The world's safest solo destination is smaller than you think
San Marino — all 61 square kilometres of it, sitting landlocked inside Italy — has been ranked the safest destination in the world for solo travellers, according to a study by travel insurance comparison platform Squaremouth. The country scored a risk index of just 0.78 out of 10 after being measured against more than 100 destinations globally.
The index factored in some genuinely useful data points: the Global Peace Index, local perceptions of safety from Numbeo, mobile internet download speeds, and access to quality healthcare. San Marino did well across all of them. Nine in ten locals say they feel comfortable walking alone at night — a figure that speaks volumes. The country is also entirely UNESCO World Heritage-listed, known for its medieval walled old town, narrow cobblestone streets, and the kind of unhurried pace that makes solo exploration feel genuinely enjoyable rather than nerve-wracking.
Another European microstate, Andorra (tucked between Spain and France in the Pyrenees), came in second. Singapore — a destination many Indians already know well — landed in third, praised for strong safety perceptions, high-quality healthcare, and reliable infrastructure. Austria and Czechia rounded out the top five.
On the other end: destinations worth approaching with care
The study also flagged the riskiest destinations for solo travellers. Venezuela topped that list with a risk score of 9.74 out of 10 — fewer than 10% of locals feel safe walking alone at night, violent crime rates are high, and healthcare access is limited. Peru came second, partly due to poor internet and phone connectivity, which can leave solo travellers feeling isolated in an emergency. Gabon ranked third, driven less by crime and more by a severe shortage of healthcare infrastructure — just two hospital beds per 1,000 people.
Other destinations in the riskier category included Colombia, Bolivia, Jamaica, Guyana, Ecuador, Trinidad and Tobago, and South Africa.
Why this matters for a solo travel audience in India
Solo travel from India is growing steadily, and for many first-timers, the question of safety is the one that holds them back from booking that ticket. Studies like this one offer a useful, data-backed starting point — not a definitive answer, but a framework for thinking about risk before you go.
Singapore's placement at number three is particularly relevant for Indian solo travellers: it's well-connected from most major Indian cities, visa access is straightforward, English is widely spoken, and the food scene has enough South and Southeast Asian flavour to feel familiar. It also has one of the best public transit systems in the world, which matters enormously when you're navigating a new city on your own.
For the more adventurous traveller eyeing Europe, Czechia (fifth on the safety list) is genuinely budget-friendly by European standards — Prague's food scene, its medieval architecture, and a strong backpacker culture make it an approachable first solo destination in the region. Schengen visa rules apply, so factor that into your planning.
Whether you're easing into solo travel or refining your approach, knowing which destinations have reliable healthcare, decent connectivity, and a culture of safety is practical — not paranoid. That's the real value of a ranking like this one.