Ratgeber
Best destinations for women travelling alone in Europe
Destinations with reliable transport, a manageable size and a mix of culture and nature suit women travelling alone well, for example Portugal, Greece or Iceland. More important than the country are your choice of accommodation and a clear rhythm. Swiss Vibes is a Swiss travel agency offering video consultations and helps with the selection.
Von Swiss Vibes Women Only, Stand
Schritt für Schritt
- Clarify your interests: cities, nature or relaxation
- Set the travel season and duration
- Compare two or three destinations
- Choose accommodation in a central, lively location
- Book arrival and transfer in advance
- Structure each day around one fixed activity
Checkliste
- FDFA (EDA) travel advice checked
- Arrival time not at night
- Accommodation with reception open until late
- Public transport checked
- Emergency numbers saved
- Offline map downloaded
- Travel insurance confirmed
- Digital copies of documents
For solo travellers, Europe offers many destinations with short journeys and clear infrastructure. The question is less which country is the right one than which one suits your pace, your season and your interests.
Criteria for a good solo destination
A good destination offers an easy journey, understandable transport and infrastructure that still works late in the evening. It also has surroundings where guests travelling alone are an everyday sight and nobody asks questions.
Language plays a role. English is enough in most European holiday countries, but a few words of the local language open doors and win goodwill. Also check how well signage, timetables and apps work.
Ask yourself too how much planning you want to take on yourself. A destination with many organised activities takes the load off, while a freer destination demands more initiative but offers more scope. Both are right, as long as they suit you.
Portugal as a starting point
Many women describe Portugal as a pleasant place to start. Lisbon and Porto are manageable, the train connects the two cities reliably, and the coast is not far. Steep lanes do call for good footwear, though.
Small guesthouses with breakfast and personal contact help you find your feet in the country. Dinners in restaurants are normal and uncomplicated for solo travellers, and cafés offer many quiet places to linger during the day.
Spring and autumn bring pleasant temperatures and fewer crowds in the old towns. If you have time, add a few days on the southern coast to the cities and experience city, sea and landscape in one trip.
Greece and Iceland for nature and calm
Greece combines culture with the sea. An island such as Crete, or a combination of Athens and a smaller island, can be travelled well alone, the ferry connections are established, and the hospitality makes arriving easy.
Iceland is a country for nature experiences. The Ring Road is well developed, and for solo travellers there are small groups or self-drive routes with pre-booked accommodation. Geothermal baths offer welcome recovery after long driving days.
With both destinations, keep the weather in mind. In Iceland it decides routes and the daily plan, in Greece it decides ferry connections. Allow generous travel times and leave a buffer, and the trip stays relaxed.
Choosing accommodation and arrival well
Choose hotels in a central location with a reception that is staffed around the clock. This gives you security on the day of arrival and makes the journey easier after a late flight. Read reviews specifically for comments on the area in the evening.
Book the airport transfer in advance and schedule your arrival for daytime. A calm first evening determines how comfortable you feel. Go through the route from the station to your accommodation on the map beforehand.
Single rooms are usually available, but often cost more per person. In the consultation, ask about properties geared to solo travellers. Particularly helpful are places whose team greets you personally and recommends a restaurant nearby.
Company as you wish
If you want to meet people, you can combine a group programme with free days. This gives structure without tying you down. Women's trips in particular offer community, support and conversations that go beyond travelling.
A video call helps to find the right amount of company. In the [planning call](/m/women-only/planen) we talk about destination, travel season and pace, and show you variants from which you can choose at your leisure.
On request, we put together a trip with a fixed meeting point on the day of arrival and free choices after that. This way the trip grows with you step by step and stays your own at every moment. You check travel advice with the FDFA (EDA).
Other destinations and season
Besides the destinations mentioned, many other regions are suitable, such as Italian cities, the coasts of Croatia or the Alps. What matters is that arrival, transport and accommodation fit your wishes and your season.
If you are after nature and activity, you will find well-signposted hiking trails and mountain huts. If you are after culture, plan museum days with café breaks. Both work wonderfully alone and offer many chances to chat.
In a conversation with us, we narrow down possible destinations by timing, season and preferred rhythm, so that you choose from concrete suggestions rather than brochures. You will find current advice on the destination country at the FDFA (EDA) at eda.admin.ch.
