Solo Female Travelers
Spain is an incredible destination for solo female travelers.
Read our top reasons why.
Originally published March 17, 2021. Updated September 25th 2023
All images are courtesy of the Spain Less Traveled team, unless otherwise stated.
Spain is a top destination for women traveling alone. Talk to just about any solo female traveler who has visited Spain and she will rave about it.
From the stunning architecture and art to the beautiful beaches and landscapes, Spain really does have it all for worldly and smart solo female travelers. And oh the food and the wine!
In this guide, we break down some of the best spots for solo female travelers to visit as well as answer some FAQs about traveling alone in Spain
Spain Less Traveled understands the needs of solo female travelers
Here at Spain Less Traveled we are passionate about solo female travel. We’ve helped many women traveling alone plan their unique bucket list trips to Spain.
We cater to independent travelers through a variety of personalized travel services that are perfect for women traveling to Spain alone.
Our clients are independent travelers who want to travel around Spain without a full-time tour guide or a tour group of strangers. We are not an organized tour company. (No single supplements here!)
We love working with solo female travelers and genuinely understand their needs. We’d love to help you plan your perfect Spain travel itinerary too!
(Fun fact: our founder, Karen, is a lifelong solo female traveler herself!)
And be sure to check out our reasons why you should use a travel advisor to plan your trip to Spain too!
Frequently asked questions about Spain for solo female travelers
Is Spain safe for solo female travelers?
Spain is one of the safer countries for women traveling alone.
Yes. Spain is overall one of the safest countries for solo female travelers.
Violent crime, especially against travelers, is very low. People are very friendly, and the locals tend to stay out very late at night, so there are always people around.
Of course, as anywhere in the world, always take proper precautions, keep a close eye on your valuables (pickpocketing is common in some of the larger cities such as Barcelona and Madrid).
A few other things to be aware of (these apply anywhere in the world):
Never ever leave your phone on the table while you are dining. Even if you have an eye on it.
Don’t be quick to give out the information that you are a solo traveler
Take a taxi back to your accommodations late at night, especially if you are alone.
Cross body bags are best.
Always let a trusted friend or family member know your travel plans.
But yes, on the whole Spain is safe for solo female travelers.
Is Spain friendly to solo female travelers?
Spain offers a warm, fun, and welcoming environment for travelers
¡Claro que sí! (Of course!)
Spain is one of the friendliest countries in the world. Spaniards are passionate and full of life.
People are warm and welcoming too. In smaller cities and towns it is not uncommon for everyone to greet you with a friendly “buenas.”
Making friends is not hard, especially if you have a grasp of the language. In fact, locals truly appreciate travelers who make an attempt to speak Spanish (and Catalan in Barcelona), even if you are just trying!
The kindness of the Spanish people is why so many travelers love Spain.
Is Spain budget-friendly for solo female travelers?
Yes!
Compared to many other Western European countries, Spain is affordable.
Many bars and restaurants have a menu del día, or menu of the day, that is a budget-friendly option, especially at lunchtime. And tapas bars, especially in Andalucía, are world-known for their free tapas.
Even some of the top foodie spots in the world such as Basque Country have world-class food at a lower than expected price.
Oh, and the wine is easy on the wallet too.
(For more details about the amazing food and wine you can eat and drink in Spain, keep reading…)
As a solo female traveler, you do not need to cram into a shared room at a hostel to travel on a tight budget.
There are private room options for all travel budgets and comfort levels, so no more being woken up by snorers or feeling unsafe in a shared dorm room.
The solo female traveler who wants privacy can find it at a good price.
And if you want to splurge and sleep in an old castle or fortress, you can do that!
If you’re a solo female traveler who loves luxury, Spain has exclusive and fabulous options for you too!
Spain has a network of 90 Paradores, luxurious hotels often housed in historical buildings. Totally worth the extra cash!
Is Spain easy for solo female travelers to get around?
It is easy to use Spain’s comprehensive network of transportation to get around
In most cases, is super easy to get around Spain. Public transportation is efficient, easy to use, generally on-time, safe, and comfortable.
The larger cities are incredibly well inner-connected with a network of trains and buses.
Getting around the cities is inexpensive and easy. Several cities in Spain have comprehensive metro systems (Madrid and Barcelona having the largest). And every Spanish city, even the smaller regional capitals,
There are regular domestic flights and many that connect the Canary Islands to the mainland. If you are heading to the Balearics, regular ferries depart from several cities on the east coast. And many domestic flights a day from several airports direct to the islands!
If you want to get off the beaten path for a few days, it’s highly recommended to rent a car. Outside of the cities and medieval town centers, driving in Spain is no big deal.
For example, those who want to explore the off-the-beaten areas of the north including Asturias, Cantabria, and Galicia will find having access to a car very useful.
And for those who want to discover some of the hidden gems in Andalucía, Spain’s beautiful south away from the crowds, it’s a good idea to have your own wheels too.
Protip: make sure you have an international driver’s permit if you are visiting Spain from a non-EU country and plan on renting a car as it is now the law in Spain. This must be acquired before you leave your home country.
You can read about the other documentation you’ll need to prepare before leaving home in our Spain travel checklist.
Nothing soothes the soul like a solo Spanish road trip!
What are some of the top reasons why solo female travelers love Spain?
The incredible art and architecture of Spain
Everywhere you turn Spain has beautiful buildings and amazing art
Spain has some of the most incredible art and architecture in the world!
With so many architectural styles, Spain is home to many monumental sites, several being UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
From the Moorish masterpiece, the Alhambra in Granada to Anton Gaudí, unbelievable (and unfinished to this day) Modernista La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona to the largest gothic cathedral in the world in Seville, architecture lovers always put Spain at the top of their travel bucket lists! And that’s just a small taste of the architectural offerings of Spain!
Spain also has several world-class art museums. The Prado, in a former palace, in Madrid has the largest collection of Spanish art in the world, including many renowned paintings by Francisco Goya and Diego Velázquez. Nearby Museo Reina Sofía hosts a collection of more modern Spanish art, including a large number of paintings by Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí.
There are so many other museums and art galleries in Madrid as well as in cities and towns all over Spain. This is a country with a rich artistic heritage and art aficionados rave about Spain!
Spain is also one of the number one destinations in the world for street art.
Spain has a beach for everyone!
Who doesn’t love the beach?
Spain surrounded almost entirely by water, Spain has a coastline, a beach, and a beach town for every type of ocean lover.
With coastline on the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Cantabrian Sea (Bay of Biscay), the coastal scenery and types of beaches vary greatly.
The Costa de la Luz on the Atlantic Ocean, which includes Tarifa, attracts kite surfers to its windy beaches. This part of Cádiz province has a lot of nice little beach towns that don’t see nearly as much tourism as other parts of Spain.
And surf’s up in the rocky waters up north, in Basque Country. And more off the beaten path Galicia, Asturias, and Cantabria all are stunning, with wild beaches and beautiful seaside fishing villages.
And of course, Spain’s long Mediterranean Coastline stretches from the French border all the way down to the tip of Europe, just a few miles from the African continent. Yes, there are the infamous places that attract mass tourism, but there are also so many wonderful coastal gems, know where to look. Altea south of Valencia and Nerja in Málaga province are two examples of beach towns on the Mediterannean Coast that kept their Spanish charm.
Cabo de Gata is in Almería province and is Spain’s largest protected coastline. With wild beaches and very little development, this is a favorite coastal area of many Spaniards.
For many solo female travelers, sunbathing topless (or even nude) is really freeing. There are no laws against it, and many women go topless at the beach. Spain also has several nudist beaches for those who want to bear it all.
Most women report being quite comfortable since in Spain this is normalized and not sexualized. And no one cares if you don’t have a “bikini body.” You will see women of all ages, shapes, and sizes!
And the great news is, you don’t even need to necessarily need to go to a beach (only) town or a remote coastal area to access some of Spain’s beaches. Cities such as Málaga, Valencia, and Cádiz and more have beaches right in their city limits!
Spain is truly great for solo female travelers seeking some beach time and coastal vibes.
Solo female travelers seeing nature can enjoy Spain’s abundant beauty
Adventurous solo female travelers love Spain for its natural beauty
Are you an adventurous solo female traveler who loves the great outdoors? Spain is incredibly beautiful, physically, and there are so many opportunities for travelers to get out into nature and enjoy it!
Spain has one of the most famous walking trails in the world, the Camino de Santiago. With the most popular route stretching all across the north, travelers can literally walk across Spain. The Camino is very popular with solo female travelers and many end up with new best friends by the time they reach Santiago de Compostela.
There are natural and beautiful places all across the country. From just about any city or town, there is easy access to nature. Even in Madrid, the Sierra de Madrid just north of the city center has beautiful hiking in the mountains (and snow sports in the winter!)
Spain has world-class cycling too. Girona is the de facto capital of gravel biking. But you can find wonderful road, mountain, and gravel routes all over the country. Andalucía, the Costa Blanca, the Balearic Islands, and Cataluña are all popular destinations with cyclists. These areas also offer many beautiful hiking trails with varying levels of difficulty.
There’s also rock climbing, kayaking, river rafting, and even more things to keep the adventurous solo female traveler active and busy in Spain!
Spain’s amazing festivals are enticing to Solo Female Travelers
Karen, the founder of Spain Less Traveled enjoys Córdoba’s la Fiesta de los Patios
Unfortunately, because of a chain of events at San Fermín, the running of the bulls, Spanish festivals do not always have the greatest reputation with solo female travelers.
That is such a shame because Spain has some awesome festivals to highlight Spain’s unique history, cultures, food, and beauty. And many of these are great for women traveling alone!
Every May the city of Córdoba hosts its beautiful la Fiesta de los Patios. This is such a special time to be in Córdoba because private homeowners open their stunning gardens/internal courtyards (patios) for public viewing and a contest. The entire city has a wonderful spring-like air, with flamenco performances in the street and the smell of the azahar (orange tree flowers) in bloom. It is by far our favorite Spanish festival here at Spain Less Traveled, and we always encourage our friends and clients to attend!
Nearby, Seville hosts its Feira de Abril, where classic Andaluz culture is on display. Even if you can not get into a caseta (private party tent), it’s an incredible time to be in Seville to see the outfits and pageantry. And for those who love flamenco (and gazpacho!), Morón de la Frontera, in Seville province hosts an annual festival to combine both.
Las Fallas in Valencia is one of the most popular festivals in the entire world. Admire the great art which will all be burned on the final night in a rowdy, fun, night-long street party covering the entire center of Valencia.
There are so many more. Just about every town and every region has its unique festivals. Try to plan your trip around one of them! These give solo female travelers the perfect opportunity to experience Spanish culture and meet others too!
Join us in Córdoba Spain May 7th-9th 2024 to celebrate la Fiesta de los Patios together! Solo travelers are more than welcome and there is no single supplement! Learn more about this unique experience in Córdoba.
And finally… Spain has a world-class gastronomical scene perfect for the solo female traveler
Salud! Spain is the perfect destination for solo female travelers who are foodies!
Hate dining out alone and asking for a table for one? Spain’s tapas bars are perfect for solo travelers. Just elbow yourself up to the bar. Grab a beer and eat Spanish tapas standing up. And tapas bars are great for making new friends too! No more awkwardness of dining out alone!
But of course, many solo female travelers love dining out alone. And with so many restaurants at all ends of the spectrum, including Michelin-starred restaurants as well family-owned places serving the best local cuisine for generations, enjoying a meal out in Spain is a true pleasure.
And the gastronomy tradition of Spain is rich! Foodies will mostly agree that Basque country is not only on the Spain bucket list but is one of the top spots in the world to eat.
Spain produces some of the world’s best cheese, ham (jamón), seafood, olive oil, and more. And these ingredients can be found in regional specialties all across the country.
And then there’s the wine! From the famous wines from La Rioja, Spain’s premier wine region, to the sweet and sultry Jerez (sherry) from Andalucía and way too many others to name, Spain really produces wine for every taste.
Foodie solo female travelers delight in eating and drinking the best food in Spain without having to compromise or argue with someone else on where to eat. The only problem? There are literally a million choices!
So many more reasons why Spain is the spot for solo female travelers….
Those are just a few of the reasons why Spain is a wonderful destination for solo female travelers.
Tempted to see it for yourself? We hope that this fueled your Spain travel wanderlust and you are inspired to visit Spain!
The hard part is deciding where to go
But don’t worry, we got you covered!
We’ve broken down the top three destinations in Spain based on your interests.
A few resources for solo female travelers in Spain
Whether you’re a seasoned solo female traveler, or someone looking to get her solo travel feet wet, Spain is a wonderful choice for a destination.
Here are a few resources for solo female travelers in Spain. The emergency number in Spain is 112. Make sure you have that programmed in your phone in case anything comes up.
Most cities also have women’s centers or foundations. In the event of an emergency, you can contact one of them. Though there might not always be an English-speaker available, they are dedicated to helping women.
The Solo Female Traveler Network is also a great online resource to share stories and ask questions in a safe women-only space. A network of over 400,000 solo female travelers, they can offer many tips specific to women traveling alone.
And for Spain-specific travel tips and smart advice, as well as to share your Spain travel stories, be sure you are part of Travel Spain! community on Facebook. A community of Spain travel lovers and dreamers, it’s a great place to exchange travel tips and get destination-specific information about beautiful Spain!
Check out our other general in depth guides!
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