Thinking about traveling alone, especially in Europe? Need some tips and tricks to help you on this new journey of yours? In this blog post, I share tips and tricks with safety in mind when traveling alone as a woman in Europe.
Location
When deciding on a location for my first time traveling alone as a woman in Europe, I opted for Scandinavia. Why, you ask? I wanted to be able to travel fluidly and not worry about language barriers. Since this would be my first time, I didn’t want to add an extra challenge to the mix.
My step-dad is from Denmark. He advised me that most Scandinavians can speak English, and language shouldn’t be a problem for me when traveling through Scandinavia.
It really helps to navigate through a country much more easily (especially if you get lost) if you can speak the language. If you can speak Spanish, that will also open more doors into European countries you can visit without any language barrier.
Another contributing factor in choosing a location for me was my safety. If you, too, are concerned about your safety and don’t want to have that extra challenge as well, Scandinavia is a great option. I’m not saying it’s the only option.
But for my first time traveling alone as a woman in Europe, I didn’t want to feel like I had to watch my back all the time. I wanted to feel free and excited about this new journey of mine. Of course, wherever you go, always proceed with caution and be aware of your surroundings.
Transportation
Scandinavia has really low crime rates, high gender equality (I saw only men pushing strollers and not one woman), and an excellent infrastructure that includes buses, ferries, and trains. This made traveling alone as a woman in Europe so much easier.
Their public transit system was so easy to navigate, in my opinion. In fact, I thought it was one of the best compared to all my travels around the world.
When thinking about location, if you are like me and want to decrease stressful elements of your travels, some things to consider would be language, safety, and public transportation.
Things To Do
The first time I traveled alone, I basically just winged it. I didn’t have an itinerary or a solid plan. All I had in mind were sites or locations I wanted to visit in each city. I traveled from Copenhagen, Denmark, to Stockholm, Sweden by train. There were landmarks in Copenhagen that were suggested to me by my stepdad, like Tivoli Gardens and Freetown Christiana.
However, my second time traveling alone as a woman in Europe, I went to Switzerland and booked a lot of group tours. It got expensive. Thankfully, my mom offered to pay for some tours as a birthday gift to me.
Both styles of traveling I enjoyed. By not having an itinerary, I was able to wake up and not feel the pressures that one can cause. There were no time constraints. My day was free to explore wherever and however long I wanted to.
However, when I traveled to Switzerland and booked a lot of tours, I got to meet a lot of other people, some too whom were traveling alone and are still my friends today. I was also able to see other parts of the city or town I would never have been able to get to using public transportation.
I will admit, towards the end of my solo trip in Switzerland, I didn’t book any group tours, and the quietness of my trip made me feel more lonely after spending so many days with other people. This could have also been due to that time in my life as well (I was going through a breakup).
TripAdvisor and Lonely Planet are some great sites to check out group tours, but don’t sleep on Airbnb. Although I haven’t used it while traveling alone as a woman in Europe, I used it when traveling internationally with my family.
I’ve used Airbnb to book cooking classes in Japan and China, a guided hike in Japan, and a guided walking tour in Barcelona.
I also used Airbnb to book my stays. Which leads me to my next topic of discussion, your stay.
Accomodations
I opted for Airbnb because I wanted to stay with hosts who were open to sharing tips about their city. I’m not really a hostel type of person, and I know hotels provide concierges. But one, I felt at the time Airbnb was more affordable when I rented a room, and two, I felt a little more secure knowing my host (whom I vetted) was just a room away.
Be sure to read each review on your potential Airbnb listing. Some things I look for are, location of Airbnb, cleanliness, a private bathroom or shared, and the host’s hospitality.
However, as I’ve gotten older, I now feel like hotels may be a bit safer for me. I like knowing that there is always a front desk available. Although I have stayed in a small family hotel in Switzerland and that was not the case.
Do what you feel is best for you. You know what makes you feel safe. The beauty today is that we have so many choices now and access to so much more. Just make sure wherever you stay, it’s reputable and verified.
Dating Apps
I’ve also used dating apps when I’ve traveled alone and had some of the best experiences and stories. You definitely don’t need to use a dating app. But if you choose to always, always take safety measures.
I always vet the guys I’ve dated. I’ve even asked to take a picture of their identification when I met them at a public place, and they wanted to go somewhere else. I’ve asked for their first and last name to Google them and to forward some of their information to my mom, just to have that added layer of protection.
One time, I asked a guy in Copenhagen for his first and last name prior to us meeting after explaining that I was traveling alone as a woman in Europe. He laughed at me and made some condescending comments about how childish I was acting because I wanted to tell my mom who I was going out with.
Needless to say, we didn’t go out. Which was totally fine because I ended up meeting someone else with whom I had an unforgettable experience with him and his friends.
And always TRUST YOUR INTUITION.
Recap – What To Consider When Traveling Alone As A Woman In Europe:
- Location
- Language
- Transportation
- Safety
- Group or Guided Tours
- Dating Apps
