Lahlah

Hey there!
I'm traveling alone and I'd like to go to Europe in late June. Originally I wanted to visit Florence and Tuscany but I've read a bit on the men being a little more aggressive there than other countries. As this is my first time traveling solo I want to focus more on the sites than on the attention being given to me. So now I'm not sure. Any recommendations on a city in Europe that is open and safe for a virgin-solo traveler getting her toes wet?

Thanks!

sparkchaser

London. No language barrier and you're unlikely to draw the "wrong" sort of attention from the signals you "normally" send out.

No matter where you go, be street-smart and don't do anything foolish like walking about alone at night. That's universal advice.

thursdaysd

Not sure where you read that, but I would say it is very out of date. I have a hard time thinking of a city in Europe that is not safe for a solo woman traveler (provided she doesn't wander down dark, empty alleys at 3:00 in the morning after drinking too much). You will get more answers if you post this on the Europe board.

sparkchaser's advice is extreme, depending on the definition of night. I certainly walk arounf cities on my own after dinner.

sparkchaser

Aye. My advice was extreme but OP didn't exactly give enough information for a better answer.

janisj

I'd re-post over on the Europe forum -- you'll get a LOT more input/suggestions/perspective

And re walking alone at night - if one is in London or Paris or Rome or Barcelona . . . If one is alone and doesn't go out alone at night they will mis a WHOLE heck of a lot. Absolutely no reason at all to hunker down in your hotel in the evenings. No one else will be . . . .

suze

I have had lovely solo trips in Venice, Amsterdam, and Paris. I think any major city is OK with a little bit of common sense. I think the statement about Italian men is a bit of a stereotype that you may or may not find to be true.

suze

<don't do anything foolish like walking about alone at night. That's universal advice.>

Wrong! That is NOT "universal advice". And I'm guessing not written by anyone who travels solo themselves. I can't imagine going to Europe and sitting in my hotel room because of fear every night. That's truly ridiculous.

november_moon

I think that rather than advice not to wander around alone at night, thurday put it better with "provided she doesn't wander down dark, empty alleys at 3:00 in the morning after drinking too much".

bamafam

I've traveled solo in London, Luzern and Munich and felt perfectly comfortable in all of them.

suze

Well sure, you probably shouldn't wander around drunk and alone in the daytime either!!

samoca

I spent a month in Florence in 2009 (and traveled around Tuscany as well), and I'd have to say I felt a lot safer than at home in LA. Of course, being over 60, I might actually welcome a little male attention LOL! I did go to Florence in my 20s and spent a few days alone there and got male attention 'cause I had very long hair and young Italian girls didn't look like that in 1971. But they did things like follow me around and pretend to be Frank Sinatra--pretty funny and perfectly harmless I thought.

I have to say that on my last trip in '09, I saw lots of young girls with beautiful long wavy hair all over Florence and the men barely turned their heads, so I would say times have changed. Anyway, I think a woman alone feels safer in Europe in general than in a comparable US city. Florence is a good choice for solo travel--it is extremely walkable and there are always people around. I felt fine eating in restaurants there too, and there are lots of options at all price ranges. Buon viaggio (happy travels).

samoca

I spent a month in Florence in 2009 (and traveled around Tuscany as well), and I'd have to say I felt a lot safer than at home in LA. Of course, being over 60, I might actually welcome a little male attention LOL! I did go to Florence in my 20s and spent a few days alone there and got male attention 'cause I had very long hair and young Italian girls didn't look like that in 1971. But they did things like follow me around and pretend to be Frank Sinatra--pretty funny and perfectly harmless I thought.

I have to say that on my last trip in '09, I saw lots of young girls with beautiful long wavy hair all over Florence and the men barely turned their heads, so I would say times have changed. Anyway, I think a woman alone feels safer in Europe in general than in a comparable US city. Florence is a good choice for solo travel--it is extremely walkable and there are always people around. I felt fine eating in restaurants there too, and there are lots of options at all price ranges. Buon viaggio (happy travels).

annw

I've traveled solo to Ireland, UK, and Italy. Only time I had trouble was on a trip with DH who was 10 feet away when punks grabbed a chain off my neck outside the Brussels south train station.

I think Ireland and UK are great first-time-solo destinations, but if you yearn for Italy, go for it. Venice, for example, is a great place to wander solo, including evenings. towns in Tuscany or Umbria are also great spots. Perugia, Assisi, Ravenna are all places with wonderful strolling and people watching. As a solo diner I've always been well taken care of in the restaurants, like a sister or auntie.

Common sense applies anywhere -- avoiding dodgy areas (train station areas, etc.) especially at night is useful advice everywhere.