Roam alone: discover the best places to travel solo
Traveling with family and friends is so sweet and precious, right? Wrong!
Sometimes you just need to escape the constant compromises and fights over window seats and make it all about YOU. And that's okay. After all, remember the immortal words of Jason Derulo: "S-O-L-O, I'm living my life, ain't got stress no mo'."
Make that your mantra as you hike, dance, chat, and eat your way through some of the best destinations for solo travel around the world.
| Contents | |
| Ireland | |
| Iceland | |
| Greece | |
| Portugal | |
| Thailand | |
| Bhutan | |
| Japan | |
| Tanzania | |
| Morocco | |
| New Zealand | |
| Australia | |
| Costa Rica | |
| Guatemala | |
| Mexico | |
| Canada |
Ireland
For many, solo travel on the Emerald Isle might be summed up by two words: "pubs" and "Guinness." But the pubs have more than Guinness (read: whiskey), and the country has more than pubs (read: stunning landscapes and medieval ruins).
Amid live Irish folk music, rivers of liquor, and great "craic" with open, friendly locals, you could happily spend your whole trip within the dark-wood-paneled walls of the land's legendary drinkeries. (Shush, liver!) But if you did, you'd miss the Wild Atlantic Way to the west, the mysterious Giant's Causeway to the north, and glens, mountains, forests, and dales along the tranquil Irish Sea coast to the east.
Blend in: if you only learn one Irish word, make it sláinte (slawn-che) – "cheers!"
Iceland
Iceland's otherworldly landscapes form an ideal backdrop for reflecting alone on the mysteries of life, the universe, and everything.
Start with the Golden Circle, not far from Reykjavik, with the Gullfoss waterfall and alien terrain of Geysir, which has, you guessed it, a giant geyser that erupts every three hours. It's also worth heading to Thingvellir National Park, where the Silfra trench splits two continents, or renting a car to drive the Ring Road around the whole island and ogle black-sand beaches, mountains, caves, and ice lagoons.
If you crave companionship, affable Icelanders will be happy to tell you about their culture and country, often in near-perfect English, as in other Nordic countries. Spas are a great place to chat – the lack of clothing and shared pools are the ultimate icebreaker.
Blend in: do as the Reykjavikings do and pretend not to even notice the northern lights.
Greece
The Greek islands set the scene for epic voyages, and on an island-hopping jaunt, you won't be alone for long – you're likely to meet many longtime Hellenophiles with tales to tell and tips to share.
Popular Corfu and Kefalonia offer Greek-culture-meets-beach-culture with plenty of social opportunities, while peaceful Naxos and Icaria will appeal to more introverted adventurers.
The Orthodox spiritual center of Mt. Athos makes for an awe-inspiring experience, but unfortunately not for solo female travelers, since women aren't allowed within 1,640ft (500m) of the monastic island.
In Athens, you'll see the world-famous Acropolis and can tour traditional (if touristy) taverns, or else set off on day trips to the Temple of Poseidon or Delphi. If you rent a car, it's worth driving to the Thermopylae hot springs – the site of the 300 Spartans' stand against the Persian army.
Blend in: avoid making the "stop" hand gesture ✋ – it's very insulting in Greek culture!
Portugal
"Travel is the traveler," riddled Portugal's national poet Fernando Pessoa, but his hometown of Lisbon is less of a puzzle thanks to its grid-like street pattern. A hub for digital nomads, it's a place to see grandiose Neoclassical buildings, taste pastéis de nata, and generally bathe your senses in the cafe and art culture, as well as events like the NOS Alive music festival.
In Porto, you can fill your camera roll with pics of terra-cotta roofs, ornate churches, and cobbled streets, and your stomach with port wine and fresh seafood.
Portugal is also a great choice for solo surfers thanks to its 500 miles (800km) of coastline and wide range of beaches, as well as for hikers owing to Parque Nacional de Peneda-Gerês, with granite peaks and villages frozen in time since the 12th century.
Blend in: the Portuguese tend to dress modestly and elegantly in public, so leave your tank top and flip flops for the beach.
Thailand
Speaking of beaches, how about a trip to this classic backpacking destination with pristine sandy strips, fantastic spicy food, and Buddhist culture? Good public transportation makes touring Bangkok a cakewalk, and you'll find no shortage of fellow wanderers eager to drag you off to clubs and parties, especially on Khao San Road.
In addition to nightlife, there are stunning sights like the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and the Golden Palace, and a Thai massage is a must (but think more invigorating than relaxing!).
A good day trip from the city is Khao Yai National Park, with birds, monkeys, and wild elephants to spot, plus the Haew Suwat waterfall, which appeared in The Beach. And if the wise words of the movie's hero – "just keep your mind open and suck in the experience" – inspire you, venture out to Pattaya with its neon signs, risque shows, and go-go girls.
Blend in: eat with your spoon, not your fork!
Bhutan
With limited tourism and hefty sustainable development fees, Bhutan isn't the easiest place to access. What's more, true solo travel has only been possible since 2022, as until then tourists from most nations needed a guide and driver.
All these rules and restrictions help maintain the country's unspoiled beauty, and health- and eco-conscious solo travelers might find a blueprint for their ideal land: smoking is illegal, Tuesday is a national dry day, and the country is trying to ban plastic (though not without difficulty).
The Trans Bhutan Trail, a 205-mile (403km) pilgrimage route, also reopened in 2022 after being closed since the '60s. Intrepid (and fit) visitors can hike the Dochula Pass through the snow-covered Himalayas, see the massive, high-altitude Trongsa Dzong fortress, and schlep up to the Tiger's Nest monastery.
Blend in: choose homestay options over hotels to get insider info and real insights into Bhutanese life.
Japan
Japan's super-efficient transport is great for solo travelers, and the culture celebrates solitude, so you won't have to worry about pitying glances when dining or drinking alone. Furthermore, many eateries have automated systems or vending machines for orders, eliminating language difficulties and awkwardness.
Bustling Tokyo often ranks among the safest cities in the world and has everything from upscale shops to historic temples and traditional gardens, not to mention ramen and tech! As the birthplace of the tea ceremony, Kyoto is a must for zenheads and teaheads alike. And, at risk of being Kyaputen Obvious, we'd like to remind travelers that spring is the time to catch the famous cherry blossoms.
Blend in: don't even bother trying to blend in, but here's a life hack: a lot of restaurants with vending machines will put their best dish in the top left corner.
Tanzania
Tanzania is probably best known for its safaris and Mt. Kilimanjaro, but there's plenty more to see when traveling alone.
If you want a really in-depth cultural experience, book a tour to visit the Maasai and see their famous jumping skills. The town of Moshi draws the most visitors as the home of Africa's highest peak, but a hidden gem nearby is the fig-tree-surrounded Kikuletwa Hot Springs. In cheaper Arusha, you'll find the country's second-largest mountain, Mt. Meru, and Arusha National Park is famed for its wildlife, including zebras, elephants, and giraffes.
Meanwhile, Zanzibar is steeped in (dark) history, and though Dar es Salaam is often overlooked, it's a great choice for city lovers.
Blend in: use your right hand for greeting people and giving/receiving things, as the left hand is considered dirty. In the more touristy areas, you'll get by fine with English, but if you want to explore or stay longer and volunteer, it's worth learning some Swahili.
Morocco
If you're mainly embarking on a solo trip to show off on your socials, you won't go wrong with Morocco, known for its eclectic architecture and ubiquitous mint tea fragrance. But as with many fairytale treasures, getting those stunning pics for the 'Gram may involve a quest.
Take Chefchaouen, the "Blue City." Reaching it involves a long bus or car ride, but you'll be rewarded with a phoneful of azure windows, doors, buildings, and even whole streets. In Fez, it's your nose that will undergo trials as you photograph stone vats full of cow pee, pigeon poop, limestone, and salt at an 11th-century tannery.
A less taxing option is the Red City, Marrakech, where you'll find the Ben Youssef Madrassa, a beautiful historic Islamic college, and the Yves Saint Laurent garden – Jardin Majorelle, where both the plants and the buildings are gorgeously vibrant.
Blend in: buy your own tangia (cooking pot), get all the ingredients for your stew fresh from the market, chop them up right there, add water to the pot, and then take it below the nearest bathhouse to be cooked in embers. Go back four hours later, et voilà! If you get stuck, just ask the market sellers to help you.
New Zealand
These peaceful isles are one of the world's best destinations for backpackers and outdoor enthusiasts, not to mention wine lovers and, yes, hobbitses.
Smaller than Australia, it's a more manageable Oceania option – people are generally easygoing, and you can hitchhike around. Those who'd like to stay longer will find plenty of volunteering and au pair opportunities.
The North Island has the country's capital, Wellington, whales in the Bay of Plenty, the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, and Rotorua with its geysers, mud baths, and Hobbiton. On the South Island, you'll find backpacker's hub Queenstown and more Bilbo-level adventures, like fjord cruises through Milford Sound, guided ice-walks or heli-hikes to Franz Josef Glacier, and the TranzAlpine railway.
Blend in: New Zealand has three official languages, English, Māori, and New Zealand Sign Language, but the main one you'll need to learn is sarcasm.
Australia
With a ton of hostels and hotels, plus famously sociable, English-speaking Aussies, Australia is a classic backpacker's destination.
The East Coast is where the party's at and has the Great Barrier Reef, may-as-well-be-the-capital Sydney, and the actual fashion capital Melbourne, while the West Coast has much less excitement but is great for a road trip at your own pace.
The iconic train The Ghan runs from Sydney, but you might like to take it from the country-town charms of Adelaide in the south either to quiet Perth in the west or all the way to the Red Centre in the Northern Territory, home to many of the country's Aborigines. Alternatively, you could skip all that and head north straight from Cairns Airport to explore the rainforest and wildlife around Cape Tribulation.
Blend in: feel free to wear your "pluggers" (flip flops) anytime, and in any situation.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica was ranked the happiest country in the world in 2021 and consistently rates highly among the greenest. It's a great destination for outdoor enthusiasts, who can zip-line through cloud forests in Monteverde, dive and snorkel amid coral reefs at the Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, and seek surf spots along 185 miles (298km) of coastline.
As for fauna, there's everything from tree frogs and toucans to sloths and pumas to see in Corcovado, one of the country's 28 national parks. You can even spot migrating humpback whales from Marino Ballena National Park on the Pacific coast. For a real solo adventure, try wreck-diving at Tortuga or kayaking along the Papagayo Peninsula, or take an inner journey at one of the many yoga retreats.
Blend in: learn the Tico slang word mae, close to English "dude," but avoid using it with women.
Guatemala
Guatemala is a particularly easy destination for solo trips thanks to its tight-knit community of travelers. While it's true that the country has a higher crime rate than some other places on this list, safety in tourist areas shouldn't be a concern.
There's plenty to discover, with volcanoes like Agua to hike up and Mayan jungle temples in Tikal to explore. And once you're all India-Jonesed out, you can soak in the serenity of Lake Atitlan and grab some handmade Mayan goods at the open-air Chichicastenango market.
Picturesque Antigua with its cobbled streets and colonial architecture is surrounded by no fewer than three volcanoes and has hostels aplenty. That means endless opportunities to hook up with fellow travelers, and you're sure to meet kindred spirits at salsa classes or chocolate tours.
Blend in: Guatemalans are often religious and tend to dress modestly, so do as they do.
Mexico
Mexico has a thriving backpacker culture, and with its abundance of cultural sites, stunning landscapes, and legendary cuisine, it's no wonder.
The Yucatán Peninsula can fulfill pretty much whatever role the solo traveler desires – beach getaway? Archaeologist's dream? First-timers who can spare the pesos might find the best of all worlds in Cancún, where you can enjoy luxury resorts and explore nearby Mayan ruins. Tulum and Chichén Itzá are must-visits, and the contemporary architecture of Mérida should appeal to aesthetes.
But if you'd like to get off the beaten path, consider Palenque, where you'll find waterfalls amid a lush jungle and more archaeological sites. Culture vultures will be well fed by the thriving art scene and many museums of Mexico City, and the trendy al fresco cafes in Condesa are on hand to provide something more substantial.
Blend in: now's the time to bust out that school Spanish. You'll get more respect from locals if you at least try to speak their language.
Canada
Canada is huge, so unless you're staying for a while, you're unlikely to see much of what it has to offer in a single solo trip.
For short visits, first decide whether you want to explore arts and culture in Toronto or glacial lakes in Banff National Park, hike and fish in the forests of Quebec and the East Coast or ski near Montreal or in the Rockies.
You could always wine away the hours in Ontario after visiting Niagara Falls, or even take a ferry ride to a little piece of France – St. Pierre and Miquelon – under an hour from Fortune in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Whatever you do, you're bound to appreciate the friendliness and helpfulness of Canadians along the way. And make sure to try their cuisine, from poutine and Montreal bagels to Caesar cocktails and chocolate bars that really earn the name.
Blend in: get a nice Bieber tattoo on your neck before you go.
