Exploring the world by yourself can be an empowering experience for a woman. You have the freedom to go where you want, eat when you choose, see and do what interests you and skip what doesn’t. No consultation, consensus or compromise required. It can be a confidence-boosting rush of self-discovery. But some women are a little intimidated to go it alone. They focus on potential obstacles like getting lost, feeling lonely, keeping healthy, avoiding harassment or staying safe. The fact is, solo women do face some challenges when they leave the comfort zone of home. With careful planning, commonsense street smarts and a regard for the local culture, you can minimize the risks and maximize your chances of a rewarding trip. Here are 12 of the best places to travel alone as a woman.
1. Norway
Vikings aside, Norway has a worldwide reputation for being a safe and friendly destination – two major criteria for a lone female traveler. Scandinavian countries always top the list in terms of quality of life and happiness ratings. Norwegians are particularly welcoming and proud of their culture. They seem genuinely happy to lend a helping hand, give directions or offer a suggestion to a visitor. Most speak some English (and often a few other languages too), so a communication barrier isn’t a big concern. Nature buffs will revel in the legendary fjords, epic glaciers, northern lights and 21 national parks. City-seekers will be impressed by Olso, Bergen, Stavanger and Tromso.
