Top 10 European destinations for your first trip as a Solo Female Traveller

Solo travel as a female can be amazingly empowering, but it can also feel daunting to embark on your first trip. But there are so many amazing places just waiting for you to explore! Check out my top 10 European destinations for your first trip as a Solo Female Traveller.

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10. Lisbon, Portugal

In the sunny South-West corner of Europe, Lisbon in Portugal is a great destination and definitely makes it in my top 10 European destinations for your first trip as a Solo Female Traveller. It’s not a huge city so it’s easy to navigate. There’s a variety of sights as well, including a castle, aquarium, and cute cobbled streets. Check out my guide to Lisbon for more detail on this great city, including taking a day trip to the colourful Sintra. Or you can check out this great travel guide too (affiliate).

9. Berlin, Germany

Another of the top 10 European destinations for your first trip as a Solo Female Traveller is Berlin. This great city has so much to offer. There’s great nightlife, so if you want to party on your trip, this is one of the best cities in Europe. But there are great cultural and historical sights as well. Learn more about the Berlin Wall and visit some of the remains, as well as Checkpoint Charlie. There are some great museums as well, and a variety of concerts and other arts performances. There really is something for everyone in Berlin. Check out my guide to this great city here, as well as this travel guide (affiliate).

8. Salzburg, Austria

If you’re looking for some beautiful mountain scenery, Salzburg in Austria is a great destination. This small city has some great sights, and you’ll be able to see lots of the filming locations for The Sound of Music on your trip. Check out some of the top sights here. But make sure you also take a day trip or two into the mountains to appreciate the beauty of the Austrian Alps. Kitzbuhel or Zell am See are both great options for your time in the Austrian Alps.

7. Oxford, UK

Oxford is one of my favourite cities in the UK. It’s fairly small so it’s easy to navigate on your own – most of the top sights are easy walking distance, or just a short bus ride away. I love the historic university buildings, and there are some fascinating museums and the botanic gardens as well. Read more about Oxford, as well as some of the less tourist-y things to do. The countryside around Oxford is beautiful as well, so try to leave yourself to explore some of these walks in Oxfordshire.

6. Seville, Spain

Seville in Spain gets many days of warm sunshine each year, and it’s a great place to try some traditional Spanish tapas as you sit outside at a cafe in the sun. There are some fascinating sights as well, most notably the Alcazar, with its Moorish architecture. Check out the top sights in Seville here. If you’ve got more time, you can consider taking some day trips from Seville. There are beautiful white villages in the Andalusia region, as well as the cities of Cordoba and Granada. This is also a great guide to the region (affiliate).

5. Isle of Skye, Scotland

For remote, rugged mountain scenery, you can’t beat Scotland. Although you’ll need to be prepared for some rain on your trip, the scenery makes up for any bad weather. Hiring a car is best, if you feel confident driving yourself on a solo trip, as then you’ll have the freedom to explore the amazing scenery. As well as mountains and waterfalls, there are also some beautiful beaches and coastal walks on Skye. Check out my top things to do on the Isle of Skye here.

4. Bruges, Belgium

Another of the top 10 European destinations for your first trip as a Solo Female Traveller is the cute small city of Bruges in Belgium. Bruges, or Brugge as it is often known, is just so pretty. It’s so peaceful walking along the miles of canals, and the market square is a great place to stop for a Belgian beer. Check out my guide to Bruges here, or this is a great guide too (affiliate).

3. Barcelona, Spain

Another city in Spain that makes my top 10 is Barcelona. This is a great city if you want to party and enjoy the nightlife. There’s always something going on in Barcelona, and you’ll instantly make friends with other partying travellers. But make sure you save some energy for the sights as well. The Cathedral and Gothic Quarter are impressive, but it’s the Gaudi architecture that really captivated me, such as the Sagrada Familia and Park Guell. Read about Barcelona here, and make sure you take this travel guide and map with you on your trip (affiliate).

2. Dublin, Ireland

Dublin is another city famous for its fun nightlife. Grab a pint of Guinness and enjoy some live Irish music in one of the many traditional pubs in the city. There are organised pub crawls as well if you want to go with a group of people. There are also great sights in the city, including Trinity College Dublin with the famous library and Book of Kells. Check out more sights in Dublin here. If you’ve got more time, you can also explore some of Dublin’s spectacular rural scenery and enjoy some outdoor adventures in the Dingle Peninsula and Connemara National Park. This guide will help you plan your trip to Ireland (affiliate).

1. Prague, Czech Republic

The final place in my top 10 European destinations for your first trip as a Solo Female Traveller is Prague in the Czech Republic. It’s such a picturesque historic city, with great sights like the Castle, main square and Charles Bridge. Relax in a cafe or with a Czech beer after a long day of sightseeing. Check out my guide to Prague here, and this map will help you plan your trip as well (affiliate).

Enjoy planning your trip with the top European destinations for your first trip as a Solo Female Traveller! If you’d like to travel further, check out my guide to the top worldwide destinations for solo female travellers, and also my top tips for solo travellers and top low budget travel tips for solo travellers. If you’re thinking about joining a small group tour, check out my blog about tours here.

If you’d like to learn more about solo female travel, make sure you check out my latest book, with all the important tips for your trip (affiliate).