10 Best Places to Travel as a Black Woman (2024)

*A post for black women* Girl, we all know the world isn’t always built for us.  As Black women, merely existing can feel like an obstacle course, let alone venturing out to explore a new place.  And with travel, there’s a whole extra layer of questions: is it safe? Will I be welcome? Will people want to touch my hair? On top of that, the usual worries about being a woman on the road come into play.  But guess what?  We deserve to experience the world too!  That’s why I’ve compiled a personal list of my 10 best places to travel as a black woman.  Whether you’re looking for tropical, cultural, or big city living, I’ve got you! So pack your bags, ladies – it’s time to see the world! Travel Destination Criteria I thought I’d start out with the set of rules I’ve used for picking the places I’ve chosen. So, here’s my criteria for what makes somewhere one of the best places to travel as a black woman:  1. Safety Duh! Safety is priority number one, of course.  We all deserve to feel secure while exploring new places.  So, you won’t find any war zones or places they do terrorism or kidnapping on this list. No places with excessive crime, either.  We face enough dangers because of our appearance, and we don’t usually have the best odds in hospital situations. So, on this list, we’ll stick to the safest places that even mom won’t worry about.  2. Racism (or Lack Thereof) This is a big travel criteria as a black woman.  Because who wants to fend of racism while on holiday, right?! And while every individual’s experience in these places might be different, I’ve gone with looking at the general racism I felt in these places. Because, while we can’t avoid it completely, some destinations are more welcoming than others.  3. I’ve Been There Personally So, while I am well-travelled, this criteria narrows down the list significantly.  But hear me out.  Anyone can do a hypothetical “best places to travel as a black woman” list. But I think there’s still something to be said for actually having lived experience in those places.  4. Cultural Awareness What is cultural awareness? And why is this different to racism? Sit down, I’m glad you asked.  A place with cultural awareness of black people is one where people are accustomed to seeing and catering to Black travellers.  One where they don’t gawk or try to touch your skin or hair.  Or ask weird questions like “Do you know Oprah? Beyonce? Or Rihanna?” – true story. (Unfortunately, no. We don’t run in the same circles.) So, while a place might not be considered “racist”, there may be a lot of unintentional cultural insensitivity that may be annoying to navigate on holiday. 5. Fun! Of course, no list is complete without considering the fun factor!  These destinations offer not just safety and respect, but also beauty, adventure (but not the warzone kind), and amazing experiences. Buckle up! Here are the best places to travel as a black woman (in no particular order):   1. Reunion Island, France Okay, the “France” part is slightly misleading.  Because this gorgeous island is actually located off the east coast of Africa, in the vicinity of Mauritius and Madagascar.  How it still belongs to France is a history lesson I won’t be giving.  But how amazing it is, I can tell you. (I lived there for about 7 months). From the natural offerings (tropical forests, oceans, volcanoes), to lovely restaurants, stunning beaches, and fun events throughout the year, Reunion is as close to paradise as it gets.  Also, its as modern as any big city with all the amenities you can ask for.  The population is super mixed so you’ll be able to find whatever you need (hair care, foundation shades, braids).  So, take your Duolingo French with you to Reunion Island and thank me later. 2. Lisbon, Portugal Full transparency: we live near Lisbon now.  But there’s a reason why we live here. Many, in fact. (I wrote a whole post about it). Lisbon has that European-city charm, great weather, fun, forever-partying people, and it’s also super accepting to people of all colours.  Because while my mixed-race family has had trouble integrating in Africa, we’ve had no issue here.  They also operate on “Mediterranean time”, which means you wake up at 10am, have a nap at 3pm, before partying the night away. It’s a veritable festa.   Lisbon has it all. If you’re looking for something more cultural, you can definitely check out the palaces in Sintra (30 mins north).  Or perhaps lounging around on a beach is more your style? Visit Costa da Caparica (30 mins south, pictured above).   3. Havanna, Cuba My heart is in Havanna, ooh na na… Cuba is multicultural. You can go there on any budget. (I went on the Broke Ass Student Plan). And, of course, the nightlife is amazing.  But it’s also super safe, very multicultural, and absolutely stunning! (Who knew communism could look so good?). On top of that, the rum was cheaper than water in some places, and Cuban cigars are pretty cheap.  So, you can fully indulge your vices under the guise of “cultural integration”.  4. Reykjavik, Iceland My friend, go to Iceland in the winter. I cannot promise you multicultural. (These statues were the closest I got to finding another brown person). I cannot even promise you sunshine and good weather.  But the cosiest Christmas atmosphere in the most ethereal place, you will find. Lovely bars, restaurants, and most importantly, people, too.  And the sun rises at 10am and sets at 4pm in December. So you can wake up late after partying for 12 hours.  (Check out their blue lagoon hot springs if you’re into something more chill.) 5. London, England Aaahh London.  My first time visiting was during a week of excellent weather in July.  The sun was shining. People were singing (for money) in the streets.  Those