The Best Destinations for Solo Female Travelers in 2025
Traveling solo in 2025 is easier—and safer—than ever thanks to contactless payments, eSIMs, widespread Wi‑Fi, and an ever-growing community of women exploring the world alone. Below are our favorite destinations that balance safety, ease of navigation, cultural richness, and plenty of solo-friendly things to do. For each spot, you’ll find transport tips, can’t-miss experiences, and both affordable and luxurious ways to stay.
How we chose these destinations
Safety & solo-friendliness (low violent crime, strong tourism infrastructure)
Ease of getting around (good public transit, walkability, English widely spoken or easy tools to bridge the gap)
Culture & activities (museums, nature, food scenes, wellness, adventure)
Community (places where meeting other travelers is easy—tours, hostels, group classes, coworking cafés)
1) Portugal – Lisbon, Porto & The Algarve
Why it’s great: Friendly locals, excellent English proficiency, reliable trains, and a thriving café culture perfect for solo dinners and remote work days.
Cultural highlights: Azulejo-tiled neighborhoods in Lisbon, port wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia, fado music, and medieval towns like Évora and Óbidos.
Transit tips: Use comboios (trains) to hop between cities; buy reloadable Viva Viagem cards for Lisbon metro, trams, and buses.
Food & activities: Pastéis de nata tastings, Douro Valley wine cruises, surfing in Sagres, sunset miradouros in Lisbon.
Stay on any budget:
Affordable: Boutique hostels in Lisbon’s Baixa/Chiado or Porto’s Cedofeita.
Luxury: Cliffside resorts in the Algarve; 5-star heritage hotels like Tivoli Avenida Liberdade.
2) Japan – Tokyo, Kyoto, Kanazawa
Why it’s great: Exceptionally safe, hyper-efficient public transport, and unmatched hospitality.
Cultural highlights: Temples and tea ceremonies in Kyoto, neon nights in Shinjuku, samurai heritage in Kanazawa.
Transit tips: Get a Japan Rail Pass (or regional passes) and an IC card (Suica/Pasmo) for metro and buses. Trains are punctual to the minute.
Food & activities: Solo-friendly counter dining (ramen, sushi), onsen retreats, teamLab Planets, cycling the Shimanami Kaidō.
Stay on any budget:
Affordable: Business hotels and clean hostels with women-only dorms.
Luxury: High-design ryokans with kaiseki dinners and private onsen baths.
3) Iceland – Reykjavík & the Ring Road
Why it’s great: One of the safest countries on earth, jaw-dropping scenery, and easy self-drive adventures.
Cultural highlights: Blue Lagoon (or the quieter Sky Lagoon), Golden Circle, black-sand beaches of Vík, glacier hikes.
Transit tips: Public transport is limited outside Reykjavík—renting a car is the most flexible option.
Food & activities: Geothermal spas, whale-watching, lava tunnels, Northern Lights (late fall to spring).
Stay on any budget:
Affordable: Guesthouses and shared campervan rentals.
Luxury: Design hotels with spa circuits and private Aurora wake-up calls.
4) Slovenia – Ljubljana, Lake Bled, Soča Valley
Why it’s great: Compact, green, and calm—with superb safety scores and fairy-tale landscapes.
Cultural highlights: The car-free old town of Ljubljana, emerald waters of the Soča River, Lake Bled’s island church.
Transit tips: Trains and buses reliably connect major sights; rideshares and bike rentals are easy in cities.
Food & activities: Farm-to-table bistros, wine tasting in Brda, hiking Triglav National Park, canyoning.
Stay on any budget:
Affordable: Family-run pensions and eco-hostels.
Luxury: Lakeside suites in Bled; spa resorts in the countryside.
5) New Zealand – South Island focus
Why it’s great: Friendly, outdoorsy culture with countless guided group activities—perfect for meeting fellow travelers.
Cultural highlights: Māori cultural experiences, Milford Sound cruises, Queenstown adventure sports.
Transit tips: Intercity buses are good, but a car or campervan offers more freedom. Solo female road-trippers are common here.
Food & activities: Wine tasting in Central Otago, glacier heli-hikes, Abel Tasman kayaking, geothermal parks near Rotorua.
Stay on any budget:
Affordable: Campervans, YHA-style hostels, and holiday parks.
Luxury: Wilderness lodges and boutique vineyard stays.
6) Taiwan – Taipei, Jiufen, Taroko Gorge
Why it’s great: Incredibly safe, welcoming, and easy to navigate with bilingual signage.
Cultural highlights: Night markets (Shilin, Raohe), hot springs in Beitou, marble canyons at Taroko Gorge.
Transit tips: The High-Speed Rail (HSR) zips down the west coast; EasyCard works across metros and buses.
Food & activities: Bubble tea crawls, cycling Sun Moon Lake, lanterns in Pingxi, temple hopping.
Stay on any budget:
Affordable: Capsule hotels and stylish hostels with women-only floors.
Luxury: Landmark hotels with rooftop pools and spa floors in Taipei’s Xinyi district.
7) Canada – Vancouver, Montréal, Québec City
Why it’s great: High safety standards, multicultural food scenes, and nature at your doorstep.
Cultural highlights: European charm in Québec City, indie cafés and festivals in Montréal, sea-to-sky adventures near Vancouver.
Transit tips: City transit is straightforward; intercity travel is best by plane or VIA Rail for scenic routes.
Food & activities: Poutine to patisseries in Montréal, Pacific seafood in Vancouver, winter carnivals in Québec.
Stay on any budget:
Affordable: Chic micro-hotels and university dorm stays in summer.
Luxury: Mountain lodges in Whistler; Fairmont heritage hotels.
8) Singapore (with an add-on to Penang, Malaysia)
Why it’s great: Ultra-safe, spotless, English-speaking, and a perfect springboard to Southeast Asia.
Cultural highlights: Hawker centers, Gardens by the Bay, Peranakan shophouses, Penang’s UNESCO-listed George Town street art.
Transit tips: Singapore’s MRT is world-class. Bus/ferry connections to Malaysia are easy; domestic flights are affordable.
Food & activities: $5 Michelin hawker meals, rooftop bars, heritage walks, cooking classes in Penang.
Stay on any budget:
Affordable: Capsule hotels and boutique hostels.
Luxury: Marina Bay Sands and colonial-era mansions turned into hotels.
9) Spain – Seville, Valencia, San Sebastián
Why it’s great: Late-night, social culture that makes solo dining feel natural; excellent trains and regional buses.
Cultural highlights: Flamenco in Seville, futuristic architecture in Valencia, pintxos in San Sebastián.
Transit tips: High-speed AVE trains link major cities; use contactless cards on metros and buses.
Food & activities: Tapas crawls, beach cycling paths, rooftop terraces, art museums (Prado, Reina Sofía).
Stay on any budget:
Affordable: Design-forward hostels and pensiones.
Luxury: Historic palaces (paradores) and Michelin-starred culinary hotels.
10) Costa Rica – La Fortuna, Monteverde, Nosara
Why it’s great: Strong eco-tourism infrastructure, abundant guided tours, and wellness-focused towns popular with solo travelers.
Cultural highlights: Cloud forests, volcano hikes, coffee farm tours, Pacific surf towns.
Transit tips: Shared shuttles and private drivers are efficient; public buses are cheap but slower.
Food & activities: Zip-lining, hot springs, wildlife night walks, yoga and surf retreats.
Stay on any budget:
Affordable: Eco-lodges and surf hostels with community vibes.
Luxury: Jungle spas and wellness resorts with farm-to-table dining.
11) Scotland – Edinburgh, Isle of Skye, Inverness
Why it’s great: Warm, welcoming locals, dramatic landscapes, and tons of organized day tours you can join solo.
Cultural highlights: Edinburgh’s Old Town, Highland castles, whisky distilleries, Skye’s Fairy Pools.
Transit tips: Trains and coaches cover most of the country; rental cars offer freedom for the North Coast 500.
Food & activities: Cosy pub dinners, literary walks, loch cruises, multi-day hikes.
Stay on any budget:
Affordable: Historic hostels and B&Bs.
Luxury: Baronial estates, castle hotels, and spa retreats.
12) Bali, Indonesia – Ubud, Canggu, Uluwatu
Why it’s great: A huge community of solo women travelers, yoga/wellness hubs, and affordable luxury.
Cultural highlights: Balinese ceremonies, rice terraces, cliff temples, traditional dance performances.
Transit tips: No public transit—use Gojek/Grab, private drivers, or (if comfortable) rent a scooter.
Food & activities: Plant-based cafés, surf lessons, yoga teacher trainings, waterfall hikes.
Stay on any budget:
Affordable: Guesthouses and co-living spaces ideal for meeting people.
Luxury: Private pool villas and full-service wellness resorts at surprisingly accessible prices.
Quick tips to make any solo trip smoother in 2025
eSIMs > Roaming: Activate an eSIM before you land for instant data and maps.
Contactless everything: Most places now accept tap-to-pay via phone or card—carry a backup physical card just in case.
Women-only options: Look for women-only dorms, rideshare settings, and local women-led tour companies.
Join small-group day tours: Safe, structured, and a great way to make friends for dinner or hikes.
Pack light + smart: A compact crossbody, portable door lock, personal alarm, and power bank are solo-travel MVPs.
Ready to design your perfect solo escape?
Whether you want geothermal lagoons in Iceland, temple tranquility in Japan, or sun-drenched tapas crawls in Spain, Elite Dream Vacations can tailor your itinerary to your comfort level, interests, and budget.
Tell us your dream vibe (adventure, culture, wellness, luxury-on-a-budget), and we’ll build a 2025 solo trip that’s safe, seamless, and unforgettable.