Best places to travel solo: 12 destinations ranked by what you want

How we chose the best places to travel solo

Lists of the best solo travel destinations often rank countries by how photogenic they are. A solo traveller needs something more practical. When we grouped our 12 countries, we looked at the things that actually change how a trip feels when nobody is with you.

• Ease of getting around. Can you link the main sights by train, bus or ferry without a car? Japan, Portugal, Spain and Italy score well here; Jordan and parts of Peru are harder without a driver or a group.
• Eating and socialising alone. Some cultures make single diners feel completely normal – counter seating in Japan, tapas bars in Spain, long shared tables in Greece.
• Meeting other travellers. Countries on a well-worn route, such as the north–south line through Vietnam or the Lima–Cusco–Arequipa route in Peru, make it easy to keep bumping into the same people.
• Safety in practice. We did not score safety with numbers. Instead we used the balanced picture in each country guide: what the common issues are, where government advice warns against travel, and how much daily hassle a visitor tends to meet.
• Daily cost. Solo travellers usually pay more per person because rooms and taxis are not shared, so a low daily budget matters more.
• How much a group helps. In some countries you can do everything independently with little effort. In others, joining a small group for part of the trip removes most of the stress.

No country is perfect on every point, and no destination is completely risk-free. Use these groups as a starting point, then read the full country guide before you book. Rules on visas and entry change and depend on your passport, so check your own government's travel advice and the country's official immigration information for the latest picture.

Best solo travel destinations for a first trip

If you have never travelled alone, choose somewhere that forgives small mistakes: good public transport, plenty of English in tourist areas, and a culture where being on your own is not unusual. These are our best solo travel destinations for a first trip.

Portugal

Short distances, trains and buses between Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve, a relaxed pace and a lively hostel scene. Portugal is generally considered one of the safer countries in Europe for solo travellers; pickpocketing on busy trams is the main thing to watch. A budget traveller can manage on roughly €45–65 a day.

Japan

Often described as one of the easiest countries in the world to travel alone. Trains are punctual, cities are clean, crime rates are low and eating alone is normal. The challenges are cost (roughly €60–90 a day on a tight budget) and a culture with many unspoken rules, which a guide or group can help explain.

Spain

Fast trains link Madrid, Barcelona, Seville and Granada, and social life happens outdoors late into the evening. Petty theft, especially in Barcelona, is the main risk. Expect around €50–70 a day on a budget.

Greece

Ferries and buses reach most places, English is widely spoken in tourist areas, and long shared meals make dining alone easy. Ferry timetables between islands can be the trickiest part of planning.

Thailand and Vietnam

For a first solo trip in Asia, both are classics. Thailand has well-organised transport and huge numbers of travellers in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and on the islands. Vietnam's long, narrow shape means most visitors follow the same route, so you keep meeting the same faces. In both, road traffic and scooters are a bigger risk than crime.

Countries we recommend

Best short-haul adventure from EuropeMoroccoSouks, Atlas villages and a night in the Sahara in one trip. Many solo travellers join a group for the desert section.Best for a first solo tripPortugalShort distances, easy trains and buses, a relaxed pace and a lively hostel scene in Lisbon and Porto. Generally considered one of Europe's safer countries for solo travellers.Easiest to travel aloneJapanPunctual trains, low crime and a culture where eating alone at a counter is completely normal. The main downside is cost.Most social in EuropeSpainTapas bars, plazas and late dinners make it easy to be around people, and fast trains link the big cities.Best for islands and ruinsGreeceFerries, ancient sites and long shared meals in a compact country, with English widely spoken in tourist areas.Best for art and foodItalyRome, Florence and Venice by fast train, plus cooking classes and countryside dinners that are more fun with company.Best on a budgetVietnamRoughly €25–40 a day on a budget, cheap street food and a north–south route where you keep meeting the same travellers.Best first trip in AsiaThailandWell-organised transport, a huge range of places to stay and plenty of other travellers in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and the islands.Best for adventurePeruMachu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, Colca Canyon and the Amazon. Permits, altitude and timed tickets make a group especially useful.Best first trip in the Middle EastJordanPetra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea in one week, with welcoming hosts. Limited public transport makes shared drivers or a group good value.Best for ancient historyEgyptThe pyramids, Luxor, Abu Simbel and the Nile. Intense alone, much calmer with a small group and a guide.Best mix of city, history and coastTurkeyIstanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus and the Mediterranean in one route, with strong hospitality and good-value buses.

Best solo travel destinations in Europe

Europe is where many people take their first solo trip, and for good reason: trains, compact cities and a café culture that makes sitting alone feel natural. Portugal, Spain, Italy and Greece are all in the Schengen area, where many nationalities can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180. The EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES) and the planned ETIAS travel authorisation affect many visitors, so check the current rules for your passport before you go.

Portugal – easiest and most relaxed

Lisbon and Porto are walkable and social, the Douro Valley and Alentejo are calm, and costs are among the lower ones in Western Europe at roughly €45–65 a day on a budget.

Spain – most social

Tapas crawls, flamenco nights and late dinners suit people who like company. Every region feels different, from Madrid's museums to the green hills of Galicia and the Moorish palaces of Andalusia.

Italy – best for art, food and trains

Fast trains connect Rome, Florence, Bologna, Venice and Milan, so you can cover several cities in a week without a car. Italy is the most expensive of our European picks, at roughly €55–80 a day on a tight budget, and summer crowds at the big sights are intense.

Greece – islands, ruins and mountains

Athens, the Cyclades, Crete, Meteora and the Zagori villages offer huge variety in a small area. Spring and early autumn, roughly April to June and September to October, are usually the best balance of warm weather and fewer crowds.

Turkey – between Europe and Asia

Istanbul sits on both continents and is often combined with Cappadocia, Ephesus and the Mediterranean coast. Turkey is not in the Schengen area; depending on your nationality you may need an e-visa or none, so check before travelling.

If you are searching for the best solo travel destinations in Europe for a first trip, start with Portugal or Spain. If you already have some experience and want deep history, Italy or Greece will reward you.

Where to travel solo for history and culture

Culture-focused trips are a great fit for solo travellers because museums, temples and old towns are easy to enjoy at your own pace. These countries stand out in our guides for depth of history.

Italy

Rome, Florence and Venice hold some of the most famous art and architecture in the world, and smaller places such as Puglia, Sicily and the Tuscan hill towns show a slower side. Timed tickets for major museums sell out in busy months, so plan ahead.

Egypt

The pyramids of Giza, the temples of Luxor, Abu Simbel and a slow boat on the Nile make Egypt one of the most remarkable places you can visit. It can be hard work alone because of long distances and persistent selling around the main sites, which is why many solo travellers join a small group for the Nile Valley. Government advice warns against travel to some areas, including North Sinai, so read it before you plan your route.

Japan

Kyoto's temples, Nara, Hiroshima and Miyajima, and the old towns of the Japan Alps such as Takayama and Shirakawa-go give a deep cultural trip. Learning a few customs – removing shoes, quiet on trains, no tipping – makes a big difference.

Turkey

Istanbul's mosques and bazaars, the ruins of Ephesus and the Mevlevi heritage of Konya span thousands of years. Tea is offered almost everywhere and hospitality is part of daily life.

Jordan

Petra is the headline, but Roman Jerash, the mosaics of Madaba and Mount Nebo add a lot. Jordan is small, so you can see a great deal in a week.

A guide adds the most value in culture-heavy countries. Hearing the story behind a temple or tomb changes what you see, and a guide often costs less per person when shared with a group.

Solo travel destinations for adventure and nature

Adventure trips can feel daunting alone because of permits, remote transport and safety. They are also some of the easiest trips to share with others, since trekking groups and desert camps bring people together naturally.

Peru

Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, Colca Canyon, Lake Titicaca and the Amazon make Peru one of the strongest adventure picks. It needs more planning than most countries: high altitude, limited and timed Machu Picchu tickets, trekking permits and long bus journeys. Altitude is a health risk that many people underestimate, so build in acclimatisation days. The Andes dry season, roughly May to September, is usually the best time for trekking.

Jordan

Walking the Siq into Petra, sleeping in a Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum and hiking in the Dana Biosphere Reserve are highlights. Public transport is limited, so solo travellers often end up paying for private drivers; a small group shares that cost.

Morocco

From the High Atlas Mountains to a night in the Sahara dunes at Merzouga or Zagora, Morocco packs a lot into a short trip. Desert trips involve long drives, which is one of the main reasons solo travellers join a group.

Vietnam

The mountain loops around Sapa and Ha Giang, the caves of Phong Nha and the karst scenery of Ninh Binh and Ha Long Bay offer plenty of outdoor days. Many travellers ride motorbikes without the right licence or experience; road accidents are the biggest risk here, so think carefully before you rent.

Greece

Less obvious, but the gorges of Crete and the stone villages and trails of Zagori in Epirus are excellent walking country, especially in spring and autumn.

For any adventure trip, check that your travel insurance covers the activities and altitudes you plan, and choose experienced local guides for treks.

Cheapest places to travel solo

Travelling alone usually costs more per person than travelling as a couple, because there is nobody to split a room, a taxi or a rental car with. That makes low daily costs especially valuable. Here are approximate 2026 budget-traveller ranges from our country guides, for a hostel or simple guesthouse, local food and public transport. They are rough figures – exchange rates and prices change, so check before you go.

• Vietnam: around €25–40 a day (Vietnamese dong). Street food is cheap and excellent.
• Thailand: around €30–45 a day (Thai baht). Islands and Bangkok cost more than the north.
• Egypt: around €30–45 a day (Egyptian pound). Entry tickets to major sites are a big part of the budget.
• Peru: around €30–45 a day (Peruvian sol), plus the cost of Machu Picchu tickets, trains and treks.
• Morocco: around €35–50 a day (Moroccan dirham). Riads and food are good value.
• Turkey: around €35–55 a day (Turkish lira). Prices have moved a lot in recent years.
• Jordan: around €45–65 a day (Jordanian dinar). Petra entry and transport add up.
• Portugal and Greece: around €45–70 a day (euro).
• Spain: around €50–70 a day (euro).
• Italy: around €55–80 a day (euro).
• Japan: around €60–90 a day (Japanese yen).

A cheap daily budget is not the whole picture. Flights to Southeast Asia or Peru may cost far more than a short flight within Europe, and countries where you need private drivers, such as Jordan, can end up costing a solo traveller more than the daily figure suggests. Joining a small group for the expensive parts – desert trips, long transfers, boat cruises – is one way to share those costs.

Where a group trip helps a solo traveller most

In some countries you can travel independently with almost no friction. In others, a small group or a local guide for part of the trip makes a real difference to cost, comfort and confidence. Based on our guides, these are the places where joining others is most useful.

• Egypt. Long distances between Cairo, Luxor and Aswan, tickets that are not always simple to arrange and constant offers from touts. A group with a guide makes the Nile Valley much calmer.
• Morocco. Confusing medina lanes, negotiated prices and long drives to the Sahara. Many solo travellers explore Marrakech or Fes on their own, then join a group for the desert.
• Jordan. Limited public transport between Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea. A group shares the cost of drivers that would otherwise be expensive alone.
• Peru. Timed Machu Picchu tickets, trek permits, altitude and early starts. Group trips usually build acclimatisation days into the route.
• Turkey. A big country with long travel days. A group links Istanbul, Cappadocia and the coast efficiently.

In Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece and Japan, independent travel is straightforward, and a group is more about company, shared meals and less planning than about practical necessity. Thailand and Vietnam fall in the middle: easy to do alone on the main routes, but a group helps with bay cruises, northern mountain loops and combining regions in a short holiday.

You do not have to choose one or the other. Many solo travellers mix a few independent days in a city with a week-long small group trip, which gives both freedom and company.

Where to travel solo by season

Timing matters as much as the destination. Arriving in the right season means comfortable temperatures, open trails and fewer crowds. These are the usual best months from our country guides; weather varies from year to year, so treat them as typical patterns only.

Spring (March to May)

A strong season for Morocco, Jordan, Japan (around cherry blossom time, which is also busy), Spain, and the start of the good season in Portugal, Italy, Greece and Turkey. Vietnam is usually pleasant from around February to April.

Summer (June to August)

The dry season in the Peruvian Andes, so a good time for Machu Picchu and treks, though also busy. The Gulf islands of Thailand, such as Koh Samui, are often good into August. Southern Europe is hot and crowded; Greek islands and the Portuguese coast are lively if you like company.

Autumn (September to November)

Excellent for Morocco, Jordan, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece and Turkey, with warm days and thinner crowds. Japan's autumn colours, usually around October and November, are a highlight. Vietnam is often good from around September to November, depending on the region.

Winter (December to February)

The best time for Egypt, when days in Luxor and Aswan are usually warm rather than very hot. It is also high season on Thailand's Andaman coast, around Krabi and Koh Lanta. Most of Europe is quieter and cheaper, and some solo travellers enjoy city breaks in Lisbon, Seville or Rome at this time.

If you are flexible, travelling just outside peak season often gives the best balance for a solo traveller: lower room prices, which matter more when you pay alone, and still enough other visitors to meet people.

What about the US and other countries?

Many people search for the best solo travel destinations in the US, Costa Rica, Mexico, Bali or Australia. We have not written guides for those places yet, so we do not rank them here. We would rather say that honestly than give you a short, thin answer about a country we have not researched properly.

Our current guides cover 12 countries across Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, Asia and South America: Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand and Peru. Each one includes the best time to visit, a packing list, visa basics, approximate budgets, safety advice for solo and female travellers, sample itineraries and tips for meeting other travellers.

If you are looking at a country we do not cover, the same questions still help you decide whether it suits a solo trip:

• Is there public transport between the places you want to see, or will you need a car or driver?
• Do people commonly eat alone, and are there hostels, cafés or group activities where you can meet others?
• What does your government's travel advice say about the regions you plan to visit?
• How much will accommodation cost when you are paying for a room on your own?
• Would a small group or a few guided days make the hardest parts easier?

Official travel advice is a good first stop for any destination. UK travellers can use gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, US travellers travel.state.gov and Australians smartraveller.gov.au. Other countries publish similar advice, and the destination's own immigration website is the place to confirm entry rules.