The greatest advice I can give to anyone who wants to travel and see the world is don’t be afraid to go alone. If you always wait for people to go with you, you may never go.
Why Solo Travel
You’re probably hesitant to travel alone because you want to share the incredible experience of travel with other people. It is normal to want to share such a thing with others… after all, what good is a life-changing experience if you are bogged down with feelings of loneliness throughout it?
However, what you may not realize is that solo travel just means that you go to your destination alone, not that you stay on your own once there. I have had the most incredible experiences solo-traveling because of the people I have met on my trips. For example, the summer after my college graduation, I booked a three-week solo trip to Colombia. I made so many friends and loved my experience there so much that I changed my ticket and extended my stay for an additional few weeks. My trip to Colombia remains among the most incredible trips I have ever taken in my life.
One of the greatest parts of traveling solo is that you are able to see who you are outside of the communities that have come to define you. People who solo travel are interested in meeting different kinds of people, so there is no mold to fit into. You get to just be you! Further, you will meet amazing people from all over the world and, in turn, build a global network of friends. The friends you make while solo-traveling are people that you can continue to meet over and over again in new places around the world! I, for example, have already met up with my friends from Colombia in countries around Europe!
Obviously, there will be parts of the journey where you’re on your own. However, this is also one of the best aspects of solo traveling: there is beauty in learning to love your own company! Solo travel has the capacity to improve your sense of self as you learn more about who you are outside of your environment. Further, it may increase your self-confidence as you deal with the challenges of navigating a foreign land.
How To Plan A Solo Trip
Planning a solo-trip may seem extremely daunting but, after following these 5 tips, the bulk of the work will be done.
- Choose a “solo travel friendly” destination
- Plan your trip around a specific purpose
- Stay somewhere social
- Book group tours and activities
- Know what you need to do while alone so you do not feel lonely
- Choose a “solo travel friendly” destination
One of the biggest factors in a successful solo trip is picking a destination that is “solo-travel friendly.” A great solo-travel destination is one that tends to attract independent travelers and, as a result, has good solo-travel infrastructure.
Solo-travel infrastructure refers to the things in a particular place that make the process of solo-travel feasible. For example, safe touristy neighborhoods, accessible public transportation or walkability, and diverse options for group-oriented activities. In order to be autonomous during your trip, you need to feel safe; have the ability to get around, and be able to occupy your time with diverse activities.
For this reason, many major European cities are fantastic for solo travel because they are safe, walkable, and easy to explore independently. I’ve traveled to Paris, Athens, and Madrid independently and had excellent experiences because of the robust solo-travel infrastructure in each city. Additionally, the fact that these cities boast numerous stunning parks and museums makes them conducive to explore solo. There are certain activities that feel undoubtedly lonely when you’re traveling alone— for example eating meals at restaurants or doing activities that are meant for a group on your own. But taking in art at museums or reading in a park are activities that may be better solitary, so I tend to prioritize such things on my solo trips.
However, although I have enjoyed my solo-travel experiences in Europe— particularly those in France (read my Paris itinerary here!), my best ever solo-travel experience was in Cartagena, Colombia. What made my experience in Colombia so memorable are the variety of things I was able to do— from nights out dancing salsa in the streets to trekking through tropical rainforests to snorkeling in the Caribbean Sea or camping in the The Guajira Desert. (You can read about my time in Cartagena here.) If you are looking for a more adventurous solo travel experience, I highly recommend solo-traveling in South America.
- Plan your trip around a specific purpose
I will be the first to admit that it is daunting to travel to a random place in the world completely on your own. So, for those who are daunted by such a prospect, I suggest anchoring your trip around something specific. Travel to a destination for the purpose of 1. participating in something that you enjoy and 2. Doing something that place is known for.
Whether it’s enrolling in Spanish school in Colombia, attending a yoga retreat in India, or going to surf camp in Costa Rica; having a focal point for your trip will make solo-travel less daunting by providing you with structure for your trip and opening up natural opportunities to meet other travelers with similar interests. Traveling with a purpose, even one as simple as learning a new skill or exploring a passion, gives each day meaning and makes it easier to connect with others who are sharing the same experience.
I planned my trip to Cartagena around enrolling in Spanish school because I desperately wanted to travel to Colombia but, having very limited experience in Latin America and not knowing Spanish, I knew that traveling there for my first ever extended solo-trip would not be the wisest idea. Therefore, I decided to plan my trip around enrolling in a Spanish school. That was the best decision I could have ever made. This both helped me settle into the city comfortably and meet other travelers from day one. Some of the friends I made at Spanish school remain my friends to date— we had an incredible time exploring Cartagena and other parts of the country together, so it makes sense that those connections have lasted.
Obviously, if you want a relaxed, introverted solo trip, you don’t need to anchor your trip to a particular purpose. You can easily just pick one of the European cities I mentioned above and spend your time exploring museums and taking advantage of the city’s tourist infrastructure. However, if you want a bit more adventure, but also want the added security that comes with being part of a group and a local institution, you’ll want to plan your trip around an activity.
An additional bonus of planning your trip around a purpose is that these trips are excellent in your twenties. You can go to a random city and pass time in museums at any time in your life. However, surf camp in Costa Rica or a month at Spanish school in Colombia, may not always appeal to you. Do it now and relish the opportunity to meet other 20-somethings from everywhere– you are sure to make memories that you will hold onto forever.
- Stay somewhere social
When traveling solo, especially as a woman, staying in a well-reputed neighborhood is a non-negotiable. It is best to stay someplace well-populated as well so that you know it’s safe to leave your accommodation and explore the area on your own.
While in Cartagena, I, like many of my friends, stayed in a hostel in the Old Town of Cartagena: a relatively safe, walkable, and touristy area in the downtown of Cartagena. Nightlife was also concentrated in this area which made them even more perfect to stay in. Almost every night, the streets of Old Town turned into a party. Because people literally spend their evenings dancing in the streets, it is easy to go out and meet people.
In addition to staying in a social neighborhood, you can also book a social accommodation, such as a youth hostel. Hostels are “social” in the sense that they offer ample opportunities to meet other travelers. I have stayed in hostels in several countries including Colombia, Canada, Spain, France, and Italy. My favorite thing about hostels is how diverse they are in terms of accommodation. You can have a private room and bathroom- just as you would in a hotel- or you can opt to share space and make friends with strangers in a large shared room. In Colombia, I stayed in an eco-hostel where I glamped in a river-side tent; in Canada, I shared a room with bunk beds with 5 of my closest friends from college, and in Italy I booked a conventional private room. The options are limitless, but on the whole hostels are generally cheaper than hotels and more friendly to young travelers. To find highly-rated hostels, I recommend booking on a travel site, such as Expedia, which allows you to compare various properties prior to booking.
- Book group tours and activities
Another great way to meet people and enrich your solo travel experience is to join group tours and activities. With the rise of booking platforms like GetYourGuide, finding safe, reputable excursions has never been easier. From walking tours to full-day outings, these group experiences allow you to dive deeper into the local culture while also meeting others who share your interests.
As a solo-traveler, one activity you should definitely consider doing is a city walking tour. City walking tours are excellent for getting acquainted with your host city and, also, for meeting other solo-travelers. You can do a standard walking tour, or opt for a specialty ones such as food tours, street art tours, and more.
On my solo trip to Carategena, one of the first activities I did was a city walking tour. On the Cartagena walking tour, I got to try local sweets, fruits, and juices; listen to Colombian music and learn local dance styles; and also visit the best places to buy art or eat a meal. After the incredible experience which left me feeling far more familiar with Cartagena, I had an impromptu lunch with a group of fellow travelers who were also on the tour. This one small step made the rest of my trip even more enjoyable by giving me more friends to pass time with.
I’ve done everything from boating trips in Brazil to desert safaris in Dubai and each time I find that each tour or excursion adds variety to your journey and provides a natural setting for forming new friendships. When you’re in the right places and open to putting yourself out there, you’re likely to make meaningful connections.
I personally love to use GetYourGuide for every single excursion i book– reliable, money-back guarantees if you meet the terms and conditions, safe, and reputable. In each blog, i always link the GetYourGuide I enjoyed the most.
- Know what you need to do while alone so you don’t feel lonely.
Finally, it’s important to remember that solo travel inherently involves moments of solitude—and this can be a beautiful part of the experience. While making friends along the way is a highlight, learning to appreciate your own company is equally fulfilling. Embrace the time you spend alone as an opportunity to reflect, recharge, and take in the surroundings at your own pace.
When packing for my solo trips, I always make sure to bring along meaningful things to occupy my alone time. I find that having a journal or camera can enhance these solitary moments by giving them purpose. In addition to visiting famed museums or roaming charming neighborhoods, some of my favorite solo-travel activities include sitting in bookstore cafés jotting down reflections in my journal or exploring city streets with my camera in hand. With the right mindset, traveling alone can be grounding and conducive to personal growth.
In addition to giving me the most incredible life experiences…
successfully solo-traveling has also given me a “can-do” mentality and an incredible level of self-confidence. If I want to do something, I will do it: whether that be traveling across the world on my own, moving to a foreign city where I know nobody, or applying for a scholarship or job that will require me to uproot my life. Indeed, this mentality has paid dividends for me in my 23 years.
What are your favorite solo travel tips? Share them in the comments and subscribe for more!
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