Is Philippines Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

The Philippines can be a captivating destination for solo female travelers with its incredible landscapes, vibrant culture, and warm people. However, safety is a mixed bag here. In general, the locals are hospitable and respectful to female travelers. Major cities and tourist spots are policed and quite safe. However, occasional reports of street harassment, pickpocketing, and scammed can occur. Off-the-beaten-path and remote areas may pose additional risks due to less police presence and medical facilities. It's advisable to avoid travel in the southern province of Mindanao due to unrest and potential terrorist threats. Always be aware of your surroundings, follow local norms, and secure your belongings. The country is generally safe with appropriate caution.

Safety rating

4.3 /5

Based on 26 experiences from female travelers

3.5 /5

Based on our research and crime data

3.6 /5

Based on 31 experiences from local women

Philippines is currently ranked #70 safest country for solo female travelers, with an overall safety rating of 4.3 out of 5. Check the full ranking.

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How safe is Philippines?

Safety at night:Unsafe

Walking alone at night in the Philippines, particularly in major cities like Manila, can poses a safety risk. It's recommended to be cautious when crossing streets, due to heavy traffic and insufficient or unpredictably timed pedestrian signals. As in any city, there are areas that can be more dangerous at night, particularly if you aren't familiar. Stick to well-lit, busy areas, and preferably, not alone. Remember to always keep an eye on your belongings, and be aware of your surroundings to minimize any potential risks.

Public transportation:Moderate

Public transportation in the Philippines is generally safe but can sometimes be uncomfortable especially during peak hours. The most common modes of transportation include taxis, jeepneys, and trains. Taxis are reliable, though it's advisable to ensure that the meter is running. Be aware that some taxi drivers might try to overcharge. Jeepneys and buses are more affordable but often crowded, and there have been occasional reports of pick-pocketing. Train systems like the LRT and MRT are also quite crowded, especially during rush hours, but are relatively safe. An important precaution to remember is to always be mindful of your belongings, as petty theft can occur in public transport.

Street harassment:Moderate

Overall, the streets of the Philippines are generally safe and welcoming for solo female travelers. However, minor instances of verbal harassment such as catcalling or unsolicited comments are sometimes reported. This tends to happen in crowded, urban areas but is not typical of daily life. As always, being mindful of your surroundings should be enough to keep you safe.

Petty crimes:Moderate

While the Philippines offer fantastic travel experiences, it's moderately prone to petty crimes such as pickpocketing, bag snatching, and other forms of theft especially in the urban centers and tourist hotspots. Being vigilant and exercising increased caution can generally prevent most incidents.

Is Philippines worth visiting?

Overall rating

4.4 /5

based on 26 experiences from female travelers

Things to do

4.4/5

Safety

4.3/5

Food

4.1/5

Budget-friendly

3.9/5

Boracay, Solo travel

Travelled solo for my birthday, felt safe. I have met some locals and they were very friendly. Partying at night was good, everyone was respectful. There were policemen every station. There were affordable food options, and the hotel staff were also nice.

Posted: November 2, 2024Experienced: August, 2024

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Philippines, Solo travel

Bantayan Island was the second Island I went to on a trip. It's nice and affordable. There were a lot of activities you can do my favorite one was the land tour on a motorbike. Locals were very nice and accommodating ofcourse

Posted: October 11, 2024Experienced: July, 2024

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Angela

Spain

Boracay, Family travel

I have been to Boracay several times and it never fails to disappoint. You can choose to have an active holiday or just relax on the beach. The possibilities are endless as the island provides a multitude of activities and can accommodate different budget and travel types. In this trip, I stayed at Ambassador in Paradise with my mom, sister and brother-in-law. The room was ok, a bit too big - I say this because it wasn’t as clean as it could be, perhaps because there were too many nooks and crannies. The service was good and as is usually the case in the Philippines, they were gracious to older people and assisted my mom in various ways. I didn’t like that they were pretty useless when it came to first aid and couldn’t even provide an ice pack when my mom fell off the bed and had a huge bump on her forehead. It was during Christmas time and we couldn’t get any medical assistance at all and had to wait till we were back in Metro Manila. The trip was still a good one, in my opinion. If you have anyone who isn’t very mobile, you should book transfers in advance - the hotel had a private boat which made it convenient for my mom. The hotel food wasn’t very friendly to non-meat eaters specially during breakfast but there are many choices in the island and we enjoyed tasty food and tropical drinks. There are a range of activities available, some right outside the hotel and some accessed elsewhere. I love that during the pandemic, the government realized that they could make changes to the island to make it more sustainable and some water activities are conducted away from the shore to make it safer for swimmers and also to protect the environment. There’s something for everyone in Boracay.

Posted: September 4, 2024

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Manila, Solo travel

People of manila are very friendly and accommodating. I joined a couple of ladies for a night then head to the beach puerto galera by bus. Ferry was ok. Beach resort was marvellous. Motorcycle I rented ROCKSSS

Posted: September 3, 2024Experienced: June, 2024

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Bohol, Solo travel

I travelled solo to Bohol and hands down, it was one of the best experiences. The locals are very hospitable and when they have known that I travelled solo, they connect me to people that can help me travel. The food is really tasty. However, Alona, Panglao can be a bit pricey.

Posted: September 1, 2024Experienced: July, 2024

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Lovisa

Sweden

Cebu, Group travel

Cebu had very fun activities but would only recommend to stay in Cebu for about 3-5 days. There are a few very nice activities such as whale shark snorkeling, canyoneering, swim with turtles and big school of sardines, visiting waterfalls, and exploring Cebu city. Me and my friend did all of them, but only needed about 3-4 days for it. Then there weren’t that much to do. We stayed in Cebu city and Moalboal.

Posted: July 18, 2024

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Manila, Solo travel

Manila is relatively safe when you're traveling via Grab. Public commute is not advised for solo travelers and first timers in Manila. Walking around the streets require vigilance and caution. But when you are in Bonifacio Global City, Newport Manila, the vibe is different so you can be morr carefree walking alone there.

Posted: July 14, 2024

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Marion

France

Pamilacan, Solo travel

I took a boat from Baclayon to go to Pamilacan. We saw a lot of dolphins on the way. I did the best snorkeling of my life on that island. You should pay a small boat to be sure to not walk on corals but it worth it.

Posted: July 1, 2024Experienced: December, 2017

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Johanna

Germany

Philippines, Solo travel

I felt very safe in Philipinen. I traveled about 2 months in this beautiful country and most of the time i spent it with locals.. I learned how to dance Budots, hiked on the Vulcans island, dived at beautiful coral gardens. People are so nice especially in Mindanao.

Posted: June 27, 2024

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Philippines, Group travel

Amazing destination !!!! With my best friend we’ve traveled during three weeks around Siquijor - Bohol- Coron - El Nido and Siargao ! And it was the perfect order of preferences. Island Hopping, markets, chasing waterfalls, snorkeling, diving,… there are plenty of activity so there’s no way you can get bored. One of my most beautiful trip ever.

Posted: June 14, 2024

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Is Philippines safe for women?

Safety index

3.6 /5

Based on 31 local experiences

Crime index

2.3 /5

Based on 31 local experiences

Metro Manila

Manila is like NYC, where the hussle and bustle are a norm. Fairly safe, just need to be always aware of your surroundings cos there are still bad people everywhere. Overall, Manila is safe and convenient in terms of food, transport and actually a lot of things to offer.

Posted: January 6, 2025

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Philippines

I would say it’s safe, especially if you go around with someone who knows the area. There are also specific transportation vehicles, i’ve been commuting my whole school life so I can say that is also pretty good. The people are especially nice, hospitable and friendly.

Posted: January 4, 2025

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Check all reviews

Meet locals in Philippines

Sharmaine

About Me

Hello, travellers! I explored 14 of 18 regions in my home country. If you need info and tips in exploring the Philippines, just ask me out. Nearest airport to me is Clark (2-3 hrs from Manila) and it is also a recommended gateway to Cebu and Palawan, so you'll skip the hectic capital. Am available on weekends. Let me know if you need travel buddy 👣 I am into culture, history, and nature as a social science teacher and environment advocate / youth leader. In my travels, I also allocate language / culture exchange and volunteer opportunities. I like to hike and the outdoors; I scaled the highest mountain in the Philippines in November 2023. I am doing solo travel once in a while and I am completing my Southeast Asia trip, hopefully in 2025. Dream destination is Machu Picchu 😊

Speaking

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Gayle

About Me

Hello everyone! I’m Gayle, 23. I am graduating from uni in June (yay) so I plan to just travel for a while after that. I’ve already been doing some traveling since January and have been to Thailand, Japan and just got back from Bali last week. I’m already set to backpack across SEA on October starting in Vietnam and just see where the journey leads me! Hoping to meet some friends along the way :)

Speaking

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Stay with locals in Philippines

Sharmaine

Central Luzon

Can host for:

3 days

About me

Speaking

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Skyrene

Manila

Can host for:

2 days

About me

Hi I am Sky, I am currently working as a Global Application Analyst where we implement Microsoft Dynamics across the globe. The company send me to different countries to conduct training so I get the chance to do side trips after work. I do solo travel especially during weekends to see places, culture, history, food to name a few. I would also like to host female travelers when you visit Manila, Philippines.