Picture this: a solitary woman hiking the sunburnt red cliffs in Western Australia, music softly playing in her earbuds, happy dog by her side. Maybe her name’s Sienna or Priya or Anya. I see women like her at cafes, in airport lounges, and sleeping in hostel bunks all around Perth. Here’s the kicker: More women are traveling solo now than ever before. Booking.com’s 2024 study showed 78% of women surveyed said they’d traveled alone at least once that year—something unimaginable even a decade ago. But if you’re keen to meet one, or if you are one and want to meet like-minded souls, it can still feel awkward asking, ‘How do I find a solo female traveler?’ The answer isn’t as weird as it sounds. There are hacks, tips, and some honest confusion baked into the question itself. Let’s untangle it, one step at a time.
Why Solo Female Travelers Are Everywhere (but Hard to Spot)
Start with this weird truth: a solo woman doesn’t wear a badge announcing her mission. One day she’s sitting in a library clutching a Lonely Planet guide, the next she’s on a night bus sipping instant noodles. Why are there suddenly so many solo female travelers? Freedom is a big one. According to Hostelworld, there was a 45% increase in solo female bookings from 2016 to 2021, with women now making up two-thirds of their solo reservations. Safety, in a bizarre twist, is also one reason — women often say they feel more connection and kindness from strangers, and prefer being in control. Still, they have unique pressures: worries about safety, societal judgments, and the constant decision-making. Finding each other isn’t as simple as scanning a crowd. Most women traveling solo prefer to stay off the radar; what you see is just a sliver of the reality. Unlike big Instagram groups or package tour crowds, they blend in. The world isn’t built around ‘solo woman’ signs — and honestly, wouldn’t that make things a bit creepy?
The question then is less about ‘spotting’ and more about connecting. Or, if you’re planning to travel and want to meet up with other women, it’s about learning the unspoken ways solo female travelers make friends. It’s not about scanning every cafe for a woman with a backpack — it’s about knowing where they gravitate and why. Pricey hotels rarely see them; community hostels, outdoor adventure groups, and feminist bookstores are magnets. Still, even for a social person, approaching a solo woman comes with boundaries. Sharing a safe vibe is key: a friendly chat about pets (shoutout, Lancelot) or sneakers beats any interrogation about travel plans.
Online Communities and Real-World Networks
Here’s where the true electricity is: online. Women who travel solo are mostly just one tap away these days. Facebook saw an explosion of private groups like "Solo Female Travelers" (now with 250,000+ members), "Girls LOVE Travel" (over a million women!), and dozens of region-specific forums. Reddit threads like r/solotravel or r/travelpartners aren’t just random chatter—they’re filled with daily posts from women looking to connect, exchange tips, warn about scams, or find temporary travel companions.
But not all digital communities are equal. Instagram and TikTok? They’re inspirational, but rarely where real friendships start. It’s those semi-moderated groups and slack channels where the real stuff goes down. See a woman post, "Heading to Spain this August," and within hours, she’ll have offers for coffee meetups, rideshares, and hostel recommendations from other women. It isn’t just idle talk—last year, Transitions Abroad reported that women travelers who join online groups are 60% more likely to meet new friends on their trips compared to those who don’t network digitally. One Australian solo traveler I know said she made a dozen friends via WhatsApp groups in just three weeks on the Albanian coast.
Let’s not gloss over dating apps. Yes, Bumble BFF and even Tinder have found a weird niche among women looking for travel buddies. Safety checks and common sense still apply—video calls before meeting up are a must (ask about their favorite airport snack; the weirder the answer, the better your odds they’re legit). Several female-only travel apps have popped up: Tourlina and Nomad Her screen users and encourage women to connect based on itinerary, not just location. The upshot? If you want to find solo travelers like yourself, tech is your best ally. You’ll have more options, even on short notice, than the old fashioned ‘anyone in the hostel common room?’ method.
Finding Solo Female Travelers On the Road
You’re already out there: airports, train stations, hiking trails, and tiny-town museums. The best places to spot and meet other solo women aren’t always obvious, but over the years, some patterns have cropped up. Hostel lobbies are classic klutz magnets—watch for women chilling with journals or fiddling with power banks (extra points if they’re swapping SIM cards for fun). Language exchanges and book swaps are gold. Less obvious but awesome: women-only hiking or walking tours. In Perth, the group “Girls Trekking Adventures” fills every sunrise slot. There’s also She Travels in Queensland and countless ‘ladies only’ Airbnb Experiences abroad.
Wellness retreats get a surprising number of solo women, especially ones focused on yoga, surfing, or painting. Museum tours are sneaky, too. Next time you’re on a group tour of some dusty ancient ruins, notice the several lone women with intense notetaking faces: chances are, they’re after more than just photos for Instagram. Cooking classes, wine tastings, or bicycle meetups—they’re low-pressure and naturally weed out party-hard crowds. Bonus: the cooking instructor will almost always introduce folks around the table.
Worried about overstepping boundaries? Stick to classic openers: “I love your shoes,” or, “Are you backpacking too?” If you’re a woman yourself, you’ll usually get a smile and maybe an invite to join. If not, keep it light (no prying) and respect a polite no. Some solo female travelers are fiercely independent for a reason.
| Location | Likelihood of Meeting Solo Female Travelers | Best Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Hostel common rooms | Very High | Friendly greeting, ask about travel plans |
| City walking tours | High | Comment on the sights, ask for coffee suggestion |
| Women-only workshops | Medium-High | Share experiences, join small group chats |
| Remote hiking trails | Low unless popular trail | Smile, keep conversation brief unless invited |
| Airport lounges | Medium | Offer charger, start with travel anecdotes |
But the real secret? It’s attitude. Women who travel solo are usually open, adaptable, but quick to feel out unsafe vibes. Bringing your own authenticity—maybe a story about your dog, your awkward attempt at a local language, or your go-to travel meal (mine’s soggy instant noodles)—goes further than any ice-breaker app.
Tips to Connect Safely and Support Each Other
Safety is the backbone of solo travel, and women take it seriously. Not in a ‘be afraid’ sense, but more ‘let’s be careful and clever.’ Most solo female travelers plan their days with an abundance of caution and backup strategies. According to a WYSE Travel Confederation report, 75% of solo women set up communication plans (like WhatsApp location sharing) with family or friends before big travel days. Some keep decoy wallets or dummy phones. Others avoid taxis after midnight or pick hostels near busy streets—not paranoia, just smart decisions.
If you’re hoping to meet up, always suggest a public place (cafe, museum, group tour) for the first encounter. Be open but don’t be pushy. Share small safety rituals upfront: “I always text my mate before setting off,” or, “I’m a bit cautious, hope that’s cool!” Empathy goes a long way—join the group if invited, but don’t tag along unasked. If you’re a solo female yourself, Google reviews and community safety forums can help vet locations or hostels. Tools like GeoSure and TripWhistle are made for solo travel; both share real-time data on safe areas and let you call local emergency services at the tap of a screen.
Supporting each other isn’t always about swapping numbers or sharing an Uber. Sometimes it means posting honest reviews, reporting harassment, or boosting women-owned businesses along your route. If you come across someone looking lost or frazzled, a simple, “Need a hand?” is worth more than any digital app. Cool fact: A 2023 Solo Traveler survey found that 67% of solo women ended up befriending at least one other female traveler organically on the road. Forget what you see in movies—real kindness and shared adventure are what female friendships on the road are made of.
- Start with online communities. The bigger, the better—join multiple groups.
- Be specific in your posts (“in Perth next week, seeking vegan brunch buddy”), not just “anyone here?”
- Use video calls as a pre-meeting filter for safety and vibes.
- Trust gut instincts. One strange feeling is enough to walk away from a meetup or a plan.
- Share your journey—tips, reviews, safety updates help the whole network.
- Remember hostels, workshops, and casual social events pile on the opportunities.
Traveling solo, for women, is a phenomenon that’s reshaping the way we see the world, city by city, border by border. The old stereotypes just don’t hold true anymore. Whether you’re looking for adventure or companionship, or puzzling over how to meet fascinating women on the move, it turns out—there are way more of us out there than you’d ever guess. Start a conversation. Share a tip. The most surprising part? You might just make a friend for life, even if you only meet once on the same side of the planet.