Is Sweden Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

Sweden, known for its high level of gender equality, is generally considered very safe for solo female travelers. The locals are generally respectful and kind, making it easier for one to navigate and explore the country. Like all destinations, basic precautions like staying vigilant, particularly during night times in bigger cities, are always recommended.

Safety rating

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How safe is Sweden?

Safety at night:

Safety at night:Safe

Sweden generally has a high safety level and is considered safe for solo female travelers, even at night. Like in any other city, you should always be vigilant and aware of your surroundings, but Swedish cities tend to be well-lit and monitored by local law enforcement. There's a good level of street safety due to the active presence of people, even at night, especially in larger cities like Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmö. Nonetheless, it is recommended to avoid less crowded or secluded areas at night if possible.
Public transportation:

Public transportation:Very safe

Public transportation in Sweden, including buses, trams, and metro systems, is generally very safe and efficient even for solo female travelers. The staff are helpful and most Swedes speak excellent English. The stations and vehicles are well-lit and have security cameras. During off-peak hours or in less populous regions, it can sometimes feel a bit lonely, but in general, it doesn't pose a significant safety concern. It is also common for stations and vehicles to have emergency help points.
Street harassment:

Street harassment:Low

In general, Sweden is known for its safe and respectful environment. As a solo female traveler, you may occasionally encounter unsolicited remarks, but overall, cases of street harassment are quite rare. This is largely due to the country's strong commitment to gender equality, progressive values, and a generally high level of respect towards women.
Petty crimes:

Petty crimes:Low

Sweden, especially major cities like Stockholm, Göteborg, and Malmö, are generally safe with a reasonably low risk of petty crimes such as pickpocketing or bag snatching. Nonetheless, it's always good to stay vigilant and mindful of your belongings, especially in crowded areas and on public transport. Occasionally, there may be cases of bike thefts, so ensure to always lock up your bicycle securely if you're using one. As with any location, you should always exercise usual precaution at night.

Is Sweden worth visiting?

Overall rating

4.4 /5

based on 63 experiences from female travelers

Things to do

4.1/5

Safety

4.7/5

Food

3.9/5

Budget-friendly

3.1/5
Inès

Inès

Netherlands

Stockholm, Solo travel

Stockholm was my first solo trip! I was in a really nice hostel and felt really safe the whole time. I went during summer so the weather was really nice. It’s a really beautiful city and nature is everywhere and I can really recommend just walking around. Museums were not the best but still interesting

Posted: June 18, 2025
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Sweden, Solo travel

Sweden was wonderful in terms of food to try and natural beauty. The activities were sufficient. For cultural trips, especially in terms of museums, Stockholm and Gothenburg should be preferred. However, from the evening onwards, the streets are completely empty except for homeless people. It can be a bit intimidating.

Posted: June 16, 2025
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Sweden, Family travel

Sweden is a beautiful country. We did a road trip and it was so nice but everything close very early in the evening and we werent ready for that. We didnt really experienced the food because we were on a low budget.

Posted: June 15, 2025Experienced: May, 2024
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Hélène

Hélène

France

Sweden, Solo travel

I stayed in Stockholm for 4 days at the beginning of September. The weather was really nice (one of the warmest weeks in the year!!) and the city was beautiful. It reminded me of Amsterdam in some ways (maybe the colorful buildings?). I stayed at the Generator hostel in a female dorm, it was super clean, my roommates were really nice and the place was great. I felt safe the whole trip, even when I arrived at the train station (in some countries train stations are filled with drug users which could be intimidating).

Posted: June 6, 2025
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Kalmar, Family travel

Transport by bus was generous and cheap, you can travel 2h anywhere per ticket. The second hand shops were very affordable and there were a lot of different boutiques with a lot of different themes which is very nice. There’s a lot of diversity in the shopping experience. There was also a lot to see the parks were very well maintained overall and since it’s a coastal city it was very nice taking a walk alongside the water. Definitely a good and chill vacation spot, it has a lot to offer and especially considering the size of the town. I went there to visit my sister so I lived with her and did not pay for accommodations so I have no idea how much that will cost There’s also bad train connections to other towns for example Malmö, but it is a stop on the way to Öland which is one of Sweden’s vacation islands. If you’re on the way to the islands which should definitely stop a day in Kalmar to experience what they have to offer!

Posted: June 1, 2025
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Stockholm, Solo travel

Stockholm was an absolute dream as a solo hijabi traveler — I felt incredibly safe the entire time, even when I stayed out late and took a taxi home (the driver was so kind, especially after learning I was Arab!). The city had such a welcoming vibe; girls on the street stopped me to say I looked pretty, one even helped me take pictures and complimented my hijab, which was so sweet. I stayed in a cozy Airbnb run by a local girl who rented out her extra room — quiet, clean, and perfect for solo travel. Getting around was super easy thanks to the metro (seriously, Stockholm’s metro stations are like underground art galleries — don’t miss them!). I explored Gamla Stan, which was straight out of a fairytale, shopped around cute little stores, and found the prettiest silver jewelry shop where I got a necklace for my mom — not too expensive and such a thoughtful souvenir. I also visited the ABBA Museum (yes, I danced) and the Fotografiska photography museum, both of which were amazing. And of course, the Royal Palace and Parliament at night? Breathtaking. One thing I have to recommend: STOCK UP ON SWEDISH CANDY. I went a little wild with the kex chocolate and all the colorful sweets — no regrets. If you’re a female traveler (especially wearing hijab) looking for a trip that’s both heartwarming and hassle-free, Stockholm is 100% the place.

Posted: May 25, 2025
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Is Sweden safe for women?

Safety index

4.4 /5

Based on 207 local experiences

Crime index

2 /5

Based on 207 local experiences

Kailane

Kailane

Stockholm

I’ve been to Sweden three times, and I felt completely safe in Stockholm, even when walking down the streets in the middle of the night. Everyone minds their own business. The city felt safe and clean.

Posted: June 20, 2025
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Emmy

Emmy

Karlskrona kommun

The less safe areas are easy to avoid. Over all it's very safe and Karlskrona is easy to get around on foot or with bus or boat. I feel safe walking alone at night, but in the summer it also won't be dark until 22.00.

Posted: June 18, 2025
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Safety in Sweden