but TWO dreamcatchers. There’s no going back.

4. Montreal, Canada: For When You Want European Vibes Without The Long Flight

Sometimes you just need to feel like you’ve gone somewhere dramatically different without the 14-hour flight and jet lag from hell. Enter Montreal, my favorite “feels international but isn’t actually that far” city.

I went on a whim in July 2021, mostly because Canada opened its borders before Europe did post-pandemic. Had zero expectations. Was completely blown away.

What nobody tells you about Montreal is how the seasonal joy is INFECTIOUS. After enduring those brutal winters, Montrealers celebrate summer like it’s a religion. I showed up during their Jazz Festival and found streets closed off, people picnicking everywhere, and this incredible energy flowing through the city.

Being semi-functional in French, I tried speaking it everywhere. BIG MISTAKE. My conversation with a pharmacist went something like:

Me, in broken French: “Bonjour! Je cherche… um… medicine pour… makes sneezing gesture” Pharmacist, with infinite patience: “Would you prefer if we speak English?” Me: “God yes thank you I’m so sorry.”

Everyone I apologized to for my terrible French said the same thing: “At least you tried!” The Montreal attitude is refreshingly laid-back for a major city.

Perfect for solo travelers because:

• Super safe public transportation (I took the metro at midnight without thinking twice)
• FOOD. So much incredible food that’s perfect for counter dining
• Tons of events and festivals create natural social environments
• It’s walkable with great public transit for longer journeys
• You get that “international” feeling without major culture shock

Budget note: Montreal isn’t cheap. I splurged on food and saved on accommodation by staying slightly outside the center (Plateau area). The metro makes it easy to get around, so this worked perfectly.

5. Chiang Mai, Thailand: The Anti-Bangkok Experience

After a disastrous three days in Bangkok where I:

1. Got scammed by a tuk-tuk driver (classic rookie mistake)
2. Couldn’t sleep because of the nonstop noise
3. Felt constantly overwhelmed by the chaos

…arriving in Chiang Mai felt like someone had turned the volume down on Thailand. In the best possible way.

This was March 2020, literally RIGHT before the pandemic shut everything down (I got one of the last flights out before borders closed—talk about timing). The smaller scale of Chiang Mai immediately felt manageable. The old city is surrounded by ancient walls with everything you need inside that area, plus amazing night markets just outside.

Found myself in this perfect routine: mornings spent at different cafes working on my laptop (fast wifi EVERYWHERE), afternoons exploring temples or taking a cooking class, evenings wandering markets and chatting with literally anyone who made eye contact.

My most ridiculous memory: signing up for a Thai cooking class and discovering I was the only student that day. Had a private lesson with this hilarious chef who kept doubling the chili when I wasn’t looking, then cackling when my face turned red. By the end we were taking selfies together and she was showing me pictures of her grandkids. Made me the SPICIEST pad thai of my life as a parting “gift.” Couldn’t feel my tongue for hours.

Why Chiang Mai rocks for solos:

• Super affordable (seriously, $3-4 for amazing meals)
• Compact old city that’s easy to navigate
• Tons of activities where you meet other travelers organically
• Digital nomad scene means lots of solo people looking to connect
• Generally feels safe, even walking around the old city at night

Pro tip: If you’re chatty like me, you’ll make friends within HOURS at any hostel or coworking space. I’m still in touch with people I met there over three years ago.

6. Queenstown, New Zealand: For Adventure Without the Sketchy Factor

I’ll be honest—Queenstown wasn’t originally on my solo travel radar. Too expensive, I thought. Too full of adrenaline activities that seemed designed for groups or couples.

Boy was I wrong.

I bit the bullet and went in February 2024 (their late summer) after finding a decent flight deal. Turns out Queenstown is PERFECT for solo travelers who want adventure without risk.

What makes it amazing: Everything is set up for individuals to join group activities. I signed up for a Routeburn Track day hike, expecting to feel like the awkward single person. Instead, found that about half the group was solo travelers. We naturally formed this little sub-group that ended up going for beers afterward.

New Zealand’s safety reputation is 100% deserved. I walked home at night, hiked trails alone (the less intense ones), and never once felt that “looking over my shoulder” feeling that’s so common in other places. Queenstown specifically has this small-town vibe despite being a major tourist destination.

The catch? IT’S. SO. EXPENSIVE.

I’m talking $25 for a basic breakfast expensive. $100+ for activities expensive. I saved by staying at an surprisingly nice hostel (YHA Queenstown Lakefront) and cooking half my meals, which balanced out splurging on a Milford Sound tour and wine tasting.

What makes Queenstown worth the price:

• Stunning natural beauty that actually looks better than Instagram
• Adventure activities with top-notch safety standards
• Easy to join groups for activities or meals
• Hostels specifically designed for solo adults (not just the party crowd)
• That feeling of being somewhere pristine and special

One embarrassing highlight: I got talked into doing that famous Shotover Jet boat ride by people I met at my hostel. Spent the entire time alternating between screaming and laughing while getting completely soaked. The photos they sell afterward showed me with the most ridiculous terrified face. I bought one. It’s now my phone background.

Just Book The Damn Ticket Already

Here’s the truth: I’ve had bad days traveling solo. I’ve eaten sad dinners staring at my phone. I’ve been catcalled in countries where I didn’t even understand the language (though honestly, the meaning always comes through). I once got so desperately lonely in Vienna that I went to an English-language movie just to hear familiar speech.

But those moments pass. And they’re completely overshadowed by the absolute freedom of answering to no one, the confidence that comes from handling every problem yourself, and the joy of making connections you never would’ve made if you’d been traveling in a bubble with companions.

So which of these places calls to you? Or have you already braved the solo travel world somewhere amazing? Drop a comment below I’m always looking for my next destination!