13 Countries Every Black Woman Should Visit in their Lifetime
Updated: Feb 4, 2021
Are you a Black woman? Do you love to travel or seek to travel? Then this is THE POST for you! As a Black female traveler, I am often asked “is this place safe for Black female travelers?” or “how were you treated as a Black person in this location?” I also notice that through social media, these are the questions that people are either asking or answering for others. I get it -- traveling while Black & female is a unique experience!
You are not alone.
To help you decide where to go, I mobilized the help of 12 Black Travel Queens who are living their best travel life to share their perspectives of MUST TRAVEL international destinations for Black women from their own travel experiences. These Black Travel Queens travel frequently and have been to many countries around the globe. Therefore, their perspective is particularly valuable!
In honor of Black History Month, I wanted to take a moment to celebrate these Black Travel Queens. I also want you to know that there are places we can visit comfortably, while unapologetically spreading our Black Girl Magic. Moreover, this post was important for me for my blog goals to 1. Educate others on taking micro-cations; 2. Inspire people to support Black; 3. Amplify underrepresented voices in the travel industry. This blog post does all three!
As you read through this list and wanderlust on your next vacation, please keep in mind that each experience is personal and so your experience may be different. You ready sis!?!
Table of Contents:
1. Turkey1. Turkey 2. Barbados2. Barbados 3. Iceland3. Iceland 4. Rome, Italy4. Rome, Italy 5. Ghana5. Ghana 6. Thessaloniki, Greece6. Thessaloniki, Greece 7. Costa Rica7. Costa Rica 8. Egypt8. Egypt 9. Cape Town, South Africa9. Cape Town, South Africa 10. Japan10. Japan 11. Buenos Aires, Argentina11. Buenos Aires, Argentina 12. South Korea12. South Korea 13. Oslo, Norway13. Oslo, Norway Destination #1: Turkey
Recommended by LaQuisha
Connect with LaQuisha: Instagram | YouTube | Twitter | Podcast
Why: Black women, I want us to travel to unfamiliar countries more! I know it’s cool to go where you see all the influencers go… but when I tell you TURKEY should be on your travel list, ADD IT!
I had the most beautiful time there. The people were nice (not very English friendly- so, please learn some Turkish), very welcoming, and will definitely know you’re a tourist because no Black people live there.
Turkey overall is an amazing country with so much to do and see. And pre-COVID days, I heard it was a party country. I didn’t experience that side of Turkey, yet!
While there, I would make sure I stay for about 3 weeks and city hop. 36 cities are tourist attractions so there is plenty to see. From the city life of Istanbul to the beach sides of Bodrum and Alanya, to the adventures and excursions of Cappadocia and Pamukkale.
Top Recommendations: While in Istanbul check out:
Blue Mosque
Galata Tower
Maiden Tower
Topkapi Palace
While in Bodrum, go to the local village Etrim. The only recommendation I have from being there is to tour the village, meet the locals and have a farm to table lunch. It is a big summer destination!
Must Eats: EVERYTHING we ate was delicious. Turkish people love their wine (non-Muslim of course). So have yourself some local wine and the Donor (Shawarma), or a nice mixed grill (chicken tikka and beef with rice). Or you can take a cooking class and have a traditional Turkish meal with Fatima’s Kitchen! Our cooking class started by walking and shopping at the local markets. The menu consisted of stuffed eggplants, stuffed grape leaves, garlic Yogurt sauce, Turkish warm pastries, Turkish rice pilaf, and salad topped off with Turkish coffee.
Need more info? Check out LaQuisha’s Resource:
Destination #2: Barbados
Recommended by Jo
Connect with Jo: Instagram | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | | YouTube
Why: I have been there three times, and on every occasion, I’ve felt so welcomed by the people there. Since I too am from the Caribbean, it feels like coming home. Barbados is somewhere I would keep returning to if given the chance.
Top Recommendations:
The Gap: St. Lawrence Gap, also known as “The Gap” by locals, is a small street filled with restaurants, clubs, bars, and hotels. It’s definitely the place to be at night and you will be guaranteed to find something that suits your interest. It’s even a great place to purchase souvenirs for loved ones or to try your luck at a casino!
The Boatyard: The Boatyard is a great place to spend the day at the beach because you have all your needs right within arm’s reach. The thing that makes The Boatyard such a great spot is that you pay $40 in Barbadian dollars and $35 put on a card as credit towards your food and drinks. You can stay there as long as you want and there are sunbeds, umbrellas, and chairs for you to relax in. You can also opt-in for a boat trip that takes you out to see the turtles and a shipwreck. The Boatyard is great for kids (and big kids) as well, because there is an assortment of inflated water slides to enjoy.
Must Eats: I’m telling you...you cannot leave Barbados without stopping at Cuz’s Fish Shack. I found it by accident on my first trip to the island and what a happy mistake that was! Cuz’s serves up marlin filet fish sandwiches on a soft bread bun. Toppings include lettuce, a fried egg, and cheese. It’s a nice snack to take with you to the nearby beach or to eat at any time. It was so good that I ended up going three times during my visit!
Destination #3: Iceland
Recommended by Ashlee
Connect with Ashlee: Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest | YouTube | Blog
Why: Iceland had amazing food. It’s an island so there are lots of fresh seafood. Iceland was gorgeous and also had a variety of beautiful landscapes. The food was delicious and the people were surprisingly friendly. With only a 5-hour plane ride from the East Coast, I'd definitely recommend going for those who want a different travel experience.
Top Recommendations:
You must see the Northern Lights
Take any tour to see the beautiful landscape...geysers, black sand, waterfalls, and more.
Must Eats:
Kol Restaurant
Seafood Grille
Need more info? Check out Ashlee’s Resource:
Also, check out Franny the Traveler’s Resources:
Destination #4: Rome, Italy
Recommended by Ashlee
Connect with Ashlee: Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest | YouTube | Blog
Why: What can I say about Rome? The food, the people, the culture. Everything! What amazed me the most was the juxtaposition of its rich history with its modern current culture. I remember getting off the metro, looking up, and staring directly at the Coliseum. I felt like I stepped right into my 8th-grade history book.
Top Recommendations: You must visit the
Colosseum
Pantheon
Vatican
All the historical sights
...and catch their metro there!
Must Eats: Obviously any pasta, pizza or gelato are musts!
Destination #5: Ghana
*NOTE: This was recommended by two Black travelers.
Therefore, you know it’s got to be worth it!
Recommended by Saundra
Connect with Saundra: Instagram
Why: From the time I got off the plane, I felt like I was home. One lady even came up to me and said you have a good aura...welcome home my child! Having taken an ancestry test that revealed that I have roots in Ghana, it got chills! There are so many places and things to do in Ghana!