Four of the most affordable and safest destinations for solo female travellers

I love travelling, I love exploring, trying out different foods and immersing myself in different cultures. I especially love venturing out by myself: it is empowering and so much fun! I do not have to call anyone, no time constraints, I can spend as little or as much as I like about being in a particular place. It is perfect! I have been fortunate enough to be able to venture out on my own.

However, I am not naïve to some of the dangers that come with travelling alone as a female. You have to remain vigilant and be careful. Here are some of the most affordable and safest destinations travel as a solo female traveller in Europe (and one Asian country).

Czechia

The amazing things about Czechia, aside from the beauty that’s within the country, is that it is easily accessible, by train bus or car from Germany, Hungary, Austria and Poland. 

Prague is gorgeous but quite small, so you can easily take in all the major sites including Charles Bridge, Prague Castle and the Astronomical Clock in a day. Transport is easy and cheap, and the nightlife is vibrant. However, pickpockets are quite rife in the city, so please be careful.

If you decided to spend more than a few days in the country, I would suggest venturing for a day trip Cesky Krumlov, an idyllic town in the South Bohemia region of the country, as well as Kutna Hora – a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Another place I would strongly suggest is Konopiste for when you need to relax and re-calibrate your brain for your next adventure. It is great for a serene half-day trip.

Croatia – Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is idyllic and gorgeous, plus they film some scenes from Game of Thrones in the area.  The nightlife is great, although it can get a bit raunchy at times, there are good transport links and you can eat out and have fun at the most relatively inexpensive places.

The city walls are unmissable. You enter the wall from the close the Pile Gate, which is, unfortunately, the busiest entrance, the Ploče Gate or the Maritime Museum. The walk is very strenuous, especially in the summer heat — there is no shade and the few street vendors who sell water on the side tend to overinflate the prices.

I recommend going on a city walls walking tour so that you can get a holistic picture of the history and significance of the area. And plus, it is a fantastic way of meeting new people.

Indonesia

There are so many things to do in Indonesia – the obvious choice is Bali or the Gili Islands of course, but there are also amazing alternatives including Java (which great for hiking).

Java is cheaper than Bali and is not saturated with tourists. Here you can get the full Indonesian experience that is not tampered by demands of commercialism. My highlights were the Borobudur and Prambanan Temples, and bumsliding in the Green Canyon River. Some places in Bali, like Sanur and Seminyak, are great for snorkelling and diving.

The culture is very conservative though so it is best to always bring a shawl to wrap around your waist or to cover your shoulders when entering sacred spaces. It also helps that South African citizens do not need to have a visa when travelling these areas.

The only downside I would say is that in Java, it is not uncommon for people to touch your hair, stare, take pictures of you or with you when you look different. So just beware and be mindful that they are only curious.

Slovenia

Now, this is a place on my to do list, after a recommendation from a friend. It is, in a word, beautiful. It is a small hidden gem slightly north of Italy. The capital city Ljubljana is easily explorable by bike or by walking and just take in the sites of the Castle, Dragon Bridge and the Ljubljanica river.

From the city, you can take a day trip to Bled and go paragliding. Transport is superb and the options are endless. It is also a short train ride or (seven-hour-car journey, if that’s what you prefer) to Italy.