11 Essential Safety Rules Every Solo Female Traveller Must Know

August 19, 2026
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Travelling solo as a woman is one of the most fun and life-changing things you can do, so please don’t take this article as something to scare you off. I want to encourage everyone to go on a solo trip at least once in their life! However, it’s so important that we stay safe. I have been solo travelling for years now and learned quite a few things, so here are the 11 most essential safety rules.

11 Safety Rules Every Woman Travelling Alone Should Know

1. White Lies are your Best Friend

One of the tips that I give to every female friend I have who’s going on a solo adventure is this: Lie. Everything should be a white lie when it comes to your safety.

Where are you staying? Lie. Tell them a hotel chain you know.

Are you here alone? The answer is always “No, I’m here with my sister/boyfriend/friend”. Where are they? “We’re meeting around the corner”.

Where are you going next? Unless this is someone you trust and are considering travelling with, lie. Or give as vague of an answer as possible.

How long will you be here? Once again, nothing anyone needs to know exactly. The less trackable you are the better.

I know many of these are common questions in hostel settings, and if I’ve just met new girls or am in a group setting that feels comfortable, I might tell the truth. But it’s always better to give a white lie and then correct it later if you get along with that person, than giving the wrong person too much information about yourself.

This applies especially in a bar/drinking setting. Stay safe ladies and lie!

2. Be Smart about Overnight Transport

Overnight transport can be a budget-friendly and efficient way to travel around the country, but there are a few things you should always keep in mind before booking:

When is the train/bus leaving? If it’s very late and already dark, is the station in a safe location for you to be there at that time.
The departure and arrival station. Are they in a safe part of town? If not, are you departing/arriving in daylight?
Are you sharing a room? Can you select by gender or maybe upgrade to a private room?
How will you store your bags?
Is public transport running when you leave/arrive? Can you get to your accommodation?
Does your accommodation offer luggage storage so you’re not stranded with your bags?

The same things really apply to any overnight transport, no matter the country or mode of transport. Make sure you can get there safely, your room is as safe as possible and you know where you’re going.

Also always keep valuables hidden and on your body on night transport!

Check out my full guide to overnight trains/buses here.

3. Arrive in daylight

This relates to the last point, but no matter if you’re coming by overnight train or bus or taking an early flight, arrive to a destination in daylight!

I have made the mistake a few times that I arrive while it was still dark or already dark, and it’s difficult to orient yourself in a new place PLUS you make yourself much more of a target.

It also means public transport is more likely to still run and there are more people around. The worst case scenario is having to walk a long distance with your luggage in the dark. It’s super avoidable!

Arriving in daylight also means that if anything with your accommodation doesn’t go to plan, you have time to sort it before the night.

4. Let someone know your plan

You don’t need Life360, but someone HAS to know where you are and when. The very least you should share is your itinerary and accommodations.

That person could be parents, a friend, partner, anyone who you trust.

It also helps to have regularly agreed check in times, so someone knows exactly when they need to be alarmed (or not). If I am off-grid for a few days for example, I let my person know exactly what days, where I’ll be, who I’m with and emergency information like my insurance.

I know travel is all about freedom, but do it safely!

5. Stay connected

Once again adding onto the last point, but make sure you are connected BEFORE you leave.

I have a story where I landed in Santiago, Chile and hadn’t sorted my E-Sim before leaving. The airport Wi-Fi didn’t work, I had no way of contacting my Airbnb host or of finding out how to get to the city and was completely lost. A kind stranger helped me with her phone, but it was an unnecessarily unsafe situation.

Airalo works all around the world, or really any E-Sim you can find for a good price. Activate it before you get on the plane!! Trust me!

Staying connected also means that trusted person that knows where you are can be reached in an emergency. And emergency services of course.

6. Always have one ear open

I love to listen to music and create a background to new destinations, HOWEVER, I always only wear one ear pod or leave one ear uncovered by my headphones.

Yes, it is annoying and frustrating. But being able to hear what’s going on around me and what might be happening has saved me before.

This is a very basic but essential travel tip, almost more a survival one. As a solo woman, you need to be able to react quickly. Losing your hearing to both headphones is a risk you can’t take.

I have also found that people will sometimes test if you can hear them and not being able to do so, makes you vulnerable. It’s about not making yourself an easy target (and yes, it’s a very frustrating part of being a woman).

7. Keep valuables hidden

On the topic of not making yourself an easy target, keep those valuables hidden. Anything that’s expensive and easy to sell should be in a secure crossbody bag around you.

I would avoid expensive jewellery completely when solo travelling. Visible designer logos, easily opened bags and anything pricy looking is the same.

My phone I usually have out while travelling (unless I know it’s an unsafe place to do so), but there is a phone chain on it that secures it to myself. My crossbody bag is usually secured shut with a tiny carabiner.

Pickpockets are smart, you won’t even know your stuff is gone until you open your bag. And for more dangerous theft, keeping valuables hidden or even not bringing them can really help you stay safe!

8. Choose your accommodation with care

The first thing I do when choosing accommodations in a new destination is research the area. Which areas are safe for tourists, especially solo travellers. There are usually lots of resources about these things. If you are unsure, you could also reach out to accommodations for advice.

Second, I usually stay in hostels or hotels that are rated well amongst solo-travellers. This is so I can meet other travellers but also so I know that the location is good etc. Hostel dorms are usually your cheapest option though some countries also have affordable AirBnBs – for those I always make sure it is a female host.

Reviews are crucial!! Check several sites such as booking, Google, Tripadvisor, etc. Look especially for reviews left by other women. A hostel can have great ratings but no women leaving reviews, which is a big red flag.

I personally also always go for female-only dorms as I feel safer and overall more comfortable there.

9. Avoid walking around alone at night

There are a few places in the world that are as safe at night as during the day (like Japan), but the majority just aren’t. And walking around alone at night is unfortunately one of the biggest ways you could become a target.

I’d always make sure you have someone to go home with (trustworthy) or have a rideshare app downloaded to get you back to your accommodation safely. Even if you’re on a tight budget, this could save your life!

Don’t ever feel like you are being overly careful when it comes to your safety and just don’t risk it at night. It’s not worth it.

10. Trust your gut

When travelling, nothing is more important than trusting your gut. If something feels off, you need to get out of there. You’d rather be overly safe one time too much than too little!

Especially for my fellow solo, female travellers, listen to your intuition and don’t be afraid to inconvenience people or kick up a fuss as soon as you feel uncomfortable!! Your safety is of upmost priority.

I have only once not followed my gut while travelling as it was an inconvenience and I was lucky it didn’t end worse than it did. Another lesson I quickly learned: Money returns, life doesn’t. Do not put your safety on the line to save money or get your money’s worth! No matter the tour booked or flight to catch, if you can’t get there safely at the time, you don’t go.

Related article: How to Stay Safe as a Solo Female Traveller

11. Know your destination

Knowing your destination is one of the most essential ways to stay safe. Why? Because it allows you to blend in, understand the locals and know what to be wary of.

Things to research before you go:

Local customs – know the “unwritten rules” of the place you are visiting. What are the gender dynamics? Is there a dress code per say? How firm can you be when experiencing unwanted attention?
Best areas – we already touched on this before, but knowing the city and which areas are safe for tourists is essential.
Alcohol – is this safe to consumer here? What are the traditions around it? Who will help if you have an issue while drinking?
Emergency contacts – What are the emergency numbers? Where can you go to get help?
Natural phenomenon – are there any weather conditions or natural events you should know about? Storms, earthquakes etc?

By knowing what to expect, you can adapt in a way that keeps you safe. For example, if the country is known for conservative clothing, it’s better to dress conservatively as a way to blend in and hence be safer. It’s not about taking away your freedom, but about not sticking out in a new situation.