A British woman who travelled alone to Mumbai for the first time described stepping into the city's bustle as "chaos" but said she largely felt safe during the weeklong visit, according to a video she posted on Instagram.
Em, who posts as @emsbudgettravel, told viewers she had not travelled outside Europe unaccompanied before the trip and felt "anxious" ahead of the journey after friends and acquaintances warned her that India might be unsafe, "especially as a girl." She said those warnings did not stop her from going but left her "a little apprehensive."
In the video, Em said the first shock came walking out of the airport into a crowded taxi rank. She chose to stay in a hostel in Bandra rather than a hotel to meet other solo travellers and described the neighbourhood as "a lot quieter than central Mumbai" and "one of the safest areas of the city."
Although parts of the trip were "overwhelming at times," Em said she would not characterize her experience as "really unsafe." Her most uncomfortable moment came when a guide failed to meet her at a busy market meeting point near a main station. She said it was crowded and she was unable to secure an Uber for about 20 minutes, which left her feeling uneasy while waiting.
"Nothing actually happened," she said in the video, "I just had a bad feeling." She added that nobody approached her to ask for photographs, an occurrence she said she had heard can happen to tourists. Em also said she "didn't get stared at too much," counter to what she had expected.
Em cautioned that her impressions were limited to Mumbai, which she described as "probably one of the safer cities in India." She identified traffic and the risk of being hit by a car while crossing roads as the most dangerous aspects of her visit.
The account underscores differences in solo travel experiences across destinations and within countries. Travel safety advice commonly recommends researching neighbourhoods, using reputable transport options, and sharing plans with contacts when visiting congested urban environments. Em concluded the video saying she was "so glad" she had visited India.
Em’s account contributes to ongoing public conversation about solo female travel. Observers and travel specialists say experiences vary widely by city, neighbourhood and individual circumstances, and that anecdotal reports should be considered alongside broader safety data and official travel guidance.