She Packed Her Bag and Freedom Followed: 17 Most Affordable and Safe Solo Travel Destinations for Women on a Budget
You don’t need a trust fund or a travel companion to roam the world. What you need is guts, a damn good map (okay, Google Maps will do), and this list.
Forget what the headlines tell you. The world isn’t as scary as it’s made out to be especially when you know where to go.
These 17 destinations are more than affordable and safe—they’re soul-awakening playgrounds for the solo female wanderer.
Whether you’re looking to hike cloud-kissed mountains, sip coffee in cobblestone alleyways, or just escape the noise of your “9 to die slowly,” this list’s your passport to that ‘main character energy’ life.
1. Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon isn’t trying to impress you—it just does. A city draped in sun, where trams rattle like jazz riffs and $10 gets you dinner, wine, and a rooftop view.
It’s safe, effortless, and unapologetically cool. You don’t need a map here; you need curiosity and comfy shoes.
Pastel buildings, salted air from the Atlantic, and locals who treat you like a friend. It’s not just a city—it’s a soft landing into solo freedom.
2. Chiang Mai, Thailand
Chiang Mai is where solo travel turns soulful. Between orange-robed monks and jungle mist lies a city pulsing with peace.
You can stretch your legs in temples and your mind in meditation classes—all for pocket change. The nights are soft with lanterns and laughter, the food carts are temples in their own right, and $15 covers a day of bills.
Here, you’re not alone—you’re aligned. A sanctuary in Southeast Asia you’ll leave but never forget.
3. Tbilisi, Georgia
Tbilisi feels like you wandered into a dream no one’s woken up from. Worn pastel balconies, secret courtyards, underground wine bars—and prices that make your wallet blush.
Locals speak with their hands and hearts. You’ll ride the world’s most charming cable car, get lost in flea markets, and eat dumplings like it’s your destiny.
For solo women, it’s disarmingly safe and emotionally generous. Tbilisi doesn’t just welcome you—it hugs you with both arms.
4. Bali, Indonesia
Bali is what happens when a postcard and a wellness retreat hook up. And while yes, it’s Insta-famous, solo women know: it deserves the hype.
From jungle swings to early morning yoga, it’s a choose your own adventure island. Hostels feel like sanctuaries.
Food is fresh, cheap, and alive. People smile like they mean it. For under $25 a day, you’re not just surviving—you’re glowing. Bali doesn’t care who you were it reveals who you are.
5. Budapest, Hungary
Budapest is split in two, just like your heart will be when you leave it. On one side: haunting castles, silent libraries, and Danube reflections.
On the other: ruin pubs buzzing with stories. It’s the perfect solo city—safe, moody, and weirdly affordable. Thermal spas feel like time travel. Street food Heaven in a paper wrap.
You’ll find yourself thinking deeper thoughts on bridges here. It’s gritty, graceful, and full of secret nooks for solo souls.
6. Medellín, Colombia
Medellín is a comeback story—and you’re walking through its golden chapter. Cable cars float over vibrant barrios, and every local has a smile that says, “Welcome.” This isn’t the city it used to be, and solo women travelers are proof.
$5 breakfasts. Free walking tours. Safe, buzzing energy. The art, the people, the street salsa at night—it feels like the city is alive in the truest sense.
Come with curiosity. Leave with fire.
7. Ljubljana, Slovenia
Ljubljana is small, but it holds multitudes. A city so clean and calm, you’ll think someone whispered it into being.
No cars in the center, just bikes, bridges, and pastel river reflections. You can picnic in a castle courtyard, sip coffee by the river, and walk alone with zero fear. It’s like Europe, but distilled and quiet.
Affordable, elegant, and unbothered by crowds. For solo women, it’s not just safe—it’s serene.
8. Hoi An, Vietnam
Hoi An is what nostalgia would look like if it wore lanterns. This riverside town wraps around you with silk, incense, and stillness.
Streets smell like fresh herbs and baked mooncakes. Tailors stitch your clothes while you sip iced Vietnamese coffee for pennies. Evenings glow amber with floating candles and the hum of laughter.
You won’t feel like a tourist here—you’ll feel like you’ve lived a thousand lifetimes on its quiet, cobbled roads.
9. Oaxaca, Mexico
Oaxaca is color turned up to eleven. Markets burst with mole and marigolds. Murals speak louder than politicians.
For a solo woman, it’s warm in every way: the food, the weather, the people. Hostels here feel like community hubs. You’ll dance in the street, learn mezcal rituals, and spend less than $30 a day living like a local queen.
It’s a city that doesn’t perform it exists. And once you’re in, you won’t want to leave.
10. Sofia, Bulgaria
Sofia wears its history like layers of thrifted vintage: mismatched, mysterious, and effortlessly cool. You’ll stumble upon Roman ruins beside Soviet blocks, then find a hip café with Wi-Fi and homemade banitsa.
This city doesn’t shout—it whispers secrets to those who wander slowly. It’s cheap—ridiculously so—but never feels cheap.
And for solo women, there’s a quiet kind of safety in its rhythm. Sofia isn’t flashy, but it stays with you.
11. Cape Town, South Africa
Cape Town is wild and refined all at once. You’ll hike Lion’s Head at sunrise and sip artisan gin by sunset.
Table Mountain looms like a silent guardian, and the beaches roll out like silk. It’s breathtaking, literally sometimes from the views, sometimes from the wind. Solo women will find pockets of absolute peace here, balanced with vibrant chaos.
It’s not Disneyland-safe, but it is real, raw, and transformative if you respect its rhythm.
12. Lima, Peru
Lima is ocean air mixed with ancient echoes. It’s the only place where $2 ceviche feels like fine dining.
Solo women wander the Miraflores cliffs with ease, pausing at art galleries and bookstores. The energy is calm, coastal, and subtly electric. It doesn’t demand your attention it earns it slowly.
Lima is for quiet adventurers, those who want depth over drama. If you’re listening, the city speaks.
13. Kotor, Montenegro
Kotor doesn’t need filters it is one. This walled town hugs the bay like it’s keeping secrets, and every stone feels soaked in centuries.
You’ll climb fortress steps with your heartbeat in your ears and descend into alleys humming with hidden cafes. It’s safe, silent, and surreal.
Prices are refreshingly low, and tourists haven’t ruined it yet. It’s the kind of place where time slows down just enough for you to hear your own thoughts again.
14. Tallinn, Estonia
Tallinn looks like it was drawn in a fairy tale and then hacked by a programmer. The Old Town is all towers and cobblestones, but the city’s technology is sharp. It’s digital, dreamy, and perfect for single women.
The coffee shops also double as coworking spaces. The museums feel secret. The air is fresh, the streets feel safe, even at night.
You’ll meet expats, artists, and introverts. Tallinn doesn’t try to seduce you. It simply becomes quietly unforgettable.
15. Kerala, India
Kerala is a deep breath in a country that rarely gives it to you. Palm fringed canals pass by barefoot children and ancient temples.
It’s where single women breathe. Ayurvedic wellness isn’t a fad here, it’s tradition. Locals treat travelers like family, and homestays offer not only security but also soul. Coconut rich food, quiet boats, elephant sightings—it’s not noisy.
It’s a lulling trip. If India seems too much for you, Kerala is the gentle “yes” you weren’t expecting.
16. San José & Beyond, Costa Rica
San José is your starting point, but the real Costa Rica lies beyond. Imagine cloud forests, toucans, and waves you’ll dream about for months. Towns like La Fortuna or Puerto Viejo. Incredibly safe and affordable.
For solo female travelers, the country’s “Pura Vida” culture is authentic: warmth, well being, and a laid back vibe.
Hostels are hubs of connection. Hikes turn strangers into friends. You’ll come for nature and stay for something deeper.
17. Riga, Latvia
Riga is a fusion of gothic and austere, and it works. Pastel-hued Art Nouveau buildings rise alongside punk rock bars.
It’s not an overly refined city, but it’s extremely safe. The Old Town is welcoming and walkable, while the outlying neighborhoods whisper of tales from another era. It’s affordable without skimping on beauty.
For solo travelers, Riga is that quiet, rebellious city: a place that doesn’t ask to be loved, but is unforgettable. It’s not the noisiest city in Europe. But, wow, it has soul.
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