Is Vancouver Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

Vancouver is generally a safe city for solo female travelers. It's a city with a low crime rate and locals are friendly and helpful. Nonetheless, like traveling anywhere, it's important to maintain awareness of your surroundings, especially when out late at night or in less crowded places. Streets are well-lit and public transportation, including trains, buses, and taxis, is widely available and reliable. As always, employing basic safety precautions such as not displaying expensive belongings, being aware of personal possessions, and keeping to populated areas in the evenings is recommended. The city is well-policed and emergencies are responded to swiftly. Don't hesitate to ask locals for help, they are typically more than willing to assist or provide directions.

Safety rating

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How safe is Vancouver?

Safety at night:

Safety at night:Safe

Vancouver is generally a safe city, even at night. There's adequate lighting and police presence, especially in tourist-centric areas. However, like any city, it's important to be aware of your surroundings, avoid less populated areas or outside the central district during late hours. Night public transportation is also reliable and considered safe, but taxis and rideshares are always an option for extra safety.
Public transportation:

Public transportation:Safe

Public transportation in Vancouver is generally quite safe. The TransLink system which includes buses, SkyTrain, and SeaBus, is well-maintained and frequently monitored. Staff members and security are typically available, especially during peak hours. Like any big city, it is always important to stay aware of your surroundings, especially if traveling late at night. However, in general, instances of crime or harassment are relatively low, and many locals and tourists alike use the system daily without issue.
Street harassment:

Street harassment:Low

Vancouver is generally regarded as a safe city, especially for solo female travelers. Street harassment isn't a primary concern as the city and its people are known for being respectful and friendly; however, just like any major city, it isn't entirely exempted. It's recommended, as always, to practice standard precautionary measures just to ensure safety at all times.
Petty crimes:

Petty crimes:Low

Vancouver is generally safe with a low occurrence of petty crimes like pick-pocketing and bag snatching. However, always be aware of your surroundings, especially in crowded tourist spots and public transport. It's always worth taking standard precautions to protect your belongings and personal safety.

Is Vancouver worth visiting?

Overall rating

4 /5

based on 10 experiences from female travelers

Things to do

3.9/5

Safety

4/5

Food

3.5/5

Budget-friendly

3.3/5

Solo travel

I had a great time in Vancouver. Scenic view, great food scenary and culture richness. I felt safe using public transportation and mostly all the time, just need to avoid some areas in downtown. I’m looming forward to showing it around.

Posted: November 9, 2024
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Aiman

Aiman

Canada

Solo travel

Vancouver has a very safe feel, a great transportation system with skytrains and buses throughout most of the Metro Vancouver area. There are many cheap attractions like the countless beaches the city has including Wreck Beach, Jericho Beach, English Bay, Ambleside etc. There are countless trails, areas for camping close by like Whistler and Squamish, a lot of natural beauty.

Posted: July 18, 2024Experienced: June, 2023
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Karen

Karen

Mexico

Solo travel

Vancouver is a very beautiful city. I would recommend you to go to Stanley park and rent a bike, make sure you do it early because they close at 5pm approximately. Go and get some souvenirs but they’re a bit expensive. Try to use Sky train, there are different stations, you can always check on Google Maps to help you. Just set your destination, also with tell you to take the bus that is really useful. You can pay with your credit or debit card. People the is very helpful when your lost so don’t hesitate when asking for help. If you need some clothing, depends the season, go to any Thrift store, you’ll love them, if you want to save money.

Posted: July 6, 2024
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eva

eva

Canada

Solo travel

Safety wasn't as good since I was staying at people's homes. It's very expensive here for everything. I mostly used buses, trains, and hitchhiking. There are many things to do, but most require a car. I went to Vancouver Island and to Vancouver so far.

Posted: May 31, 2024
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Emma

Emma

Malaysia

Solo travel

Vancouver is such a cool city to visit, with great access to the outdoors and amazing options for food. In total I spent about a week here in summer 2023, and am heading back to Canada to see more of the beautiful country. I stayed in a hostel in a female only dorm. The hostel was super friendly and I felt very safe. A word of warning, there is a significant drugs problem in the city among homeless people, which can be quite shocking, though I never felt threatened or unsafe during my time there, and I was recommended by friends a particular road/area to avoid. I walked around a lot of the city during the day and evening, really loved Kitsilano for the proximity to the beach and great places to eat and drink - The Cider House, Lucky Taco and Nuba. Stanley Park is a beautiful area to walk or cycle around, I walked from my hostel to Stanley Park, stopping at Greenhorn Cafe on the way (amazing breakfast!) and then walked the 10km around the seawall in beautiful sunny weather. As part of an organised free trip with my hostel, we went and hiked around Lynn Canyon Park, which was great to have a big group of hiking buddies for the day, and the local guides made it super easy showing us how to get there using public transport, and stopping off on the way for breakfast, lunch and ice cream. Such a fab day! While in Canada, I also made it over to Toronto and Niagara Falls, and am heading back again this summer to see more of the country, around Toronto again and up to the Banff and Jasper area for more hiking. Highly recommend visiting Canada!

Posted: April 28, 2024Experienced: June, 2023
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Cynthia

Cynthia

Canada

Solo travel

I walked around most of the time. But the transportation is convenient here, bus, sky train, sea bus and some share bikes. It’s quite easy to get some tourists spots then. But for the other places which are far away from downtown, need a car will be much more easier.

Posted: April 22, 2024
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Em

Em

New Zealand

Group travel

Vancouver is awesome. We spent a week here, and I cannot recommend it enough. The skytrain makes travelling inexpensive, and there is do much to do. From the aquarium to the totem poles and even just walking around the city- its a beautiful spot suitable for anyone!

Posted: February 5, 2024Experienced: May, 2023
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Solo travel

Can’t imagine a more perfect place to do my first solo trip as a young female, felt so safe walking around on my own even at night (which I rarely ever feel safe doing) and the transit there is spectacular!

Posted: January 6, 2024
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Solo travel

Vancouver is very safe. I stayed at Samesun, which is located in the heart of downtown. Their public transportation is great, and getting out of the city for hikes was easy. Granville Market was fun and I recommend a whale-watching tour.

Posted: July 25, 2023
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Solo travel

I was there alone and had the best time. I stayed in an Airbnb right next to Commercial Drive, which was great because there were numerous restaurants and a Skytrain stop nearby. I took a walking tour of downtown and a bike ride through Stanley Park. I went to Grouse Mountain and Capilano Suspension Bridge, both of which were very cool. I also really enjoyed walking around Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver. Granville Island was also charming, and the ferry ride there was cool.

Posted: June 22, 2023
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Is Vancouver safe for women?

Safety index

3.9 /5

Based on 21 local experiences

Crime index

2 /5

Based on 21 local experiences

It’s a safe city overall and very walkable. It’s better to avoid east hasting st area crossing with main st. The city has been suffering with the increase of social problems as large number of homeless and drug addicts.

Posted: November 9, 2024
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Angelina

Angelina

Vancouver is generally safe for women travelers, with well-lit streets and low crime in central areas. Exercise caution in isolated areas at night, and use public transit or rideshares for added safety.

Posted: November 4, 2024
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Meet locals in Vancouver

Michelle

Michelle

About Me

I'm Michelle, a Brazilian-Canadian living in Vancouver with my husband since 2016. I used to work in finance, but lately, I've been trying to rediscover myself after feeling a bit lost this past year. I'm hoping to move to a sunnier place as soon as I can, but since that's not possible right now, I'm planning to take a month off to travel solo, explore new countries, and make some new friends.

Speaking

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TARA

TARA

About Me

My name is Tara. I love traveling. I live in vancouver. I work for the hospitality industry. I love to help anyone come vancouver.

Speaking

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Stay with locals in Vancouver

Kate

Kate

Vancouver

Can host for:

2 days

About me

Hi! My name’s Kate and I’m a young working professional living in Vancouver with my boyfriend and cat. I love travelling, hiking, reading, exploring, arts and culture, and eating good food. I’ve done couch surfing and home exchanges in the past. I’ve also lived abroad for a few years during my studies and while I was au pairing. If you’re travelling through Vancouver and need a place to stay, our couch is open for 1-2 nights. We also have a cat and are open to people coming to cat sit while we’re away. We live downtown Vancouver close to the water, tourist attractions, and public transit. Also open to meeting up with locals and travellers :) I love meeting new people! A little more about me: On a typical day I like biking around, laying outside in the sun, hanging my friends, going out to eat/drink, relaxing with a good book or binge watching some reality tv.

Speaking

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Cheyenne

Cheyenne

Vancouver

Can host for:

2 days

About me

Hi! 💐 I’m currently studying. I love hiking, surfing, skiing, checking out coffee shops, thrifting, and learning new things!

Speaking

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Shanni

Shanni

Vancouver

Can host for:

3 days

About me

Friendly traveler

Speaking

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Carolina

Carolina

Vancouver

Can host for:

3 days

About me

I'm Argentinian but live in Vancouver, Canada. Travel is my passion, and meeting people from different parts of the world is what I love. I've been to all the continents, and I hope to keep visiting the world for as long as I can. I love nature and culture.

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lora

lora

Vancouver

Can host for:

3 days

About me

I'm Lora Mouammer, originally hailing from Damascus, Syria, but I've called Vancouver, Canada home for the past 8 years. Like many of you, I have an insatiable passion for traveling and exploring new horizons. Meeting new people and immersing myself in diverse cultures is what truly fuels my soul. I thrive on learning new things and picking up new hobbies along the way. From sports to dancing ballet and salsa, to indulging in my love for music with the piano and flute (though I confess, I may be a bit rusty on those!). Professionally, I wear the hats of a marketer and a customer success manager in the tech realm. My mission? To empower people to make sound business decisions and witness the positive impact of those choices firsthand. This commitment to fostering happiness and support extends to my personal life, where I find joy in being part of a vibrant and uplifting community. When I'm not immersed in the world of work, you'll find me out hiking, catching up with friends, cycling through the city streets, or savoring the delights of good food. Let's connect and share our journeys together!

Speaking

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eva

eva

Vancouver

Can host for:

3 days

About me

hi i am travelling right now. and would love to find a safe place to stay. i love nature swimming reading dancing fruits. hope to meet you soon! eva

Speaking

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Olga

Olga

Vancouver

Can host for:

3 days

About me

Hi, my name is Olga and I am Ukrainian living in BC. I am a pre-dental student, enjoy spending time with friends and travelling. Text me for more info. I’m always happy to chat:)

Speaking

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Roshanak

Roshanak

Vancouver

Can host for:

3 days

About me

My name is Roshanak, I will happily assist you in your journey. I have visited 47 countries and am still passionate about travelling to different countries

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Upcoming visitors to Vancouver

Wiveke

Wiveke

About Me

Hi I'm 32 old Norwegian. That loves traveling. Loves hiking, caves and learning about other cultures and traditions.

Speaking

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Kerstin

Kerstin

About Me

I currently still live in Nuremberg. I'm preparing for my work and travel time. this begins on July 2nd, 2025 and starts in Iceland. I'm really looking forward to it and hope for some inspiration. I am interested in local people when I travel.

Speaking

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Safety in Canada