The Safest Places In The World For Solo Female Travellers

Travelling alone may seem to be an intimidating way to explore the world for some women, but thousands of women travel on their own every year. Whether it’s because they struggle to find friends or relatives to travel with or just that they prefer to be alone, they’re not letting it stop them from exploring the world.

However, the reality is that around 28% of women are prone to harassment every year while travelling, so a group of respected journalists created a Women Danger Index to assist female travellers in choosing safer destinations to visit. Based on information gathered from the 50 most visited destinations around the world, the countries were ranked on their level of danger based on criteria such as whether women are safe at walking at night or whether they are legally discriminated against or not. Each country has been given a “Danger Grade” for each of the eight considerations and then ranked overall.

The eight key criteria are:

• Non-partner sexual violence
• Intimate partner violence
• Legal discrimination
• Intentional homicide of women
• Violence against women attitudes
• Safe to walk alone at night?
• Global gender gap
• Gender equality

Based on the criteria of the study, this article looks at the safest countries in the world for solo female travellers to visit. An infographic with the full list of destinations and their rankings is featured below as well.

From its famous Mediterranean beaches to the buzzing streets of Madrid and Barcelona, Spain is a country devoted to living the good life. It is also the world’s third most-visited country, and therefore attracts a lot of pickpockets and other scammers, especially around its main cities, according to SafeAround.

Nevertheless, travelling in Spain is generally safe – especially for women. Most travellers will never face any kind of serious threat or danger, but petty theft is a serious problem in urban areas and many have lost their passport, cash, or credit cards to pickpockets and bag snatcher. There are also many scams in Madrid and Barcelona’s touristic places, with small groups of thieves working together to distract you in order to steal your wallet.

Top tips to stay safe:

• Never leave any valuables in your car.
• Never leave valuables unattended while swimming at the beach.
• Be especially vigilant for bag and phone thieves at transport hubs like train stations, airports, restaurants, outdoor cafes, beaches, and public transport.
• Protect your personal belongings at all times, especially your ID and passport.

Singapore is a very exotic country, encompassing the island of Singapore and 58 smaller islands. Although the physical size of the country is small, economically Singapore is a giant and one of the most modern and developed countries in the whole of Southeast Asia. This city combines Malay, Arabic, Chinese, Indian and English cultures, therefore the variety of sights to visit and cuisines to taste is enormous. Public transportation in the city of Singapore is also very developed.

Singapore’s city streets are so clean that they are envied by many European countries. They’re not only clean of garbage, but also of petty crimes, and Singapore is one of the safest countries in the world. Violent crimes against tourists almost don’t exist. The top list of crimes in Singapore are made up of petty crimes, including pickpocketing, which does occur at the airport, areas frequently visited by tourists and public transport.

Top tips to stay safe:

• Be aware of con artists that pretend to be landlords offering property for rent, and think twice before renting accommodation through untrustworthy resources.
• Avoid making large payments in cash and be sure that before signing the contract all sides are verified.
• Be aware of unscrupulous retailers, if you feel pressured into purchasing goods, leave the store. Choose reputable and official resellers of the electronic equipment.
• Be aware of your belongings at all times and watch out for pickpocketers.

Ireland is an amazing country with beautiful natural landscapes and ancient history, which dates back to ancient times.

The most interesting historical, architectural and cultural attractions, as well as the original Irish flavour, provides a unique atmosphere and a lot of impressions.

Ireland is a safe country, especially for women travelling alone. However, common petty theft, burglary, and other insignificant offences do exist. Violent crimes are very rare, but vigilance in all public places is recommended.

Top tips to stay safe:

• Avoid some unsafe and dangerous neighbourhoods.
• Follow safety precautions and remain vigilant all the time, let it be in the bar, train, restaurant, or hostel.
• Be aware of your belongings at all times and watch out for pickpocketers.

Austria is not only about beer and mountains – it offers a different mix of landscapes, including Alpine valleys, vineyards, and meadows. While a very safe country, some parts of Austria’s cities are best to be avoided, especially taking into account the recent influx of immigrants in Europe. Pickpockets and bag-snatching can be a problem at some main touristic spots.

In a country which attracts more than 25-million tourists per year, the level of pickpocketing and bag snatching are high. Tourists are often targeted on large train stations and main touristic routes, particularly in the capital. ATM fraud is also increasing.

Top tips to stay safe:

• Maintain the same level of personal security as in any other country.
• Exercise caution while withdrawing money from the ATM.
• Keep your credit card in sight and monitor your transaction statements regularly.

Switzerland is a quiet oasis at the crossroads of Europe and is a perfect example of a country where multiple nations live and respect the customs of each other. Each year more than 9 million tourists arrive to visit Switzerland landmarks and enjoy its ski resorts. While the country is very safe for solo female travellers, such a huge touristic stream and their distraction do attract petty thieves.

The most common crimes on the Switzerland territory are pickpocketing (including those pickpockets who work in a gang) and break-ins. Short stay tourists are not that much at risk of break-ins. However, pickpocketing might be a pain, without following minimum precautions.

Top tips to stay safe:

• Do not leave your belongings unattended, particularly in museums, transport hubs, and other overcrowded places.
• Carry as little cash as you need for a day. Leave other valuables in the secured place, including passport.
• Be cautious in pubs, bars, and clubs.

The following infographic outlines the full list of the safest and most dangerous countries in the world for solo female travellers to visit.

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• Top Tips for Travelling Solo