Best Cities in Europe For Solo Female Travelers
Whether you are a solo female traveler or a solo male traveler, traveling alone has become extremely popular. Nowadays, no one looks at you weirdly when you say you travel by yourself. When I went on my first solo trip 18 years ago, I felt out of place, and people used to look surprised. Times have luckily changed.
And no other continent is as great for solo traveling as Europe. The continent is so compact with so many great cities to travel to that it is my first pick for solo traveling.
Public transportation is great, you can get around easily, it is generally safe, and there are so many amazing cities and sights that you will never get bored… Okay, prices here tend to be higher than in Southeast Asia, but it has its perks.
When I travel and meet other solo travelers, I am surprised that many travel solo out of necessity – I personally love it. I do not get bored, and I normally do not look to meet other people. Meeting other people is not my priority, but I know that it is important for many of you to find places where you can easily make friends and acquaintances. So, I tried to consider this when listing my favorite places in Europe for solo female travel.
So, whether you are looking for a trip around Europe or just a weekend getaway – here are my tips for the best cities to travel solo in Europe.
Where to Go Solo in Europe? Here are the Best Cities in Europe for a Solo Trip
Let´s start with a crazy place first.
Travel Solo to London in England
London is one of my first picks because it is so bustling, busy, and exciting that you will not have time to get bored. With so many sights and attractions, you can easily fill your itinerary with fun things to do.
If you like to socialize, you can book a room at a hostel or have a drink in one of the numerous pubs. And let´s not forget how vegetarian and vegan-friendly London is.
Downsides of visiting London as a solo female traveler: London is quite expensive. Especially accommodations are costly, so a single room is often not much cheaper than a double room. If you are on a tight budget, a hostel room might be almost the only option. Also, I have heard from several solo – female – travelers that they feel uncomfortable strolling streets at night. Click here for a full London itinerary.
Solo Female Travel to Paris in France
Yes, I know. Paris is known as a city for love birds – many say it is the most romantic city globally. And while Paris is great for a trip with your partner, you can also have a wonderful trip to Paris by yourself.
Paris is pretty, especially at night. So, to experience Paris at its best, stroll the city in the evening. When Paris lights up, it becomes absolutely stunning. There are some tourist scams, and not all areas are safe to stroll – especially not alone. But if you are aware of the tourist scams and exercise common sense, you should be fine.
My tip: On average, the hotels in Paris tend to be worse than in many other major cities, so I recommend investing a bit more in a hotel that is close to the city center and the metro station. Click here for more Paris travel tips.
Visit Zurich in Switzerland
Zurich is one of my most favorite cities and absolutely amazing for solo female travelers. Zurich is a beauty – not as wild and exciting as other European capitals (well, Zurich is not the official capital of Switzerland, but the unofficial), but still a beauty.
With its lovely old town, beautiful Lake Zurich, the many cafes and bars, and the house mountain (Uetliberg), it also offers fun attractions for a great weekend.
Zurich is one of the cities where I felt safe staying out at night and walking around as a solo traveler. Of course, common sense is important, but I felt safer than in cities like London or Paris.
However, accommodation prices in Zurich are insane. It’s tough when you cannot split hotel costs with anyone, but there are a few budget-friendly options. Find out about the best things to do in Zurich and good places to stay in the city.
A Solo Trip to Tallinn in Estonia
Tallinn is the beautiful capital of Estonia – lovely, charming, fun, and affordable. It is probably one of the most affordable capitals in Europe and a great solo destination on a budget.
Tallinn´s public transportation was good, but I actually did not need it that much (taxis are also still affordable, but of course, not the best option if you don’t want to increase your carbon footprint further). After two days in the city, you can also do a day trip to Helsinki. Tallinn is one of the smaller cities on this list, yet it is a fun place, and as a solo female traveler, I also loved strolling the old town in the evening. Here is my 2-day Tallinn itinerary.
Female Trip to Munich in Germany
Munich is one of Germany‘s prettiest cities. It is not crazy, stylish, or hip, but it is really pretty, and I love Munich as a solo travel destination.
If you book your accommodation in a central location, you can discover many things by walking – the market square, the pretty gardens in the area, and more. Also, it is perfect for day trips to Schloss Neuschwanstein or Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Find out more about Bavaria’s beautiful places.
Traveling Solo to Bremen in Germany
Okay, this might be a biased recommendation, but I still do truly recommend the incredible, fantastic, beautiful city of Bremen. Yes, it is my hometown, but it is also amazing.
The prices aren’t high (though not the cheapest in Germany either) and the people might not seem the friendliest (but hey, that is hardly unusual in Germany), but I am sure you will love it here.
Just book a hotel near the city center to stay safe and avoid side streets and parks in the dark. Especially the area around the main train station (Hauptbahnhof) is an area to avoid at night. This goes for most German cities – the train stations are normally places where drug users meet, criminals, and more. This might sound very dramatic. It is overall safe but not an area I like to spend a lot of time – whether I am alone or with another friend. Click here for my guide for Bremen
Girls Trip to Lisbon in Portugal
Though I haven’t visited Lisbon solo (I visited with a female friend), I think it is a perfect city in Europe to travel solo.
I love the Portuguese people – they are friendly, helpful, and nice. So, this makes it great for solo travelers.
Lisbon has become a trendy travel destination, and there are a few reasons you should add it to your list as well (apart from the nice people): beautiful sights, lovely scenery, and overall beauty – while still being a bit hip and fun. Also, Lisbon is not extremely expensive, and public transportation is good, so it is super easy to get around and explore the city by yourself. Here are my tips for Lisbon.
Solo Travel to Barcelona in Spain
Barcelona is also one of the few cities that I actually did not visit by myself – my sister and I had a wonderful time in Barcelona.
While the city is known for its pickpocketing, we made it without any negative incidents. Keep your valuables close to you, avoid side streets at night, and pick a central accommodation. With these tips in mind, you will have a wonderful trip to Barcelona.
Barcelona should be on everyone’s travel bucket list with a lovely beach, great sights, and many fun activities. Here are more travel tips for Barcelona.
There are usually many international visitors from all around the world and making new travel friends – if that is what you are looking for – should not be an issue.
Bergamo in Italy as a Solo Traveler
Bergamo is probably not the first city that comes to mind when thinking about Italy travel. However, this pretty city in Northern Italy is great for your first solo trip.
Many fly to Bergamo (which is served by discount airlines) before heading to Milan. My tip is not to skip this pretty city. It is not only much cheaper than Milan but also much prettier! If you need more inspiration for Bergamo, click here to read my travel guide.
Solo Travel to Romantic Venice in Italy
Venice is probably the most unique city in Europe – and like Paris, it is a great honeymoon destination or at least a good place for lovebirds.
There are many attractions, like Markus Square, with several landmarks within them (and don’t forget to visit Burano), so you will not get bored at all – even if you are by yourself.
However, accommodations in Venice are extremely pricey, and a single room is almost as much as a double room, so this is a downside of a solo trip to Venice. Here are more travel tips for your solo trip to Venice.
Visit Edinburgh in Scotland as a Solo Traveler
Edinburgh was one of the first European cities I traveled to solo – and I loved it.
Yes, accommodations are very pricey, but many hostels ease socialization and reduce costs. Edinburg is the perfect size for anyone who doesn’t want to feel overwhelmed by a large city but doesn’t want to be bored.
There are many sights and tourist places, but you find yourself in nature pretty fast given its location. The lovely locals are just the icing on the cake. Edinburg is one of my favorite solo trips in Europe.
Visit Lucerne in Switzerland
Another beautiful city in Switzerland that is made for solo travelers is… Lucerne.
If I compare all the cities mentioned in this post, Lucerne is probably the place with the prettiest scenery. So, if you enjoy some time in the mountains or spending your day in/on/around a stunning lake, then Lucerne is the place to go.
It is also safe, and public transportation is amazing. There is, of course, a downside: accommodation prices are insane! Seriously. However, since Lucerne is so safe, you can also book a hotel outside the city center and commute.
Find more Lucerne travel tips and also check out my Lucerne accommodation guide.
Berlin in Germany For Solo Travelers
And here is another German city on my list of the best places to travel alone in Europe… but this time, it is the trendy capital.
Like many others, my first impression of the city wasn’t good: unfriendly people ruined the trip. The people haven’t become much nicer, but I learned to ignore them because the city has a lot to offer.
There is so much to see and do (from history to art) that you will not get bored at all. If you like to meet people, book a bed in a hostel and focus more on visitors than locals.
Berlin is safe – overall. However, as a major capital, you have to watch more carefully in the evenings. Avoid side streets, try to avoid using the tube at night, and book central accommodation. Find my detailed Berlin travel guide here.
Visit Salzburg in Austria Alone
Salzburg is another pretty, pretty city in Europe that I love to visit solo.
It is quite a small city – perfect for those who enjoy walking a lot and are interested in old buildings and music (after all, it is Mozart´s birthplace).
The people here are friendly and nice to talk to. It is actually pretty expensive to stay overnight, but 2 days in the city is enough to see beautiful places. Check out more Salzburg pictures and info here.
A trip to Vienna in Austria
Vienna is one of the most romantic places in Europe (personally, I think it is even more romantic than Paris). Stroll along the beautiful streets and visit the charming castles – and you can do it all by yourself.
Even if a place is great for love birds, it doesn’t mean it isn’t great for solo travelers, too. So, do all the things you would do as a couple, and you will find out why Vienna is absolutely stunning.
It is also very walkable, and you can explore most places on foot (though, unlike accommodations, public transportation is quite cheap should you need it). Ah, this beautiful city has won me over and is one of my top picks for your solo trip.
Tip: Stay in a central hotel so that you don’t have to worry about safety if you get home late (not that I had a bad experience, but still). I have a 2-day Vienna itinerary for you and a quick guide on the best areas to stay in Vienna.
Solo Female Trip to Helsinki in Finland
Helsinki actually did not make me fall in love with it instantly. I visited the city as a day trip from Tallinn, and though we did not become besties, I still think it makes a great day trip from Stockholm or Tallinn.
Public transportation is great, I felt safe during my trip, and I discovered some pretty locations. Here is a bit more on my day trip to Helsinki.
Solo Female Visit to Stockholm in Sweden
Stockholm is amazing for solo travelers. It might be a coincidence, but I met great people both times I visited, and I totally loved Stockholm. If you are looking for a city in Northern Europe to visit, Stockholm is it.
The city is expensive (but it has some great hotels – even though I hardly stay in hostels, this one was one of my favorites ever), but it is so worth it.
If you are interested in the museums, get a Stockholm Card and see what the city offers. But even if you aren’t there for the museums, the city has some other great places to see (the old town is just one of them).
Planning a trip to Stockholm soon? Then read my Stockholm 3-day itinerary and my tips for the best areas to stay in Stockholm.
Travel to Annecy in France Solo
Annecy is not a city, but I still felt I have to add it to this list. It is the perfect solo destination in Europe for those looking for a small town with colorful houses and a Venice vibe but still surrounded by nature.
Annecy offers all that! Its proximity to the Swiss border makes it pretty expensive by French standards, but I still absolutely loved Annecy!
It was one of my favorite solo destinations in 2017 (but I visited with my little dog), and I cannot wait to go back. Given its small size, it was easy to walk around, and I felt safe every second! Here is my Annecy itinerary with more travel tips.
Solo Travel to Sarajevo in Bosnia-Herzegovina
Sarajevo is not only one of my most favorite places I visited in 2019. It is also an amazing city to travel solo in Europe.
But Sarajevo has to offer much – from beautiful hill and mountain views to a lively old town with a lot of history. You won’t get bored in Sarajevo – whether you travel solo or not.
In the city center itself, crime is low (be careful at Mount Trebević if you travel solo as theft is apparently quite common. However, other than that, there is no reason to worry about your safety. Sarajevo might have a troubled past, but I can hope more people visit (solo) and experience those people with so many lovely locals. Plus, Sarajevo is also quite affordable, so you don’t need to worry too much about your budget, which is another great reason to visit.
Final Thoughts on Best Solo Female Travel Destinations in Europe
These were some of my favorite places for solo travel in Europe – there are a few cities in Europe that are still very high on my list (like Athens), so of course, I don’t claim this is the ultimate or complete list.
Europe is a perfect continent to travel solo – thanks to great public transportation. It is easy to get around and see quite a lot in a short amount of time. I cannot wait to discover more of Europe myself.
However, I hope this post has inspired you, and you have found your perfect solo destination in Europe.
