Jordan is safe, but you might get a lot of hassle in Egypt.
Egypt stands out - a lot more hassle with sales on the streets. If you prefer the same language, the UK or Ireland is good, but there’s not much language barrier in the Netherlands or Belgium, and France is a bit more varied, but not concerning. The main question is, what do you enjoy and where do you want to go?
The Netherlands, Belgium, and France feel safe from my experiences. Belgium is pretty underrated.
Take a shorter practice trip in the states.
Consider a long weekend of 2 to 3 days by yourself to a nearby destination. It’ll give you insight into the types of places you’ll like and want to visit next.
Scotland is a great starting point.
As a female solo traveler, I’ve been to the Netherlands, Belgium, France, London, Scotland, and Ireland, and I felt safe everywhere. I can’t speak for Egypt or Jordan, but I plan to visit those places with a tour group or companions because Egypt can be overwhelming, and there are many people looking to scam tourists.
I did Ireland, London, and France for my very first solo trip abroad, and I loved it. I picked those places because I wanted to feel safe and minimize language and cultural barriers as an American. It boosted my confidence for future trips. Since then, I’ve taken many solo trips, primarily sticking to Western and Central Europe, but plan to explore other regions soon. Enjoy!
I’ve been to all those places. I’d advise against Egypt due to the harassment. Jordan is fine, but I’d hold off until the conflict with Israel and Palestine gets resolved. Here’s my ranking:
- Scotland (Edinburgh and Glasgow) - 2 days in each city
- Ireland (Dublin) - 2 days
- London/France - Take the Eurostar from London to Paris, spend 2 days in both
- Netherlands and Belgium.
I’d really avoid Egypt unless you’re with a tour group.
April in Scotland doesn’t feel like summer. I visited in April, and it snowed, but we were prepared, and it turned out beautiful with amazing hikes.
I have been to all those places (except London) and find all the European options pretty easy and very safe. Egypt is trickier since most people there speak only Arabic. While they do have a tourist infrastructure, it’s likely your trip would still depend on a guide. Jordan is also nice, but I felt better knowing I was with a guided group. Doing it all solo might be a bit much.
So, an English-speaking trip would likely be the smoothest, the mainland European trip will expose you to diverse cultures and languages, while the Arabic one would be a no-go without an Arabic-speaking guide from the region.
Consider Costa Rica.
They’re generally safe except for Egypt, maybe Jordan as well.
This is fantastic. Start small and safe while being thorough. Belgium is a great choice, dividing your time between Brussels, Brugge, Ghent, and Antwerp. Each city is fascinating. Do your research, and set up a couple of day trips, maybe to the coast or some countryside. Use the trains! They are wonderful. You’ll learn to manage your budget and time for your next adventure. Exciting for you!
You should definitely think about visiting Nepal!