Is Prague safe for solo female travelers?

How safe is Prague for solo female travelers?

The Travel Ladies portal ranks Prague the 33rd safest place for solo girl travelers. The entire Czech Republic was ranked 67th among the safest countries for solo female travelers from more than 200 countries in the world.

In 2021, Prague was ranked among the best world destinations for solo female travelers in the ranking of the German travel agency. It ranked 16th ahead of popular destinations such as Rome, Paris, and Budapest.

The safety of Prague was also confirmed by a study from another travel agency from 2023, which named the city as the second-best destination for solo travelers. In the evaluation, the capital of the Czech Republic received a score of 4.6 out of 5. The evaluated aspects were:

• safety level
• average hotel cost per night
• number of group tours
• number of attractions
• cost of a one-way public transport ticket
• the friendliness of the city

As part of this assessment, Prague received a safety index of 75.39, one of the highest in Europe.

What should you watch out for in Prague as a solo traveler?

While in some countries women are not allowed to move freely in public, there are no restrictions in Prague. In addition, the Czech Republic is one of the most atheistic countries in the world, so you don’t have to worry about any religious rules that would, for example, determine the way you dress.

According to a survey by the website Journey Women, women are most afraid of being attacked while traveling on the street, in a hotel, or on public transport. We believe that you will be reassured by the fact that the crime rate in Prague is low and violent crimes against tourists are relatively rare. If necessary, at any time you can turn to the police, who are reliable and helpful in the Czech Republic.

In general, Prague can be considered a great and safe destination to go to as a single woman. However, it is still the capital and one of the most visited European places with a large concentration of tourists. For this reason, there is a need to be careful about some things. Which ones? Continue reading.

Thefts

You should keep an eye on your belongings and don’t take expensive things with you. It is better to leave expensive jewelry, a handbag, a scarf, or a watches at home so that you do not unnecessarily attract the attention of thieves. Be careful with your belongings, especially in the most visited places such as Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, or Old Town Square.

Keep all your valuables close to your body. Ideally, store them in front pockets or a secure zipped pocket. Always carry the bag over your shoulder and if you are sitting, put it on your lap and wrap the strap around your hand. On public transport, carry your backpack in front of you or put it between your legs.

Scams

Don’t be lured by a seemingly advantageous money exchange from someone on the street. Unfortunately, many scammers in Prague offer you “a favorable” exchange rate. Instead of Czech crowns, they will give you expired Belarusian rubles.

Therefore, always exchange money only at exchange offices and keep an eye on the exchange rate. Check the current exchange rate for your currency on the internet and see what Czech crowns look like before arriving in Prague.

Catcalling and street harassment

Street shouting, wolf-whistling, honking, sexualized comments, or provocative gestures from men to women are unfortunately still common in many countries. Unlike some eastern countries, the Middle East, or even southern Europe, however, in Prague these are rather exceptional cases. Nevertheless, we have some advice for you that can help you avoid harassment from men:

• Don’t dress too provocatively.
• Wear a fake wedding ring.
• Act confidently and don’t be afraid to protest loudly and forcefully if you are harassed by using stop or leave me.
• Buy pepper spray with which you can defend yourself in an emergency.

Transport

Prague has an excellent public transport network that is reliable and safe. You can use buses, trams or the metro that connect all parts of the city. Public transport does not stop even at night, so use it. This way you will avoid walking through night streets or poorly lit parts of the city.

If you want to discourage fellow travelers from unwanted contact with you, put on headphones, read, pretend to be asleep, or move to another place. If anyone bothers you on public transport, don’t hesitate to ask other passengers to help you.

You can also take a taxi. We recommend using the Uber or Bolt apps, where you know in advance who will come for you. Always check the driver’s license plate number and photo for added peace of mind. Sit in the back of the taxi to avoid direct contact with the driver. If you use another taxi company, agree on the price before the trip.

Accommodations

Before you book a hotel, hostel, or apartment, read the reviews. You should be interested mainly in those from other female solo travelers. Try contacting the accommodation to ask if they offer a floor with rooms only for women. See also how far the public transport stop is from your accommodation and explore the area and read more about it.

Choose hotels with a 24/7 reception. When checking in, ask for only female room service if possible. In the room, make sure that the hotel phone works and that the door can be locked from the inside. To be safe, lock yourself when you are inside the room.

More tips on how to stay safe as a solo female traveler in Prague

In conclusion, we have written down some proven tips for you that will come in handy when traveling solo as a woman.

• Connect with other women traveling to Prague alone. You can use, Facebook groups or other portals. Always call the women before leaving for Prague to make sure on the webcam that they are not scammers.
• Use organized city tours so you don’t go alone.
• Be aware of the people around you, trust your instincts, and use common sense.
• Make an electronic copy of your documents and carry it with you.
• On the other hand, keep original documents such as passports or IDs in a safe place.
• If you’re walking around the city alone, don’t wear headphones to keep track of what’s going on around you.
• Let family or friends know where you are going and where you are.
• Don’t post to social media in real time. First, leave the place and then put the photo on Instagram.
• If someone asks you on the street if you are alone, feel free to lie that you are just waiting for someone.
• Don’t go out alone at night.
• Don’t take food or drink from people you don’t know, especially at a bar.
• Don’t leave your drink unattended.
• Avoid abandoned areas.
• Enter the emergency number 112 in your phone, where you can ask for help from the police, doctors, or firefighters. Calling the line is free.
• Note the address or contact of your embassy in Prague. If you lose your documents or have other problems, they can help you.
• Learn a little bit of Czech. This will give you more self-confidence.