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I traveled India with two girlfriends and honestly, as a woman, I felt super powerless. Imagine men always having the upper hand and you wondering if anyone even notices you. When things got uncomfortable, I didn’t know where to turn. Weird and not fun.
At 24, I went solo in India and yeah, got groped. Even solo guys were worn out by the nonstop attention and scams. Having a buddy isn't just company; it's safety. Might wanna wait until you have one.
Delhi and most northern cities? Rough spots with lots of staring and not-so-friendly vibes. South India’s safer, with cities like Hyderabad and Chennai giving better solo vibes. Just watch out for rickshaw scams and always have a car booked if you can!
India’s HUGE with all kinds of cultures mashed together. The north? Yeah, the horror stories mostly come from there. But the northeast and the south? Beautiful, safer, and actually pretty chill. Think tea estates, tiger safaris, and dreamy backwaters instead of nonstop stalking and staring.
Jeddah’s supposed to be super safe with almost zero crime. I spent 4 months and, spoiler: I got nonstop catcalls, crazy drivers, and shouting men even while wearing a black abaya and sometimes a hijab. Lonely streets and wild traffic made it worse. Definitely a place to dread walking alone.
Istanbul surprised me with how nonstop the attention was. I stayed holed up in my room for two days straight because getting out felt like a bad idea. The men in the city basically ruined my trip.
If you’re a young woman who doesn’t blend in as Egyptian, expect catcalls and harassment—even with protective company. Morocco’s got similar vibes but often more sexual. Heard Italy and Israel stories too, but can’t say from my own experience.
It might sound harsh, but solo ladies often find Arab nations like Morocco, Algeria, and Egypt tough spots. Their views and actions toward women can be a minefield. Travel smart and cautious if you’re going.
If you’re thinking about SA, do yourself a favor and skip it—Johannesburg in particular. Trust this local female advice.
Out of about 30 countries, Morocco and Indonesia top the chart for physical harassment. Verbal hassles are just everywhere. India and Turkey? On the maybe-skip list if you’re traveling solo.
In parts of Central Asia and NW Pakistan, men love to tail women. Northern India has some sketchy spots too. Even safe spots like Singapore aren’t guaranteed safe from creeps. In China, saw some nasty fights but no direct harassment.
I unknowingly stayed in a dodgy Palermo neighborhood. Days were fine, but nights? Terrifying. Locals told me gangs would block streets, and strangers made sure I didn’t walk home alone. Thank goodness I later moved to a safer apartment!
Naples was worse than most of South America for me. Picture men loitering in gangs, bumping into you to pickpocket (failed, but still!), being followed, crossing streets felt like a death wish, and shopkeepers ignoring you. My senses were on ultra-alert.
Booked a cheap hotel in the Tenderloin without knowing what that meant. After late-night sightseeing, walking back felt seriously dangerous. Pure speed walking towards the hotel, dodging sketchy characters, until the bouncer literally yelled "Get in!" Felt like escaping a war zone.
Colombia’s streets are full of catcalls, especially if you’re blonde with long hair. My Colombian buddies had to be schooled by an American—that’s not how it works! Funny side note: grandma once paid a guy to pinch her in Italy because she missed catcalling.
Tough one. India (especially outside the far north) involves staring, unwanted photos, and high-pressure selling that drains your spirit—even with company. Egypt gets mixed reviews on safety. Nepal, surprisingly, feels comfy and rewarding—a delight for solo women travelers.
Heads up, solo female travelers: If you’re visiting Muslim countries, especially if you’re attractive, do it with a tour group and local guides. Keep your outfit modest and avoid religious flashes. One friend wore a bun and a cap to avoid fuss, stayed in nice hotels, and stayed safe.
Pakistan, India, Afghanistan—it’s a trio for cautious travel. Not the safest for solo ladies.
Beloved Belgium? Well, Brussels can turn sketchy after dark with dark alleys full of men loitering and catcalling. Some walked alone, and it felt like no one would notice if things went south. Bruges, on the other hand, was a totally different vibe—quiet and safe.
Japan usually screams safe, but Osaka caught me off guard with some odd moments. It felt safer in most other Asian spots I visited.
Tried to find something off the beaten path in Shinjuku and got followed and catcalled. Definitely sticking to tourist areas from now on.
St Lucia had an off vibe that kept me on edge, especially around Soufriere. Barbados? Loved the island but the nonstop catcalling and beach creeps were exhausting. Not scary, just super annoying.
Lots of solo female travelers tend to feel uncomfortable in Morocco and India—heard it from many I met.
A solo female friend in Malaysia’s beach town found herself swarmed every time she closed her eyes. Her solution? Pick one respectful guy to sit next to her like a beach bodyguard. She’s not going back.
Wish I'd known how wild the street harassment was in San Pedro, Belize. Would’ve gone somewhere else for a break.
Myanmar isn’t great for solo ladies. A few friends swapped it for Malaysia to keep things more chill and fun. Your call!
Sicily looks lovely but beware: men catcall and stare constantly. In Catania, some even followed and spit on me in broad daylight. Nighttime wanderings? Nope, stay safe indoors.
Marseille was a nightmare for solo wandering. Men in cars catcalled constantly, creepy remarks under breath, and one guy wouldn’t quit knocking on my door. I bought lots of groceries and hid indoors for two days. North Africa felt safer!
Bhutan was a mixed bag. Locals were all good, but other tourists tried to worm their way into my hotel room after a brief elevator chat. My guide dropped some weird comments and jokes about camping with solo women that made me seriously consider bailing early.
In Austin, some big dude kept walking opposite me, asking if I was 'some kinda goth.' I zigged, he zagged, and it took hiding in a shop to lose him. Definitely a no-go spot after dark solo.
Saigon gave me the creeps, Myanmar’s border was swarmed by guys trying to recruit me, and Lisbon’s empty alleys at night? Nope nope nope.
Gurez Valley is stunning with mountains and rivers galore, but it’s near a conflict zone packed with hidden mines and avalanche risks. So yeah, extreme beauty meets extreme danger.
I do mixed martial arts, but some parts of Athens still gave me major uneasy vibes. Trust your instincts!
I thought NYC and Sacramento were safe but ended up feeling uneasy in both. Stay alert everywhere!
Made friends but faced creepy older men targeting me. One guy even tried to sneak inside where we stayed. The relief when shooed away was real.
I got robbed in Bern, Switzerland (yep, weird), and Bergen felt unsettling with no police on weekends. Avoid shady plazas in Lisbon too, where guys lurk waiting to lure you into cars. Nope.
Paris was brief but left me feeling vulnerable and unconvinced anyone would step in if things got bad.
Iceland’s supposed to be super safe, but another solo traveler got punched for no reason. Shook up my strolls a bit.
I was there for therapy but got a creepy invite to ice cream—only if I left my stuff behind and stayed in my bathing suit. When I said no, he grabbed my arm hard enough to break a bracelet. Not going back alone.
The Riverwalk looked amazing in photos, but it was deserted and sketchy one evening. Hard to imagine being there solo and feeling anything but unsafe.
Nice was beautiful but sketchy. Had some scary Paris experiences too, including an Uber driver who got way too nosy about my solo status.
Unusual for Western Europe, but I got robbed in Bern when my car was broken into. Lots of high-end stuff stolen. Real bummer.
After years in the UK, I got way more harassment than in Southeast Asia, but also experienced more people standing up for me during those moments. Different vibes, both good and bad.
North Africa might be the most unsafe for women, especially if you don’t know the language or are a bit distracted. If you’re like me and need your routine and don’t wanna deal with food poisoning, solo ain’t the way to go.
Had to stay one night in Birmingham. Walking to my hostel took 10 minutes but got harassed three times by guys driving slowly beside me—definitely wasn’t a vibe I liked.
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