Solo Female Travel in Spain: A Local’s Guide
8 min readThis is a guest post by Linn Haglund, a Spain-based travel blogger.
From my first time stepping foot in Spain, it captured my heart, and after basing myself in the country for 10+ years and numerous solo adventures later, it still keeps me curious to unwrap its hidden corners. If you ask me, Spain is an excellent solo travel destination whether you want to meet other travelers or prefer venturing into nature alone to connect with your inner self. Here’s a complete guide to solo female travel in Spain:
Solo Travel Safety in Spain
Spain is rated number 32 on the Global Peace Index 2023. There are not really many violent crime incidents towards tourists, they are often caused by drunk people picking up fights (tourists more than locals) and something you will see anywhere where there’s a lot of alcohol involved. Being drinking savvy is always a good rule when you travel solo, no matter the destination. In addition, I recommend not walking in dark, empty alleys, following your gut, and turning around if you get a bad feeling about people in the street. And of course, take a taxi or an Uber/Bolt home if it’s not close to where you are.
Unfortunately, pickpockets happen a lot in the bigger cities, especially in crowded and touristy areas, including train stations and major tourist sites like the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. Keep your belongings close to you and use an anti-theft purse. That being said, I’ve traveled solo to all the major cities in Spain multiple times over the years and never had any problems.
While you must keep an eye out in large cities like Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, and Valencia, going off the beaten path to smaller towns and villages, you don’t have to worry about pickpockets or crime whatsoever. I often return from solo hikes after dark, and in all my years doing so, I have never felt unsafe in any way. Speaking Spanish certainly helps, but being humble and friendly never fails.
Best places in Spain for Solo Female Travelers
1. Costa del Sol
Costa del Sol is a popular destination for sun seekers with over 320 days of sun in the year. I recommend staying in Malaga and going on day trips from there as it is easy to find organized tours to exotic places like Gibraltar and Morocco, but also different towns nearby like Mijas Pueblo, Nerja, and Ronda.
The city is also very walkable and has plenty of fun activities like boat tours, tapas tours, and museums to explore. The Moorish Alcazaba and Gibralfaro fortresses overlook the city and its beaches, and there is plenty of street art.
When looking for where to stay in Malaga, I always recommend looking for a hostel in the city center to meet other travelers. But if you prefer staying more comfortably by yourself, the hip Soho neighborhood is central and offers great holiday studios and apartments for rent. Both areas are close to the train station too.
2. Seville
Seville is worth visiting for its incredible UNESCO sites, the cathedral, Giralda Tower, and Real Alcazar. It is also a great place to experience a Flamenco show and go on a tapas tour.
3. Granada
Granada showcases the true Andalucia with the majestic Alhambra Fortress and old, cobblestoned streets through the enchanting Moorish quarter, Albaicín, and the cave houses in the Gypsy quarter, Sacromonte.
4. Cordoba City
Cordoba city is famed for its many UNESCO sites, most uniquely the Mosque-Cathedral. It is indeed incredible to walk into what is a cathedral built into one of the grandest mosques you will see. I have been to a lot of majestic mosques that are a lot shinier, but this is so old, and it is so special to be in a place where both Christians and Muslims used to worship their Gods. Cordoba is also unique with its magnificent, flower-draped patios.
All these cities can be reached on day trips from Malaga.
5. Valencia
Valencia is the third largest city in Spain, yet it is super walkable. With the City of Arts and Science in one part of town and the Old Town in another, it is a nice walk between the two parts, or you can opt for a guided cycling tour, which I really enjoyed, to get around faster and learn about the sites. There are plenty of great hostels in Valencia with activities, walking tours, and pub crawls.
6. Barcelona
While Barcelona is known for its scams and higher crime rates than other parts of Spain, I still find it to be extremely solo female travel friendly and I have never had any bad experiences there. I just think it is important to be a bit more cautious there than in other Spanish cities, keeping your valuables safe and not walking alone in empty, dark alleys.
There are great hostels organizing tours, but generally, Barcelona can be visited on guided tours all around, so you do not need to visit any of the sites alone if you don’t want to. Home to Gaudí’s masterpieces, the unfinished Sagrada Familia Basilica, the Park Güell, and the intriguing Casa Batlló and Casa Milá, it is a must-visit for any solo traveler and you should spend at least 3 days only exploring the city.
7. Madrid
If you fly in or out of Madrid, I recommend spending a day or two. My favorite part about Madrid is the vegan food scene, but I can assure you that any foodie will love eating their way through Madrid. The nightlife is also great. Personally, I am not a big shopper, but if you are, Madrid is the place to go. I also enjoyed the different hostels I stayed in there and found new friends to explore the city with every time. There are plenty of walking tours and food tours, and of course tours of the Royal Palace.
Solo Traveler Friendliness & How To Meet Others
The major cities in Spain have plenty of hostels to stay, where you will easily meet other travelers who you can go out exploring with. Some of these hostels also organize fun activities like pub crawls to make it easier for you to meet others. There are also big expat communities in coastal areas like Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca making it easy to strike up conversation with other English-speaking people. To connect, you can look for Facebook groups like “Expats Costa del Sol” and “Expats Costa Banca”. I usually always end up with new friends when heading out to a café alone. At the same time, if I feel like being alone, it is just as easy to stay anonymous when going out.
There are also many group tours you can do for specific monuments or walking tours in the cities where you can meet people. Besides, if you want more extreme adventures, organized hiking trips, canyoning, or kayaking tours are easy to find around the country.
Getting Around Spain as a Solo Traveler
The bus and train networks are great between the bigger cities and prices are reasonable. If you are on a budget, make sure to book train tickets early for a good deal. I always shop around because the buses are usually cheaper long distance, while the train might be more convenient depending on the route.
Besides public transport, I like to use BlaBlaCar. It is a ride-share app where private people who are going from one place to another can post their trips to share petrol costs and you can book a seat. This is a very affordable way to get around and it is also great for meeting locals and other travelers. You need a profile to book rides and drivers must be verified by the app. You will see what vehicle they drive, the pick-up and drop-off places, and read reviews.
I have always had exceptional experiences with BlaBlaCar both as a driver and a passenger and recommend it warmly. As a solo female traveler, I have never felt unsafe. On the contrary, the people who let strangers into their cars are usually open-minded and lovely humans. If you feel worried about getting into the car with strangers, make sure you read reviews and you can choose a female driver if that makes you feel more comfortable.The only downside with this travel option is that you must be flexible with travel times/dates.
Within the cities, Spain is very walkable. While I do recommend using public transport in Barcelona if you are going from one part of the city to the other, your best bet is to explore one area each day instead of bouncing back and forth to different attractions.
When to Go and What to Bring
Each season in Spain brings something special. In the summer, you should bring your beach wear, some cute, comfortable sandals for walking, sunglasses, a hat, and sunscreen. Temperatures are usually between 30 and 40 degrees Celsius.
In spring and fall, the temperatures are comfortable and mild in most of the country and it is the perfect time for sightseeing. In southern Spain, you can often go to the beach until late October, and sometimes until early November. So make sure to pack for it. Besides bringing light summer clothes for the daytime, bring pants and a summer/spring jacket that you can wear in the evenings. These seasons might also bring some rain, so be prepared for that and a cute umbrella is a good idea to bring alongside the sunscreen.
The winter in Spain is very different from region to region. The north and even higher altitudes of Andalucia see snow in winter so you must dress accordingly, while the coastal towns in the south usually have warm days with temperatures between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius which means you actually can enjoy an ice cream at the beach in February. This is also the best time of the year to go hiking in the lower altitude areas that get too hot in summer, so if you enjoy a good hike, make sure you bring your hiking boots.
No matter when you go, I am sure you will enjoy Spain as it is such a varied and amazing country!
About the author: Linn Haglund is an avid traveler and advocate for responsible travel. She has been based in Andalucia, Spain for over 10 years and currently travels the region full-time in a van with her fiancé and dog, Atlas. Her love for Andalucia made her start the blog Amused by Andalucia to help others navigate the region like a local.
