Solo female travel is on the rise and women across the world are experiencing the liberation of going it alone. Said to be the safest country in the Americas, Canada is the perfect destination if you’re going solo this summer.
Not only is it renowned for being the safest country in America, but Canada is also home to many of the world’s safest cities. Offering everything from winter sports to perfect summer sun, Canada offers the perfect year-round destination for every type of traveller.
No one enjoys navigating a complicated transfer after a long flight, particularly if you’re on your own. All of our selected cities have their own airport, so you won’t have to travel far to get to your accommodation. With each of these cities, offering something entirely unique, you may decide you don’t want to spend your entire holiday in just one of them.
If you do plan on hopping from city to city it’s much easier to look for a provider that offers a multi-city option which makes it far easier and quicker for travellers to book more than one flight. Many of these companies also allow you to book everything in one place so as well as booking your airline tickets to Canada you’ll be able to book hotels and car hire, making organizing your holiday much more straightforward and offering a bit more peace of mind, knowing everything is booked in one place.
You’ll be spoilt for choice on what to do and see with Canada’s cities; they offer everything from fine dining and luxury hotels to world-class skiing through breathtaking vistas. Here are some of the best, and safest, cities to visit in Canada.
Montreal
Montreal is a vibrant and picturesque city in Quebec, renowned for its French Canadian Culture. It’s also famed for its festivals, showcasing everything from jazz to comedy and boasts an impressive array of high-end restaurants offering up an eclectic array of culinary styles.
Cultural and Historical Highlights
Montreal is full of stunning architecture as well as plenty of museums and galleries A trip to the beautiful Notre Dame Basilica and the Oratory Museum, located in Canada’s largest church is a must.
Safe Travels
Montreal has a well-connected, reliable metro system but does consider using the bus as the city’s Between Stops System allows lone travellers to request to be taken as close as possible to their destination, provided it is safe to do.
Heading Out After Dark
Old Montreal is a must if you prefer your nightlife with a slightly more sophisticated edge. The picturesque, cobbled streets are lined with plenty of high-end bars and restaurants.
Where to stay
The William Gray is a stunning luxury hotel. As it’s located in Old Montreal you won’t have to travel far to see all the sight-seeing staples. It also offers a free shuttle service and has a 24-hour front desk.
Ottawa
The capital of Canada is one of those cities that seems to perfectly juxtapose urban chic with stunning natural beauty. A great place to explore on foot, Ottawa offers a unique network of safe and walkable neighbourhoods to stroll around whilst avoiding the touristy crowds.
Alternatively, if you want to escape the faster pace of city living, you can take a trip to one of Ottawa’s idyllic rural communities and experience something a little different.
Cultural and Historical Highlights
Ottawa is home to seven museums covering everything from nature art to aviation. The National Gallery of Canada is worth a visit and Parliament Buildings, and the Rideau Canal are perfect for a stroll Alternatively, take to the waters on a private VIP yacht trip for a scenic sail along the river Ottawa.
Safe Travels
Knowing where to source or how to pay for travel tickets and cards can sometimes prove stressful when you’re travelling solo. The flexibility of Ottawa’s ticketing system makes life much easier as not only can tickets be used on both trains and buses you can choose to either pre-pay before you travel or pay once on board. Do be aware that the buses run less frequently in the evening and on Sundays.
Heading Out After Dark
Westboro is a village neighbourhood, which is frequented by more locals than tourists. It’s a hive of activity all year round so you’ll be surrounded by plenty of friendly faces. There are upscale restaurants and bars aplenty as well as some local chains to try too.
Where to stay
Opulent is a word that springs to mind when visiting the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, it does have a grand ballroom after all! This exquisite hotel is located just a short walk from the Rideau Canal and there are plenty of places to drink and dine on the doorstep. The Fairmont is renowned for its friendly staff so there’s always someone on hand, should you need anything.
Edmonton
Edmonton boasts a world-class culinary scene and for something a little more tranquil there are peaceful national parks and beautiful green space in abundance.
Cultural and Historical Highlights
After a busy day of exploring consider a trip to the BlissYoga Spa where first-rate instructors can help you discover the benefits of yoga through a private session before unwinding in their luxury spa.
Going out after dark
The historic district of Old Strathcona is a great area to visit as it manages to retain plenty of historic charm but also offers plenty of trendy and high-end places to drink and dine. Shops and cafes remain open alongside the bars giving it a lovely wholesome and welcoming vibe.
For something a little different head to Sir Winston Churchill Square in the centre of the arts district. This area offers a wealth of bars and restaurants all close together and is incredibly well-lit, mainly because of the giant light-up crystal pyramid!
Safe travels
Edmonton is well connected by bus and a light rail transport service. An Arc Card can be bought and topped up in advance and then used on several regional transit systems.
Where to stay
When it comes to being in the heart of things, you can’t get better placed than the Metterra Hotel on Whyte. The hotel also has a guest service team who are on-hand for 24 hours a day.
Calgary
Despite being somewhat of an urban metropolis, Calgary still allows itself to indulge itself in a little bit of its cowboy charm and this is never more in evidence than in July when the city hosts the Calgary Stampede. Despite the suburban sprawl you’re still afforded plenty of stunning views of the Rockies with plenty of opportunities for scenic summer hikes or skiing and snowboarding in the winter.
Cultural and Historical Highlights
Escape the urban skyline and take a trip to Lake Louise where you can explore scenery to take your breath away whilst relaxing on your own private yacht.
Safe Travels
Calgary is well-served by a Light Rail Transit and buses that run regularly across the city. As every seasoned traveller knows, the best way to get to know a new city is on foot. Calgary has the most extensive walkway and cycle path network in the whole of North America. There’s plenty of signage wherever you go; a small detail that makes a big difference when you’re a solo traveller.
Heading Out After Dark
17th Avenue in Downtown has the most bars and restaurants located on a single street in the whole of Calgary so you won’t have to meander far when travelling from bar to bar. In addition to its many high-end restaurants and quirky pop-up bakeries, this stylish little area is also home to galleries, shops and boutiques.
Where to stay
The Hotel Arts Kensington is a welcoming boutique hotel located right on the river and just a two-minute walk to the centre. They also offer a 24-hour concierge service.
Vancouver
This picturesque coastal city, famed for its whale-watching also offers plenty of opportunities to try an array of water sports. There are also plenty of stylish bars, restaurants and cafes as well as a thriving cultural scene
Cultural and Historical Highlights
The Capilano Suspension bridge where you can travel over the river whilst being suspended 137 metres above ground level is a must-visit. If you want to say above ground level but don’t fancy navigating a suspension bridge, Vancouver is home to several safe and reliable aviation companies that provide VIP helicopter flights over the city.
Safe Travels
Vancouver offers a vast network of busses, metros and shuttles and regular transport runs until 1.00 am. One of the best ways to travel in Vancouver is on the water and there are also plenty of boat and ferry options too.
Heading Out After Dark
Granville Island is a foodie’s paradise with plenty of stalls offering high-quality artisan food, perfect for a champagne picnic by the river! If you don’t fancy dining al fresco, there are some fantastic seafood restaurants and stylish bars on the waterfront.
Where to stay
If you want to treat yourself to an extra special stay consider the Rosewood Hotel. Complete with fine dining restaurants and a first-rate spa, not only will you be spoilt for choice on what to do inside the hotel, but it’s also in the heart of the city and a stone’s throw from an array of eateries and attractions. The hotel offers 24-hour room service and a front desk.
Safe in the City
Whilst no country can guarantee complete safety for the lone traveller, if you read one of the many reports on just how safe Canada is, you should rest assured that this amazing country comes pretty close! Wherever you’re travelling to, it’s still worth taking a few precautions to ensure your safety.
Stay connected and do carry a phone with you at all times, making sure it’s fully charged. Do a spot of research to check out any areas that are best avoided and always make sure you know how to get home safely, particularly after dark.
Whilst it’s always good to carry a small amount of cash, avoid carrying large sums of money. It’s a good idea to use a credit card in Canada as you’ll be offered more protection if your bag is lost or stolen.
When it comes to booking accommodation, aim for somewhere that’s close to the things you want to see and do and ideally offers a 24-hour front desk.