Solo Female Travel Safety Index (2025)
Last updated: September 17, 2025 | 12 min read
Important context:
- Safety varies by city and neighborhood. Research specific areas within each country.
- Use common sense: avoid isolated places at night, share live location when possible.
- Local women’s experiences are a valuable signal—seek community groups before you go.
Top 5 Safest Countries for Solo Female Travelers
These countries rank highest for overall safety based on violent crime rates, harassment levels, night transport reliability, and emergency services.
Top 5 Safety Comparison
| Feature | Safest Overall | Best Infrastructure | Lowest Crime | Best Value | Best Healthcare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safety Scores | |||||
Overall Safety | 94/100 | 91/100 | 92/100 | 90/100 | 90/100 |
Violent Crime | 10/10 | 9/10 | 9/10 | 9/10 | 9/10 |
Harassment Level | 9/10 | 9/10 | 9/10 | 8/10 | 9/10 |
| Infrastructure | |||||
Night Transport | 9/10 | 9/10 | 9/10 | 8/10 | 9/10 |
Emergency Services | 9/10 | 9/10 | 9/10 | 9/10 | 9/10 |
Healthcare Quality | 9/10 | 9/10 | 9/10 | 8/10 | 9/10 |
| Practical | |||||
English Spoken | 10/10 | 10/10 | 6/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 |
Petty Crime | 9/10 | 10/10 | 9/10 | 8/10 | 9/10 |
| Best For | |||||
Ideal Traveler | Solo adventurers, nature lovers | City explorers, foodies | Culture seekers, tech nomads | Budget-conscious, beach lovers | Luxury travelers, hikers |
Iceland
Safest OverallSafety Scores
- Overall Safety
- 94/100
- Violent Crime
- 10/10
- Harassment Level
- 9/10
Infrastructure
- Night Transport
- 9/10
- Emergency Services
- 9/10
- Healthcare Quality
- 9/10
Practical
- English Spoken
- 10/10
- Petty Crime
- 9/10
Best For
- Ideal Traveler
- Solo adventurers, nature lovers
Singapore
Best InfrastructureSafety Scores
- Overall Safety
- 91/100
- Violent Crime
- 9/10
- Harassment Level
- 9/10
Infrastructure
- Night Transport
- 9/10
- Emergency Services
- 9/10
- Healthcare Quality
- 9/10
Practical
- English Spoken
- 10/10
- Petty Crime
- 10/10
Best For
- Ideal Traveler
- City explorers, foodies
Japan
Lowest CrimeSafety Scores
- Overall Safety
- 92/100
- Violent Crime
- 9/10
- Harassment Level
- 9/10
Infrastructure
- Night Transport
- 9/10
- Emergency Services
- 9/10
- Healthcare Quality
- 9/10
Practical
- English Spoken
- 6/10
- Petty Crime
- 9/10
Best For
- Ideal Traveler
- Culture seekers, tech nomads
Portugal
Best ValueSafety Scores
- Overall Safety
- 90/100
- Violent Crime
- 9/10
- Harassment Level
- 8/10
Infrastructure
- Night Transport
- 8/10
- Emergency Services
- 9/10
- Healthcare Quality
- 8/10
Practical
- English Spoken
- 8/10
- Petty Crime
- 8/10
Best For
- Ideal Traveler
- Budget-conscious, beach lovers
Switzerland
Best HealthcareSafety Scores
- Overall Safety
- 90/100
- Violent Crime
- 9/10
- Harassment Level
- 9/10
Infrastructure
- Night Transport
- 9/10
- Emergency Services
- 9/10
- Healthcare Quality
- 9/10
Practical
- English Spoken
- 7/10
- Petty Crime
- 9/10
Best For
- Ideal Traveler
- Luxury travelers, hikers
Complete Global Rankings (All 24 Countries)
Filter by region, sort by any safety metric, search countries, and export data to CSV. Scores are based on 8 factors: petty crime, violent crime, harassment, night transport, emergency services, healthcare, cultural flexibility, and English proficiency.
Key Insights by Region
Europe
Top safe picks with excellent transport and low harassment: Iceland, Portugal, Estonia, Germany, Spain.
Asia
High safety with cultural considerations and great infrastructure: Japan, Singapore, Georgia, Thailand.
Americas
Urban awareness recommended; strong safety in Canada; research neighborhoods in Mexico, Colombia, Brazil.
Middle East & Africa
Very low street crime in the Gulf; observe local norms. Plan routes carefully in parts of Africa.
Methodology & Weights
Scores combine reported petty and violent crime exposure, harassment prevalence, night transport reliability, emergency response, healthcare access, and language accessibility. We normalize to a 0–100 scale.
- Overall score emphasizes low violent crime and night transport reliability.
- Regional rank uses the same scale but compares within-region to avoid skew by global outliers.
- City‑level variance is significant: always research specific neighborhoods within each country.
Updated January 2025. Intended as a planning aid, not a guarantee. Verify current conditions before travel.
Limitations & Local Variance
Important Context
Safety can vary block‑to‑block within large cities. Use local communities and recent trip reports, plan late‑night routes in advance, and consider ride‑hail at night even in otherwise safe destinations.
Solo Female Travel Safety: 5-Step Preparation Guide
Follow this systematic approach to maximize your safety when traveling solo as a woman.
Safety Preparation Checklist
Research Your Destination Thoroughly
- • Use Google Maps Street View to familiarize yourself with accommodation area before arrival. Download offline maps.
Share Your Itinerary
- • Use apps like TripIt or Google Calendar sharing so someone always knows where you should be.
Prepare Emergency Contacts & Documents
- • Take photos of all important documents and email them to yourself. Keep emergency cash hidden separately from main wallet.
Plan Safe Transportation
- • Sit in the back seat of rideshare vehicles. Share your trip details with a friend using the app's safety features.
Trust Your Instincts & Stay Alert
- • Wear a fake wedding ring if it makes you more comfortable. Pretend to be on a phone call if approached by aggressive vendors or unwanted attention.
Practical Safety Tips
Route & Transport
Favor main streets, ride-hail at night, sit near driver or in women-only cars where available.
Stay Connected
Share live location; carry a power bank; save emergency numbers.
Local Norms
Blend in with local dress where appropriate; walk confidently and with purpose.
Empowering Perspective
Solo female travel is incredibly rewarding and safer than ever. Millions of women travel solo every year without incident. The data shows that with proper preparation and awareness, you can explore the world confidently.
- ✓ 94% of solo female travelers report feeling safe during their trips (Women's Travel Network)
- ✓ Countries like Iceland, Japan, and Portugal score 90+ on safety indices
- ✓ Join communities: Solo Female Travelers Network (200K+ members), Girls LOVE Travel (1M+ members)
- ✓ Remember: Bad experiences make headlines; millions of safe, transformative journeys don't
Methodology & Sources
- Aggregate of traveler reports, city safety indices, transit availability, and healthcare access indicators.
- Qualitative adjustments reflect solo female traveler experiences and community safety guidance.
- We update periodically; consult official advisories and local communities for the latest conditions.
- Economist — Safe Cities Index
- GIWPS — Women, Peace & Security Index
- Gallup — Law & Order Report
- Official city transit and police pages for night service and safety programs.
Last review: September 2025.
Solo Female Travel Safety FAQs
Answers to common safety questions for women traveling alone.
Low violent and petty crime, reliable public transport at night, low harassment prevalence, accessible emergency response and healthcare, and supportive cultural norms.
Not necessarily. Many with mixed scores have cities and neighborhoods that are manageable with planning. Research exact routes and use ride-hail at night.
Scores reflect 2025 conditions and recent traveler reports. Always check current advisories and local groups before travel.
Filter by region and focus metric. Shortlist high “overall” countries, then read city‑specific advice. For mid‑scorers, plan night routes, pick central lodging, and use ride‑hail after dark.
Reported street harassment prevalence and perceived comfort. It varies by city and context; use local women’s groups for neighborhood‑level nuance.
Not if you adapt. Choose anti‑theft bags, avoid distraction scams, use hotel safes, and keep transit/arrival times to daylight where possible.
Prefer ride‑hail at night, sit near the driver or women‑only cars if available, and choose accommodation close to well‑lit transit hubs.
Overall emphasizes violent crime and night transport reliability, then harassment and petty crime, with context from emergency and healthcare access.
We review periodically and when conditions materially change. Always verify with recent local reports before travel.
Still have questions? We're here to help!
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