The 10 Safest Countries In Europe For Solo Women Travelers

Europe is home to some of the most beautiful countries in the world. With delicious cuisine, rich history, and stunning art, Europe is a fantastic place for folks from all over the globe to visit. Each year, the continent of Europe hosts millions of tourists, hoping to explore the cities, countryside, and nature of the continent. It’s a great place for a solo adventurer, whether you’re looking to backpack, hostel-hop, or stay in luxurious hotels around Europe.

Solo women travelers now make up the majority of solo travelers around the globe. However, safety is an utmost concern for this demographic. With concerns about violent or gender-based crimes, it’s incredibly important to make sure that solo women travelers are headed to a safe spot. Much of Europe is extremely safe for women travelers, but there are still some important considerations.

Determining the safety of a country can be a difficult task, but there are a few key indicators that can provide insight into how safe a country will be for women travelers. As always, it’s necessary to stay alert and cautious, but looking at the Most Dangerous Countries for Women Index is a great place to start. This index ranks the 50 most popular tourist countries by safety for women travelers. For each country, we’ll identify its Women Danger Index ranking, as well as its Globel Peace Index ranking, to clarify what makes it a safe choice for solo women travelers.

10. France

The most popular tourist destination in Europe is also the tenth-safest for solo women travelers. That country is France! France is known for art, wine, and food, with lots of museums and things to see. France is the 13th safest country according to the Women’s Danger Index, boasting low scores on intentional homicide and legal inequality. However, France does have some street crime, so be sure to be cautious. France is in the “Medium” category on the Global Peace Index, in 67th place overall.

9. The Netherlands

Home of tulips and The Hague, the Netherlands is one of the most safe countries for women traveling solo in 2023. The Netherlands holds the twelfth-place spot on the Women’s Danger Index, with exceptionally good scores when it comes to intentional homicide and gender inequality. It’s also in the 16th spot overall on the Global Peace Index, with a score of 1.49. It is in the “High” category for peace, though it borders on the “Very High” category (which starts at 14th place).

8. United Kingdom

While the United Kingdom is not a part of the European Union, it is still one of the safest countries in Europe for solo women travelers. The UK is the 11th safest country listed on the Women’s Danger Index, with pretty good rates of street safety and low rates of intentional homicide. The country is in the 37th spot on the Global Peace Index, with a score of 1.63. Despite its lower GPI ranking, it’s still ranked high in terms of peace. The UK is a great spot for folks to explore, and the official language of the country is English, making it an awesome spot for folks who haven’t learned any other European languages.

7. Croatia

Croatia takes the seventh-place spot for the safest country in Europe for solo women travelers. This country is located just west of Italy and south of Austria and Hungary. It’s a stunning country that is absolutely worth exploring. Croatia is the eighth-safest country on the Women’s Danger Index, with a score of 286. The country has low rates of intentional homicide and legal discrimination, but some higher incidences of street crime. Be cautious, but know that this is one of the safest countries in the world! On the Global Peace Index, Croatia takes the 14th spot for the most peaceful country in the world, with a ranking of “Very High” peace.

6. Portugal

In the sixth-place spot for the safest European countries for solo women travelers, we have Portugal. Portugal is the seventh-ranked country in the world on the Women’s Danger Index, with particularly low rates of non-partner sexual violence. There are also low rates of gender inequality in Portugal, however, street safety is a bit more prominent than in other safe countries, so be sure to be cautious. Portugal is the seventh-most peaceful country in the world according to the Global Peace Index, with a GPI score of 1.33.

5. Norway

The beautiful country of Norway is the fifth-safest European country for women travelers exploring solo in 2023. The country takes the sixth-overall spot on the Women’s Danger Index, with extremely positive street safety and homicide rates. There are also very low levels of gender inequality in Norway. Additionally, the country is in the 24th overall spot on the Global Peace Index, with a high rate of safety. Norway is not one of the most popular countries for travelers yet, so if you’re looking for something off the beaten path, you’ll certainly want to check out this stunning country!

4. Switzerland

With a reputation as a peacekeeper, it makes sense that Switzerland is one of the safest countries in Europe for solo women travelers! The country has the fifth-best ranking of all countries on the Women’s Danger Index, with great street safety and low rates of gender inequality. It takes the tenth-place overall spot on the Global Peace Index, with a score of 1.33. It’s safety on the GPI has improved since last year, which is a great sign for future travelers.

3. Austria

The small and beautiful country of Austria is the third safest country in Europe for women travelers. In 2023, this country ranked fourth on the Women’s Danger Index, with a score of 251. The country boasts good street safety and low rates of intentional homicide. Austria is also extremely high-ranking when it comes to the Global Peace Index, with an overall score of 1.31, earning the country the fifth-place spot overall.

2. Ireland

The stunning country of Ireland takes the second-place spot for the safest country in Europe for solo women travelers. This country is the third-safest country on the Women’s Danger Index, and the second-safest European country (Singapore takes the second-place overall spot). In terms of the Global Peace Index, Ireland ranks extremely high, taking the third-place overall spot for safest countries in the world, with a score of 1.32. Ireland has a rich history, plus English is one of the official languages of the country, making it a great choice for folks who only speak English.

1. Spain

Finally, the country of Spain is the safest European destination for solo women travelers. The country has the best Women’s Danger Index ranking, with a score of 212. Additionally, the country has a fairly good Global Peace Index ranking, boasting 32nd place with a score of 1.65. Spain is an incredible place to explore art, culture, nature, and cuisine, and should absolutely be on the top of the list for spots for solo women travelers heading to Europe!