If you identify as a woman and want to travel alone, it can be difficult to find a destination that will meet all of your travel needs. So I request the women of BuzzFeed Community: “What is the best destination you have traveled to solo and why?” and they provided very thoughtful places and tips to follow. Here's what they had to say below:
1.
“I did a lot of travel alone over the years. But one place I always remember with such fondness is Vienna, Austria. The people were incredibly nice and the food was absolutely amazing. The coffee, beer and wine scene was so much fun. I'm more of an introvert, but I felt very comfortable going out at night to wine bars and breweries and just enjoying the culture around me. There's nothing better than strolling through an art museum showcasing the world's most beautiful works of art with a glass of Merlot in hand. And on my last day, I had the best surprise when I chanced upon a repeat of the Lipizzaner stallions. They are world famous show horses, and I was ushered into the arena and got to watch them perform. Vienna will always be one of my favorite places.”
2.
“I absolutely loved the Red River Delta in Vietnam. Beautiful scenery and wonderful history. Stayed in a lovely little hotel run by a grandmother, mother and daughter. (And also, some good food, friendly people, all good things!)”
3.
“After a particularly intense period of burnout, my therapist and my PCP both told me I needed to take some time off. It scared me too much, so I took myself (and one of my two dogs) to car trip from Northern California to Joshua Tree for two weeks. I cooked, drank wine, did yoga, finished the first draft of my novel, smoked pot in the hot tub, watched black and white movies, read, and went on endless hikes with my dog. It was my solo moon and so restorative. I will absolutely do it again, proactively this time, and not because it is medically necessary.”
4.
“Sayulita, Mexico! The beaches are beautiful and there is lots of hiking, surfing, amazing restaurants, bars and art. The main street can be very touristy, so getting off the beaten path a little is recommended and really enjoy local life. The area is generally safe for travelers and offers a wonderful alternative to overcrowded and overpriced beach resorts.
—Katie, 33, Texas
5.
“I stayed alone in Dublin and had a wonderful time. One tip, however, is to make sure you find a hotel closer to the center. My hotel was actually in Drumcondra and I had to rent a bike which ended up getting robbed. on one of my bus trips to another city. But Ireland, in general, was just a really beautiful place full of friendly people. I had two racist encounters where I was fetishized as a black woman, but I still never felt unsafe. I walked downtown every day during my week-long stay and never had any problems.”
6.
“I solo hiked Pictured Rocks in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Being alone in nature for five days was amazing, although I was very anxious at first. By the end, I felt so accomplished and had so much time to think. and be present. It changed my life and I can't recommend a solo backpacking trip enough. Plus, Pictured Rocks is probably the most beautiful place I've ever been. I felt rushed every time as I looked over the cliffs, even after spending several days there. I can't believe it's not more popular. I've visited most of the well-known national parks, and none of them “is comparable to Pictured Rocks. Lake Superior is truly superior!”
—Aubrey, 29 years old
7.
“I traveled alone to Japan twice and returned later this year. Both times I went I felt safe. I traveled to Kyoto and Osaka and around the Hiroshima Prefecture. I probably feel safer in Japan than in my own (country.)”
8.
“Alaska is beautiful and should be on your travel list ASAP! I'm over 40, have traveled alone, hiked all over the state, and have never had any problems. The only time I felt nervous was during an encounter with a bear. The bear was very far away from me, and we were left alone, but it was still a bit scary to see one in person. Otherwise, I never felt unsafe, and all the locals I met were super helpful and kind.
9.
“I'm a woman who prefers to travel alone. I can do what I want when I want, and traveling alone helps me make new friends along the way. Outside of North America, Berlin, in Germany, is BY FAR the best city I have ever visited. If you like music and art, this is the city for you. I met a guy in a bar and he met me invited me to go out to his bar the next evening. I arrived at 10 p.m., but he didn't finish until 2 a.m. He introduced me to the regulars while he was working. When he was finished , we hit the bars, went to a burlesque show in a warehouse, and ended up attending an all-night art party. The nightlife is incredible, but the history of the city is also unparalleled. We are still friends to this day, and I always send my friends to his bar when they visit. Not once has a man been inappropriate with me there, which is impossible to find in Europe.”
ten.
“I've been to New York and Amsterdam as a solo traveler. Both felt safe and I didn't feel uncomfortable being alone. Both also had plenty to see and do. Among They, I probably slightly preferred Amsterdam because the people were so nice and it's a city with a lot of history. People in New York could be a little angry, and strangers yelled at me a few times during my stay. I think big cities are often safer to travel alone because there are a lot of people and security tends to be better than in rural areas.”
11.
“I have traveled to many places. If you want a fun, easy and amazing place to travel alone, I highly recommend it. London, England. They offer excellent walking tours. I've done several and met a few other solo women travelers, and we met for dinner on several occasions. Even when I was alone, I didn't feel alone. I loved grabbing a sandwich at one of the many convenience stores and eating it in a park or eating at a cute pub. Transportation is so easy! The subway is much easier to use than the New York subway. I went there twice alone and had a lovely time wandering around.”
12.
“Iceland. I rented a car and drove alone for 10 days. I felt safer there than at home in the United States. It was the most beautiful place I have ever been! never felt homesick for a place I've never lived in before going to Iceland. I fell completely in love with the Icelandic landscapes and horses. I would definitely move there if I could. I travel almost exclusively solo. I can do what I want, eat what I want, and see what I want to see without compromising. I also talk and meet more people this way. As an introvert, though i was traveling with someone i know, i would probably talk to them and not really anyone else. Solo traveling with me is more outgoing.
13.
“Cuba. HIGH-END. When I went there, I had recently gone through a devastating breakup and found myself booking a trip to Cuba with a friend for my first trip as an adult outside of the country. Two weeks before the trip, she backed out, so I found myself alone. When I got out of the airport, I shared a taxi with a girl who spent three months alone in Ghana, and she m 'said: “Relax and try to have fun”..' Honestly, it was one of the best experiences of my life. I laughed, I cried, I fell in love (Cuban men will do anything to you), but most importantly, I found myself and I I closed the last chapter of this relationship.
14.
“Traveling alone is something every woman should definitely do once in their life. It's an incredibly transformative experience. If you love the beach, I recommend visiting the island of Menorca. It's a small island that you can visit on foot along the shore, and you'll enjoy beautiful historical landscapes and incredible beaches with blue waters.
—Daniela, 37, Uruguay
15.
“Prague is a great place for solo female travelers. I was there last fall and it was amazing. The food, architecture, and history are all incredible and worth spending three to four days there .The people all spoke good English and helped me improve my Czech and they had great recommendations for hidden gems and non-touristy places.The layout of the streets can be confusing but even getting lost in the old town Once dark one evening didn't scare me. I found a hole-in-the-wall bar, had a drink and got directions back to where I was trying to go. 'go.”
16.
“I just got back from Paris. I haven't done much solo traveling, and it was my first time outside of the North American continent. I suffer from pretty severe anxiety, OCD, and I'm on the I'm on the autism spectrum, so I'm a pretty clumsy person, but I decided to go to (Paris) to celebrate my birthday there, and I'm really glad I did. I loved walking around downtown, just watching people and enjoying the beautiful architecture. And as a historian, it was amazing to go to museums and places like Versailles and think about all the stories behind behind the artifacts there. I also walked around a bit in the evening (not too late, like 8 or 9 p.m.) and felt perfectly safe. There were several other women walking alone, which allowed me to feel safer. Overall it was a wonderful trip.
17.
“As a solo traveler, I never thought New Orleans would be a good place to go alone, but I was pleasantly surprised! I literally took a food tour of the city and couldn't help but no regrets, although I had to work a little bit harder for the next couple of months at the gym. Rent a bike from Buzz Nola if you can handle the heat. I went there in early August, and I not going to lie, it was tough – but biking everywhere is a lot cheaper, and it works if you plan your stops. Definitely do the Witchcraft and Vampire tour! There is so much incredible history revealed on of this tour; it made me look at New Orleans differently.
If you identify as a woman, share with us where you enjoyed traveling alone and if you have any tips in the comments below.
