The best countries for women travelling solo in 2026

From Costa Rica's social surf towns to Norway's remote Arctic landscapes, new data and traveller insights reveal where solo female travellers feel most secure.

All signs point to solo women driving today's travel trends. Multiple tour operators report that the demographic is among their fastest growing segments, especially women over 50 who aren't waiting on companions to get up and go. Searches for "solo travel for women" have surged 30% worldwide over the past five years.

Despite increased interest, many women still have valid safety concerns. In a February 2026 survey conducted by Talker Research for Road Scholar, 59% of respondents said walking at night was the aspect of solo travel that gave them the most pause. Women were also more likely than men to cite safety as the reason they hadn't yet travelled alone.

There is no single global index that captures how safe countries are for solo women travellers. Instead, we analysed the latest Georgetown University Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Index – which ranks countries on women's inclusion, justice and security – alongside the Global Peace Index, and spoke to women travelling alone about where they felt most at ease. Here are five of the countries that stood out this year, and how to best navigate them as a solo woman traveller.

Costa Rica

This Central American country was recently named one of the world's happiest – and it has also recorded one of the most significant jumps in the WPS Index, rising from 60th to 34th. The shift reflects broader gains in women's inclusion and security, alongside a growing influx of remote workers drawn by its digital nomad visa.

"Costa Rica is one of the easiest places in the world to meet people as a solo woman," said Molly Gagnon, a travel agent specialising in solo travel at The Social Solivagant, who has returned every year since 2021. She points to the strong mix of expats, surfers and entrepreneurs clustered around Santa Teresa and Nosara on the Nicoya Peninsula's Pacific side. "You naturally meet people in surf lessons, yoga classes, cafés and even just walking on the beach," she said. "The culture fosters independence. It's very normal to see women doing things solo."

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For first-time visitors, she recommends booking one or two structured activities early in the trip – like a surf lesson or a guided hike – to accelerate meeting people, and opting for boutique hotels or social guesthouses over isolated holiday rentals.

The peninsula's Caribbean side offers its own unique vibe. "The vibrancy and peacefulness along the coastal beaches was something I never had experienced before," said Ashley Hunter, a communications manager at Signature Travel Network, who recently solo travelled south of Puerto Viejo. "I would take photos during the day, and when the rain rolled in, I'd find a quiet place to tuck away, grab a snack and sketch from those images."

Estonia

Estonia ranks 11th on the WPS Index – its highest-ever position – with strong gains in women's health outcomes, financial inclusion and perceived community safety. It also sits 24th on the Global Peace Index, reflecting low crime rates and political stability.

"Throughout my time in Estonia, I couldn't have felt safer," said Veronika Romane, who blogs at Aim To Discover. Tallin's Unesco-listed Old Town is an ideal starting point. "It's intuitively easy," Romane said. "Pebbled roads, small shops with traditional crafts and food, an art scene and the rich history of Tallinn's streets made me feel completely at ease exploring on my own."

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Solo traveller Ioana Moga recommends visiting the Kiek in de Kök Museum and Bastion Tunnels, comprised of multiple medieval towers. "Kiek in de Kökmeans 'peek into the kitchen' because people in the tower could see into the kitchens of the people across the street," said Moga, who chronicled the trip on her blog. "My favourite part was going underground and walking through the tunnels that were used for a variety of purposes for many centuries."

Just west of the capital, Tabasalu Nature Park offers a scenic nature escape, where limestone cliffs rise above the Baltic Sea. "It was the perfect place for a peaceful and scenic hike," said Romane. "I felt at peace being there alone. The few people I met in the area were very kind and welcoming, simply there to enjoy nature just as I was."

Vietnam

Ranking 38th on the Global Peace Index, Vietnam has risen three places year-on-year and remains one of the highest-ranked countries in Southeast Asia. It also performed relatively well in the WPS compared to neighbouring counties, particularly for women's perception of community safety.

"I found everyday interactions to be warm and welcoming here," said Gagnon, who also visited Vietnam solo last year. "Simple moments, chatting with a café owner, joining a street food table or taking a sleeper bus create organic social opportunities. It's a place where your 'social cup' gets filled naturally."

She recommends joining one of the country's many small-group tours, which focus around everything from cooking to food to riding motorbikes, as an easy entry point for solo travellers. But she also recommends reaping the rewards of spending time with locals.

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"I've returned to Vietnam multiple times, trekking in Sa Pa with a Hmong guide, staying in homestays in the Mekong Delta and spending Tet in the Central Highlands with a local family," said Tracy Smith, author of The Purpose of Getting Lost: A Story of Finding Myself. "I was struck not only by the beauty of the country but by how safe and welcomed I felt travelling alone. I'm returning this spring to attend my former guide's wedding."

Her advice: move beyond checklist tourism. "Work with local guides, consider homestays and be open to slower, more relational travel," she said. "Vietnam rewards curiosity and respect, it's a country best experienced through connection."

Uruguay

Uruguay has also climbed sharply in this year's WPS Index, rising from 59th to 35th, driven by strong scores in justice and security, including low rates of violence against women. It is also ranked as the second most peaceful country in South America (just after Argentina) on the Global Peace Index.

"I immediately noticed the easy-going vibe," said Claudia Tavani, who wrote about her experience at her blog. "Uruguay is incredibly chill with very welcoming people. I visited in mid-March when there weren't many tourists around, so I got to meet many locals who were always ready to chat and share interesting stories about the country, its history and its culture."

More like this:

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Visiting Colonia del Sacramento in southwestern Uruguay is a particular highlight, particularly the Barrio Histórico where most of the country's attractions can be found. "It's a maze of cobbled alleys with whitewashed walls and colourful bougainvillea pouring over the streets, and the vintage cars add a unique touch," said Tavani. She recommends stopping for sunset at Calle de los Suspiros (a well-preserved street that once featured the city's historic brothels) or at the lighthouse of Colonia.

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For beach vibes, she recommends Punta del Diablo, a fishing village on the eastern coast over the better-known and busier Punta del Este. "It's much more easy-going and safer to explore alone," she said. "The beach is a nice spot to hang out in the sun and swim."

In Montevideo, renting a bike and cycling among the ramblas beside the Rio de la Plata is an easy way to explore. Tavani also highlights Carnival – which takes place mid-January to late February or early March – as a much more laid-back alternative to Rio's celebrations.

Norway

Ranked third on the WPS Index (tied with Sweden), Norway scored highly for its welfare protections, equal pay and community safety. The country has consistently placed in the top three since the index began in 2017, and its strong social safety net (which includes universal healthcare, parental leave and state-funded childcare) underpins a culture where women actively participate in the workforce and government.

For solo women travellers, the appeal is as much about nature as safety. "Travelling solo here was effortless," said Janice Lintz, who said her expedition cruise here was one of the most extraordinary trips she's ever taken. "The wildlife [in Svalbard] was beyond anything I imagined. We saw polar bears, bearded seals, walruses, Arctic foxes and reindeer. We also saw pancake ice at around 82 degrees north, which was surreal."

The comfort and sense of wellbeing persist even outdoors in the dark. "I always felt safe, even when photographing the night sky," said Lisa Michele Burns, founder of travel photography club The Wandering Lens. Burns has visited Norway twice alone, once in winter to photograph the northern lights and once at the end of summer, spending much of her time in the northern region around Bodø and the Lofoten Islands. "The dramatic coastlines provide the perfect environment to wander, soak in the beauty and sounds and photograph slowly and watch the conditions unfold," she said.

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Even though Burns loves the outdoors, she also appreciates the country's cosy hotels. "The Rorbuer [traditional fisherman's housing now converted into cabins] and Scandinavian interior design are other reasons I'll always have Norway on my list of places I'd love to return to," she said.

Burns recommends solo travellers hire a car and map out a journey through small villages and viewpoints in the Lofoten region, with plenty of unscheduled time built in. She highlights the pink sand shores of Mjelle, the beaches at Unstad and Haukland and the fishing village of Nusfjord.

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