Traveling solo as a woman isn't just possible—it's empowering! Unveil a world where safety and adventure intertwine in the top ten destinations made for you.
Traveling alone as a woman can be a daunting experience, especially with the reality that some countries have restrictive norms regarding women. In certain places, not adhering to local customs or traveling without a male companion can lead to uncomfortable or even dangerous situations. However, there are many countries that are welcoming and safe for solo female travelers. If you're ready to pack your bags, here are the top 10 women-friendly countries you should consider visiting.
While Canada isn’t the best country in the world when it comes to gender equality, it’s extremely friendly towards women.
The vast majority of Canadians believe that women should be equal to men in terms of rights.
You can be pretty sure that when you visit Canada, you’re not going to get into an argument with some sexist idiot claiming you’re not a full human being.
It’s no surprise that Scandinavia, and countries adjacent to Scandinavia, rank high when it comes to gender and sex equality.
Norway is one of the best countries you can visit as a solo woman traveler.
Although there are systemic issues that the country still needs to fix, you’ll find that there are women in positions of power and prominent leadership roles in Norway.
Once again, we’re in the realm of Scandinavia for our next entry.
Like Norway, Sweden has a lot of progressive attitudes towards society in general.
As a solo woman traveler, you won’t need to worry about being persecuted in Sweden. This is a country that consistently strives to be a world leader in terms of gender equality, with 96% of Swedish citizens saying that gender equality is a very important issue.
While Angela Merkel is no longer the Chancellor of Germany (that honor now goes to Olaf Scholz), she was a respected and renowned figure on the world stage for many years.
Merkel’s policies and attitudes towards the economy shaped European thinking for decades.
Her leadership should speak volumes about Germany’s attitudes towards women travelers.
Of course, the Netherlands has its fair share of misogynists; every country around the world does.
However, this is a very progressive country in terms of its attitudes towards everything from gender politics to drug use.
You won’t need to worry about being judged for your gender if you visit the Netherlands.
France has had a long and hard road towards gender equality.
While the country still isn’t quite there—like many of the world’s nations—it has made huge strides in recent decades.
France is also a place where women can feel safe to travel. You won’t be accosted or bothered, and you won’t be in any trouble whatsoever if you choose to travel without a companion.
If you live within the UK, it’s easy to believe that gender politics are worsening, as many people express anti-women and anti-trans attitudes.
However, this doesn’t apply to the majority of British citizens, who support women’s rights and the rights of those who identify as women.
In cities like London, Birmingham, and Manchester, you can explore as a woman without fear.
You’d expect New Zealand to be a champion of women’s rights with a president like Jacinda Ardern, who gained international acclaim during the early days of the COVID-19 crisis thanks to her logical and sensible decision-making.
It stands to reason, then, that only 1.3% of New Zealanders believe that men make better leaders than women do.
Traveling here as a woman, you won’t experience any problems.
Once again, there are almost certain to be systemic inefficiencies and problems in Spain that make it difficult for women to attain positions of power, as this is true around the world.
However, as a traveler, you’re not likely to experience any forms of discrimination as a woman in Spain.
The situation is improving, too, with Spain passing new laws back in 2020 aimed at reducing the pay gap.
Our final country is technically part of Scandinavia, although some don’t include Denmark when they use the term.
As such, you should expect women’s rights to be superior in Denmark, and they are, for the most part, especially when compared to countries in the Middle East or other less women-friendly places.
If you visit Denmark, be prepared for a very warm welcome free of discrimination!
These are our top 10 women-friendly countries for solo travelers, but we’ve almost certainly missed a few.
Pro Tip: A huge number of countries around the world welcome solo women travelers, so unless you’re going to countries like Afghanistan or Saudi Arabia, you should be welcomed with open arms in most places you could want to visit.
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