Is Switzerland Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

Switzerland is known for its high levels of safety and low crime rate. Local authorities are very helpful and it's easy to navigate the public transportation system, even at night. Like anywhere, you should always be aware of your surroundings, avoid poorly-lit or deserted areas late at night and keep an eye on your belongings. But overall, as a solo female traveler, you can feel very secure traveling in Switzerland.

Safety rating

Make friends while traveling solo

Meet other female travelers, find travel buddies and stay with local women for free through hospitality exchange.
Download from App StoreDownload from Google Play
Get the Travel Ladies App

How safe is Switzerland?

Safety at night:

Safety at night:Very safe

Switzerland as a whole has a high level of safety, even during night time. Well-lit streets, reliable public transportation, and a generally low crime rate make it safe to walk alone at night. However, it's always advisable to remain aware of your surroundings and take precautions like avoiding isolated areas and carrying a phone with a local SIM for emergency contact.
Public transportation:

Public transportation:Very safe

Public transportation in Switzerland is one of the safest in the world. Trains and buses are reliable, punctual, and always in pristine condition due to frequent maintenance. The localities are respectful and generally maintain good conduct. For solo female travelers, there is a low risk involved when traveling even at late night as the systems are well-lit, highly monitored, and assistance is readily available. Regardless, it's always best to stay vigilant and be aware of your surroundings.
Street harassment:

Street harassment:Very low

Switzerland is quite a safe country when it comes to street harassment. Incidences are relatively low, with most locals respectful and polite. Women can usually move around without facing any unwelcomed encounters. However, as in any country, caution should be exercised, particularly during the night or in less crowded areas.
Petty crimes:

Petty crimes:Low

Switzerland is considered one of the safest countries in the world. Petty crimes such as pickpocketing or bag snatching can occur, predominantly in touristic and crowded places, but they are relatively rare. To reduce the risk, you should remain aware of your surroundings and keep your valuables secure and out of sight. Regular precautions like not leaving your belongings unattended will suffice in most cases. Overall, the risk of encountering petty crimes in Switzerland is low.

Is Switzerland worth visiting?

Overall rating

4.5 /5

based on 98 experiences from female travelers

Things to do

4.3/5

Safety

4.8/5

Food

3.9/5

Budget-friendly

3.3/5
Zeynep

Zeynep

Turkey

Switzerland, Solo travel

I was going to Zurich alone and I was feeling totally safe. At night I had take a train to Basel at 9pm I easily went to the station and arrived after some hours and I was walking alone very late but I was just feeling safe and relax. The next day I wemt to the Bern and in the same day I came back to Basel and made a late walking in the street. Everything was so nice.

Posted: August 10, 2025
favorite_border 0
mode_comment 0

Geneva, Family travel

Geneva is lovely. I felt pretty safe there, everyone was just minding their own business. Everything is quite expensive. There are lots of things to do, many luxury shops, you can walk/cycle around the Léman lake... I recommend the Botanical Garden of Geneva, which is amazing and 100% free!

Posted: July 30, 2025Experienced: July, 2024
favorite_border 0
mode_comment 0

Switzerland, Solo travel

It was extremely safe, had no issues walking around on my own. The only problem was how early everything closed, so it was important to get up early and see everything you can before 7pm. Even the restaurants close pretty early. Getting the swiss travel pass is definitely worth it, as it always reduces the hassle of buying transportation tickets if you wanna go somewhere

Posted: July 26, 2025Experienced: January, 2025
favorite_border 0
mode_comment 0

Zurich, Solo travel

I visited Zurich in April. It wasn’t very warm outside, so I would recommend to visit it closer to summer. Overall, it was a good experience. The city is walkable and public transport is excellent. The only thing to take into account is that Zurich is considered one of the most expensive cities, and it was indeed quite pricy

Posted: July 13, 2025Experienced: March, 2025
favorite_border 0
mode_comment 0
Agata

Agata

Germany

Zurich, Solo travel

Zurich felt easy and calm. I got around with public transport, had a trip in to nature and saw the mountains nearby. It was rainy the first days but when the sun came out everything began to shine :))

Posted: July 10, 2025
favorite_border 5
mode_comment 1
Carsen

Carsen

United States

Zurich, Solo travel

Walked around well past midnight when I was there, there were some groups of people out but it was quiet and incredibly safe. Bring an empty water bottle to fill up at the fountains and highly recommend taking a quick walking tour when you first get there to get oriented. The food was pretty good - def get a group together to go to fondue

Posted: July 3, 2025
favorite_border 4
mode_comment 1

Is Switzerland safe for women?

Safety index

4.6 /5

Based on 433 local experiences

Crime index

1.7 /5

Based on 433 local experiences

Sara

Sara

Zurich

very safe, keep in well lit areas at night but since that's most places it's no problem. Be a bit careful around the main stations such as HB and Stadelhofen. Normally you won't have an issue, there's a lot of security/ police patrolling there anyways.

Posted: August 8, 2025
favorite_border 0
mode_comment 0

Fribourg

Fribourg is a little city, with just one or two streets and a parc where I wouldn’t walk alone at night, otherwise always felt really safe! I walk often alone at night when coming back from an evening with friends.

Posted: August 3, 2025
favorite_border 0
mode_comment 0

Safety in Switzerland