Solo Female Travel Hub

Whether you’re planning your first solo trip or looking to travel smarter, start here with this resource hub. I’ve included everything that’s helped me travel solo with more confidence, ease and joy – and now it’s yours too!

The Ultimate Solo Female Travel Guide: Everything I Wish I Knew

Dreaming of solo female travel but feeling a little unsure where to start? This is the no-fluff guide I wish I had before my first solo trip – packed with real talk, hard-earned lessons, and everything you need to feel confident, safe and excited for your first (or next) solo trip!

Solo Female Travel Resources:

Everything you need to plan your dream solo trip, even if the thought makes you feel anxious…

Best Countries For Female Solo Travellers

Feeling the itch to book a solo trip but not sure where to go? I’ve visited 24+ countries and countless more cities across all four corners of Europe. These are the ones I would recommend to anyone:

✓ Perfect for a relaxing break

✓ Stunning beaches

✓ Easy to get around without a car

✓ Great transport links between cities

✓ Popular with solo female travellers

✓ A perfect mix of city, beach and nature

✓ Small, easy-to-navigate country

✓ Affordable for solo travel

✓ Lots of day tours to join from Kotor

✓ Easy to explore on the Coastal Express

✓ Very safe with high gender equality

✓ See the iconic Northern Lights!

✓ The safest country in the world

✓ Easy, stunning day trips from Reykjavik

✓ Strong womens rights/gender equality

✓ Iconic Christmas Markets to visit

✓ Amazing train network to get around

✓ One of Europe’s safest countries

✓ Home to some of Europe’s best cities

✓ The café culture is great for solo dining

✓ Easy to get around by train

✓ Sweden is very safe for tourists

✓ Stockholm is perfect for a city break

✓ Reliable public transport

✓ Tiny territory, so very walkable

✓ English is the native language

✓ Those famous Barbary Macaques!

✓ English is (obviously!) native language

✓ A wide variety of landscapes to explore

✓ Easy to get around on public transport

✓ Friendly, welcoming culture

✓ The Highlands are so stunning!

✓ Perfect for nature lovers

✓ One of the happiest, safest countries

✓ Cycle or use public transport

✓ Very high gender equality

Solo Travel Toolkit

From online booking tools and deal sites to safety must-haves and packing essentials, these are all of the things I can’t travel without.

Disclaimer: Some of the links on this blog are affiliate links. That means if you click on one and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission – at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products, places and services I genuinely love and use on my own solo travels. Thank you for supporting my adventures so I can continue to provide free content on this blog! 💛

BOOKING TOOLS

For accommodation…

For transport…

For experiences…

Get Your Guide

Tripadvisor

Tiqets

NAVIGATION & SAFETY

For navigation…

Google Maps

Google Street View

For solo female travel safety…

Radical Storage

Portable safety alarm

Portable door lock

Portable charger

SOLO ESSENTIALS

Finances…

→ Chase (for zero fees in Europe)

Travel Insurance…

→ Reccs coming soon

Tech…

Airalo esim

Kindle Paperwhite

→ Express VPN

solo Female Travel: Your Questions Answered

Big sister advice from an experienced female solo traveller who has been travelling Europe alone since she was 18 and has since visited 24+ countries.

I want to travel solo, but I’m really shy/anxious. Can I actually do this?

Absolutely – and I say that as someone who used to feel (and, to be honest, often still feels) the exact same way!

I’m naturally shy too and I’m going to be real with you: my first solo trip felt like the scariest, most intimidating thing in the world. But I promise, it does get easier with every trip.

You don’t need to be loud or fearless or an extrovert to be a solo traveller. You just need to be curious about the beautiful world we live in and willing to take the first step – even if you’re scared.

What kind of resources will I find on Where’s Katie Now?

This blog is packed with all the tools, tips, itineraries and solo-friendly destination guides I wish I had when I was starting out.

You’ll find detailed solo travel destination guides, digital planning tools, gear and packing lists, my favourite travel apps, affordable accommodation tips, and blog posts that cover everything from building confidence to finding hidden gems off the tourist track.

If it’s something that helped me on my solo travel journey, I’ve shared it here to help you too!

How do you afford to travel so much?

I actually love answering this question because the answer is far less glamorous than you might imagine (I’ve never had a trust fund or a sugar daddy 😅.)

The boring but honest truth is that A) my 9-5 as a creative copywriter allows me to work remotely and B) I saved like crazy when I first started and made travel my priority.

Over time, I’ve found ways to travel smarter and stretch my money further – like traveling off-season, staying in budget-friendly destinations/accommodation, and being super picky with what I splurge on (I’m for sure an experiences over everything gal!)

Where should I go on my first solo trip?

Unfortunately there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this, but a few great beginner-friendly countries I love in Europe are Portugal, Croatia, and Montenegro.

Or, for a first-time solo city break I adore Stockholm in Sweden or Rome in Italy. These cities are beautiful, safe and, in my experience, full of other solo travellers, which makes it easier to meet people if you want to.

I’ve written loads of destination guides for countries all across Europe and also have a full post on choosing your perfect first solo travel destination if you’re searching for inspiration.

Is solo travel safe for women?

All forms of travel come with risk, whether you travel alone or with a group/partner. But with the right mindset and a little extra preparation, it is absolutely safe for women to solo travel, especially in Europe.

I started solo travelling when I was just 18 and have since travelled alone to 24+ countries, and while there have been moments I’ve had to trust my gut and be extra cautious, I’ve rarely felt unsafe just because I was alone.

I always recommend researching the local culture ahead of time, staying aware of your surroundings and always letting someone you trust know your plans in advance.

But my number one solo travel safety tip? Confidence – and this blog is here to help you build it!

Do I have to stay in hostels as a solo traveller?

Not at all – and fun fact: I’ve never stayed in a hostel!

If the idea of sharing a room with strangers makes you cringe (because honestly, same!), you’ll be happy to know there are loads of affordable hotels, guesthouses and Airbnbs – even in popular destinations – that are perfect for solo travellers.

I always look for budget-friendly private stays in safe, central areas – and I share my favourite places in all of my destination guides.

What do you pack for solo travel?

I like to keep things simple and practical.

Lightweight clothes I can mix and match, comfy walking shoes (seriously, this is a non-negotiable) and my camera.

On this resource page, you’ll find my favourite travel gear – tried and tested through 24 countries!

How do you take photos of yourself when you travel solo?

With a deep breath and (fake) confidence!

To be honest, I’m not an “Instagram-aesthetic photo” kind of traveller, so usually I stick to a quick selfie using the tilt screen of my trusty camera.

But if I do want nicer shots of me, I will use a lightweight travel tripod paired with the remote app on my phone. It can feel awkward at first, but honestly you get used to it and the memories are so worth it!

Isn’t solo travel lonely?

Sometimes, yes. I’ve definitely had more low moments out on the road than I can count, but often I find I am lonely in the best way during my solo travels.

One of the biggest things I have learnt on my travels is that being alone doesn’t mean you’re always lonely, the same as being with people doesn’t mean you aren’t lonely.

For me, solo travel gives me time and space from everyday life to reflect, breathe and be fully present with myself.

That being said, it’s human nature to crave connection, and when you’re travelling there are always ways to meet new people – joining a walking tour or organised group tour are my favourites.

That way, you get to choose when you want company and when you want quiet – and for me that’s a big part of the magic!

WHEREVER YOU’RE GOING, YOU’VE GOT THIS!

Solo travel isn’t about being fearless – it’s about being terrified and going anyway.

So whether you’re still daydreaming or halfway to your next adventure, I hope this space helps you feel a little braver, a little clearer, and a whole lot more excited!

Now… where to next? 💕

Wherever you end up, me and Cookie hope you have the best time! 💕