Which countries are absolutely not safe for women to travel alone through?

Most really. Eastern ones are probably the worst.

I must agree with @Sophief though I was going to say ALL of them!

Mexico is okay, as long as you have a local bandito on each arm.

I found Morocco to be incredibly unsafe and uncomfortable.

Same with Bosnia, actually.

I guess I should qualify what “safe” means to me. Traveling alone in East Africa I felt safe. Walking into Tijuana with my bf in broad daylight made me uneasy. Pretty much any developed country I feel safe, and most developing countries are fine, too. I am on the adventurous side and think most countries are safe for me to travel alone through, but I have heard that in a few countries it is really a bad idea. Obviously those that are at war or that we are at war with come with their own layer of complications. I have heard that Mexico is one of those that isn’t safe.

@legenwaitforitdairy Thank you for the answers. Personal accounts are helpful.

I would say countries that are “male-centric” like certain muslim countries are probably going to make you feel the most uneasy. I’m pretty bold when it comes to traveling, but as a clear outsider in Morocco, I felt like, in Marrakech at least, that the men there were grabbing me while I was in the market.

Furthermore, in regards to Bosnia (developing countries that are still impovershed are difficult to travel in) a lot of thieves and where there are thieves, there’s usually violence. I was with a guy when I went to Bosnia, and we both felt extremely uncomfortable with the amount of people that were coming up to us asking for money, in a very aggressive way.

I would take a crack at the eastern European countries for sex trafficking crimes first then unfortunately a lot of cities in the U.S.

Any hardcore Muslim country I’d avoid. :/

^ This is what I was thinking, too…

Technacly nowhere is safe.Because there is something worng everywhere.I would go with certain muslim countrys, but if you look for it trouble is everywhere.So really certain parts of mexico/juarez, certain muslim counteries, and some developing counteries(especially these) are probably not the safest.

I don’t think a woman should travel alone in any country that is foreign to her, it’s too easy for her to just disappear. I would say especially ones where she doesn’t know the language. Even in our country all she has to do is have the wrong person/persons notice her check into a hotel by herself.

I’ve heard that certain parts of Argentina can be dangerous as well (lots of kidnappings for ransom). I don’t remember which parts though. I know there area few other countries like that as well, but I can’t remember which ones.

There are zero countries where it is safe for anyone to travel alone or with other people. You will always be at risk from the criminal element in every country over the entire globe. If you wish to travel alone in any country, you should observe the common safety rules of staying in public places, and not drawing attention to the fact that you are unprotected.

I think that the list of places where women are absolutely safe to travel alone is very small. I doubt even Vatican City is completely safe. Most US cities of any significant size would be rather unsafe outside of the high traffic business hours. The same is true for the largest Canadian cities.

It is an outrage that women cannot be safe to travel unmolested. I wish I could do something to make the world a friendlier safer place for everybody. Alas, I cannot!

@lilikoi honestly, i would have to say italy. maybe not to the point where someone would hurt you, but if you are walking down the street alone, will most definitely get harassed by men.

most of the muslim countries are actually not as bad for women as they are made out to be.

i was in Kuwait, it was totally fine (could wear pretty much whatever). Dubai/Sharja (in UAE) also fine for me and one of my female friends. Didn’t have any problems in Lebanon either. i have heard from friends that morocco was in general a little scary (but also very amazing and beautiful). when traveling in morocco and some other muslim countries you cannot get a hotel room with someone of the opposite gender unless you are married

italy and greece was where i got the most harassment (though like i said, not necessarily unsafe)

most americans aren’t in danger in europe and the middles east. i would say be careful in mexico, right now the drug wars are really bad and kidnappings are through the roof. they are kidnapping mexicans, but they will also target you if you are white, because they will assume you have money.

but if you have a plan, and you are ok with being by yourself in a foreign country, don’t be scared. be aware of your surroundings and whatnot, but the probability of something happening in general anywhere seems small.

other south american countries, it would come in handy if you speak the language (but that always comes in handy, in fact i would suggest know a few key words before going to a foreign place alone. even just “please” and “thank you” will get you a long way.

@alive Thanks and I agree with everything you said. Dunno why some people interpreted the question to be whether or not any countries are absolutely safe or just plain safe. Of course everywhere you go you are at some risk.

What about the countries in South America? I did read the comment on Argentina. What about the others? I know that they are all male “macho” countries, which would lean towards the unsafe side for single women, but there is also a very strong Catholic influence, which might lean towards the safe side. Particularly, what about Chile and Columbia? Thanks!

@ginger44 columbia in general has had some very rocky political history. it is my understanding that it can be unsafe in general (the FARC are still active and are very extremist in their tactics). i don’t know about chile.

i would like to point out that an american idea of religion is very different than pretty much everywhere else in the world. it is the difference between being religious and being culturally religious.

in general if you are white and american in south america you will be targeted by pick pockets and the like…

It all depends on you that how confident you are, how you react and interact with others. I would say Be bold, be confident.