Some countries are exceptionally safe for women to travel in alone, and some aren’t. Here is a list of the safest countries for women to travel alone in. Of course, problems can happen anywhere – and you should be careful no matter where you are – but these countries have great reputations for women travelers.
Thailand – I live in Thailand. I have been here for 13 years and, as a woman often traveling alone, I have never had a problem anywhere in Thailand as Thais are polite, friendly and always helpful.
Most Thai men also tend to be quite shy with western women, and are also very respectful, so it’s rare for a foreign woman traveling alone to have a problem here. Of course, it can and has happened, but with the thousands of foreign women who either travel here or live here, it is still rare.
For instance, I walk around alone in Bangkok at midnight and much later, I take taxis alone, and walk thru narrow alleys and small lanes alone. I travel on buses, trains and planes alone and have never had an incident or felt unsafe anywhere in Thailand. So, for one of the safest countries for women to travel in, Thailand would be hard to beat.
Ireland – Ireland is known for its friendly people, great pubs, great beer and gorgeous scenery. Irish women are also very outspoken, so Irish men are used to this meaning, if you are, you will feel right at home.
The Irish are also incredibly helpful, so if you get lost, need directions, or just have questions about the place you are visiting, you will find hundreds of people willing to help.
Keep your wits about you just like you would anywhere else, and you’re not likely to have problems in Ireland, especially if you speak up.
Vietnam – I spent three weeks in Vietnam a couple of years ago and loved it. The Vietnamese are friendly (which is surprising, especially for Americans, who bombed the hell out of their country for years) and the country is safe.
Don’t forget, it’s a communist country, so punishment for crimes is harsh, which probably has a lot to do with why the crime rate in Vietnam is so low as well.
On my last trip to Vietnam, I was in Hanoi and Halong Bay, and found both places to be exceptionally safe. In fact, walking around in Hanoi alone, and I felt just as safe as I ever have in Bangkok.
Vietnam is also a great place to meet other women traveling alone, as I noticed a lot of single women there.
Sweden, Finland, Denmark – The Scandinavian countries are safe for women traveling alone. Overall, the Scandinavian countries have low crime rates anyway, so for women traveling alone they’re wonderful countries to visit.
Swedes, Finns and Danes tend to be a little reserved but, once you get to know them, they’re usually welcoming and friendly. The only drawback with the Scandinavian countries is they are quite expensive, so you will have to budget accordingly.
Japan – Absolutely one of the safest countries in the world. The crime rate in Japan is low for all types of crimes. Japan is also clean, safe and the Japanese, although reserved, are friendly when you speak to them.
The Japanese however don’t speak much English, so learning a few phrases before you go would be a good idea. Japan is popular with both single women traveling alone. and single women who want to teach in a foreign country for a new experience. It’s also rare to hear of women having problems with safety in Japan.
Overall, any of these countries would be a perfect place for a woman traveling alone. Just remember, always be aware of what is going on around you, don’t go places with someone you don’t know, and don’t hang around in places where there are no other people around.
If you practice a little common sense in any of these countries, though, you should not have any problems.