Safety Abroad: The Honest Guide for Women, LGBTQ+ Travelers, and Families

Why Generic Safety Scores Aren't Enough

By Sarah K., safety researcher and expat who has lived in 7 countries across 4 continents.

When I moved to Istanbul in 2021 as a solo woman, every safety index told me the city scored 65/100 — "moderate safety." What no index told me was that the Kadıköy neighborhood where I lived felt safer than parts of London where I grew up. Or that walking through Beyoğlu at 2 AM was perfectly fine, while certain areas near Aksaray were best avoided after dark.

Safety is hyperlocal, deeply personal, and heavily dependent on who you are. A straight white male's experience of a city is fundamentally different from a solo woman's, a gay couple's, or a family with young children. Generic scores miss this entirely.

The Data Behind Safety

At ReloMap, we break safety into four dimensions instead of using a single number:

Overall Safety Score — General crime rates, theft, violent crime

Women's Safety Score — Street harassment, gender-based violence, legal protections

LGBTQ+ Safety Score — Legal status, social acceptance, hate crime rates

Night Safety Score — How safe it is to walk alone after dark

Here's how some popular destinations compare:

City	Overall	Women	LGBTQ+	Night
Lisbon 🇵🇹	82	78	92	76
Barcelona 🇪🇸	65	62	88	55
Bangkok 🇹🇭	68	65	70	60
Tokyo 🇯🇵	90	85	55	88
Dubai 🇦🇪	90	75	20	88
Medellín 🇨🇴	55	48	60	35
Tallinn 🇪🇪	85	82	65	80
Mexico City 🇲🇽	50	45	72	30

Notice the disparities. Dubai scores 90 overall but only 20 for LGBTQ+ — because homosexuality is criminalized. Tokyo is extremely safe overall but provides limited legal protections for same-sex couples. Barcelona has high pickpocket rates that drag down its overall score, but its LGBTQ+ acceptance is among the best in the world.

For Solo Women: Real Talk

I've lived alone in Turkey, Portugal, Thailand, and Colombia. Here's what I've learned:

The Good

Portugal and Spain are among the safest European destinations for solo women. Street harassment is relatively rare compared to Italy or France. Public transport is safe at all hours. The expat communities are welcoming and inclusive.

Japan is exceptionally safe physically, but has unique challenges — crowded trains can be problematic, and there's a cultural reluctance to intervene in other people's business.

Estonia and the Nordics score highest overall, with strong legal frameworks and cultural respect for personal space.

The Real Concerns

Southeast Asia requires more street awareness. Thailand is generally safe, but tourist areas attract scams. Cambodia and Vietnam require extra caution at night.

Latin America varies enormously by neighborhood. Medellín's El Poblado is perfectly safe; other areas are not. Mexico City's Roma and Condesa are lovely; the outskirts can be dangerous.

Middle East and North Africa — Women-specific rules (dress codes, companion requirements) apply in several countries. Research thoroughly before committing.

My Personal Safety Protocol

First week: Take taxis/rideshares only after dark until you know the city

Share your location with a trusted contact at all times

Learn emergency numbers and save them before arrival

Trust your instincts — I've left apartments, neighborhoods, and entire cities because something felt off

Connect with local women's groups — Facebook groups like "Girls Gone International" are invaluable

For LGBTQ+ Relocators: Know Before You Go

This section could literally save your freedom — or your life.

Countries Where Homosexuality Is Criminalized

As of 2026, 64 countries still criminalize consensual same-sex relationships. Some popular expat destinations where caution is essential:

UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi) — Illegal, penalties include deportation and imprisonment

Malaysia — Illegal under federal law, penalties up to 20 years

Singapore — Decriminalized in 2022 but no legal recognition

Kenya — Illegal, up to 14 years imprisonment

The Safest Destinations for LGBTQ+ Couples

City	Legal Status	Marriage	Adoption	Social Acceptance
Amsterdam 🇳🇱	Full rights	✅	✅	Very high
Barcelona 🇪🇸	Full rights	✅	✅	Very high
Lisbon 🇵🇹	Full rights	✅	✅	High
Berlin 🇩🇪	Full rights	✅	✅	High
Buenos Aires 🇦🇷	Full rights	✅	✅	High
Taipei 🇹🇼	Marriage legal	✅	Limited	Medium-high

Practical Advice from LGBTQ+ Expats

Research the specific city, not just the country — Bangkok's LGBTQ+ scene is vibrant despite Thailand lacking marriage equality

Check if your partnership/marriage will be recognized — This affects visa sponsorship, healthcare, property rights

Be aware of PDA norms — Legal acceptance doesn't always mean social acceptance

Connect with local LGBTQ+ organizations before arriving

For Families with Children

School Safety and Quality

The most important factor for relocating families. Consider:

International school availability — Not every city has English-language schools

Cost — International schools range from €5,000 to €30,000/year

Local school quality — Portugal and Spain have decent free public schools; Southeast Asia varies widely

Language of instruction — Will your child need to learn the local language? This can be an advantage or a barrier

Healthcare for Children

Vaccination schedules differ by country — some schools require specific vaccines

Pediatric care quality varies enormously — Thailand has excellent private hospitals; rural areas elsewhere may not

Emergency facilities — Know where the nearest pediatric ER is before you need it

Safety Infrastructure

Look for:

Sidewalks and pedestrian areas (surprisingly missing in many Asian cities)

Air quality (critical in Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, New Delhi)

Water quality

Natural disaster risk (earthquakes, floods, typhoons)

The ReloMap Approach

Every destination page on ReloMap includes our 4-dimensional safety breakdown. We don't sugarcoat scores to make destinations look attractive — if a city scores 20 for LGBTQ+ safety, we show 20.

Use the Compare feature to see safety scores side-by-side for your shortlisted destinations. For families, pair safety data with our healthcare and quality of life scores.

Compare Safety Scores Across Destinations → Get Your Personalized Safety-Focused Recommendation →