Solo Travel: The Complete Guide for Independent Travellers

Travelling alone is one of the most rewarding experiences there is. With this guide you'll be perfectly prepared – from planning to your return home.

1. Why You Should Just Go for It

Travelling alone means maximum freedom: you decide where to go, when to wake up and whether to spend all day in a cafe or tick off three sights. You get to know yourself better, become more independent and strike up conversations with other travellers far more easily than in a group. Studies show that solo travellers report higher satisfaction and greater self-confidence.

Tip: Start with something easy – a weekend trip to a European city is perfect for beginners.

2. The Best Destinations for Solo Travellers

Not every country is equally suitable for a first solo trip. Ideal are countries with good infrastructure, low costs and a lively backpacker scene, where you quickly meet like-minded people.

Portugal: Safe, affordable, friendly people, great hostels
Japan: Extremely safe, perfect public transport, fascinating culture
Thailand: Backpacker paradise, affordable, easy to travel
New Zealand: Safe, pure nature, many solo travellers
Iceland: Extremely safe, breathtaking landscapes
Colombia: Up-and-coming, warm-hearted people, affordable

3. Safety: The Key Rules

Solo travel is safer than many people think. A few simple rules minimise the risks:

Share your location regularly with someone you trust
Avoid deserted areas at night – take a taxi instead
Store digital copies of your documents (cloud or email)
Don't carry all your cash on you
Trust your gut feeling – if something feels off, move on
Learn about local customs and no-gos in advance

For women: Many countries are very safe for solo female travellers. Iceland, Japan, New Zealand and Scandinavia are among the safest countries in the world. In more conservative countries, adapting slightly to the local dress code helps.

4. Accommodation: Alone, but Not Lonely

Hostels are the best choice for solo travellers. In common rooms and kitchens you immediately meet other travellers. Many hostels organise communal activities: cooking evenings, city tours, pub crawls. If you need more privacy, book a single room in a hostel – you still have access to the communal areas.

Hostels: Best for social travel and small budgets
Airbnb rooms: More private, but still contact with the host
Couchsurfing: Free and the most direct route to locals
Boutique hotels: For solo travellers who enjoy comfort

5. Meeting Other Travellers

Loneliness is the biggest worry of many solo travellers – and usually completely unfounded. You'll be amazed how easy it is to make friends on the road.

Hostel common rooms – the social hub of every trip
Free Walking Tours – perfect for meeting other solo travellers
Cooking classes and workshops on site
Apps like Meetup or Couchsurfing Hangouts
Group excursions booked through the hostel

The easiest ice-breaker: "Where are you from?" – this single sentence has sparked thousands of travel friendships.

6. Budgeting as a Solo Traveller

Solo travel has one cost disadvantage: you can't share accommodation or taxis. On the other hand, you save elsewhere: you eat what and when you want, make no expensive compromises and are more flexible with last-minute deals.

Typical daily budgets for solo travellers:

South-East Asia: 25–40 EUR per day (hostel + food + transport)
Eastern Europe: 35–55 EUR per day
Western Europe: 60–100 EUR per day
Japan: 50–80 EUR per day (surprisingly doable!)

7. Eating Out Alone – Without Feeling Awkward

Many solo travellers dread eating alone in a restaurant. Here are a few tricks: sit at the bar or counter – sitting alone there feels completely natural and you often end up chatting with the staff. Lunch is more casual than dinner. Street food and markets cater for individual portions anyway. And in most cultures, eating alone is perfectly normal.

8. Packing for Solo Trips

Less is more – especially when you travel alone and have to carry everything yourself. A 40–50 litre backpack is enough for trips of up to several weeks. Take a good padlock for hostel lockers, a head torch for dormitories and earplugs for peaceful nights.