The Best Countries in Europe for Solo Female Travelers

european countries for solo female travelers
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As a die-hard fan of solo female travel, I’ve spent years traversing across Europe all by myself.  I’ve traveled from west to east as I discovered the beauty and complete underratedness of Eastern Europe; and north to south as I chased the Northern Lights and partied on the Meditteranean.

What I’ve figured out during my solo travels, is that not every country is created equally when you’re choosing to visit alone.  Here are my top picks for European countries to visit as a solo female traveler based on safety, affordability, and the general amount of things to see and do.  These are all countries that I’ve extensively traveled through and instead of “country-hopping”, I’d really encourage you to slow down and take your time exploring each individual country in depth.  I hope you fall in love with each country as much as I did!

 


If you’re planning a solo trip, don’t miss:  How to Take Photos When Traveling Alone – The Ultimate Guide


 

10+ European Countries Every Solo Female Traveler Should Spend Time in

 


When traveling internationally, especially as a solo traveler, I always purchase travel insurance to give me peace of mind while on the road.  My go to choice is SafetyWing, which I highly recommend!


 

1.  Albania

Albanian Alps

Never have I ever visited a country where I met so many solo travelers or ex-pats.  Albania is full of people traveling around the country, hopping from one hostel to the next.  I’m not one to usually stay in a hostel, but Albania was a different story.  With affordable hostels, the general affordability of the country, and the number of solo travelers I met along the way, Albania is one of my top recommendations for solo female travelers.

 


For more on visiting Albania, don’t miss:

Visiting Berat Albania in 2 Days

8 Things to See and Do in the Albanian Riviera

The Best Things to Do in Gjirokaster

Everything You Need to Know About Hiking from Valbona to Theth in the Albanian Alps

The Ultimate Albania Travel Guide


 

2.  Austria

Salzburg

Austria is a beautiful (and clean!) country located in central Europe.  It’s a bit more expensive, but there are a lot of adventures to have in Austria and incredible small towns to slow down in.  Not to mention, Austria has one of the lowest crime rates in Europe.  If you plan to venture to Austria, start in Vienna (Austria’s capital) before making your way to smaller towns such as Salzburg and Hallstatt.

 


For more on visiting Austria, don’t miss:

48 Hours in Vienna

A Complete Guide to Vienna, Austria

How to Spend 24 Hours in Salzburg


 

3.  Belgium

Bruges

One of the most underrated countries in Europe (seriously, why don’t more people visit Belgium?) – Belgium is an incredible place for solo female travelers!  The country is small and easy to see in a short amount of time.  Train travel is easy and affordable allowing you to skip from one quaint town to the next.  And each destination you arrive at in Belgium is sure to take your breath away.  It’s the perfect mix of adventure and slow travel to keep travelers entertained but rested.

 


For more on visiting Belgium, don’t miss:

A Complete Guide to Bruges, Belgium

How to Spend One Day in Dinant, Belgium

48 Hours in Brussels

24 Hours in Ghent

Things to Do in Antwerp; A 24-Hour Itinerary


 

4.  Georgia

Tbilisi

Georgia is hands down, my favorite country I’ve ever visited in the entire world.  The culture is unmatched, the food is divine, it’s affordable, and the people are some of the kindest, friendliest, most welcoming people in the world.  I spent a month solo traveling through the country from the capital of Tbilisi to the mountains in Svaneti.  It was a once-in-a-lifetime trip and if I can encourage you to go anywhere – Georgia would be it.

 


For more on visiting Georgia, don’t miss:

The Best Things to Do in Kutaisi

Visiting the Svaneti Region in Northern Georgia

A Guide to Visiting Akhaltsikhe and Vardzia

Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Georgia

How to Spend 2 Days in the Khaketi Wine Region – Georgia’s Premier Wine Region

How to Spend 3 Days in Tbilisi

The Ultimate 10 Day Georgia Itinerary


 

5.  Italy

Burano

Italy isn’t just a romantic country for couples, it’s also an incredible place to solo travel!  Italy is full of incredible food (stuff yourself with pasta and pizza as you move from city to city), the world’s best wine, and it also happens to be one of the easiest countries to get around!  Accessing the train in Italy is easy plus there are bullet trains that can get you from city to city in a short amount of time allowing you to see a ton of the country.

I spent three weeks in Italy moving from south to north and I never once tired of the beautiful Italian architecture, countryside, or the food and wine.

 


For more on visiting Italy, don’t miss:

A Complete Guide to Visiting Rome

A Complete Guide to Visiting Florence

Pictures of Verona to Inspire Your Visit


 

6.  North Macedonia

Skopje

North Macedonia is the second country from the Balkans on this list (the first was Albania), and it’s for good reason!  The Balkan countries are incredibly cheap and full of solo travelers navigating country to country.  The Balkans have a rich history but are also incredibly diverse.

North Macedonia is one of my favorite Balkan countries.  It’s rugged and raw, affordable, and the locals are incredibly kind.  The country doesn’t see a whole lot of tourists so you can expect fewer crowds than other countries on this list.

 


For more on visiting North Macedonia, don’t miss:

24 Hours in Ohrid, Macedonia

Macedonian Bucket List – What to See and Do While Visiting

Why You Should Visit Skopje and What to Expect


 

7.  Romania

Sinaia

Romania is one of the most beautiful and underrated countries I’ve traveled solo to.  There’s so much to see from the Wallachia region to the Transylvania region.  Learn the legend of Dracula, drink Romanian wine, and hike through the mountains as you make your way through one of the most diverse countries in Europe.  Aside from the sheer amount of things there are to see and do in Romania, the country is also affordable!  You can spend a fraction of your money in Romania than you would if you visited a western country.

If you do plan to travel solo to Romania, I highly recommend a road trip.  The roads in Romania are well-paved (mostly) and easy to navigate.

 


For more on visiting Romania, don’t miss:

How to Spend 8 Days in Romania

How to Visit Brasov in 48 Hours

The Best Places to Visit in Romania – Four Fairytale Towns You Can’t-Miss

10 Epic Things to Do in Romania


 

8.  Spain

Malaga

Spain.  One of the most visited countries in Europe by Americans – and for good reason.  Spanish culture is tied with Georgia for my favorite cultures in the world.  The people in Spain value fun and their free time.  They frequently shut down businesses during the day and siesta for a few hours before heading out late at night for a fun, tapas-filled dinner.  While I’ve visited many different areas throughout Spain, I have a special place in my heart for Southern Spain.  The weather is beautiful.  The people are kind.  And the area is just downright fun!  Especially if you’re a solo traveler.

 


For more on visiting Spain, don’t miss:

72 Hours in Barcelona

Things to Do in Seville, 5 Experiences to Have

How to Spend One Day in Malaga, Spain

How to Make the Most of One Day in Granada


 

9.  The Baltics – Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania

Latvia

The Baltic Countries are located in Northeastern Europe and are made up of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.  Each of the three countries has similar histories but is all wildly different.  I think that all three countries are worth a visit and are best when grouped together.  Start in the south exploring Lithuania’s capital Vilnius.  Before moving north to Latvia to see Riga and Kuldiga, and finally finishing your trip in the capital of Estonia – Tallinn (which also happens to be one of the best-preserved medieval towns in all of Europe).  The Baltic countries are affordable and easy to get from one to the next.

 


For more on visiting the Baltics, don’t miss:

The Ultimate Solo Guide to Exploring Tallinn

Latvia Travel Itinerary – Exploring What Makes Latvia Unique

One Day in Vilnius – How to Go Solo in Lithuania’s Capital

Traveling Through the Baltics:  Estonia, Latvia, & Lithuania


 

10.  The UK – England & Scotland

Redding, England

If you’re new to solo travel, then perhaps the UK is a good place to start.  Not only are England, Scotland, and Ireland some of the most beautiful countries in the world (so green), but they are easy to navigate, and there is no language barrier.  While driving on the wrong side of the road might give you a scare, these three countries are a great starting point to kick off a European adventure.  (The proximity to the US makes them a gateway to Europe and an ideal place to begin).

 


For more on visiting the UK, don’t miss:

10 Things to Do in Bath, England

Staying in the Cotswolds As a Solo Traveler

Your Guide to York – What to Do in York, England in 48 Hours

The Best Things to Do in Oban in 48 Hours

The Ultimate Solo Guide to a 7-Day Road Trip Through the UK

A Complete Guide to Visiting London


 

I’ve made it my mission to visit every country (in-depth) in Europe.  While I still have many to go, the ones that were just listed are some of the best for traveling as a solo female traveler.  I hope that my list urged you to get out there and explore and perhaps even gave you some new ideas for countries to visit.  If you have any other favorite countries for solo female travelers, let me know in the comments below!

 


Don’t miss:  10 of the Best Cities in Europe for Solo Travelers


 

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Disclosure:  This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to purchase through my link, at no cost to you.

 


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passportsandpreemies
passportsandpreemies

Kylee is a Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) nurse passionate about making travel affordable and accessible to nurses. Inspiring nurses to travel both near and far, Kylee began Passports and Preemies in 2017 while volunteering in Skopje, North Macedonia as a way to reach nurses and advocate for the prevention of nurse burnout by traveling. Kylee is the original creator of the “8 Day Vacay” – a vacation geared towards nurses who aim to take advantage of the potentially 8 days off between work weeks with no need to use PTO.

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2 Comments

  1. Diane
    September 8, 2021 / 1:58 pm

    Thank you for your enjoyable website. You write with joy in your heart. I‘cove been a nurse 7 years and started traveling in Jan 2021. I love it! A longing since childhood.
    So I’m wanting to take a trip to Vienna for Christmas (solo) and wanted to know more about affordability when traveling around the world.
    Do you set a budget a head of time? Can you write more on safety, do’s and don’t s with lessons learned along the way?
    Thank you for sharing your journey!
    Good luck with new job!
    I’m curious, is it for a travel company, magazine, or nursing? I’m working my way out of the industry. ☺️

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