Europe

The Best Place You'll Ever Travel As A Woman

By , February 19th, 2014

It’s always great to take a vacation with family or friends, but traveling as a woman alone is a liberating experience. We’re happy to see that more women everywhere are living out their own travel adventures — no travel companion needed. We’ve selected Iceland as the best destination for independent women travelers based on: safety, activities, culture and relaxation. So go ahead and book that trip you’ve always dreamed of, and feel free to sleep past noon and not visit one single museum if you don’t feel like it.

Why You Need To Go To Iceland … Now

Quiet sheep
Photo by Jonathan

1. Safety

Iceland is a mixture of nature, culture, adventure and relaxation. It’s still considered an aberrant destination (not for long though, so get going!), but it’s also extremely safe. Safety is the main deciding factor here, if you’re an adventurous woman traveling alone, Iceland is a place where you don’t have to worry about sketchy characters trying to take advantage of you. For all you skeptics out there, Iceland is ranked number one out of 162 countries by the Vision of Humanity’s Global Peace Indicator (GPI). In terms of violent crime, Iceland ranks a measly 1 on a 5-point scale.

2. Nature Adventure

What are women interested in when they travel alone? Actually it doesn’t matter because Iceland has it all. Hiking, whale watching, horseback riding, biking, river rafting, snowmobiling a glacier — pretty much whatever tickles your fancy. Good news is that in both summer and winter – activities are in outstanding supply. Explore the Golden Circle (185 mile route from Reykjavik towards inland and back) where you can see the Gullfoss (golden) Waterfall, and the hot spring zone surrounding the geyser (Geysir).

Iceland ponies
Photo by winnie_pix CC BY

Click here for the Best Hotels To See The Northern Lights

3. Culture

Sightseeing tours, museums, shows, festivals and numerous cafes are just a few of the cultural aspects you can enjoy in Iceland. The Vikingaheimar Museum in Njarðvík, Reykjanesbær, Iceland gives you a full immersion experience into the world of Viking ships that voyaged 1000 years ago. You can see ship replicas and learn about Vikings in general. For a more laid-back option that is a little less museum and a bit more experience, try the Árbær Open Air Museum located a bit outside the center of Reykjavik. The museum is basically a little village and farm replica of old time Iceland. The capital is filled with cute little cafes (Iceland is freezing in winter and java pit stops are a must!). This is great for a woman traveling alone because you can easily sit alone in a cafe and stare lustfully out the window or bury yourself in a book. Cafes are a great way to mingle without actually degrading yourself to full-on mingling.

Cafe Culture in Iceland
Photo by vestman CC BY

4. Relax

The star of Iceland is the Blue Lagoon. This is probably what you think of when you picture Iceland. The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa located about 40 minutes outside Reykjavik. The silica and sulphur in these scalding crystal waters work magic on the skin. Iceland is a dream for solo women traveling, not just for the reasons we just listed, but also for the friendliness of the people. In a 2013 report by the Icelandic Tourism Board, visitors to Iceland ranked their most memorable experiences in this order; 1-Blue Lagoon, 2-Nature, 3-Food, 4-People/hospitality.

Iceland Blue Lagoon
Photo by Amy Elkins

There are amazing destinations across the world that are great spots for women traveling alone. But Iceland offers an array of experiences under a secure safety net. It’s easy to navigate and it’s not difficult to find English speakers. The only downfall is that it can be a bit pricey. Just make sure to plan in advance to find the most affordable possibilities.

Where To Sleep

Rey Apartments Hotel 

  • Modern apartments with stylish decor
  • Close to major attractions, shopping, restaurants and bars in Reykjavik
  • Free WiFi
  • Private kitchen
  • Private bathroom

Get more info about this bright, comfortable and friendly hotel. *Current deals from $109.

 

*Prices and availability subject to change