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

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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 95 experiences from female travelers

Things to do

4.3/5

Safety

4.8/5

Food

3.9/5

Budget-friendly

3.3/5

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
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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
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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
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Ryan

Ryan

United States

Interlaken, Group travel

Interlaken was incredible! I only got to go for a few hours, but I already have plans to go back. The views are unmatched and I’d recommend it over any big city in Switzerland. It was very safe and small town feel.

Posted: June 26, 2025
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Bern, Group travel

I felt super safe. I stayed in my friend’s home. The city was very calm and relax. I heard the foods are not interesting so i didn’t try from a restaurant. Also you have very options about transportation. I love all the options but train is the fastest one

Posted: June 24, 2025
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Lauterbrunnen, Family travel

I felt completely safe, staubbach falls and trümmelbach falls are a must! I really enjoyed coffee from a small barista spot right in front of the waterfalls, i stayed at Camping Jungfrau, and i got arround walking, theres also a bus service but its worth the walk

Posted: June 23, 2025Experienced: August, 2024
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Is Switzerland safe for women?

Safety index

4.6 /5

Based on 427 local experiences

Crime index

1.7 /5

Based on 427 local experiences

Appenzell

Appenzell is a pretty safe City or better say Village. The people here are pretty old fashioned and conservative. You really don't need to be afraid that someone will get physical with you, but there are alot of people who will commemt on how you dress. With old fashioned I mean, people will talk if you dress a bit more unique. If you ignore this it is really safe an beautiful and the people are also really nice. You will be recognised as a foreigner and people will also treat you like this sadly. Ofcourse not everybode, but I am speaking for my own experience, because eventhough I was born here my mother is from China and even I get racist comments sometimes. It gets better with time, but I just want to let you know if you consider visiting Appenzell. The Nature here is astonishing with beautiful Mountains we have everything a hiker would want.

Posted: July 23, 2025
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Claire

Claire

Lausanne

Lausanne is a generally safe city, but as any city in the world anything can happen and you can still meet some annoying people in the night on your way home or at the clubs. There are no particularly dangerous neighborhoods, and you can take te public transportation in the night without big stress but it’s possible that you meet some drug addicts on them. Lausanne has a big crisis with crack addicts at the moment but they’re not dangerous per se. They often come during the day to ask for money and thanks it. So I would say lausanne is relatively safe but stay aware at night, just in case !

Posted: July 18, 2025
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Safety in Switzerland