Solo Travel Guide: Tips for Travelling Alone

Solo travel is statistically very safe, but sensible precautions make all the difference. Share your itinerary with someone you trust back home and check in regularly. Use a GPS tracking app that a family member can access if needed. Keep digital copies of your passport, insurance, and important documents in secure cloud storage so you can access them from any device. Accommodation choice matters more when you are alone. Book well-reviewed places in central, well-lit areas. If arriving at night, arrange airport transfers in advance rather than relying on random taxi drivers. Keep your valuables in the room safe and carry only what you need for the day. A doorstop alarm (a small wedge that sounds an alarm if someone opens your door) is a popular precaution among solo travellers and costs just a few pounds. Trust your instincts. If a situation, person, or place feels off, leave. You are not being rude; you are being smart. Limit alcohol intake when you are alone, especially in unfamiliar places. Let staff at your accommodation know if you are going on a day trip or hike, so someone knows your plans. These are common-sense habits rather than signs of danger; the overwhelming majority of solo trips are incident-free and deeply rewarding.

One of the best things about solo travel is how easy it is to meet people. When you are alone, you are far more approachable than when you are in a group, and other travellers are often in the same position and happy to chat. Hostels are the natural hub for meeting fellow travellers, with common rooms, organised pub crawls, and group dinners designed to bring people together. Group tours and activities are excellent for solo travellers who want company for a day without committing to a travel partner. Walking tours, food tours, cooking classes, and day trips all put you alongside other travellers with similar interests. Many operators attract a mix of solo travellers and small groups, creating a relaxed social atmosphere. Apps like Meetup, Couchsurfing Hangouts, and Bumble BFF can connect you with locals and travellers in your area. Many cities have Facebook groups for expats and travellers where people organise informal meetups. If you prefer a more structured social experience, look into group travel companies that specialise in solo travellers, running small-group trips where everyone is travelling alone.

Some destinations are particularly well-suited to solo travel. Japan tops many lists thanks to its exceptional safety, efficient public transport, and the ease of navigating solo even without speaking Japanese. Tokyo is endlessly fascinating, and the contrast between ultra-modern Shibuya and serene Meiji Shrine provides enough variety for any solo traveller. Amsterdam is another standout for solo visitors. The city is compact and walkable, with world-class museums, beautiful canals, and a famously welcoming culture. Lisbon combines affordable prices, warm weather, incredible food, and a vibrant social scene in neighbourhoods like Bairro Alto. The city is hilly but easy to navigate, and the famous Tram 28 route is a must-do experience. Bali offers solo travellers a unique blend of spiritual culture, stunning nature, and a well-established backpacker infrastructure. Ubud in particular has become a hub for solo travellers, with yoga retreats, rice terrace walks, and a thriving cafe culture. For something more urban, Bangkok delivers sensory overload in the best way: temples, street food, floating markets, and a nightlife scene that makes it easy to meet other travellers.

Many first-time solo travellers feel awkward about eating alone in restaurants. This feeling fades quickly, especially when you realise that nobody is paying attention to you. Bring a book, journal, or your phone, and enjoy the experience of eating at your own pace without having to compromise on where, when, or what to eat. Street food stalls, food markets, and counter-service restaurants are naturally solo-friendly. There is no table for one; you just join the queue, order, and eat. Food tours are another brilliant option, combining eating with socialising and sightseeing. Sitting at the bar in restaurants is a classic solo traveller move that often leads to conversations with bartenders and other diners. Cooking classes are one of the most social food experiences you can have as a solo traveller. You work alongside other participants, share the meal together afterwards, and learn a new skill to take home. Cities like Bangkok, Rome, Barcelona, and Marrakech all have excellent cooking classes that attract a mix of solo travellers and couples.

Guided tours remove much of the logistical stress of solo travel while providing ready-made social opportunities. Day trips to places outside the city are particularly valuable for solo travellers, as they handle transport, entrance fees, and local knowledge in one package. Visiting Cappadocia from Istanbul, Mount Fuji from Tokyo, or the Atlas Mountains from Marrakech is much simpler with an organised tour. Free walking tours are a solo travel staple. Available in almost every major tourist city, these tip-based tours give you an excellent orientation and often lead to friendships with other participants. Many walking tour companies also run paid speciality tours covering food, nightlife, street art, or local history that attract engaged, curious travellers. For solo travellers who want more adventure, consider activity-based tours like the Mount Batur sunrise trek in Bali, the Harbour Bridge Climb in Sydney, or a desert safari in Dubai. These experiences are designed for small groups and create shared memories that naturally bring people together. You will often swap contact details and travel recommendations with the people you meet on these tours.