20 Safe and Stunning Destinations Around the World for Women to Travel Solo
By Kirsty Albert (Cosmopolitan)
Time to buy a flight and a tripod.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a girls’ trip just as much as the next gal (honestly, probably more than the next gal). But my best travel buddy is, unapologetically, me. I’ve had friendships almost ruined on trips, and it took me a while to realize that not everyone travels well together. I’ve now visited 88 countries, and roughly 50 of those were by myself. Yes, the recovering people pleaser in me still struggles to decide what I want to do while traveling (jk, it’s almost always a local flea market or food hall), but it has almost always ended in pure joy.
There’s something strangely thrilling about traveling solo—finding out what you like and don’t like, learning how to entertain yourself, deciphering when to ask for help vs. when you can handle it yourself, and so on. And the trend of traveling solo-dolo is only becoming more popular. Self-guided tour company Macs Adventure recently reported that solo travel is up nearly 40 percent from last year, with most female-identifying travelers saying they craved the chance to leave their comfort zones and experience some level of personal growth. Love that for all of us!
But not all destinations are ideal for female solo travelers, and safety should always come first when planning your next adventure. That’s why I did a ridiculous amount of research—talking to experts, checking the Equaldex, and thinking about my past experiences, and so on and so forth—to come up with this list of the 19 best places to travel solo for women. From the sunny beach to the city streets, I can guarantee there’s a spot you’ll love below. So, prepare to take yourself out and about.
Hamilton, Bermuda
There’s a scientific reason why the beaches are pink in Bermuda (google “foraminifera shells,” if you’re curious). But all you need to be concerned about is finding your perfect beach among the approximately 34 options on the island. (FYI, Warwick Long Bay is pretty much always the pinkest in photos.) The bars, shops, and restaurants in town are an easy walk or shared shuttle from the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club (often referred to as the “Pink Palace”), and downtown Hamilton is where the weekly Harbour Nights street festival happens every Wednesday from June to August. It’s a great place to meet other singles and locals!
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