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News24
a day ago
- News24
Thinking of taking a solocation? Here's why Dubai, Poland, Spain may be just right
Supplied More and more people are taking up opportunities to travel alone. InsureMyTrip conducted a study across 62 cities based on female safety and tourism metrics to create a list of the best cities for solo female travellers. Dubai in the United Arab Emirates came up tops for safety, with an overall score of 7.71 - 83% of women reporting feeling safe walking alone at night Solo travel is on the rise, but for female travellers it is safety concerns - more than money or geography - that often stop them in their tracks. InsureMyTrip conducted a study across 62 cities based on female safety and tourism metrics to create a list of the best cities for solo female travellers. Travel trends have changed to reflect that the safest places to travel to alone are not always the Nordic countries. Due to their reputation of being small and often equal-gender societies, there was a belief among travellers that they were safer vacation spots for solo travellers. However, that has changed. Dubai in the United Arab Emirates came up tops for safety, with an overall score of 7.71 - 83% of women reporting feeling safe walking alone at night. Dubbed the city that never sleeps, it has establishments closing late in the evening, surveillance in public spaces, night tours of the city, late-night restaurant dining, and shopping at various boutiques and malls. This setup is perfect for solo travellers who love leisurely exploring the city. READ | The world's safest country for women travelling alone is not a Nordic country And if you aren't too concerned about safety and you were already looking to chase the summer as South Africa gets colder, here are six good reasons why you should consider Dubai: 1. Perfect winter weather Trade icy mornings for balmy days bathed in sunshine. Dubai's winter climate is idyllic, averaging a pleasant 25°C, perfect for exploring the city from the early morning to the late evening. 2. Thrilling theme parks Thrill-seekers unite at IMG Worlds of Adventure, the world's largest indoor theme park, or Aquaventure Waterpark at Atlantis, The Palm. Little ones will be mesmerised by KidZania, a miniature city where children can role-play their dream jobs. 3. Desert adventures Escape the urban bustle with a desert safari. Families can experience dune bashing and sandboarding, followed by a traditional Bedouin dinner under the stars. This immersive experience offers a glimpse into the region's rich cultural heritage. 4. Underwater wonders The Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, in the Dubai Mall, is home to thousands of marine animals. Walk through the underwater tunnel and marvel at sharks, rays, and penguins - witness the ocean's wonders up close. 5. Cultural immersion Dubai is more than a modern metropolis; it's a city steeped in history and tradition. Explore the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, a labyrinth of narrow alleyways and traditional wind-tower architecture. Visit the Dubai Museum in the Al Fahidi Fort for insights into the city's past. 6. Family friendly convenience Dubai's commitment to luxury extends to its family-friendly accommodations. The city boasts many hotels and resorts catering to families, offering spacious rooms, kids' clubs, and dedicated family pools. Many hotels also offer all-inclusive packages, making it easier to budget for your trip. Consider purchasing a Dubai Pass, which provides access to multiple attractions at a discounted rate. Look for hotels that offer free breakfast or complimentary access to kids' clubs. READ | Best destinations for solo women travellers - SA ranks in the top 20 Other countries that made the top 10 cities for solo female travellers, with their overall scores, are as follows: Dubai, UAE - 7.71 Krakow, Poland - 7.18 Madrid, Spain - 7.14 Munich, Germany - 6.89 Chiang Mai, Thailand - 6.84 Lisbon, Portugal - 6.61 Prague, Czechia - 6.50 Vienna, Austria - 6.47 Singapore - 6.43
Times
15-05-2025
- Times
16 of the best destinations for solo female travellers
The best countries for travelling solo as a woman are usually found where safety meets affordability. You want to be somewhere with an infrastructure for solo tourists so that you feel secure — but also somewhere where won't have to empty your bank account for a private room or a meal for one in a café. Some 84 per cent of solo travellers are estimated to be female, so you're bound to meet kindred spirits along the way. Here is a solo traveller's bucket list with women in mind — places with high gender equality and low crime rates. This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue Best for affordable luxury You'll meet countless other women along the backpacking trail in Thailand, one of the original solo traveller havens, but that's not the only reason to go. Affordable rooms, cuisine and train journeys mean that you can plot an epic journey, stopping for a few nights — or weeks — in each of your desired spots. Start in the capital, Bangkok, for a great Thai history and culture 101, before hopping on one of the scenic trains out to the coast — perhaps Hua Hin — or down to the ferry points for idyllic islands including Koh Lanta, Koh Muk or Koh Chang. Looking for a place to stay? Oasis bungalows on Koh Chang are a hit with solo travellers. • Read our full guide to Thailand Best for laid-back vibes If you want a taste of Latin America but are concerned about security, then mellow Costa Rica has a tranquil feel (although, like anywhere else, you'll want to take precautions in urban areas and be savvy about your personal safety). Solo travellers rate this naturally bountiful nation's hot springs in Arenal Volcano National Park; wildlife-packed cloud forest; and beach towns such as Santa Teresa and Nosara. Stay at Socialtel Nosara, which has affordable private rooms and budget dormitory bunks. Best for gourmet travellers Spain has a lot to offer, whether you want to strap on your dancing shoes or soak up the artworks of Dalí, Picasso and Gaudí. Explore the tapas bars of Barcelona, the toe-tapping flamenco halls of Madrid, the ski-able peaks of the Pyrenees and the wave-raked west coast ideal for surfing. The Women, Peace and Security Index has ranked Spain among some of the safest countries for travellers. For a long weekend in the Catalan capital, Royal Passeig de Gracia is in the centre of the city, near Gaudí's La Pedrera building. It has comfortable rooms and a rooftop bar with excellent city views. • Read our full guide to Spain• Most beautiful places in Spain Best for layovers The skyscraper-clad island nation of Singapore is smaller than some cities, but not only is it consistently ranked as one of the happiest countries in Asia, according to the World Happiness Report, published by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, it's also considered among the safest. With (sticky) summer temperatures all year round and spotless streets, it's a shopping-mall metropolis famed for its cocktails, and one of the few places in the world where street-food stalls win Michelin stars. The luxury Naumi hotel is a great pick — it has a whole floor dedicated to female travellers. • Best things to do in Singapore Best for city slickers Few countries fuse ancient and modern as seamlessly and intriguingly as Japan. Spend one day sleeping in a ryokan (traditional inn), soaking in hot springs or meditating with monks, and the next gawking at neon-lit skyscrapers and sampling first-rate sushi. Japan is consistently ranked within the top 20 safest countries in the world and you'll find women-only subway cars and zero cat-calling. Best of all, dining alone is considered normal. Book a room at the Akihabara Bay Hotel, an all-female capsule property in Tokyo. • Read our full guide to Japan• Cherry blossom season in Japan: when to go Best for adventurers Locals may have Viking blood coursing through their veins, but in 2024 the Global Peace Index, compiled by the Institute for Economics & Peace ranked Iceland as the most peaceful country in the world for the 17th year running. This land of fire and ice is an adventure playground made of black-sand beaches, gnarly lava fields, volcanic geysers and troll-guarded valleys. Come winter, the sky can be streaked with the northern lights while the midnight-sun summers bring festivals aplenty. It's home to only 400,000, so it's easy to feel at ease amid the large-town mindset. Prepare to let go of preconceptions of what a hostel stay might look like — Kex in Reykjavik is the hippest around. • Read our full guide to Iceland Best for diverse sightseeing Frenetic India can feel full-on for solo travellers; Sri Lanka is the calmer, safer, alternative. With eight Unesco world heritage sites — including the ancient rock-top palace of Sigiriya (above) and fresco-filled Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple — it provides tiers of vivid-green tea terraces, sandy beaches, towns lined with British, Dutch and Portuguese architecture and some of the most scenic railway journeys in the world. What's more, the predominantly Buddhist locals are peaceful and welcoming — just be sure to dress modestly. For a female-friendly stay, opt for a room at the four-star Pledge Scape Negombo. • Best Sri Lanka tours Best for music lovers Rated one of the safest countries for female travellers by theWomen, Peace and Security Index, published by the Georgetown Institute, landlocked Austria has a fairytale combo of castles, such as Orth, and palaces set amid Alpine peaks, glaciers and waterfalls. Linger in the coffee houses of Vienna, listen to the strains of Mozart and Schubert (both born here), and indulge in plates of schnitzel and sachertorte. It will all have you yodelling like Maria from The Sound of Music. Meet like-minded guests at the Aviva hotel in Upper Austria, which is exclusively for friends and solo travellers — no couples, no families. • Safest countries in the world Best for amazing art Equality is the calling card of the Netherlands — after all, it was the first country to legalise same-sex marriage — and its crime rates are low. There's much for solo travellers to enjoy: we suggest starting in ever-evolving Amsterdam and biking to and fro between its clutch of world-class art museums: from the Rijksmuseum (filled with the Dutch masters) to the Van Gogh Museum and Rembrandt House. For an affordable base, Hostelle in Amsterdam is a female-only hostel outside the city centre. • Best things to do in Amsterdam• Best hotels in Amsterdam Best for outdoor wonders Switzerland is typically near the top of gender equality surveys and is a very safe destination for solo travel. It's also often heralded for its quality of life, thanks in large part to the spectacular scenery: from the 4,478m (14,692ft)-high Matterhorn and mountain-encircled Interlaken, to the car-free medieval town of Lucerne and the blue Lake Geneva. Spend days hobnobbing with the glitterati in St Moritz, swimming in Bern's city-centre river, or gorging on the world's best chocolate. If you're heading to Zurich, Josephine's Guesthouse for Women is a solid pick. • Read our full guide to Switzerland Best for road trips Consistently ranked as one of the best places to live in the world, Norway also ranks highly in gender equality surveys and is very female-friendly. Get steamy in Oslo's riverside saunas (above), explore endless fjords in a hire car, discover Viking ships and visit up-and-coming Bodo, which was a 2024 European Capital of Culture. The Grand Hotel in the capital, Oslo, has a Ladies' Floor designed by women, for women. • What to do in Norway Best for getting off the beaten track Squeezed between its brasher big brothers Argentina and Brazil, Uruguay is often named as South America's safest country — and it's politically stable to boot. Spend days admiring Montevideo's architecture and sinking your teeth into an asado (barbecue); ride horses across flat and endless plains in the company of gauchos; bubble away in hot springs; and drink caffeine-rich mate with locals. For unique accommodation close to Punta del Este, try Club Hotel Casapueblo. • Read our full guide to South America Best for hiking adventures Smaller and cheaper than Australia, and full of Kiwis who are known for their down-to-earth friendliness, New Zealand makes solo travel easy. And when you add in epic scenery — featured in films such as The Lord of the Rings — with fjords, rugged mountains, rolling hills, sandy beaches and glaciers to hike, bike, swim and explore, it's a compelling package. Plus, when you're done you can dine on the freshest lamb and scallops and sip craft beer. Over on Auckland's west coast, you'll find Te Wahi Ora Women's Retreat. • Great things to do in New Zealand Best for beach breaks The Polynesians' closeness to Mother Nature has bred a respect for the feminine — and when you live in a palm-tree-fringed paradise there's little need for crime. Don't think it's just a destination for honeymooners, either. Solos can join cruises offering single cabins or even dormitories, rent a car and catch the ferry to Mo'orea, or learn to scuba dive. When it comes to where to stay, pick the private island of Vahine — aka the Island of • Our ultimate bucket-list trips Best for bar hopping We can't guarantee that the weather won't be wet, but the welcome is always warm — Ireland is frequently hailed as one of the friendliest destinations in Europe. So rent a car and take in the green vistas of Connemara and Killarney national parks, be awed by dramatic cliffs on the Wild Atlantic Way, and look for leprechauns at Carlingford Lough. Finish the day by raising a glass of Guinness in a snug pub as locals gather for a traditional Irish music session. If you'd rather explore on foot, Kelly's Resort Hotel & Spa in Rosslare gives you easy access to Wexford's beautiful walking • Read our full guide to Ireland Best for admiring the architecture Portugal ranks in the top 20 on the latest Women, Peace and Security Index. Get lost amid Lisbon's collision of Roman, gothic and baroque architecture and its riot of 15th-century azulejos (tiles), laze on beaches visited by Atlantic breezes, listen to the evocative strains of Fado music and gorge on delectable pasteis de nata (custard tarts). Staying overnight in the capital? Female travellers rate Zuzabed. • Read our full guide to Portugal• Most beautiful places in Portugal
