The best places for solo female travel in Europe – with tips from our editors

💡 Good to know: You’re likely to feel safe walking alone even at night here – levels of harassment and street crime are incredibly low

It goes without saying that if you’re travelling solo, it can’t hurt to head to one of the safest countries in the world. There’s plenty to keep you entertained in Reykjavik, and enough stunning natural wonders like Black Sand Beach and Thingvellir National Park for an unforgettable road trip. And whether you opt for the Sundhollin Public Baths or the Laugarvatn Fontana, the Sky Lagoon or the Blue Lagoon, Iceland is dotted with wellness and relaxation spots, so you can really indulge in some solo tranquillity. 

🏩 Stay here: Bragging lavish scenery and a prime location to explore the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Hotel Búdir is excellent, but to be slap-bang in the centre of Reykjavik, amongst the cities brilliant bars and cute streets, opt for Kex Hostel. 

➡️ Check out our guide to the best things to do in Reykjavík

💡 Good to know: Stockholm’s public transport system is great for solo travel – well-lit, well staffed and operating all night on weekends

Head to the Swedish capital for some Scandanavian island hopping – Stockholm and its 14 main islands were made for exploring solo. Embrace fika, the Swedish mindset and term for taking a pause for yourself to relax, socialise and recharge your battery, by sitting in chilled-out cafés with coffee and delicious lussekatter (a saffron-infused bun). I recommend Café Kaffekoppen, which opened in a medieval brick cellar that dates back to 1648. Spend the rest of your time wandering the city’s small, cobblestone alleys. It’s still a big city, so wander it viligantly, but I always felt safe (particularly in the neighbourhoods of Gamla Stan, Södermalm and Norrmalm) – Stockholm is the kind of place you’ll want to get lost in. 

🏩 Stay here: Hotel Frantz is perfectly sandwiched between Gamla Stan and Södermalm's Ormsaltaren district. It's and elegant, yet quirky family-run hotel that's been praised by solo travellers, and it's conveniently located right by the Slussen metro station. 

➡️ Check out our guide to the best things to do in Stockholm

💡 Good to know: Vienna is another city that consistently ranks as one of the safest on the planet – it’s well-lit with solid transport and feels safe even at night 

Traipsing around a city can be pretty tiring stuff, so you need plenty of spots to rest up and get that much-need caffeine hit. Thankfully, Vienna’s Kaffeehaus culture has garnered the city a rep as the best place for coffee in Europe, which is pretty handy for those travelling alone – people-watching is a solo-travel necessity, after all. What’s more, Vienna is a great pit-stop for day trips to the dazzling Alpine countryside (of which Austria has plenty), and you can even get to and from Bratislava and Budapest in a day. 

🏩 Stay here: Hostel Ruthensteiner is a solid pitstop if you want to feel a little more like a local, but for a more luxe place to rest up and embrace proper Viennese style, Hotel Sacher is perched opposite the city’s legendary Opera House. 

➡️ Check out our guide to the best things to do in Vienna 

💡 Good to know: Perfect for solo travellers who like bars, clubs and dancing into the early hours – our favourites are Príncipe Real, Alfama and the raucous but very fun Bairro Alto

Lisbon has been my favourite city to date for solo travel. You might stroll past a building tiled with elaborate azulejos, get lost in a neighbourhood antique market, or wander into one of the city’s many excellent museums. The Portuguese capital is just as vibrant after dark, and Bairro Alto is still the best place to bar-hop. Revellers teem out of one boho bar to another – in fact, once you join the crowds gathered in the streets, you’ll probably forget which bar you went to last. There’s this nighttime camaraderie that means you don’t feel singled out as a solo tourist. Obviously, be aware of your surroundings, but I felt more than safe dancing well until sunrise.

🏩 Stay here: At 9Hotel Mercy, you’ll likely be able to see an iconic Lisbon tram from your window and the sea from this place’s brilliant rooftop bar, but if you prefer a solid location on a budget, The Independente Hostel and Suites is just down the road. 

➡️ Check out our guide to the best things to do in Lisbon

💡 Good to know: Thanks to tapas culture, eating alone is incredibly normal here – much more quick and casual than sit-down dinners

If you’re anything like me, your style of solo trip is the laidback city break - and for that, southern Spain is exemplary. You have Seville for long, lazy tapas lunches and intimate flamenco shows. Córdoba, less than an hour away by train, where you can peek around the formidable Mezquita, one of the world’s most important works of Islamic architecture. Go to Malaga for fish barbecues on the beach and excellent art museums, including the Centre Pompidou and the Museo Picasso, all within walking distance. Stretch your legs on canyon walks or inland hikes in the Sierra Nevada mountains, and if you want to properly chill, Nerja is one of the coolest beach towns along the Costa del Sol, known for its great surf.

🏩 Stay here: There are plenty of hostels in all of Andalusia’s major cities, but Malaga’s Coeo Pod Hostel has smart little single-person pods ideal for solo travellers. In Seville, Las Casas de la Juderia is a sprawling hotel made up of 27 traditional Seviliian houses, connected by a labyrinth of plant-filled courtyards and patios. 

💡 Good to know: If you’re after hiking and getting off-grid, this is ideal – but with not many public transport links around here, we’d recommend getting a car for this one

Wales' diverse landscapes are serverely underrrated and down on its southwest border, the county of Pembrokeshire is no different. Head to the harbour town of Tenby to feast on some glorious local seafood like Welsh cockles and razor clams before taking a dip in the Bristol Channel. The area is as safe as it is stunning, and the locals are as warm as Pembrokeshire’s summer sun. If you feel like being social, take a foraging course with local expert, Craig Evans, who’ll guide you through all the safe, yummy bits found on Pembrokeshire's forest floors and beaches. I couldn’t have asked for a more friendly and informative guide, especially when he brings his trusty golden retriever, Llew.

🏩 Stay here: The Tenby House Hotel is local, charming and within walking distance from Castle Beach, an idyllic enclave to appreciate a post-foraging sunset. 

💡 Good to know: You can get a bit of the stag do crew here, but evenings feel lively, full of people (including families), and much less party-focused than some of its neighbours

Croatia is steadily catching up with the popularity of France and Spain, but remains (relatively) cheap – Croatia is the ideal place to solo travel. Certain spots, like Hvar, are a magnet for lads’ holidays and girls’ trips, while others, like Dubrovnik, can feel like a bit of a Game of Thrones Disneyland. What you’re looking for is somewhere like Split: it’s just the right amount of lively if you want to meet people, its coastal location makes it a great base for island-hopping, there are affordable hostels all over the city, and it’s an hour by car to the Krka Waterfalls National Park, which feels stepping into a Microsoft screensaver.

🏩 Stay here: When it comes to pretty views and prime location, Riva Palace doesn’t have much competition. Alternatively, book a place at Dvor, a cute hotel near the city’s Forest Park Marjan. 

💡 Good to know: Cycle, cycle, cycle while you’re here on your solo holiday – many locals don’t even lock up their bike

The Danish capital is a pretty cracking city for any kind of traveller, but given it boasts not just walkability (and pretty streets) but also one of the world’s best public transport systems, there are few destinations easier to navigate by yourself. And what a place to explore. There are multiple brilliant art galleries (the Glyptotek or Statens Museum for Kunst will keep you busy) and palaces to mooch around, plus some fantastic pastry shops to keep fuel in the tank while you wander. 

🏩 Stay here: Copenhagen Downtown Hostel is the place to be if you want the city’s nightlife on your doorstep, but still with a funky take on Scandi charm. For some indulgence, Hotel Bella Grande is a beautiful boutique hotel in Vesterbro, not too far but also peacefully outside of Indre By. 

💡 Good to know: If you want to stick to more populated areas, stay around Ribeira, Baixa and Cedofeita

Porto might be hilly, but that’s one of the things we love about it – it means the city boasts some really spectacular views. The best spot to enjoy them is from Miradouro da Serra do Pilarthe, which, being a magnet for locals and travellers, makes for a great place to mingle with others exploring the city. But the perks of those hills don’t stop there – further into the countryside is Portugal’s famous wine-producing Douro Valley, which is a must-see on your own or as part of a tour group: the views and the vinho verde are splendid. 

🏩 Stay here: The Yeatman is bougie, but it’s also an official ambassador for Portugal’s fantastic wines and is partnered with almost 100 producers – need we say more? However, on a budget, the Porto Wine Hostel is a solid, conveniently-located option, too. 

➡️ Check out our guide to the best things to do in Porto

💡 Good to know: Bare in mind that though you can by booze in bars into the late hours, getting alcohol from corner shops (and drinking outside, even in pub gardens), is banned after 10pm here – it’s made the city much safer 

Embarking on your first solo trip might be a bit nerve-wracking, but the Scottish capital’s famously friendly locals and ridiculously busy roster of performing arts mean it’s a pretty solid place to start. There’s loads to admire in the city, from the bookshops to the pubs to all that gobsmacking scenery, but Edinburgh’s cultural scene has to be one of its biggest draws, especially for solo travellers. We’re huge fans of Edinburgh Fringe, the world’s biggest arts fest, but Edinburgh’s calendar of gigs, shows and exhibitions is pretty mega throughout the year – so no matter the season, you’ll not be short of some excellent things to see. 

🏩 Stay here: Gleneagles is a Scottish institution, and the Townhouse branch in Edinburgh is an extension of their world-class hospitality. For something a little livelier, colourful, and just the other side of the castle in Edinburgh’s Old Town is the Castle Rock Hostel.

➡️ Check out our guide to the best things to do in Edinburgh