Traveling with your friends and family is nice, but there is nothing quite like a solo trip where all your time is your own and you can come and go as you please.
Solo travel is trending this year, and the majority of those who are looking to travel on their own seem to be women.
According to booking.com, 84% of these solo travelers around the world are women, and Google data indicates that 55% of searches for ‘solo travel’ are coming from women, specifically millennial-age women.
We have covered some of the safest countries for solo female travel, as well as some of the safest cities around the world.
Here comes a new report from bag and luggage brand Kipling to indicate the safest European cities for solo female travelers.
Using data such as activity offerings, attractions, group activities, transport, safety, and gender equality, the figures were calculated to give each destination a ‘Solo Female Traveler City Index’.
Here are the top 5 safest cities in Europe for solo female travelers:
Hamburg, Germany
The top scorer on the Solo Female Traveler City Index is Germany’s second-largest city, Hamburg.
Known for its great nightlight and busy port seaside vibe, Hamburg ranks high for gender equality and things to do.
Visitors like to see many things here and all are easily accessible by foot or bicycle, although tours are plentiful as are the hostels and hotels for solo travelers.
And being Germany, public transportation is organized and efficient, meaning you are far less likely to get stranded anywhere.
Munich, Germany
In case you have heard of a little thing called Oktoberfest, then you probably know about this Bavarian city.
Well connected via trams and buses, there’s a reason this city has been ranked one of the safest in the world for solo female travelers.
Ranking high for gender equality, the city makes women travelers feel safe and welcome. With no end of places to visit and German beers to sample, there’s always something to do and friends to be made.
Edinburgh, Scotland
The third city on Kipling’s Solo Female Traveller City Index takes us up to Scotland, to the charming medieval city of Edinburgh.
With a high score for group activities, attraction and accommodation, it’s likely that no solo traveler here will have trouble making friends.
Those who visit in the summer can experience Edinburgh’s famous Fringe Festival, where musical, comedy, and other acts take over stages across the city.
Prices are higher and accommodation can be difficult to find at this time though, so plan early if this is your kind of scene.
Faro, Portugal
Yes, Portugal is famous for its postcard-worthy cities of Lisbon and Porto, the latter of which also makes the list but lower down at number 12.
For the number four city on our list though, we head down south to the Algarve coast and find the city of Faro.
It might seem ironic that a city with a chapel made of skeletons of old monks is one of the safest for solo female travelers, but Faro ranks highly for many safety factors.
In addition to having beaches, a cozy old town, and great nightlife, the city is well connected as it has the only airport in the region, linking it to other major European cities, but also boat and ferry options to connect it to other coastal cities as well.
Dublin, Ireland
Coming in at number five on Kipling’s Solo Female Traveller City Index is Ireland’s capital city of Dublin.
With many tour options and accommodation catering to backpackers and solo travelers, those who come here alone are unlikely to stay that way long.
Day trips outside of the city to famed sites such as the Giant’s Causeway make solo travel easy to plan, not to mention the pub and music scene to take in after the day exploring.
Ireland itself has ranked as one of the safest countries in the world, and it’s no exception for solo female travelers.
To finish off the list, here are the rest of the top 20 safest cities in Europe for solo female travelers:
- 6. Prague, Czech Republic
- 7. Heraklion, Greece
- 8. Helsinki, Finland
- 9. Krakow, Poland
- 10. Zurich, Switzerland
- 11. Berlin, Germany
- 12. Porto, Portugal
- 13. Valencia, Spain
- 14. Vienna, Austria
- 15. Malaga, Spain
- 16. Stockholm, Sweden
- 17. Dusseldorf, Germany
- 18. Lisbon, Portugal
- 19. Geneva, Switzerland
- 20. Oslo, Norway
