Solo Female Travel in Portugal

Located in Southern Europe, Portugal is a breathtaking and diverse land, renowned for its rich culture, historical significance, and natural beauty. It rests on the Iberian Peninsula, right on the Atlantic coast, sharing its eastern and northern border with Spain. Portugal is globally known for its exquisite seafood cuisine, world-class port wines from the Douro Valley, golden sun-drenched beaches, and the historical cities of Lisbon and Porto. Its southern region, Algarve, attracts sunseekers and beachgoers, while its interior, adorned with picturesque landscapes like Peneda-Gerês National Park, is a paradise for hikers. Portugal is also home to numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the ornate architecture in Manueline style, the ancient standing stones at Évora, and splendid monasteries such as Jerónimos Monastery. This prime tourist destination offers a fusion of traditional charm and contemporary sophistication that every traveler must experience.

Travel rating

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Is Portugal good for solo travel?

Safety:

Safety:Safe

Portugal is generally a safe country for solo female travelers. It has a lower crime rate compared to other European countries. Portuguese people are known for their hospitality and are always willing to help. As with any travel destination, it is important to stay aware of your surroundings and follow common sense rules such as keeping your belongings secure. Even though the country is safe, I would still recommend you blend in with the locals as much as possible to not draw unnecessary attention to yourself.
Transport:

Transport:Easy

Portugal offers a comprehensive network of public transportation within and between cities, including buses, trams, and trains. The cities are particularly navigable with affordable and reliable services. English is commonly spoken, especially in touristic areas and among younger generations, making it easier for travelers to communicate and navigate. However, some less explored regions might pose a slight linguistic challenge and hence, might need some extra planning in terms of travel.
Things to do:

Things to do:Fascinating

Portugal is a treasure trove of experiences for the solo female traveler. With picturesque landscapes, stunning beaches, and rich historical architecture, the country enhances the wanderlust in you. Portugal's cuisine is a delightful experience, especially the seafood and delicious pastries. Wine lovers can explore the beautiful vineyards in Douro Valley. For peace and solitude, taking a walk in the mystic streets of Alfama, or experiencing the beautiful sunsets in Algarve is a must. Adventure seekers can surf in the majestic waves of Nazare. Safety is also a prominent factor making Portugal an ideal destination. Despite the language barrier, the locals are hospitable making your solo journey an enriching experience.
Food:

Food:Excellent

Portugal offers a wide array of gourmet delights, from its famous savory dishes like piri-piri chicken, bacalhau (cod) dishes, and Francesinha, a meaty sandwich, to heavenly sweet treats like pastéis de nata and Bolo Rei. Moreover, seafood lovers will find the coastline provides an abundant supply of fresh fish. The country also boasts its own vineyards, producing range of locally grown wines. Portuguese cuisine is a delicious blend of Mediterranean traditions with unique local ingredients, creating an enriching and diverse food scene.
Budget:

Budget:Affordable

Portugal is relatively budget-friendly. The cost of traveling can be quite low compared to many Western European countries. Accommodation, food, public transportation and attractions are usually affordable, and there are plenty of free activities and attractions to enjoy regardless of the city. However, prices can increase during peak tourist season and in more tourist-oriented areas.

Is Portugal worth visiting?

Overall rating

4.8 /5

based on 39 experiences

Things to do

4.9/5

Safety

4.8/5

Food

4.6/5

Budget-friendly

4.4/5
Kelsey-Jayne

Kelsey-Jayne

New Zealand

Solo travel experience

Felt safe! Beautiful and clean, great local music in Lisboa! Loved la costa de Caprica and stay in the Hostel Natural Mystic. The people are really friendly and there are great tours on at most of the hostels. Recommend staying in the city centre if you’re more interested in night life as there’s 400 bars in one area! But if you like the beach the coast is better then just taxi into town if you want.

Posted: July 13, 2024
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 4/5Safety: 4/5
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Couple travel experience

I find that Portugal is a magnificent country between the Algarve and Lisbon! It's beautiful, there's the sea, now I can't wait to go to Porto. I'm already looking forward to returning to this country and visiting new places.

Posted: July 4, 2024
Things to do: 5/5Food: 3/5Budget-friendly: 3/5Safety: 5/5
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María

María

Spain

Group travel experience

Interrail pass of Portugal. We traveled as 3 girls; two were 17 and one was 18. **First city: Porto** We got there at night using public transportation, which is not difficult to understand. We stayed in a centric hostel that was AMAZING and not very expensive: Lost Inn Porto. We had a quick dinner and went out to a club for tourists in Galerias de Paris, a street with a lot of little clubs. The next day we did a “free” tour in the evening about the mysterious secrets of Porto. It was interesting and the guide was quite nice, but I don't know if I’d do that again. I think I would prefer to spend the sunset watching it from the typical mirador across the Don Luis bridge. That night we went partying at Eskada, a Portuguese club. We took a cab and we felt safe. Even though the Portuguese guys were very direct and kind of “touchy,” we didn’t feel offended or unsafe and had a very good time. We took another cab at 6 am, and again everything was alright. **Second city: Lisbon** We took two trains to get there, and everything was nice and correct. We stayed in a hostel that was also very good, but I can’t find it right now, maybe it’s closed. The city felt safe during the day, and at night one friend and I decided to party. It’s true that some older boys approached us in the street, but it didn’t feel aggressive or uncomfortable. It was easy to get out of the situation, haha. We met very nice girls who shared a cab with us to Mome club. Again, the boys were a little touchy but nothing more. The next day we used the public transport and it was nice and very understandable. **Third city: Lagos** We stayed in an apartment in the center, which was very nice. The beaches were nice and not too crowded. The nightlife was chiller as the clubs closed around 2 am. However, boys do approach you, but again not aggressively, and we did have some drunk men catcalling us, but not offensively. **Fourth city: Olhao, near Faro** We stayed at Pension Bicuar. It was nice, but there was a problem with our last day of reservation and we had to book an apartment at the last minute. The first night we partied at the famous Albufeira strip (40 minutes away from Olhao). We got there by cab. I must warn you that there are a lot of drunk people, mostly English and German. They may approach you, or in my case even follow you, but we didn’t experience anything that felt scary. There are a lot of clubs with English music, but at 2 am when these started to close, we discovered Disco Club that closes around 6 am, with very good Spanish music. I totally recommend you go there. The next morning back in Olhao we took a ferry to the island of Armona. You can buy the tickets there the same day, and they were pretty affordable (more or less they cost 4€ round trip). It was amazing; people there are so nice, and the beaches are long. We went the next day too. I TOTALLY RECOMMEND IT. That night we went partying in Faro, and that city had the worst nightlife of all. There were a lot of cocktail bars but only one big club, and it was not very good. I wouldn’t recommend partying in Faro that much, but it did feel safe. Overall, we felt very safe being 3 girls traveling alone for the first time. Portugal is safe, and the boys are direct and a bit touchy (That’s my experience), but that’s all. I would say most of them are really nice and respectful. I loved my trip, totally recommend it even if you travel alone.

Posted: June 9, 2024
Things to do: 5/5Food: 3/5Budget-friendly: 3/5Safety: 5/5
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Maria

Maria

Thailand

Solo travel experience

Portugal is a beautiful country. However, a guy grabbed my breast on a street in Lisbon ... I was in shocked that it occurred in the capital in a popular st. However, the people are lovely. I particularly liked the old ladies as they will give me advice and share their stories with me. Coffee is very strong and pastries are delicious!

Posted: June 4, 2024
Things to do: 5/5Food: 4/5Budget-friendly: 4/5Safety: 4/5
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Solo travel experience

I loved my time in Portugal. Very safe country, warm, easy to get around, friendly, full of history and culture, great cities to explore, and gorgeous beaches.

Posted: March 31, 2024
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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HAZEL

HAZEL

Turkey

Solo travel experience

I stayed in Porto and Lisbon. I liked it very much, I think it is safe. I stayed in hostels, they were very safe too. I think their food is cheaper than other European countries. I stayed in both cities for a total of 3 days. I spent 55 euros in total. I went to the city center and walked to the sightseeing places from there. There were also remote places, but I could not go to them due to my limited time. The people were very friendly. And they were very lively cities. There was entertainment everywhere.

Posted: February 28, 2024
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Kealey

Kealey

United Kingdom

Couple travel experience

As a lesbian couple we felt very safe, sometimes a bit cautious with pda in public but I think that’s just part of being queer as I feel like this even in my home town at times. We went to Portimaõ in the algarve and it was lovely even though weather was a bit rainy. One thing I wish I knew more about before we got there is that public transport is not as easy as some guides say. The schedules are very spread out and you really need to plan what bus or train to get. Also get a bus card, they have ones from 2-7 days and is way cheaper than paying as you go. Another thing is that cash is still very much the primary payment method so keep that in mind. Overall would recommend and we would love to go back!

Posted: February 12, 2024
Things to do: 4/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 4/5Safety: 5/5
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Rebecca

Rebecca (26)

Spain

Solo travel experience

I've been to Oporto and Lisbon in the same trip. This was the first fully solo trip I've done and I never felt lonely. I brought a book with me, Convinced I'd read a lot, especially during the evenings, instead I didn't even open it! Wonderful people, other travellers, population and places, not to talk about the food. If you're looking to do your first solo trip, this is THE place! Enjoy;)

Posted: February 8, 2024Experienced: September, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Family travel experience

It was a great city. Surfing is among the things you can do. There is an awesome beach for miles, which you can watch the ocean with peace. There is a beautiful town center (Lizbon) which you can do shopping, walk in the streets and see the beautiful architecture in here. We tasted pasteisde nata and we absolutely loved it. There was so many nice people, they were so kind and debonair. It was a lovely trip, if you can have any chance, definitely do it💞

Posted: February 5, 2024Experienced: October, 2021
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

I spent 12 days there alone in the summer and had the best time. 2 weeks full of pasteis de nata, colorfully tiled buildings, friendly locals, the most amazing landscapes, castles, and medieval towns, long days spent on the beach, and long walks. It was so easy to get around using the railway system. It was one of my best solo trips so far.

Posted: January 17, 2024
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Is Portugal safe for women?

Safety rating

4.2 /5

Based on 3 experiences

Crime rates rating

1 /5

Based on 3 experiences

Inês

Inês

It is a quiet, calming and overall safe country, you can even walk at night almost everywhere (beaches, mountains, cities, villages) Everyone is very focused on their own lives so you do not have anything to worry about.

Posted: April 3, 2024
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I feel really free and safe all around so far. I have been to Algarve, Lisbon and Castello Branco and although strange strangers blooped in, I felt safe and I never had a bad experience or any boundary croses

Posted: March 28, 2024
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Meet locals in Portugal

Meet local women in Portugal who are open to meet up for a coffee or a drink, show you around, give local advice or practice a language with.
Leonor

Leonor

About Me

Hi! I'm Leonor and I'm from Barcelos. I've won the Discover EU pass and I'll be interrailing between August and September :)

Speaking

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Becky

Becky

About Me

**I won’t be back in Lisbon until mid-August due to travels =) Hi everyone! My name is Becky and I am originally from the U.S. and have spent the past seven years in Europe, last five in Lisbon, Portugal =) I am a graduate student and a neurodivergent teacher. I really enjoy travelling and doing nature-like activities like cycling, hiking, camping, etc.! I also love to dance =) I am also a very passionate individual in regards to human rights and the environment ✌🏽💜😊 I hope to meet some of you and create wonderful memories ~~

Speaking

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Stay with locals in Portugal

Stay with local women in Portugal who offer free accommodation as part of cultural exchange. Couch surfing is a great way to meet new people, learn more about new cultures and experience destinations like a local.
Juliana

Juliana

Trofa

Can host for:

2 days

About me

My name is Juliana. I’m rider, so I’m passionate about riding my motorcycle. I love traveling and I love new adventures. My dream it’s to go on a ride all over the world with no limit of nothing just live in each place, living their culture as if it was my own.

Speaking

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Nikki

Nikki

Lisbon

Can host for:

2 days

About me

I’m an active Capricorn lady and very sociable. I love walks along the boardwalk, good food and good wine, pool time and sightseeing in general. I am passionate about visiting new places. I have travelled quite a lot but hope to visit more new places this year!

Speaking

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Upcoming visitors to Portugal

Connect with upcoming visitors to Portugal who are looking for travel buddies or meet ups.
Marion

Marion

About Me

My name is Marion. I’m social person, curious and Sporty. I love discover new culture and people. I’m surfing, running, hiking and swimming.

Speaking

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Margarita

Margarita

About Me

I am a pharmacist by education and a florist by vocation! A cheerful, happy girl, I love pets (especially cats) I have a completely deaf white cat Uma.

Speaking

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Explore Portugal