There’s something so freeing about solo travel. You get to make your vacation absolutely 100% the way you want it. If you want to take an entire day exploring a museum or a shopping mall, you can do that. If the idea of traveling to a new city excites you, knowing thousands of other solo travelers are there right at that same moment experiencing the same things you are, then read on! We’ve profiled 12 destinations specifically known for being safe and fun for male and female travelers. For added inspiration, check out our picture galleries chock full of additional destinations that are solo-friendly.
I found that one of the most-recommended places for solo travelers is the beautiful city of Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands. It is insanely easy to travel independently in Amsterdam. If you fly directly into Schiphol Airport, you can take a train from the airport directly to Amsterdam Central Station. (Don’t worry: Train ticket kiosks, ATMs, and the like will always give you an option to proceed in English.) Fifteen minutes after leaving the airport, you’re in the middle of all the action. Because everything is clearly labeled in English as well as Dutch, traveling on public transport in Amsterdam is a breeze. It is one of the safest capitals in Europe, making it an ideal choice for both male and female solo travelers. English is very commonly spoken in the Netherlands, so there are virtually zero instances where you will encounter an insurmountable language barrier. Don’t be embarrassed to ask questions: the Dutch are open-minded and their kindness will put you at ease quickly, allowing you to make new friends and vacation solo the Dutch way!
Barcelona, the beautiful gem of Spain‘s Catalonia region, has been hailed as one of the most popular picks for solo travelers from the U.S. From the Gothic Quarter to Barceloneta (pictured), La Rambla and L’Eixample, you will fall in love with Catalonian charm the second you step off the plane. The Barcelona Metro is easy to navigate; the ticket kiosks offer an English option and are red, labeled “Tiquets” or “Venda de Tiquets”. There are minor safety issues that solo travelers should be aware of, namely that crimes against tourists occur at a higher rate at night and before sunrise, and that pickpockets should be a concern on the Metro and in the city center. Keep passports and other documents next to your body under your clothes, and only withdraw enough money for each day once a day. Once you know those helpful tips, you can join the thousands of tourists each year who enjoy traveling alone and savoring the experience of Barcelona.
Safety is not a concern for those wishing to travel to Copenhagen, the capital city of Denmark. In 2021 Copenhagen was actually named the “World’s Safest City” by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), which rated it the overall safest out of 60 national capitals studied. Like with Amsterdam, Danes are as a rule quite proficient in English, making it easy to communicate and get the feel for the area. Solo travel to Copenhagen is popular because of the ease of communication, allowing you to see what you want to see and even make some new friends. The Copenhagen Metro, which reaches all corners of the city and suburbs, is easy to use, with signs and ticket kiosks in English. Some great activities for solo travelers: Stroll the streets of the old commune Christiania, ride the rides at Tivoli Gardens, and visit The Little Mermaid statue and strike a pose!
If you’re looking for a safe, fun city with lots of culture, you can’t go wrong with a trip to Dublin, the cheerful capital city of the Republic of Ireland. It is one of the top five safest capitals in Europe, making it very tempting to walk around tourist areas such as Temple Bar at night to enjoy live Irish music. Dublin Airport is situated six miles north of the city center, very convenient to just take a bus, car rental, or taxi into Dublin in just 15 minutes. In addition to Temple Bar, solo travelers should definitely get a feel of Dublin’s legendary Grafton Street (pictured), where you can window-shop and stop in at a café. Definitely make time for tours the National Museums! While authentic Irish culture is best experienced in the west of the country and away from cities like Dublin, the city is popular with tourists, solo or otherwise. There will be many opportunities for you to experience and learn about Irish culture from its castles, gardens (including one of Dublin’s centerpieces, Dublin Castle), music, and food.
For a long time, American travelers slept on Portugal, but now more and more people — solo travelers among them — are flocking to the Western European nation’s sunkissed shores. Compared to the rest of Western Europe, Portugal is relatively affordable, with a rich cultural tapestry and lots of things to see and do. Lisbon is its picture-postcard-perfect capital city, which is one of the most vibrant, progressive, and safe capitals in Europe. Enjoy some pasteis de nata at a café, sit in on a fado music session, and shop for all kinds of gifts from traditional Portuguese azulejo tiles to luxury clothing and handbags, and that’s just Day 1! Make time to see sights like the Medieval Castelo de São Jorge and Lisbon Cathedral and the sleek and modern aquarium Oceanário de Lisboa. Lisbon Metro’s ease of access is remarkable; while not every sign will be in English, maps from station ticket offices will be available in English, and the light and dark blue ticket kiosk machines (“Bilhetes e passes”) offer options to proceed with buying a ticket in English.
London is a world leader in tourism, because it has so much culture on display, so many historic sights of past and current importance, and a high ease of travel. London Heathrow Airport is located directly on the London Underground, the UK‘s largest and busiest subway system. If you’re arriving in London via Gatwick, trains travel from the airport into central London in just 15 minutes. Since London sees so many tourists, it is renowned for its safety, particularly in areas where tourists visit, like the central and western portions of the city. The great thing about traveling solo in London is that you can do it at your pace. If you want to shop one day, stroll through parks and gardens the next day, do a hop-on-hop-off tour the next, or even take the train out of the city to explore the nearby countryside, you can do all of that in a snap of the fingers.
It makes sense that one of the world’s biggest cities, New York City, would be a favorite for both male and female solo travelers. The subway system is very extensive, connecting all five boroughs and the suburbs, allowing you to go pretty much anywhere you want to go. One of the greatest things about New York City is that a lot of the tourist attractions are ideal to experience alone, whether you’re visiting the Statue of Liberty (pictured), walking the Brooklyn Bridge, strolling through the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the list goes on and on. Some common sense safety tips will go a long way here: Be cognizant of your surroundings at all times, keep walking with purpose even if you are lost and dip into a shop if need be to ask for directions, and keep an eye on all of your property, especially while riding the subway. The AirTrain connects JFK Airport to Manhattan, while the M60 Select Bus connects LaGuardia Airport to Manhattan, making it easy to get into the thick of the action.
One city that kept appearing in my research for this blog is Queenstown, which sits on Lake Wakatipu in the Southern Alps of New Zealand‘s South Island. Once I tell you all about it, you’ll see why people love it so much! Queenstown, in the shadow of the Double Cone mountain peak (pictured at right), is considered a worldwide epicenter for adventure vacations and extreme sports. Luckily, nearly everything that entices people to visit Queenstown can be done solo. The airport is just a few miles from the city center, and it takes just 15 minutes by bus or taxi to get there. While you’re here, you can mountain climb, hike, bike, bungee jump, white water raft, skydive, ski (in season), and that’s just naming a few fun activities! Queenstown is also just to the west of the renowned Otago wine region, and you can sample delicious vintages at wineries located to the east of the city in towns such as Cromwell, Bannockburn, Bendigo, and Alexandra.
Solo travelers have flocked to Iceland for decades because of the varied geography and landscapes that are found here and also because of its low crime rate, among the lowest in the world. Solo travelers arriving in Iceland must spend a few days in the capital, Reykjavik (pictured), before exploring the rest of the country. Stroll the streets, linger in a café, swim at the Blue Lagoon, and see the Northern Lights. All of this is possible while staying in Reykjavik. For those intrepid travelers who want to explore Iceland’s 821-mile ring road (Þjóðvegur 1) that travels the perimeter of the island, self-drive vacation options are available. The rugged terrain of Iceland, from geothermal springs to waterfalls to rocky cliff faces, are yours to experience and absolutely wondrous to experience solo. If you want to explore Reykjavik and environs by bus, download the Strætó.is app before you leave home. There is an English option and you can purchase your bus tickets straight from the app.
Singapore offers so much for the solo traveler. It is one of the safest countries in the world; its public transport network is clean, efficient and easy to use; and it is filled with so much glitz and culture. Explore the local neighborhoods with their byzantine streets and charming tea and coffee houses, visit the majestic Merlion (pictured), find some of the best bargains of your life at the numerous thrift stores in the city, learn about British colonial culture through its architecture, and stroll the halls of the ArtScience Museum, all in one trip! Solo travelers should definitely not miss the allure of Pulau Ubin, an island in northeast Singapore that is a protected marine reserve. It has been largely untouched and unspoiled by modern culture and conveniences, unlike the rest of this dynamic city-state. Getting from Changi Airport to downtown is a breeze; just get on the Singapore Mass Rapid Transit’s Downtown Line.
For the most intrepid solo travelers, might I suggest Sydney, Australia‘s largest city? Let’s start with some of the activities you can do on your own: You can sun yourself or surf the waves at Bondi Beach, climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge, take in a show at the iconic Sydney Opera House (pictured), and stroll the waterside at Darling Harbour, and that’s just the stuff you can do in one day! The train from Sydney Airport to Sydney Central Station runs every 10 minutes and within a half-hour, you are in the middle of absolutely everything. Safety is not a high concern for travelers to Sydney, as touristy areas are safe during the day and at night. Female travelers should take note, however, that the streets of Sydney can be deserted at night, even though it is such a large city, so take an Uber or taxi back to your accommodations if you are clubbing or enjoying live music late at night.
Last, but surely not least, we have a charming city where millennia of history and classic architecture meet the modern day. I’m talking about Vienna, the picturesque capital of Austria. Unlike some of the cities that are featured on this list, Vienna is a very walkable city. That’s great for people to want to explore solo and let their exploratory spirit be their guide. For those who may not want to walk the whole length of the city, the U-Bahn connects all areas of the city, and ticket kiosks (red, and labeled in English and German as “Tickets/Fahrkarten”) are easy to use, with options for purchase provided in German, English, French, and Italian. The S-Bahn train takes you directly from Vienna Airport into the central part of the city, and that system (which extends beyond the city) is also easy for English speakers to use. Whether you’re strolling Herrengasse or visiting Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna welcomes all travelers, but especially the solo ones!
A lot of research goes into finding destinations that are tailored to your needs and letting you know what you can see and do when you get there. Head over to Tripmasters.com and you can look at our custom-built itineraries for thousands of exciting vacation destinations in over 120 countries and territories throughout the world.
