Seattle crowned the safest destination for solo travellers in 2023

Seattle, Washington has topped a list of the safest solo travel destinations in the world, beating the likes of Tokyo, Oslo, and Dublin, according to new research.

The 2023 Solo Travel Safety Index created by Post Office Travel Insurance, identifies the top global cities in terms of safety for solitary tourists based on several metrics including: crime rate, average hostel rating, availability of medical care and WHO food safety ratings. Cities were chosen based on Time Out’s most popular locations for solo travellers.

North America ranked highly for safety with three destinations in the top 10. With numerous medical facilities, fast internet connectivity, and good-quality food the seaport city of Seattle is an attractive location for solo tourists.

Tokyo, Japan came out second in the index, a city famous for its neon-lit nightlife, towering skyscrapers, and large population. Crime rate and road traffic accidents were amongst the lowest in the index for Japan’s capital though access to medical treatment ranked poorly.

For those looking for an adventure closer to home, Copenhagen, Oslo, and Dublin all ranked within the top 10.

Solo travel has seen search interest soar by 40%[1] in the past year and travel in general is set to return in force thanks to the so-called ‘revenge tourism’[2] trend, a term coined to describe a boost in post-Covid globetrotting.

Paul Paddock Head of Travel and Protection at Post Office says:

“For many people, travelling abroad on a solo trip can be the trip of a lifetime. Whether it’s someone who has just finished university and is taking a gap year, someone taking a career break or someone wanting to celebrate an important milestone in their life. Whilst some may plan what they will do on their trip when they get to their destination, it is important to have done some research on how safe different places are beforehand”.

“The safety index guide, which ranked destinations based on information about their medical institutions, number of police officers, internet connectivity and more can be used to help plan a dream trip. Travel insurance is a must when traveling solo – our single trip travel insurance or our annual multi-trip travel insurance (if planning more than one solo adventure) provides cover in the case of illness, injury, or other mishaps on an adventure. It is important to check the terms & conditions to be sure of what a policy will cover in case of any emergency.”