Wanderlust · 7 min read · February 27, 2026

The best destinations for female travellers in 2026

Not just safe on paper, these are the places where women say they felt relaxed, confident and free to enjoy their trip.

Short on time? Let us summarise this guide for you.

This guide rounds up 2026 destinations where women say they genuinely felt at ease, not just safe on paper. It blends a survey of 1,000 UK women, global rankings (like the Good Trip Index), and on-the-ground suggestions to spotlight places where you can relax, move around confidently (including at night), and spend less energy doing 'safety maths'. The picks span easy, well-organised solo trips (like Switzerland for calm public transport and Alpine/lakeside breaks, and Denmark/Copenhagen for a friendly, well-ranked city break), value-and-vibe surprises (like Romania, where many women said they didn’t change their behaviour), and classic solo favourites (Thailand, praised for sociable hostel culture and island-hopping). It also flags Malta as a place that 'feels' safe in real life even if some indices don’t rank it highest, plus Iceland (progressive, welcoming), Italy (easy rail-hopping between major cities), and bigger-adventure options like Namibia (dunes + stargazing, with a note about UK traveller visa costs) and Cape Verde (chilled island escape with beaches and volcanic landscapes).

Travelling solo shouldn’t mean staying on high alert. It should mean choosing where to eat, what to see and how late to stay out – without a second thought. We’ve combined survey results, global indices and real-world insight to round up the destinations getting it right in 2026.

Switzerland

There are plenty of statistics out there telling us where the safest places are for female travellers. But just because a destination is statistically safe, that doesn’t necessarily mean it feels safe. That’s why we asked 1,000 UK women about their last overseas trip, to get any idea of what destinations are actually like.

And Switzerland came out as the gold standard – 83.3% of women said they felt very safe, and none reported feeling unsafe. Switzerland isn’t just safe on paper. It feels calm, organised and easy to navigate – whether you’re wandering a city after dinner or hopping on a late train back to your hotel. Public transport runs like clockwork, streets are well lit, and English is widely spoken, which takes the edge off travelling solo.

On our latest trip, we based ourselves around Lake Geneva and the surrounding Alpine villages – the perfect mix of calm and wow-factor. Château-d’Oex was a highlight, especially during the hot air balloon festival. Wrap up warm, bring your camera and snap dozens of balloons lifting off against a backdrop of snow-dusted peaks.

Stop in Gruyère for something slower. Wander the medieval streets, visit the hilltop castle, then settle in for a proper fondue. Yes, Switzerland is known for chocolate and cheese. Try both. Often.

Or for lakeside charm, head to Saint-Prex. This tiny village on Lake Geneva is all pastel shutters, narrow lanes and little harbours. Walk along the water, find a bench in the sun, and just sit for a while.

The Female Traveller Safety Tax

From avoiding walking home alone at night to changing what you wear, here's what it really costs women to feel safe on holiday.

In Good Trip Index February 23, 2026

Romania

It’s one thing to feel safe in a destination, but what’s the cost of that safety? Does it mean staying alert in crowded places? Avoiding walking home alone at night? Or even changing the way you dress? We asked this very question as part of our survey and came up with the Safety Tax, which measures the gap between feeling safe on holiday and the adjustments you have to make to achieve that safety.

And that brings us neatly to Romania, which came out with one of the most striking results in the survey. 70% of women who travelled there said they didn’t change their behaviour at all – the highest of any destination surveyed. In other words, most felt they could simply get on with their trip. No second-guessing outfits. No skipping evening plans. Just travelling as they normally would.

Start in Bucharest. Wander leafy boulevards, dip into independent bookshops and settle into a café. Tour the vast Palace of the Parliament, then slow things down in the Old Town with a glass of local wine as the streets fill up. Prefer something greener? Head north to Transylvania and explore Brasov’s cobbled lanes, hike in the Carpathian Mountains or take a day trip to Bran Castle.

Thailand

There's never been a better time to visit Thailand. At the start of 2025 they finally introduced equal marriage laws, making it the first country in Southeast Asia to do so. So you can expect a warmer welcome than ever in a country that promises to be an exotic adventure.

Thailand is the mainstay of solo backpacking destinations. At this stage it's almost a rite of passage to go backpacking here – which, if you're travelling solo, makes it an excellent destination. After all, you're likely to find plenty of like-minded individuals in the wide range of hostels, and there's no better way to make friends fast than checking into a hostel alone.

If you're nervous about heading out there alone, then why not book onto an island-hopping tour? You'll meet plenty of people and have a blast on some of the very best beaches in the world.

Phuket is way up on our real-time destination leaderboard, which tracks the holiday spots that are becoming increasingly popular with travellers. So get planning your trip there now before everyone else does!

Denmark

Denmark is first place this year on our Good Trip Index – the Holiday Extras guide to travelling ethically, sustainably and well – and tops the Women, Peace and Security Index. So no list about the best places for female travellers would be complete without it.

There may be something a little ironic about us suggesting a city break in Copenhagen – after all it's the home of the famous Little Mermaid statue, and we're not about a woman giving up her voice for a man! But Copenhagen is a beautiful city and a great choice for your solo travels. Embrace your inner child and head to Tivoli Gardens, the third-oldest operating amusement park in the world, for some good old-fashioned fun.

The Good Trip Index

The Holiday Extras guide to travelling ethically, sustainably and well. This is the Good Trip Index.

In Sustainability April 15, 2025

Iceland

We'll find any excuse to include Iceland in a guide about top destinations – it's firmly up there in our favourites. There's something about the otherworldly beauty of the country. The mystery of 24-hour light or dark, depending on when you go. Not to mention the amazing food and the friendly locals make Iceland a country we love to visit again and again.

Iceland is one of the most feminist countries in the world, and for the last 15 years it's topped the Global Gender Gap Report. Add it all together and you’ve got an amazing destination that looks after its women. Win win!

Italy

It's time to embrace your inner 'Eat, Pray, Love' – oh how we'd love to spend 4 months eating in Italy!

With affordable flights aplenty, why not take the plunge and explore Italy this summer? Whether you hit the shops in Milan, wonder at the art in Florence or eat your weight in pizza in Naples, you really can't go wrong. Travelling around Italy is a breeze, with most of the major cities easily reached via rail. Plus tourism is widespread here, so if this is your first solo trip, you're never going to be far off the beaten track.

Malta

When we asked UK women about their trips, Malta was a real highlight. It doesn’t score as highly as others on paper when you look at the Women, Peace and Security Index, but it scores brilliantly in our survey for real, lived experience. Women told us they felt confident getting around, day and night. It’s a good reminder that stats don’t always tell the full story. Sometimes, the street vibe says more than the numbers.

Start in Valletta. Wander its honey-coloured streets and watch the harbour light up from the Upper Barrakka Gardens. Stop for a coffee, take your time, and don’t overplan it. The island’s small enough to explore without rushing, whether you’re hopping on a ferry to the Three Cities or browsing local shops tucked down quiet side streets.

Craving sea views? Head to Comino for a swim in the Blue Lagoon, or find a rocky perch along the coast and dive straight in. Visit Mdina for a slower pace – think silent streets and sweeping views across the island. As the sun sets, grab a table by the water in Marsaxlokk or St Julian’s and settle in for grilled fish and a glass of something cold. Easy days, warm evenings, and plenty to see without ever feeling overwhelmed.

Namibia

If we were to ask you the first thing that comes to mind when you hear Namibia, we reckon sand dunes will be up there with the top answers. It does have some of the best in the world. But what might not immediately come to mind is that Namibia ranks 8th in the Global Gender Pay Gap report, appearing in the top 10 for the last 5 years.

So grab your bucket and spade, ladies – it's time to go make sandcastles. Plus, did you know Namibia is one of the best places in the world to go stargazing? So lay back, look up at the stars, and imagine they're the light reflecting off the glass ceiling shattering above you.

Namibia introduced a tourist visa for UK travellers last year, but don't let that put you off visiting. You can easily apply for the visa online or even get one when you arrive in Namibia, costing around £67 per person.

Cape Verde

Awesome beaches, magnificent mountains, volcanoes and desert landscapes, breathtaking surf, and bags of morabeza (the Creole word for hospitality). Cape Verde, or Cabo Verde, is a volcanic archipelago 300 miles off Senegal on the northwest African coast that's become a hot spot among western travellers for chilled tropical getaways.

Consisting of 10 islands, this Atlantic paradise is still relatively undiscovered but fast gaining a reputation as the African Caribbean. Plus, Cape Verde is one of our favourite eco destinations thanks to the recommendation from our friends at the Travel Foundation.