Salzburg, Austria
What 90% of solo women don't know about staying safe in Salzburg.
The historic center has baroque architecture, good safety, and a cafe culture where sitting alone is normal. Expect high tourist prices but a secure, well-maintained area.
The Altstadt is Salzburg's UNESCO-listed historic center with baroque architecture, Mozart's birthplace on Getreidegasse, and the Hohensalzburg Fortress on the hill. Historic coffeehouses like Café Tomaselli (from 1703) welcome solo diners - sitting alone with a book and coffee for hours is standard practice. It's busy with tourists during the day, quieter in the evenings when some locals come out to walk the pedestrianized streets. The area feels safe at night with good lighting, people around until 10pm, and regular police presence. Everyone speaks English since this is the main tourist zone. The trade-off is price - expect €4-5 for coffee and €15-25 for meals. Getreidegasse, the main shopping street, gets packed during peak season. After 9-10pm most streets empty out except Rudolfskai along the river where bars stay open late.
Daytime Safety
ExcellentNight Walking Safety
ExcellentHarassment Risk
LowPublic Transport Safety
ExcellentPickpocketing Risk
ModerateScam Risk
LowPolice Visibility
ExcellentEmergency Services
ExcellentEvening Venues
ExcellentSolo Dining
ExcellentDrug Activity
Very HighHomelessness Visibility
Very HighGetting By in English
ExcellentSome mistakes you only make once in Salzburg. But you shouldn't have to make them at all. This free checklist reveals the 5 safety pitfalls that catch solo women off guard — so you can avoid them before they happen.
"Walked around at 10pm without any issues, felt completely fine"
"Everything is expensive but the area does feel very safe"
"No language barrier at all in the tourist zone"
"Spent hours at Café Tomaselli with a book, nobody bothered me"
"Those cobblestones are beautiful but awful with a suitcase"
Areas with comparable safety profiles for solo female travelers
A 19th-century district around Mirabell Gardens with a mix of tourist amenities and residential character. Good cafes, bars for a younger crowd, and safe streets.
Student quarter with cheaper dining, cafes where laptop work is normal, and residential safety. Fewer tourists, less English spoken, short distance to main sites.
Working-class residential area centered on Augustiner Bräustübl, a historic beer hall where bringing your own food is normal. Local character, safe streets, less English spoken.
Help other women stay safe in Altstadt (Old Town)
Neighborhood conditions can change. Check recent news, ask locals or your accommodation about current safety, especially for nighttime plans.