A solo female traveller who has visited around 30 countries has sparked a discussion on Reddit about European cities where women felt unexpectedly unsafe. The user, Brooklawyer, shared a disturbing experience in Brussels, Belgium, describing dimly lit alleyways where groups of men loitered and catcalled, leaving her feeling vulnerable after 8pm.
Other solo female travellers echoed her concerns, with one reporting an attempted robbery within five minutes of arriving in Brussels and another calling the city 'dirty' and 'dangerous', choosing to stay in her hotel after a brief walk. The Belgian capital was not alone in drawing criticism; Barcelona and Rome were also flagged for high levels of pickpocketing and scams.
One traveller noted feeling safer in Eastern Europe than in the West, while another warned about Nice and Paris in France, recounting a scary experience with an Uber driver. The discussion highlights the importance of research for solo female travellers, as even popular tourist destinations can pose risks.
