Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/bmanzurova
Topics: Travel
Callum Jones
A woman who's backpacked in more than 30 countries has detailed the nation she felt most unsafe in.
With Gen Z and millennials 'embracing' a simple travel trend to safe money in 2026, budget traveling is at an all-time high.
One anonymous explorer took to Reddit to explain how she's visited close to 40 countries on a 'tight budget' at the age of just 22.
On the 'AMA' forum, the traveler explained: "I’m lucky enough to be Australian. Born in Sydney, moved to US for 9 years, in Melbourne since then (except 1 year in Estonia).
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"In Melbourne, it’s common to have a job from 14yr9mo, so I had 4 years to save up as much money as I could and travel as soon as I graduated high school. I’m deeply interested in nature, culture, architecture, and language in particular."
She went on to explain that she's backpacked the likes of Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Romania and the Netherlands, while she's also visited the Middle East, the Americas, and done the popular tourist route of south-east Asia.
While the Redditor has experienced new cultures and met loads of amazing people along the way, there's one European nation she's visited that made her feel vulnerable.
Explaining the country she felt most unsafe in, the backpacker explained: "Honestly, Bulgaria. I wasn’t there long so I don’t pretend to have a deep knowledge of the country, but as a young female tourist, that was scary.
"I’ve never seen anything like the poverty I saw in Bulgaria - not even in south-east Asia. Whilst that’s sad, not scary, it did explain the sketchy vibe and attempts at theft/robbery."
She went on to explain how structures were 'missing floors', while it was pretty common for homes to be filled with 'dirt floors'.
On top of that, the traveler experienced people following her at night, though that was also common in the day.
"Being afraid to walk anywhere, even in a group, but being afraid to catch public transport or taxis because of other experiences," she added.
While the backpacker admits the people of Bulgaria are 'beautiful', she cannot recommend a visit to the Balkan nation, particularly for solo travellers.
Speaking to UNILAD in 2024, Drew Binsky, who's visited every country on the planet, detailed another scary place you may want to avoid.
"Back in 2018, I spent time in N'Djamena, Chad's capital, and largest city. Never in my life have I been more scared, threatened, or attacked (both verbally and physically) than I was in that hot, dusty, and beaten-down, deserted city," the YouTuber explained.
Drew continued: "I was involved in a disastrous police chase on a motorbike and was attacked by over a dozen people for trying to take a photo. If it wasn't for my 6'6'' local friend (AKA Bodyguard), then I'm not sure I would have made it out of that country alive - no joke!
"The lessons I learned from my experience there are the following: always ask before taking a photo of anyone, avoid crowds, including any demonstrations or protests."