What Are the Best Places to Travel Solo?
I share the best places to travel solo right now, ranked by safety, transit quality, ease of meeting people, and how naturally each city handles a single...
Quick Answer
The best solo travel destinations combine a strong safety record, dense public transport, and a culture that does not treat solo diners or solo walkers as strange. Japan, Iceland, Portugal, Thailand, Slovenia, and New Zealand consistently rank at the top across every measure that matters to a solo traveller.
If it is your first solo trip, lean toward Japan, Portugal, or New Zealand. They are exceptionally safe, English is widely spoken in tourist areas, and the social atmosphere is welcoming without being pushy. If you want a more social hostel scene, Thailand, Vietnam, and parts of Central America move to the top of the list.
How I ranked these destinations
A good solo destination passes four tests. It scores well on the Global Peace Index. It has dense, intuitive public transport that does not require a local guide to navigate. It has an active hostel, co working, or group tour scene so you can meet people when you want to. And it has a culture that handles solo diners and solo walkers without making a scene out of you.
Japan: the gold standard for solo travel
Japan ranks near the top of almost every solo travel list and it earns it. The country sits consistently in the safest ten countries on the Global Peace Index. The Shinkansen and the local metro networks in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto are so reliable that you can plan to the minute. And Japanese dining culture is genuinely built for one. Ramen counters, conveyor belt sushi bars, izakaya counter seats, and entire chains like Ichiran with private solo booths exist specifically for people eating alone.
Kyoto is the easiest soft landing. Tokyo gives you the dense modern city. Osaka brings the food and the friendlier social vibe. Spend ten days across all three and you have one of the easiest, most rewarding solo trips on the planet.
Iceland: the safest country on earth
Iceland has held the top spot on the Global Peace Index for over a decade. For solo female travellers it is often the first destination people recommend without any caveat. Reykjavik is small, walkable, and English is universal. The country's tour operator infrastructure is excellent, so you can book a Golden Circle day tour, a glacier hike, or a Northern Lights chase as a solo and end up in a small group of friendly strangers by lunchtime.
The trade off is cost. Iceland is one of the most expensive destinations in Europe. Plan for a shorter trip and use the saved time to do one or two longer guided tours rather than spreading yourself thin.
Portugal: easy, social, and affordable
Lisbon and Porto have quietly become two of the best solo destinations in Europe. Both cities are walkable, the metro is cheap and easy, the food scene runs from low cost neighbourhood tasca lunches to world class dinners, and the hostel scene is exceptionally social. Lisbon in particular has a long running culture of pub crawls, fado nights, and free walking tours that make it almost impossible to feel isolated unless you actively want to.
If you want quieter days, the train to Sintra, the surf towns of the Algarve, and the Douro Valley wine region are all easy day or weekend trips from the main cities.
Chiang Mai, Thailand: the digital nomad capital
If your goal is to stretch a budget and build a temporary community of fellow travellers, Chiang Mai is hard to beat. Northern Thailand has a long established expat and remote worker scene built around co working spaces, language exchange events, weekly markets, and cheap, clean shared housing. The Nimmanhaemin neighbourhood alone has dozens of cafes built for laptop work.
Outside the city, you can ride a scooter through mountain villages, visit ethical elephant sanctuaries, and reach the Doi Suthep temple in under an hour. Costs are low enough that you can stay for weeks rather than days.
Slovenia: the quiet European pick
Slovenia rarely makes the front page of solo travel lists, which is part of the appeal. Ljubljana is one of the smallest, friendliest European capitals. Lake Bled is a short bus ride away. The Soca Valley delivers world class hiking, kayaking, and rafting. Crime is exceptionally low, English is widely spoken among under thirty fives, and the country's small size means you can see most of the highlights in a single week without flying internally.
New Zealand: solo adventure done easily
New Zealand is purpose built for solo travellers who want the outdoors. The InterCity bus network and the cheap rental car market make it easy to move between regions. Hostels in places like Queenstown, Wanaka, and Rotorua are organised around adventure activities like bungee jumping, hiking the Tongariro Crossing, kayaking, and skiing, which means you spend most days with a rotating cast of fellow travellers.
Safety habits that travel everywhere
- Download offline maps for every city before you land.
- Share your live location with one trusted person at home each day.
- Keep a printed copy of your hotel address in the local language.
- Carry a backup credit card and a small emergency cash stash separate from your main wallet.
- Trust your gut. If a taxi, hostel, or social situation feels off, leave early and pay the cost later.
- Book the first night of accommodation in every new city in advance, even if you like to wing the rest.
Choosing your first solo trip
For a first solo trip pick a destination that does most of the work for you. Japan, Portugal, Iceland, and New Zealand are all easy first picks because the infrastructure is so strong that you can focus on the experience rather than the logistics. Save Vietnam, India, Morocco, and Egypt for trip two or three when you already know how you behave on the road.
The takeaway
The best solo destination is the one where you feel safe enough to be curious. Start with Japan, Portugal, or Iceland for an easy entry into solo travel, and move toward Southeast Asia or Central America when you want more social density and a smaller budget. Anywhere on this list will deliver a trip you remember for years.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the safest country to travel solo?
Iceland has topped the Global Peace Index for over a decade and is widely considered the safest country to travel solo, especially for women.
Is Japan good for first time solo travellers?
Yes. Japan combines a very low crime rate, an excellent transit network, and a dining culture that genuinely welcomes solo eaters. It is one of the easiest first solo trips you can book.
What is the cheapest country for solo travel?
Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and parts of Central America all let you live comfortably on a low daily budget while delivering rich cultural experiences.
How do I meet people while travelling alone?
Stay in social hostels, join free walking tours on day one in any new city, book one group day tour per destination, and use apps like Meetup or Couchsurfing Hangouts for local events.