Safest European cities for solo female travelers in 2024?

I am planning my first major solo trip to Europe for later this year and I'm feeling a bit nervous about safety as a woman traveling alone. I want to start somewhere manageable, preferably with great public transit, low street harassment, and a welcoming culture for solo diners and explorers. Which European cities have you visited where you felt completely at ease walking around even after dark?

Reykjavik, Iceland is hands down the best place for a first-time solo female traveler. I walked home alone at midnight and felt safer than I do in my own hometown. The vibe is incredibly welcoming!

Copenhagen is amazing for this! The public transit is a breeze to navigate, and nobody bats an eye if you are eating alone at a nice restaurant. I never experienced any street harassment there.

Vienna is another fantastic option. It consistently ranks as one of the most livable cities, and the metro system is super clean, safe, and efficient. Plus, if you love history, you can check out some ancient ruins and historical landmarks while you are there.

I did my first solo trip in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and it was a dream. The city center is pedestrian-only, very relaxed, and the café culture makes solo dining so natural and comfortable.

Amsterdam is great, just watch out for the bicycle traffic! Once you get the hang of walking around, the locals are super helpful, and English is spoken everywhere, which eases a lot of anxiety.

If you decide to base yourself in Central Europe, you might want to look at a Prague, Vienna, Budapest itinerary. Vienna and Budapest both felt exceptionally safe for me walking around at night.

Helsinki is wonderful and incredibly peaceful. It is very modern, punctual, and the people are respectful of personal space. I felt totally at ease there.

Dublin is very friendly and easy to navigate for English speakers. While you still need to use basic street smarts at night, the pub culture is so social that it is easy to chat with people without feeling isolated.

Zurich is super safe, though a bit on the expensive side. The trams are spotless and run late, and the street lighting is great, making night walks completely stress-free.

Munich is my top recommendation if you want to combine big city safety with easy access to nature and fairytale sights. If you are into road trips, you can even check out ideas for planning a fairytale road trip around Bavaria while you are in the area.

Stockholm is very progressive and safe for solo women. The tunnelban (metro) has art installations in almost every station, which makes waiting for trains feel like visiting a gallery!