3 underrated travel destinations in Europe for solo female travellers

There are destinations that are on everyone's bucket list; people have millions of saved Pins and posts about them. And... there are the hidden gems that may be less attractive to the average holiday-maker but are the perfect destination for solo female travelers looking for their next Europe trip! In this post, I will share 3 of my favorite but underrated destinations I would recommend.

1. Athens, Greece

I am going to start this one with a confession: when I first visited Athens back in 2017, I was not impressed at all. I let myself judge the book by its cover. But luckily, life gave me another chance to not only visit, but actually live in this amazing and vibrant city. This experience allowed me to discover hidden gems and spots, learn more about Greek culture and the lifestyle, so that I can be the kind of person who highly recommends this underrated travel destination. Everyone talks about Santorini or Mykonos when it comes to Greece, but I can promise you, the capital on the mainland can be just as amazing of an experience. Most people (and this is what I did the first time around too) make the mistake of only leaving 1 day to visit Athens, to do the basics, visit the Acropolis and the museum. But this is exactly why most people don't think they would ever want to return to this capital. The truth is, you need more time than that to enjoy Athens and make the most of it. Athens is a city that comes alive especially in the evening; if you take a walk during the day, the atmosphere will be completely different (and less attractive, I admit). The most common area would be Plaka to explore, but if you want to feel more like a local, I would say head to Kolonaki or even Piraeus or Mikrolimano for a waterfront experience. If you take a little trip just outside of the city, for example, towards the direction of Vouliagmeni, you can find gorgeous beaches, palm trees, and top-notch restaurants. My favourite part about this is that these areas are still mostly visited by local people, so instead of tourist crowds, you will share the beach with Greeks, which makes the experience unique. If you have more time, you can also do a little day trip down to the Temple of Poseidon, Sounion. This point has the most gorgeous sunset views but is normally less crowded than the Acropolis. But if you don't want to venture too far out from the city, just take a tram towards Glyfada for some cool beach bars (my personal favorite is Nalu). Athens is an amazing place to visit because the center has that city life with amazing restaurants and cool bars, but if you take a little trip outside, it feels like you are on a Greek island already. And given its underrated and less touristy nature, the prices are much friendlier than on some of the islands. If you are now thinking, I would love to visit, make sure you check out my other blog about the best food spots in the city. You can find it here.

2. Sevilla, Spain

I went for a short solo trip to Sevilla back in 2022, and I have recommended this spot to many since then. This is the perfect combination of laid-back, but also 'got enough to do' city break vibes. We're talking beautiful architecture, orange trees, flamenco dancers, and inviting restaurants wherever you go. The city is quite small, so I think if you're up for improving your daily step count, I would say get around on foot, but if you don't feel like it, I would recommend renting a bike and exploring the city by pedalling around. I felt very welcomed and at home in this beautiful, orange tree-filled city wherever I went. And the best part? The weather! Given its conditions, Sevilla has pleasantly warm weather during the winter months, which makes it an ideal destination all year round. Compared to other Spanish destinations, this one gets less of a hype, but you can definitely add it to your list.

3. San Remo, Italy

Definitely a city that gets less attention compared to Rome, Florence or Venice, but a city I would once again add to my list. I got to visit this lovely, coastal Italian city a few times over the years, but I would always happily return. The reason? Its location. As I mentioned, this city is located by the sea, very close to the Italian-French border. It has a beach, so it is the perfect combination for those who love both, the city and the beach life. Still on about location: did you know that San Remo is only a short train ride away from some of the most popular French Riviera locations, like Cannes, Nice, Monaco or Menton? That's right! By taking a train that crosses the mentioned border, you can easily access any of these locations (obviously have to consider that a visa might be needed to visit France). All of these locations can make a great day trip (I even managed to fit both, Menton and Monaco in one day, depending on plans of course). Given how exclusive and expensive these places can get, staying in San Remo can save you some money, while also enjoying the beautiful views of the Côte d'Azur. Additionally, San Remo offers more of a local, Italian experience compared to other, more touristy cities. If you are a solo female traveller, looking for less crowded places but still enough going on, I would definitely recommend a visit to San Remo.

I hope you enjoyed this post or found it useful for your next adventure. And if you’re looking for a way to feel more grounded while travelling, don’t forget to grab my free Travel Wellness Routine Builder. It’s packed with simple tools like a printable checklist, self-care prompts, and mini rituals to help you feel more at home—wherever the journey takes you.