Solo woman in Europe for 30 days. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

I'm 32, female, and from the U.S. I'm very well traveled but haven't been to Europe in awhile. I decided to go on my own to Berlin, Prague, Budapest, The Alps, Vienna, and Salzburg for 30 days. I was excited to see how it would be but also nervous because the times are different politically and socially.<br><br>Here are some observations:<br><br>**The Good**<br><br>* The vibe is very pro woman. Everyone was kind and respectful, very chivalrous. Men would hold the door, give me their seat, and carry my luggage. Many men I spoke to were feminist and very open to hearing my opinions on topics.<br>* Everyone speaks English. I spent a month in Poland in 2019 and outside of cities my phone translate app was my best friend. This time I could read signs, ask directions, and converse with people with ease. <br>* Food/Pubs/Cafes are great. I think I gained 5 pounds in a week eating all the dumplings and pastry. <br>* All the countries I went to were very dog friendly which I loved.<br>* The thermal baths/spas in Budapest and Berlin were great for the budget and are easy to find. Massage and sauna for $20.<br><br>**The Bad**<br><br>* A lot of people don't want to pretend to be your friend anymore. I met a few people but it was more surface level than in the past. People are still friendly and happy to talk, but I only met a handful of people that I genuinely connected with.<br>* Prices are a bit higher than I expected. Everyone mentioned that Eastern Europe is cheap but I felt like prices were a bit higher than my last visit in 2019.<br>* It seems people are planning more and doing more guided tours than before. I had to plan ahead a lot more and research to find places to eat that didn't have a long wait. <br>* I had a minor run in with a homeless person in Berlin. I was in a very touristy area but he started yelling at me for no reason. It was scary but I kept walking and he didn't follow me.<br><br>**The Ugly**<br><br>* I found Berlin and Vienna to be a bit dirty/ trashy. Berlin is pretty much an open air festival in the summer so I get that, and Vienna was full of cigarette butts everywhere. <br>* The economy is a bit rocky. Prices for food and housing are a bit higher than usual and some people were struggling to find a job, especially students. <br>* There is a lot of tension between immigrants and nationals still. I think this is a worldwide problem and not unique to Europe. <br>* Although there are many dog friendly places, there is a lot of dog poop in some cities. I think this is partly because their trash service is on strike in some places.<br>* The Alps were very crowded. I think the pandemic did something to people's brains. People are very rude in lines/cut in front of you, and push to get on trains.<br><br>**Safety Tips**<br><br>* Don't eat at tourist restaurants. They're usually more expensive and some aren't great quality. Ask locals for recommendations.<br>* Public transportation is a great way to get around for cheap. Make sure you stamp your ticket or have a pass.<br>* Be careful crossing streets especially in Berlin. People drive fast and sometimes don't stop at crosswalks.<br>* Don't carry a lot of cash. I used my ATM card and visa everywhere with no problems.<br>* Learn some basic words in the language to be polite like "hello", "thank you", and "excuse me."<br>* People are more physically close than in the U.S. I had strangers Rub against me on public transportation and ask to take a picture with me. Just roll with it.<br><br>Pros/Cons Overall:<br><br>Pros-<br><br>* Everyone speaks English<br>* There are a lot of free museums and walking city tours<br>* Good public transportation<br>* There are a lot of thermal baths/spas<br>* Everyone is very pro woman<br><br>Cons-<br><br>* People aren't really trying to make friends with other travelers anymore<br>* Prices are higher than expected<br>* It's very crowded and rude in tourist areas<br>* People aren't really trying to learn English anymore so you have to do more of the work to communicate<br><br>Will I come back?<br><br>Absolutely. I've been to most of Western Europe and Eastern Europe so my next trip will be to the Balkans or Greece. The vibe is more chill and relaxed than the U.S. and people are generally friendly. Everyone says that Europeans are rude but that's not true. They're just more straightforward and opinionated.