Best Affordable Destinations for Solo, Female Travellers in 2025

May 13, 2025
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Travelling solo while staying safe doesn’t have to break the bank – I have been doing it for three years now. Here are all my favourite affordable solo, female travel destinations that you should add to your 2025 bucketlist!

People always seem to think that solo travel has to either be expensive or be in a country that isn’t totally safe for female travellers, however that isn’t true. There are many safe and budget-friendly destinations, some which may surprise you, some that are pretty well known.

The thing with staying safe as a solo, female traveller is that unfortunately we have to follow some “rules” no matter where we go. Things such as researching our destination beforehand, knowing which areas of a city are a no-go zone, researching accommodation and looking for reviews from other female travellers, always being aware of your surroundings – these are the things that have kept me safe while travelling. They have been as important in Western countries that are considered safe as in more off the beaten track destinations. For example, I almost got robbed in Paris, yet nothing ever happened in Peru.

So, here is a collection of all my favourite affordable destinations for solo, female travellers. In all of these, I have met many other female travellers and often made so many new friends. Leave a comment with your favourite destinations to solo travel 🙂

Table of Contents

Best Affordable Solo, Female Travel Destinations

Whether you’re an experienced traveller or this is your first solo excursion, this list is for you. In each of these countries have I felt safe while making the most incredible memories all without breaking the bank.

1. Portugal

If you ask me about my favourite country to solo travel, my answer will likely be Portugal. I fell in love with the culture, relaxed way of living and beautiful landscapes. Porto in the north is easily one of my most loved cities worldwide. I spent over a month there volunteering in a surf camp and have never been more relaxed.

Overall, I found the country easy to solo travel, with most people speaking at least a little bit of English and friendly locals that are happy to help you out. I also met tons of other solo, female travellers here and spent very little time truly alone.

While Lisbon is now well-known as a spot for expats, Portugal still has plenty of underrated areas to explore. Prices there are affordable and there are so many different things to do, from culture to surfing to city sightseeing to the most delicious food.

Some of my favourite affordable activities in Portugal:

Surf camps to check out in Portugal

Algarve Surf Camp & Hostel Sagres – This hostel is known for making lifelong friends and memories combined with lots of surfing, yoga and other activities.

Maceda Surf Hostel – located near Porto, I actually volunteered for two months at this hostel about two years ago. It is the perfect mix of wholesome activities (bonfires, crafts, movie night) combined with lots of surfing and great surf coaches.

Sul Surf, Eat & Sleep – with the perfect location right by Lisbon, this camp offers beautiful rooms, great surfing and lots of daytrips/activities.

Peniche Surfcamp – Great for solo travellers, this hostel will ensure you never have to surf alone.

2. Peru

Peru sometimes gets a bad rep for being “unsafe”, yet I solo travelled here for over a month and had the best time. As long as you keep your valuables hidden, read reviews for hostels/tours and know which areas to keep away from at night (your hostel/hotel will tell you this), I felt very safe and met so many other solo, female travellers.

On top of that, Peru is SO affordable. Hostels are around 5$ a night, meals can be even less and if you haggle when it comes to tours, they are also budget-friendly. You also don’t have to do the most expensive thing which is Machu Picchu as there are just so many other fun things to do that are super affordable.

The country is a beautiful mix of culture, landscapes, history and people which I have never experienced anywhere else. Everywhere I went was jaw-droppingly beautiful, there were so many fun activities (check them out here) and the people were the most welcoming and kind.

Also check out my guide on where to stay in Peru‘s major destinations here.

3. Croatia

Croatia has gained a lot of popularity for its beaches and boat parties, however there is so much more to the country that is still underrated. And for Europe, Croatia is still on the cheap side. Hostel dormitories are usually between $20-30 (the most popular islands/national parks are slightly more) and you can get great AirBnBs for 2 people from $40.

I used mostly Flixbus and local trains to get around the country which are really cheap and cooked my own meals as groceries are also very reasonable. Even restaurants that aren’t in the main tourist areas are affordable with meals around $10.

I also met so many other solo, female travellers here and felt really safe overall. The locals are usually friendly and most people speak English too. Some of my favourite things to see in Croatia are Plitvice Lakes, Dubrovnik, Zagreb, Krka National Park and Rovinj (though stay in nearby Rijeka for affordable accommodation).

4. Albania

Albania was my first country I visited where people showed more concern than excitement leading up to it. That was 2 years ago, when Albania was just starting to hit the mainstream as a travel destination.

Nontheless, I managed to secure a work for accommodation gig in Vlore and made my way there solo, if a little apprehensive. Little did I know that the next 3 weeks would become some of my top travel moments to date.

Let me start off by saying just how incredibly kind and welcoming Albanians are. Possibly the sweetest locals I have met in any of my 35 countries to date. They were happy to help out with anything and excited to learn more about foreigners. Yes, there were stares and when walking along a road, you couldn’t go two metres without being beeped at. However, it was more out of curiosity than anything else and I never felt uncomfortable. I heard the same sentiment from the other solo, female travellers I met there.

Albania is also STUNNING! It easily rivals Greece, with pristine beaches, beautiful landscapes and stunning architecture. On top of that, everything is still extremely affordable. That means there is no better time to head there than this year while accommodation, food and activities are still cheap.

Check out my Albania guides here.

Where to stay in Albania:

Sarande
Hotels:
ArtNest Luxury Hotel & Suites, Aquamarine Apartments, Yacht Premium Hotel
Hostels:
Saranda Boutique Hostel, Saranda (SR) Backpackers, Central Boutique Hostel

Vlore
Hotels:
Valza Boutique Hotel, Abi’s Hotel & Spa, Yacht Hotel
Hostels:
Vlora Backpackers Hostel Seaside, Pinegroove Hostel Vlora, Luckyshine Hostel

5. Vietnam

If you are on solo travel social media, you have definitely seen and heard of Vietnam before. And it is this popular for good reason – apart from the fascinating culture and breath-taking nature, it is one of the most affordable countries to travel in SE Asia. It’s also very safe for solo, female travellers and you will meet lots of like-minded people here. Remember to answer any questions like “are you travelling alone” from people you don’t know with “No, I am travelling with xyz (lie!)”.

Dorms are usually as little as $5 per night and street food starts at just around $1. Tours are also much more affordable here and Vietnam certainly has some of the most famous ones for their insane beauty, e.g. the Ha Giang Loop, Ha Long Bay Cruise, Cu Chi Tunnels Tour.

With Vietnam gaining so much popularity recently, I would say visit as soon as possible before the country becomes overrun and prices rise. Make sure to be respectful of locals and try visit nearer to the off-season to avoid overwhelming the country.

6. Hungary

Budapest is a city I keep coming back to time and time again. It was one of the first cities I visited when I restarted my travelling journey after university and it truly made me fall in love with solo travelling.

I have personally only visited Budapest in Hungary but have heard it is worth seeing more of the country like Pécs and Eger which are also really budget-friendly. Budapest itself has everything one could want in a city. A rich history (the ruin bars for example), stunning views, thermal baths and so many things to do all at a fairly affordable price. One thing you certainly can’t miss are the free walking tours to get a local insight to Budapest and its past.

I always feel safe here as a solo, female traveller and have met some of my favourite travel mates in the city. Be a bit careful with which areas you frequent at night, otherwise I never had any issues here.

7. Bali

Bali is another very popular destination for solo, female travellers and for all the right reasons. It is safe (as long as you apply common sense e.g. don’t follow anyone down alleyways, watch your drinks, etc.), affordable and there are lots of other travellers around to make friends with.

While accommodation prices are slowly rising with the country’s popularity, you can still find many hostel dorms from just $5-10. It is also the perfect country to learn to surf with affordable surf camps where accommodation includes surf guiding and sometimes even food such as Kima Surf and Hostel Somewhere Else.

FAQ about Solo, Female Travel

What are the best safety precautions to take in unfamiliar places?

There are a few important safety precautions to take when travelling somewhere new as a solo, female traveller.

First of all you need to research your destination – is it safe to travel to (check government websites), do other people travel there, how much information about it is out there, where are the safe areas to stay in, what are some things you need to keep in mind when there.

Once you have determined this and made a rough itinerary, make sure to share this with family/friends. When I solo travel, I always text someone exactly where I am staying when including addresses. We also agree that I text daily unless I am on tours etc. This isn’t to be obsessive but so someone knows exactly where you are and can alert authorities in case of an emergency. This is a precaution so don’t let it scare you.

When I solo travel I also trust my gut and put my safety above all else. If a situation feels unsafe, I get out of it no matter the cost. Money can come back, your life doesn’t.

In general, I’d say avoid being out alone at night, know which areas are safe and which to avoid (your accommodation can usually give you advice on this) and drink only when with friends or in a safe location.

How do I choose affordable but safe accommodations?

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. Some red flags are people talking about stuff being stolen, no women leaving reviews, bedbugs and any negative comments about staff. A huge red flag for me is also when a hotel responds rudely to complaints – it’s unprofessional and will probably affect you if something goes wrong.

How do I deal with loneliness while traveling alone?

When I first started solo travelling, meeting people felt super difficult. Even in hostels, everyone already seemed to be in their little groups and I was struggling. I remember being on week 3 of my Australian East Coast trip and calling my mum sobbing because I felt so lonely.

The more I solo travel, the more I have learned about loneliness and making friends. First of all, I am much more comfortable being with myself now. If I don’t find anyone to hang out with, that is okay. FOMO is sometimes still there, but I always remind myself that I am doing my best.

I usually do meet other people though. A good way is booking hostels with activities as it is SO easy to meet others during say a trivia night or a city tour. Another great way is choosing a female dorm – I often find myself bonding quicker with the girls in there. I also use Bumble BFF. That may sound awkward but I have met some of my now closest friends on there and it has been so great while travelling, especially if I am longer in one place. Finally, Facebook Groups – there are hundreds of travel groups out there and so many other solo travellers just waiting to meet you!

Sometimes though, loneliness prevails. Over the years I have learned that when the feeling refuses to leave, it is my time to go home. It’s a sign from my body that I need a break from travelling and constantly meeting new people. I need familiarity and my family. And that’s okay! Trust me, it took me a while to learn this but stopping a trip early is not failure, especially if it has already been a few months.