There's a particular kind of stuck that happens when you're excited about travelling solo but have no idea where to actually go.
Most best solo destinations lists don't help much, they're really just city guides with the word solo tacked onto the title.
After planning trip after trip for people travelling completely alone, I've learned the destinations that genuinely work well for solo travel are specific, and it's rarely about the attractions.
Here's where solo travel genuinely works, and exactly why.
It's not the sights, it's the setup.
The best solo destinations share a handful of things in common: genuine safety, an easy way to meet other travellers if you want to (hostel culture, communal tours, social bars), how widely English or a language you speak is used, how comfortable it is to eat and explore alone, and how easy the place is to navigate without a group to share the logistics with.
I've picked the destinations below because they tick most of these, not because they're pretty.
Best destinations for solo travellers in Asia
Asia consistently punches above its weight for solo travel, largely thanks to strong backpacker infrastructure and cultures that are generally very safe for travellers moving through alone.
Japan
Japan is about as safe as solo travel gets, and I think that alone makes it a brilliant starting point if you're nervous.
Trains run on time, signage is genuinely easy to navigate even without much Japanese, and solo dining is completely normalised. Entire restaurants are built around single-seat counters.
Honestly, the etiquette of not disturbing others works in your favour here too. Nobody bats an eye at a solo diner, a solo hiker, or someone quietly exploring a neighbourhood alone for hours. I think that quiet anonymity is underrated. Sometimes the appeal of solo travel is exactly that, being left comfortably to your own pace.
What I love about Japan for solo travel
Thailand
Thailand has one of the strongest backpacker and hostel scenes anywhere, which makes it genuinely easy to go from solo to social whenever you feel like it.
Common routes through Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and the southern islands are well worn enough that meeting other solo travellers happens almost by accident.
I also think the affordability matters more here than people give it credit for. A tight solo budget goes a long way, which takes real pressure off a first solo trip.
What I love about Thailand for solo travel
Singapore
Singapore is the destination I'd point an anxious first-time solo traveller toward. It's extremely safe, spotlessly organised, and almost everyone speaks English, which removes a lot of the low-level stress that can make a first solo trip feel harder than it needs to be.
It's compact enough to build genuine confidence over a few days before moving somewhere more challenging, which makes it a great opener for a longer Southeast Asia trip.
What I love about Singapore for solo travel
Best destinations for solo travellers in Europe
Europe's solo scene isn't limited to the obvious capitals. A couple of destinations stand out specifically for how easy and social they make travelling alone.
Portugal
Portugal has quietly become one of Europe's best solo destinations, and I think it's still underrated for it. Lisbon and Porto both have a genuinely strong hostel and social travel scene, and the country feels safe to explore on foot at almost any hour.
It's also compact enough that hopping between cities solo is simple: no complicated logistics, no long transfers eating into your trip.
What I love about Portugal for solo travel
Spain
Spain works particularly well for solo travellers who want a mix of culture and genuine social opportunity. Cities like Seville and Granada are easy to navigate on foot, and the tapas culture itself is basically built for solo dining, small plates, bar seating, and easy conversation with whoever's next to you.
I think the smaller cities are actually the better solo pick over Madrid or Barcelona. They're easier to get your bearings in within a day or two, and it's genuinely simple to strike up a conversation at a shared bar counter without it feeling forced.
What I love about Spain for solo travel
Best destinations for solo travellers in the Americas
These two need a bit more awareness than the previous destinations, and I think it's worth being upfront about that rather than pretending otherwise. Both are genuinely rewarding for solo travellers who do a bit of homework first.
Colombia
Colombia has transformed into one of South America's best solo travel destinations over the past decade, with cities like Medellín building genuinely strong long-term traveller and digital nomad communities that make it easy to meet people.
That said, being sensible about which neighbourhoods you base yourself in and taking normal city precautions after dark matters more here than in, say, Japan or Singapore. It's absolutely doable solo, it just rewards a bit more preparation, and most travellers who put in that bit of homework end up loving it here.
What I love about Colombia for solo travel
Argentina
Argentina, especially Buenos Aires, has a European feel with a genuinely strong solo and long-stay traveller scene. Tango classes, communal asado dinners, and a late-night cafe culture all make it easy to turn a solo trip social whenever you want.
As with Colombia, a bit of common-sense city awareness goes a long way, sticking to well-reviewed neighbourhoods and taking normal precautions late at night. It doesn't take much to travel here comfortably and confidently on your own.
What I love about Argentina for solo travel
A note on solo female travel safety
This deserves proper space, not a throwaway line, since it's a genuine concern for a huge share of the people reading this. I'd rather be honest and specific than either dismiss it or scare you off entirely.
A few things genuinely help: choosing accommodation with good, verified reviews from other solo female travellers specifically, arriving in daylight where possible rather than navigating an unfamiliar city at night for the first time, and getting local guidance early: a host, a hostel front desk, even a local Facebook group, on which areas to avoid after dark.
Of the destinations above, Japan, Singapore, and Portugal consistently come up as particularly strong for solo female travellers specifically, largely thanks to low crime rates and cultures where a woman travelling alone genuinely isn't remarkable.
Honestly, most of solo female travel safety comes down to the same instincts that serve you well at home, just applied a little more deliberately somewhere unfamiliar. T
rust your gut over politeness if something feels off, and don't be afraid to change plans on the spot if it doesn't sit right.
A few small habits genuinely help too. I recommend:
None of this is about being fearful; it's the same quiet awareness most women already carry, just worth naming clearly instead of leaving it unsaid.
I'd also say don't let safety concerns talk you out of solo travel altogether. The overwhelming majority of solo female trips go completely smoothly, and the destinations above were chosen partly because they make that even more likely.
How to make the most of travelling solo
A few habits make solo travel feel easier almost immediately:
Get your solo trip planned without the second-guessing
The right solo destination is the one that matches your comfort level and what you actually want from the trip, not just whatever's topping a generic list.
If working out the safety research and logistics yourself feels like the part standing between you and actually booking, that's exactly what our personalised travel planning service is built to remove. Tell us how you like to travel, and we'll build a solo trip around it, groundwork included.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, often, mainly due to the single supplement on accommodation. Choosing hostels or destinations with a strong solo traveller scene helps close that gap significantly.
Somewhere safe, easy to navigate, and English-friendly works best for a first solo trip. Japan and Singapore are both excellent low-stress starting points.
Yes, millions of women travel solo safely every year. Choosing well-reviewed accommodation, arriving in daylight, and getting local guidance on areas to avoid make a genuine difference.
Stay in social accommodation and book a group activity early in the trip. Hostels, walking tours, and communal meals are the fastest ways to meet other travellers.
Start with a destination known for being safe and easy to navigate, and have the logistics sorted before you land. Less uncertainty on arrival makes the whole trip feel more manageable.