Experiences from a Solo Female Traveler

As a young woman traveling in a foreign country, there may be some skepticism from others, or even yourself for how safe it will be. And if you are traveling alone, there may be even more questions and nerves that come about. I mean, you don’t know the locals, you don’t know the city, and you may not even know the language. Sounds like this could be completely terrifying, right? Although it may sound this way, it truly is a wonderful experience to do at some point in your life.

A Scandinavian snowfall in the surrounding mountains of Oslo, Norway.

For my spring break, I decided to do something a little different than most spring break plans. I ventured up north to the cold Scandinavian countries; Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Norway.  For the first 3 days of this 11-day adventure, I spent my time with several good friends, exploring the many beautiful streets and neighborhoods of Copenhagen. After this leg of my trip, I was on my own for 8 full days and off to Stockholm, Sweden; the first place I ever fully conquered on my own. At first, I was a bit uneasy about traveling solo, and even more due to the fact that a tragic event occurred in the city 2 days prior, but once I arrived and got situated, I was ready for adventure. From then on I traveled to two very different cities in Finland, Helsinki and Porvoo, followed by my final destination in Oslo, Norway and its surrounding areas.

A selfie of me bearing the cold of Helsinki, Finland on the sea fortress island of Suomenlinna.

Discovering a place on your own terms, all by yourself with some help from your trusty map is empowering, and this is the feeling I had in the entirety of my travels. I mean, I was more independent than I ever have been before; meeting strangers who soon became friends, navigating the largest cities in the north, and having a blast even when I was alone. I made decisions that were more cautious, and because of this I felt safe while still feeling as though I experienced these cities to the fullest.

The iconic canal neighborhood of Nyhavn in Copenhagen, Denmark.

After my experience of solo travel, it has opened my eyes to the possibilities that I can find for myself in the future. It has made me realize how happy I can be, even when spending time alone. It made me fearless for the idea of life after college that I will soon be experiencing in a year. It allowed me to find confidence in something that gave me comfort in the idea of starting a new life away from home. Solo female travel is not something to be afraid of, it is something to be experienced and loved.

A view of small town Porvoo, Finland from a mountain across the river.

Meghan L. is the Spring 2017 CEA MOJO blogger in Granada, Spain. She is currently a Junior studying International Business Management and Spanish at the University of Dayton.

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Meghan Leslie is the Spring 2017 CEA MOJO Blogger in Granada, Spain in Granada, Spain, and is currently studying at University of Dayton.