Table of Contents
Introduction
I asked 10 Black women to share their favourite solo travel destinations, because I often get asked: “Where is safe for Black women to travel solo?” So I have collaborated with a few Black women who share their favourite solo destinations. These destinations are where Black women who have travelled the world feel safe, seen, and celebrated. Here is the article on 10 Black women sharing their favourite solo travel destinations
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It’s one of the questions I get asked the most. And if we’re honest, the question makes sense. Being a Black woman in this world can be difficult, and certainly comes with its challenges when it comes to travel. There are extra layers of worry we carry that others simply just don’t.
I recently spoke about this in a post on Travelling Perceptions & Safety: Why I Don’t Allow These Narratives to Stop Me From Seeing the World. As I said then, and will say again here. The media often paints harmful, one-dimensional images of Black women abroad. Solo travel for Black women is hard. In certain countries (you know the ones), we’re wrongly labelled as sex workers or ghettoised for simply existing in our melanin-rich skin.
But here’s the truth: I’ve never really felt alone when I travel solo. Somehow, I always meet someone. I always find a connection. Still, I know how scary that first solo trip can feel, especially if you’ve never done it before.
That’s why this post matters.
It was actually my cousin who suggested I write about destinations where Black women feel safe travelling solo. So I asked 10 Black female travel bloggers to share the cities and countries where they’ve felt most welcomed, respected, and at peace, from Paris to Phuket, Cartagena to Tokyo.
And of course, I added one of my own favourite solo travel destinations too.
If you’re a Black woman planning your first solo adventure or your next one. I hope this list reminds you that yes, there are places where we are safe, seen, heard and can travel freely.
Looking for a full guide? Read my complete list of the best countries for Black women to travel solo.
10 Best Solo Travel Destinations for Black Women, by Black Women
1. Char of Memoirs and Musings says – Dubai
Dubai is safe because the crime rate is low. You won’t find much petty crime here because it’s not a walkable city. Unwanted attention does exist but it’s more common in Deira and Bur Dubai. I’ve been to Dubai twice solo and not had any issues! ???
2. Aitza of Petitely Packaged says – Porto
As the second-largest city in Portugal, Porto offers a friendly and vibrant atmosphere. From wine tours in the Douro Valley, hiking at a nearby national park, hopping on a boat, or simply eating one’s way through the city, their countless activities to meet people or get lost on your own in Porto. The public transportation is easy to navigate, and English is widely spoken, so even if you find yourself unintentionally lost, you likely won’t need Google to translate.
3. L of Franglais27 Tales says – Paris
Central Paris is rather compact and so it is easy to navigate by foot, which makes it relatively safe for a solo woman traveller. Plus, there are lots of museums, galleries and other sights that are easy to visit or cinemas as well. There are also neighbouring cafés and restaurants in most locations, meaning that it would not involve a long journey if venturing out in the evenings. You would just have to be as vigilant as you would be in London when travelling alone.
4. Elisha of Elisha Jade says – Shanghai and Bejing
I felt super safe in Shanghai and Beijing. Whether I was riding in the back of a tuk-tuk at 4 am or jumping on the metro, the Chinese metropolises were very secure. It is a surveillance state so you do trade off privacy for that sense of security.
5. Chi of Thoughts Of Chi says – Prague
I believe that Prague is safe due to it being a popular destination for tourists so it’s rare for you to feel secluded during a solo trip. Also from my trip, the attraction staff are very accommodating for solo travellers in terms of taking pictures of you and giving you in-depth talks about the city in general.
Also, the fact that there are a ton of attractions to go throughout the city and the transport links are reliable and easy to use.
6. Tay of TaytheTravelista says – Cartagena
I recently took my very first solo trip and as nervous as I was, I couldn’t have made a better choice of destination – Cartagena. The people are extremely warm and welcoming, and although they don’t speak much English, the love is felt! The streets are ALWAYS full of people, so you never really feel “alone”; and Uber/taxi makes it very easy to get around the city.
Cartagena is also very budget-friendly, so paying full price for things you’d normally split with a friend isn’t a big deal. Not to mention, Cartagena is pretty popular among solo travellers, so the likelihood of you connecting with other solo travellers is extremely high. Just an FYI – you will fall head over heels in love with the place!!!
7. Joyce of Diy With Joy says – Phuket
I travelled to Phuket, Thailand for the ultimate solo birthday trip and purposely chose to stay in Patong for the first half of my trip as this beach resort town is famously known for its bustling nightlife, variety of activities, markets and plenty of restaurants. Although I was by myself, I never really felt alone because I met a lot of friendly faces from around the world and the Thai locals made me feel welcomed into their country. I felt really safe venturing out at night, often strolling through the night markets and had my first solo nightlife experience in Phuket which was surprisingly amazing!
8. Ri of Ri The Blog says – Colombia
I thought Colombia was safe because there was constantly police around everywhere (granted its Colombia they could be corrupt cops). The people seemed so relaxed about their belongings and that that to me was a sign that the city didn’t have problems with petty crime.
9. Tateendah of Footprints and Poetry says Tanzania
I found Tanzanians really friendly, no one catcalled me either in Dar Es Salaam or Zanzibar which is very rare. I didn’t book any tours and the resort I stayed in the capital helped me to arrange them, in Zanzibar they even walked me to the beach for my prison island tour.
Someone even offered to go with me to the South Island (as they were also going there) so I can get on the right public transport but I couldn’t stay that long. People were open to conversation if they spoke English, from the restaurants to the taxi drivers. The only issues I had was trying to convince people I don’t speak Swahili.
10. Victoria of The Stylish Trotter says Japan
I went to Japan solo but meeting people was a breeze with Couchsurfing & I felt so safe. This country is one of the most safest countries in the world because it is indeed safe. Transportation is accessible & easy. People are very cordial in Japan and you don’t feel people staring at you because you are a foreigner and black. It’s a win-win all around in my book.
Oh and one more! It wouldn’t be right if I didn’t suggest one of my own countries right?
Adebola of MyBreakingViews says Singapore
I think ya’ll get tired of me speaking about Singapore. It was the first country I travelled too as a student and to some degree as a solo traveller. As a student, I ended up living there with no trouble for 7 months! Honestly, Singapore has been the most welcoming country for me as a black female! I went back again this year after six years and couldn’t believe how welcoming it was. I wasn’t bothered when I walked around the city by myself.
Final Views
I hope this post gave you some confidence, clarity, and inspiration to start planning your next solo adventure. Because the truth is, Black women deserve to travel the world freely. And I hope that Black women sharing their favourite solo travel destinations allows more Black women to solo travel without fear, judgment, and without shrinking ourselves. After travelling to over 60 countries, I can honestly say that safety as a Black woman isn’t always about the destination alone.
These destinations are just the beginning. Solo travel for Black women is evolving and rightly so. As we continue to explore, we create more spaces for others to do the same.
Have you travelled solo before? Where did you feel the freest or most seen? Drop your country in the comments. Let’s keep building this list together.
Realated Post: 6 Countries Perfect for Solo Travel in Africa
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Speak soon,
MBV x
