Planning your First Solo Female Trip?
Taking my first solo trip was the best thing I ever did for myself. It’s a formative experience full of growth and self-realization. Being alone in a foreign country, especially as a woman, can be a little bit scary, which is why it is important to do your research and find the right location.
I’ve put together a quick guide of my favorite top six solo female travel destinations to inspire you to go for it. These cities all have amazing things to do and see, places to stay, and efficient public transport, which are all important things to consider while traveling alone.
Every city listed below is safe for solo female travelers. I have gone solo to all of these locations and have made some of the best memories.
Another post will be coming soon that will go more in-depth on solo female travel, but for now, take a look at these destinations to help you plan your first solo female trip!
1. London, United Kingdom
London is a perfect first time solo female travel destination. There is no language barrier and it is has a lot of similarities to the United States, if that’s where you’re coming from, which can help with the adjustment.
The public transport in London, The Underground, makes it extremely easy to get around.
London is expensive in comparison to other cities around the world, but can still be done on a budget.
Things to see: The London Eye, Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Churchill War Rooms, Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly Circus, The British Museum, and Abbey Road.
2. Florence, Italy
Italy is a wonderful place to plan a solo female trip, and Florence is a great city to start with. Every major site is within walking distance which makes this an easy city to navigate on your own. The food here is incredible (obviously) and there is so much to see.
I have always felt extremely safe in Florence and it can be easily done with a tight budget. There are cheaper hotels here and there are in and around the city. Italy is full of solo travelers and you’ll be sure to meet some on your journey. All of the towns in in Italy, in my opinion, are the perfect first time solo female travel destinations.
From Florence you can easily take day trips to Bologna, Milan, Rome, and many other gorgeous Italian towns.
Things to see: The Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, Piazzale Michelangelo, Statue of David, The Uffizi Museum, Florence Leather Market, Gucci Garden, Palazzo Vecchio, and more!
3. New York City, New York
Had to throw a USA city in the mix!
The vibrant energy in this city is something everyone needs to experience at least once in their life. New York is easily the most expensive city to visit on this list, but you can most likely keep your trip within budget with adequate planning.
There are so many neighborhoods in NYC to explore and they are all so different. Get lost in iconic museums like The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Modern Art Museum, or The Guggenheim.
The best times to visit NYC are the Spring and Fall. Winters here can be brutal, not allowing for much outdoor activity. The Summers can be extremely hot and humid, but still very fun. Spring and Fall will provide you with comfortable weather to walk all around the city, see the sights, and be comfortable.
Things to see: Central Park, Museums, Freedom Tower and 9/11 Memorial, Rockefeller Center, SoHo, The Edge Viewpoint, West Side Highway, Dumbo, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Chinatown, and SO much more!
4. Madrid, Spain
Madrid was my first real solo female travel destination. I spent Summer of 2017 as an au pair in Madrid and this changed my life forever and gave me the confidence to explore other cities on my own.
Madrid is a beautiful, walkable, and lively city with tons of solo travelers. There are some great hostels here, my favorite being The Hat near Plaza Mayor. Madrid is also a popular city for international au pairs.
If you’re looking for a way to stay abroad for a long period of time, you may want to explore au pairing! I will be making a YouTube video and blog post on this topic soon. I found my family on aupairworld.com.
Just like Italy, Spain has well-known cities all over the country that are connected by train. Book a quick trip to Barcelona or Granada from the Madrid Atocha train station. Madrid is seriously one of the best first time solo female travel destinations.
Things to see: Plaza Mayor, Royal Palace of Madrid, Gran Via, Retiro Park, Temple of Debod, La Latina, Círculo de Bellas Artes, Real Madrid Stadium, Mercado de San Miguel, and more!
5. Rome, Italy
When looking for a city to visit on my own, I try to find a place with a lot of museums and sightseeing so that I can keep myself busy. Rome is the absolute best place for this! It’s quite literally impossible to run out of things to do here and you can make your money go a long way.
See my latest Rome Travel Guide here.
Rome has subways, busses, taxis, and Ubers to get you from one museum to the next, but I find that exploring the city by foot is the best way to see Rome. Wear comfy shoes!
Walking through Rome can lead you down the most beautiful streets and past traditional Roman restaurants and shops. I love getting “lost” here as I am constantly blown away by the beauty and history of this city.
Hot Tip: There are countless Airbnb/Tripadvisor experiences in Rome for things like cooking classes, wine tastings, and walking tours. I booked a pasta and tiramisu making class as a way to meet other solo travelers and had the best time!
Just like Florence, you can plan some bucket-list worthy day trips from Rome. Places like Pompeii, Tivoli, Amalfi, Capri, Florence, Tuscany, Naples, and more, are all easily accessible from Rome.
Looking for a hostel? I stayed at The Beehive Hostel near the train station and loved it! It has everything you could need in a hostel and is centrally located near the train station.
Things to see: The Colosseum, The Vatican & The Vatican Museums, Borghese Gardens, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Capitoline Museums, The Forum and Palatine Hill, Piazza Navona, and more!
6. Prague, Czech Republic
Last but not least, Prague!
Prague was another one of my first time solo female travel destinations. Prague does have a different feel from Western Europe and I remember going through some mild culture shock on my first day.
I always felt safe in Prague and really fell in love with the city. There is so much history here and the architecture is stunning. Visiting Prague feels like going back in time because this city was preserved from the bombings of WW2, unlike a lot of the other Eastern European cities.
In Prague, I stayed at Hostel Downtown and had a perfect view of Charles Bridge from my bedroom (different from the above photos). This was my first real hostel experience and I would definitely recommend if you are looking. As a female, I always stay in female-only dorms.
Things to see: Charles Bridge, Prague Castle & Grounds (would recommend a tour guide), Prague Astronomical Clock, Old Town Square, Golden Lane, Old Town Bridge Tower, Letna Beer Garden, and more!
Plan that trip and go for it! Memories that will last a lifetime are waiting for you.
