As a woman in a same-sex relationship, safety is something I need to heavily consider when choosing where I travel, and I am not alone in this. According to a survey conducted at CoStar, 80% of women consider the risk of sexual assault/harassment when planning a trip - a fact that may be difficult for many men to believe, but as women it is our harsh reality. I want all women to feel confident traveling without having to be concerned for their safety. That is why I want to give you a list of places where you can travel alone or with other women without a shout of a doubt.
1. Berlin, Germany
Berlin is a super cool place to visit for a lot of reasons. Coming from the USA, I found it very different from any of the cities I was used to because the buildings were so spaced out, there were lots of small hidden parks, it wasn't crowded with tourists at all (at least when I went in June 2019), and there were SO many people on bikes. There is also a ton of history, yet so many modern touches! Berlin is a very LGBTQIA+ friendly destination as well: they showed massive support in a variety of ways all around the city ranging from their advertisements to their street art. In my personal experience, it felt like the people who lived there were very focused on doing their own thing (rather than associating with others), and that may be one of the main reasons it felt so safe. No one ever tried to talk to us or even get near us virtually the whole time we were there; we only asked other tourists for pictures and they were always kind. I would definitely recommend making a stop in Berlin on your next Europe trip! See my personal trip details on Ravel Trips.
2. Split & Šolta, Croatia
Now I have so many positive things to say about Split and Šolta (an island right off of Split) so buckle up. I stayed on the island of Šolta with my girlfriend for just over a month in October/November of 2020 and have never felt safer anywhere in my life. That might sound like an exaggeration, but it’s not. Šolta is a pretty small island (you could drive the length of it in 30 minutes) and so pretty much everyone who lives there knows each other. We stayed in an Airbnb owned by a lovely couple (Danijela and Mario) who helped us with everything we needed and became great friends of ours. Since we were basically the only tourists on the island, everyone knew about us. The residents were all so warm hearted, and when we didn’t have a car, people offered us rides all the time. That sounds super sketchy, but once you visit the island you’ll understand how trustworthy everyone is! Split is a lot more populated so I wouldn’t have accepted rides from strangers there, but we spent nights walking around/getting drinks and never felt uncomfortable! Basically everyone in Split spoke English too which is always a bonus. Check out a shortened version of my Šolta trip on the Ravel Trips app!
3. Málaga, Spain
If you love cute coastal towns, Málaga should definitely be on your bucket list. I’ve been to Málaga three times now - and that says a whole lot because normally I like to visit somewhere new when I travel - but I just love it so much I can’t stay away. To sum it up, the city can be split into two parts. Half of it is right on the water and can best be described as a glamorous port with restaurants, shops/little pop-up markets, live music, and a rental center for all different kinds of bikes and things with wheels. At the end, you’ll find a nice sized beach where you can relax and get your tan on. The other half of Málaga is set up more like most European cities with shops and restaurants along cobblestone streets. They have some really awesome churches/monuments dispersed throughout the city and an amazing selection of dining options. When I visit, I can walk around at any time of the day or night and feel completely safe! Everyone is very friendly and pretty much everyone speaks English since they get a lot of British tourists. We typically stayed in apartments, which were very reasonably priced and super spacious. If you haven’t already visited Málaga, what are you waiting for? Plan a trip!
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4. Portugal
Since my girlfriend lives in Portugal, I visit all the time and we have been all over the country. Portugal is huge on tourism, so no matter where you go people will speak English and be super helpful. Most of the country is on the coast, so any of the amazing historically rich cities you want to visit will never be far from a beach. Portugal also has an incredible nightlife scene, especially in the Algarve! Typically when I travel, I get nervous about going to clubs/bars since I don’t always know what to expect, but I have never had any issues there. The walk home always felt totally safe, no matter the time of night, and people are generally very accepting of the LGBTQIA+ community. Typically I am more suspicious of larger cities, but I never felt that way in Lisbon. I have spent an entire night hanging out in the Praça do Comercio in the historical center of Lisbon and had zero issues. It’s no wonder Portugal is number four on the list of the top safest countries in the world.
5. Prague, the Czech Republic
Last but certainly not least, Prague is not only a beautiful city with tons to see, but is also extremely safe! The crime rates are incredibly low and the Czech Republic has been ranked as the seventh safest country in the world. I stayed in Prague for about a week and never ran out of cool things to see/do. There are so many breathtaking sights and if you play your cards right, food and drinks are so cheap! I would definitely recommend checking out Honest Guide on youtube for tips on where to eat, where to exchange currency, things to do, and more. One of the best things I learned from Honest Guide is that if you want to get the cheapest beer in Prague (the equivalent of $0.30 for half a liter), head over to Kafe Damu which is hiding in plain sight right near old town square! I also shared my personal Prague itinerary on the Ravel Trips app if you want to check it out for more suggestions.
Thanks for Reading!
There you have it! Five super safe destinations for any girl who is looking for some fun new places to visit. If you have any specific questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me on the Ravel instagram!
