The Truth About Solo Female Travel: 5 Lies You Need to Stop Believing

September 28, 2025
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The number of solo female travellers keeps rising, and yet, there are still so many untrue myths making the rounds. I’m here to debunk them all, from discussing safety as a solo woman to loneliness and judgement.

I have been solo travelling pretty much full-time for 3 years now, and it has been such an incredible time. Over this time, there are a few myths I have heard over and over again.

Isn’t it unsafe? Why are you travelling alone? Aren’t you lonely? What will the others think? Just t noame a few.

As a seasoned traveller, I mostly ignore these comments nowadays, but I thought it is time to address them from my perspective. So, this is the truth about solo, female travel:

Table of Contents

Debunking the Top 5 Myths About Solo, Female Travel

Whether you’re an experienced traveller or this is your first solo excursion, let’s discuss the most common arguments for why you shouldn’t solo travel and just how much or little truth is behind each one.

1. Travelling solo as a woman is dangerous

This is easily one of the myths I have heard the most and also the one I despise the most. Why? Because it is often rooted in old-fashioned beliefs and outdated “horror stories”.

In my opinion and from my experience, it is no more or less dangerous to travel solo as a woman as with a group/partner. That is as long as you do your research and are prepared.

If you are headed to destinations that aren’t considered 100% safe, having someone with you won’t really make it any easier. In fact, a lot of the horror stories I have heard while travelling has been from couples, which obviously could be coincidence but it may also be due to a false sense of security. If someone wants to e.g. rob you, they will do so regardless of who is with you.

That being said, travelling solo does take a little more preparation to keep yourself safe. From packing to planning the route/countries to sharing where you are, there are certain unskippable steps that keep you safe (check out my full guide on that here).

But overall, this myth is old-school and solo travel is a super safe way to see the world nowadays.

2. People only travel solo because they can’t find anyone to go with

There are many reasons for solo travelling, and sometimes it may just be that no one else wants to go with you. Believe me, it doesn’t mean you don’t have any friends and it isn’t embarassing or “sad”.

While I have certainly had moments while solo travelling where I have felt that way, I always remind myself that this is my choice. I love to solo travel and am rarely actually solo. In fact, I have met the majority of my closest friends now while solo travelling and made some of the most incredible experiences.

Either way, it doesn’t matter WHY you are solo travelling, just that you are. It doesn’t make you sad, but strong, confident and adventurous. Just think that in 60 years, you would never kick yourself for going solo, but you probably would for not going at all!

3. Solo travel is lonely

I’ve already touched on this in the previous point, but solo travel can be anything but solo. About 70% of the time when I solo travel, I am actually with someone that I meet along the way. I often end up spending extended amounts of time with these strangers who quickly turn to friends.

However, there are some times where I just want to be solo too. Solo travel is a great way to fully experience a destination as there are no distractions in forms of other people, so sometimes I embrace the loneliness.

And while it can feel a little uncomfortable at e.g. dinner at first, over time you will start to fall in love with the serenity of it. If it ever does get too lonely, I’d recommend checking into a hostel or heading to Facebook Groups to look for travel buddies 🙂

4. You have to be an extrovert to solo travel

I’m not going to lie, I have had many an instance while solo travelling where I wished I was an extrovert. It just makes the social and meeting people side of it a little easier.

However, it is most certainly not a requirement and I have solo travelled for 3 years now as an introvert. If anything, I think it has made me a little more extroverted to the point I’d call myself an ambivert now.

Back to the issue at hand, you will meet MANY extroverts while travelling (they are usually the loudest in the hostels), but also just as many introverts. If you struggle to meet people in person, try Facebook Groups or solo travel apps and organise some adventures/day trips with travellers there.

That way, it often is more of a 1-to-1 experience and hence much more introvert friendly.

You also don’t have to stay in hostels to meet people if that is too much socialising for you. Solo travel is also about embracing your own company and you could use the tactics mentioned above to still meet people when you feel like it.

5. People will judge you

My first reaction to this is always: “So what?”

However, I know first hand how consuming this thought can be and it is still something I struggle with every now and then while travelling. Eating out alone for example, I always tell myself I can do it and then chicken out last minute when it comes to it.

I doubt anyone cares, though sometimes it does feel like people stare when you sit alone in a restaurant abroad. My biggest tip for that would be to bring a book and accept it. You’re doing something different and people are going to look – it’s just part of it.

I have also had friends who said they’d be worried what the people back home would think. I personally always thought that it doesn’t matter, after all you are exploring a new country while they sit at home.

All in all, I think people may judge you for travelling solo. But they also might judge you for your choice of outfit, your diet choices, your date, your job, … It seems us humans can’t help but judge at times.

Just remember that you probably won’t remember them in 5 years time, but you certainly will remember that trip. So truly: Who cares!

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.