Best Solo Travel Destinations in Europe
Are you looking for the best solo travel destinations in Europe? You’re in the right place!
I’ve spent many, many months solo traveling all over Europe. I’ve been to almost every country in Europe at this point, and I previously even lived in Paris, France alone when I was in college.
I absolutely love solo travel. It gives you the freedom to prioritize exactly what you want to do on a trip, and to have unique experiences on your own. Everyone should try solo traveling at least once!
Europe is a great part of the world for solo travel, but not all destinations are equal. Below I’ve highlighted what I think are the best places to travel solo, especially if it’s your first time doing so. While this guide will be useful for all solo travelers, it’s specifically targeted at solo female travelers, since that’s what I am.
I’ve chosen these destinations based on several different factors:
- Budget-friendliness: Since solo travelers don’t have anyone to split costs with, I’ve focused on highlighting some destinations that can be more affordable when traveling on your own. So you won’t find countries such as Switzerland (the most expensive place in Europe) on the list below.
- Safety: Obviously, safety is a concern for many solo travelers, especially solo female travelers. All of the destinations below are ones that are statistically very safe, so you can feel secure.
- Ease of travel: All of these destinations are easy to get around, with good public transportation and lots of independent day trip options. You also won’t have trouble finding things to do in any of these destinations, with a wide variety of activities and experiences to suit every travel style.
- Solo travel-friendliness: You won’t find honeymoon destinations like Santorini on this list, or destinations that are really remote or hard to get around on your own. They’re all solo travel-friendly.
Without further ado, these are the best solo travel destinations in Europe:
1. Portugal
One of the top countries in Europe for solo travel is Portugal. This country strikes the perfect balance of affordability (it’s definitely the cheapest country in Western Europe), safety, and incredible things to do.
The cities of Lisbon and Porto are must-visits, and they’re easy to get between by train. Both cities have cool day trips you can take to smaller towns or even castles and beaches. But if you’re looking for a real beach getaway, head south down to Lagos, a lively town on the Algarve Coast with great beaches.
Portugal is the perfect solo travel destination if you’re looking for lots of sunshine, warm weather, pretty scenery, and delicious food. It’s also a good place to go if you want to socialize and meet people.
2. Edinburgh, Scotland
Next up, I think Edinburgh is one of the best cities for solo travelers. This is a great destination for first-time solo travelers and experienced solo travelers alike. This UK city is a lot smaller and more manageable than London, which makes it ideal for testing the waters without getting overwhelmed.
It can also be a good place to start solo traveling if you speak English and are nervous about a language barrier elsewhere. And Edinburgh is an absolutely gorgeous city. If you love history, castles, old buildings, and quaint streets, you will have an amazing time exploring all that this city has to offer.
While Edinburgh is not the most affordable city in Europe, it is cheaper than London, and there are more than enough free things to do here that you can save some money on activity expenses.
3. Croatia
Next up, Croatia is one of my favorite solo travel destinations. I had such an amazing time exploring this beautiful country solo. Croatia is an excellent introduction to the Balkan region of Europe, and it is by far the most developed when it comes to tourism infrastructure, making it ideal for solo travelers.
Croatia is safe and affordable, although it has been getting pricier in recent years, especially in popular destinations like Dubrovnik and Split. Going in the off season (outside of June through early September) is a good way to save money. I spent several weeks traveling in Croatia in May, and it was perfect!
If you’re looking for a sunny, beachy getaway, Croatia is an amazing destination. But you also shouldn’t miss the country’s gorgeous national parks further inland, including Plitvice Lakes and Krka.
4. Seville, Spain
Spain as a whole is excellent for solo travelers, but I specifically wanted to highlight Seville. I think this is the best city for solo travelers in Spain, and it’s my personal favorite — much better than Madrid and Barcelona, in my opinion! Seville is the capital of the Andalusia region in southern Spain.
It is a stunning city that gets lots of sunshine all year long, and it has such a fun and lively atmosphere. It also makes a great base for exploring more of Andalusia on day trips. Andalusia is full of amazing cities and towns, and it’s where iconic Spanish traditions like flamenco, bullfighting, and tapas originated.
5. Prague, Czech Republic
Another great city in Europe for solo travelers is Prague. The capital of the Czech Republic looks like something straight out of a fairytale. It’s also an extremely safe and pretty affordable city.
If you love exploring historic castles, walking down charming cobblestone streets, and visiting magical libraries, Prague is the city for you. It’s also a great place if you want to be social and meet new friends.
Prague is a good year-round destination, but I have to say, it really shines in December, when everything is decorated for the holidays and full of festive cheer. If you want to take a solo European Christmas market trip, Prague should definitely be at the top of your list for the best destinations to visit.
6. The Baltics
The Baltics is a region in northern Europe consisting of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. I am absolutely obsessed with these three countries, and they combine perfectly for a solo trip to Europe. You can base yourself in all three capitals (Estonia, Riga, and Vilnius) and take day trips from those cities.
This is an amazing place to go if you’re looking to get a little off the beaten path. The Baltics is an underrated part of Europe, but it’s absolutely worth visiting. I felt so safe traveling in this part of Europe, and it’s really easy to get from city to city. It’s also pretty affordable, making it ideal for solo travelers.
7. Florence, Italy
I haven’t talked about Italy yet, and you might be wondering why! I love Italy, but I don’t think it’s one of the best places for solo travelers. That’s also why France, one of my favorite countries in the world, is missing from this list too. However, one city I did want to highlight for solo travel in Italy is Florence.
This is definitely the best place for a solo trip to Italy. It’s a beautiful Renaissance city that is much more compact and walkable than, say, Rome, and easy to get around and explore on your own. You’ll have an amazing time visiting the art museums, churches, piazzas, and gardens of Florence.
It’s also a good city for taking day trips, especially to the Tuscany region of Italy. As a solo traveler, I find that it’s often way easier to base yourself in a major city and explore smaller towns on day trips.
8. Belgium
Another one of the best destinations in Europe for solo travelers in Belgium. This is the perfect place to go if you’re looking for a short break where you can maximize your time exploring beautiful cities.
The best cities to visit in Belgium are Brussels (the capital), Bruges, Antwerp, and Ghent. You could easily base yourself in Brussels and take day trips to the other cities, but Brussels isn’t a city that everyone loves. (I personally like it a lot, but it’s a big city and I can see how it might not be for everyone.)
Bruges, on the other hand, is a charming and small fairytale-like city. You could also easily base yourself here (or in another one of Belgium’s cities) and take easy day trips by train around the country.
9. Poland
If you’re looking for an underrated destination in Europe, I highly recommend Poland for solo travel. I felt so safe traveling here and found it to be extremely affordable and a good value for money.
Poland is easy to get around, and the cities I’d recommend visiting are Warsaw, Krakow, and Wroclaw. This is another place that, like Prague, is simply magical around Christmastime (if you don’t mind the cold!) Otherwise, it’s a great low-key travel destination at any other time of the year too.
10. Dublin, Ireland
Finally, a good place to travel solo in Europe is Dublin. While I think Ireland as a whole is a fantastic destination, it’s not always the best for solo travelers. Ireland is quite expensive, and you really need a car to get to many places outside the cities. That’s why I’m focusing solely on Dublin as a destination.
It’s a fun and vibrant city to spend a few days. As with Edinburgh, it can be a good first-time solo travel destination since English is spoken here, and you don’t have to worry about any language barrier.
You can also take day trips from Dublin, either by train (limited options, but some places are doable) or by organized tour, which is best for visiting more remote areas like the Cliffs of Moher or Glendalough. Luckily, Ireland is a very small country, so you can visit many places in under two hours from Dublin.
Best Solo Travel Destinations in Europe
This guide showed you the best solo travel destinations in Europe.
Hopefully you got some inspiration for planning your first solo trip or you found a new solo travel destination to check out. I have personally traveled to all of these destinations, and can vouch for them.
Now go out there and make some solo travel memories!
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