Solo female travel is one of the most empowering and transformational experiences you’ll have in your life. If you’re considering taking a solo trip, let me be the voice of confidence that cheers you on and assures you that you will not regret it!

This list covers seven of the best places for solo female travel that are perfect for your first solo trip. You’ll get tons of great ideas for where you want to go and tips for solo traveling but, most importantly, you’ll gain confidence knowing that solo travel is nothing new and it’s not nearly as scary or unsafe as you may think!

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Why These Destinations Are Great for Solo Travel As a Woman

Taking the leap into your first solo trip isn’t easy because solo travel for women is highly misunderstood.

Your friends and family may question you, people will tell you it’s unsafe and you’re crazy, and you might feel weird for wanting to explore a new place alone. But as many boss a$$ women who’ve gone before you can tell you, time spent traveling solo is time well spent!

Choosing the best destination for your first solo trip can be a challenging venture in itself. The following solo female travel destinations are perfect for a first trip (or second, third and so on) because they are safe, full of adventure and get you out of your comfort zone. These solo female travel best places made it on this list because I can speak from experience on how safe and accessible they are for first-time travelers.

Each destination is very popular for tourism and is safe and navigable enough for a new traveler to figure out on their own. Plus, I had a killer time in each place!

Best Places for Solo Female Travel: Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

Santa Teresa is a laid-back town on Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula that’s perfect for kicking back and going with the flow. There are tons of yoga studios and it’s a great place to immerse yourself in nature or learn how to surf. The journey there is a little challenging, so it offers you the excitement of “figuring things out” and the feeling of accomplishment when you finally arrive at your hostel and sip an icy Imperial.

Costa Rica was the first place I actually planned to visit solo and I chose it because I wanted a tropical getaway with plenty of yoga and surf opportunities. All I booked were my flights and seven nights at the Selina Santa Teresa hostel but nada mas—the last thing I wanted on this vacation was a schedule. I immediately made friends at the bar once I arrived and from then on, everything fell into place. I did yoga almost every day, took my first surf lesson and partied until the sun came up. The trip ended in heartfelt goodbyes with friends made just days before and a pair of rainbow macaws flying overhead as I waited for my plane. La pura vida!

Santa Teresa, Costa Rica Solo Travel Tips

You can rent a car and drive there from San Jose International Airport or Liberia International Airport, or your can take a small plane from either airport right to the Tambor airstrip in Santa Teresa. Once you arrive in Tambor Airport (it’s just an airstrip next to a small parking lot), you’ll need to hire a taxi to take you to your accommodations in Santa Teresa. I recommend doing a little research on specific activities or sights in the area, but plan on taking Costa Rica in as it comes. You’ll lay on the beach, surf, eat delicious seafood, party, do yoga and enjoy watching monkeys fly through the trees.

Best Places for Solo Female Travel: Australia

Do people exist that don’t want to visit Australia? The land of kangaroos may just be the adventure travel capital of the world with surfing, diving, hiking and (let’s be real) ridiculously attractive accents. While you could spend an entire year here with a Working Holiday Visa and never get bored, a shorter trip will be just as exciting! For Westerners, Australia is one of the best places for solo female travel because everyone speaks english and the culture is similar to other Western countries.

Australia Solo Travel Tips

If your trip is only a couple weeks, choose 1-2 cities with the activities you want to do. From scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef and visiting the Daintree Rainforest in Cairns to trekking out to Ayers Rock and surfing in Bondi Beach, Australia has something for everyone.

On my 17-day solo trip to Australia, I visited Sydney and Cairns.

In Sydney, I stayed right on Bondi Beach at Wake Up! Bondi Beach Hostel and my trip was full of relaxation and fun. I went to yoga classes, took surf lessons, walked the coastal trail from Bondi Beach to Tamarama Beach and ate the most delicious breakfasts in Bondi. I also explored Sydney and took the Manly Ferry to Manly Beach. Midway through the trip, I took a flight up to Cairns for a few days just to see the Daintree Rainforest (oldest rainforest in the world) and dive the Great Barrier Reef! It was actually my first ocean dive after my scuba certification and I was stoked to be doing it SOLO and at the legendary Great Barrier Reef.

Best Places for Solo Female Travel: Ireland

Ireland is a great first time solo female travel destination because they speak english, it’s safe and it’s absolutely breathtaking. Ireland is one destination that’s left a deep impression on me. It’s SO green and you get the feeling that magic, fairies and legends are all real there. Plus, it’s a pretty tiny country so you can see a lot of it by car in just a few days! Whether you want history, adventure sports or sightseeing, I highly recommend a solo road trip of Ireland.

Ireland ended up on my itinerary because I heard you could surf there and I was determined to practice my surfing in new places. I flew into Dublin and took a bus across the country to a little beach town called Strandhill in County Sligo. Strandhill is the most serene little coastal town with great bars, a farmer’s market, one yoga studio, Knocknarea Hill and, of course, surf!

Ireland Solo Travel Tips

If you choose Ireland for your first solo trip, I strongly recommend you rent a car on through Expedia and explore more than Dublin. Driving on the left side of the road is a real adventure and the country is so small, you can see a different city every day. A really simple route that covers all the main sites is Dublin, Kilkenny, Killarney, Dingle, Lahinche (where the Cliffs of Moher are), Galway and back to Dublin (I cover this exact route in my 8-day Ireland itinerary).

My four absolute favorite experiences in Ireland are:

• Horseback riding in Killarney
• Walking along Inch Beach in Dingle
• Listening to live traditional Irish music (trad) in pubs
• The Fairy Fort in Dingle (with sheep and goats you can feed!)
• And the Guinness Storehouse Tour in Dublin.

Best Places for Solo Female Travel: Israel

Contrary to popular belief and anything said on the news, Israel is an extremely safe solo female travel destination. As one of the most-talked-about countries on Earth, Israel has everything a solo traveler needs for a trip of a lifetime. The history, culture and food will seriously blow your mind! Plus, Israel is very modern. Tel Aviv is a huge city right on the coastline and the infrastructure is great.

On my first solo trip to Israel, I was only there for 2 days! I was so determined to visit Israel I took a little detour there when I was traveling in Europe and it was so worth it. When I arrived in the evening I had to take a train and then find my way to Abraham Hostel…which ended up being like a mile walk through the city. It felt like the longest walk of my life, but once I arrived, everything went awesome!

The first day I took a bus to Jerusalem and did a free walking tour of the city. The second day I booked this tour to Masada and the Dead Sea. All the locals were extremely kind and helpful. Shop owners in touristy areas can be pushy, so you just have to be firm and say no.

Best Places for Solo Female Travel: Mexico

Before you say hell no to visiting Mexico alone, hear me out. I’ve taken more solo trips to Mexico than anywhere else in the world and I’ve never had a single issue. In fact, I’ve met the most amazing, kind people in Mexico. To me, Mexico is one of the best places for solo female travel for people living in the US because it’s a quick flight and there is SO MUCH to do and see!

I’ve been to Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Valladolid and Cabo San Lucas as a solo female traveler so you really have tons of options for what city you want to visit. Some of my most amazing underwater experiences have been in Mexico. It’s where I learned to freedive in the cenotes, swam with whale sharks and scuba dived with bull sharks! Of course, it’s also a great place if you want to see ancient ruins like the Tulum Ruins, Chichén Itzá, Cobá Ruins and party until the sun comes up.

I definitely recommend you stay in a hostel while traveling in Mexico because there are so many backpackers in their 20s and 30s traveling there and it’s the best way to make friends, party and have fun! Of course you can also have a relaxing getaway all to yourself in one of the many glamorous beachfront hotels.

Best Places for Female Solo Travel: South Korea

If you want to get a taste of the far east, South Korea has it all. Seoul is a HUGE international city with tons of unique districts to shop, eat and party in and throughout the country, you can experience everything from world-class hiking to exotic beaches on Jeju Island.

Plus, South Korea is extremely safe. I lived in Seoul for four months while studying abroad and it was the experience of a lifetime! It’s so easy to get around with the subway and buses and it’s easy enough to get by with English (especially in the big cities).

My favorite experiences in South Korea include:

• Eating bibimbap and Korean BBQ
• Hiking Hallasan on Jeju Island (it’s absolutely stunning)
• Hiking to the top of Seoraksan (the highest point in South Korea)
• Experiencing the Boseong Green Tea Fields
• Seeing the cherry blossoms along the river in Jinhae

Best Places for Solo Female Travel: Dubrovnik, Croatia & Kotor, Montenegro

Dubrovnik and Kotor are two stunning coastal cities in the Balkan Peninsula that are some of the best destinations for solo female travel. I grouped the two cities together because they’re just a two hour drive apart and the trip I did here was one of my favorite solo trips ever. If you want to explore medieval fortresses, swim in the aqua-blue Adriatic sea or drink Aperol spritzes on an umbrella-laden beach, you’ll love these cities.

Dubrovnik Solo Female Travel

I recommend flying into Dubrovnik and booking a room at either:

• Hostel & Rooms Ana in the heart of Old Town,
• This charming Airbnb I stayed in with the best host or
• One of these beautiful apartments with the most stunning views.

During your 2-3 days in Dubrovnik, you definitely want to make time for a tour of the medieval wall surrounding the city (early morning or sunset to beat the heat) and a kayaking tour to Betina Cave. And if you’re a Game of Thrones fan, you’ll also want to do this Game of Thrones Walking Tour. Other than that you’ll enjoy yourself just wandering the narrow streets, enjoying delicious local cuisine (like squid ink risotto) and laying on the beach.

Kotor Solo Female Travel

After you’ve had your fun in Dubrovnik, book a morning bus to Kotor, Montenegro and prepare to be blown away during the drive and on arrival in Kotor. It’s absolutely breathtaking and reminds me of heaven on earth! I recommend staying at Montenegro Hostel 4U because you’ll have the time of your life staying right on the water. This hostel is SO MUCH FUN and the people who run it are so helpful and welcoming.

Here are the few things you MUST do during your stay in Kotor:

• Book a boat tour to the Blue Cave, Mamula Island and Our Lady of the Rocks. If you stay at Montenegro Hostel 4U, they also offer boat tours.
• Wander the streets of Old Town shopping, eating, drinking and taking photos of the many cats of Kotor.
• Hike to the top of the Kotor Fortress using the hidden ladder trail that’s behind the city.
• Explore the stunning Tara Canyon (the deepest canyon in Europe!).
• Go whitewater rafting on the Tara River.

The Best Websites for All Your Travel Booking Needs

I’ve booked a lot of travel through many different sites. The sites below are the ones I always come back to for booking flights, rental cars, activities and accommodations because they’re the most user-friendly and where I find the best deals.

Flights

I have scored so many deals on flights on Skyscanner over the years and that’s why it’s my go-to for flight research and booking.

Hotels

On the rare occasions I book a hotel, Booking.com is my go-to because it’s user-friendly and has the largest selection of hotels. I also always search for discount codes before booking because sometimes you can snag a deal!

Hostels

I almost always stay in a hostel when I travel solo and Hostelworld is the absolute best for finding quality hostels across the globe because they have the biggest selection with tons of recent reviews. Plus, staying in a hostel doesn’t mean you have to stay in a dorm room with other people. Plenty of hostels have private rooms as well so you get the privacy of a hotel but the social atmosphere of a hostel in one!

Rental Cars

If you’re doing a road trip or going to need a rental car for any part of your trip, do yourself a favor and book or reserve it in advance on DiscoverCars.com. Rental car rates are always WAY higher when you book in person or on the spot and DiscoverCars always gets me the best rates compared to the other rental car sites.

Tours & Activities

Book tours and activities with Viator or Get Your Guide. I’ve done so many tours with these companies and they never disappoint! Just make sure you read the reviews and go with tours with excellent reviews.

Where Will YOU Travel Solo?

Would you take a solo trip to one of my favorite destinations above? Do you have somewhere else in mind? Let me know in the comments below!