So you’ve decided you’re going solo, and now you just need to figure out where (the most exciting part). Leave it with me. This guide rounds up 15 of the best places for solo travel across every budget, vibe, and level of adventure; by the end, you’ll have an idea of where your next solo travel destination is.

If you’re anything like most people at this stage, you’ve watched many reels of someone canyoneering (a must-do activity!) in the Philippines, or you’ve always wanted to kayak around the limestone cliffs in Thailand. Good news: there’s a destination on this list that will suit almost anyone. Whether you’re craving backpacker hostels and spontaneous friendships, quiet beach towns where you can read in peace, or a new hiking adventure, there’s something for everyone.

Some people want long stretches of beach and no plans; others want city breaks, cocktails with a skyline view, and packed itineraries. Some just want to disappear off-grid for a while. This list of the 15 best solo travel destinations covers all of that. It’s not about finding the ‘best’ place, but the one that feels right for you right now. By the end of this guide, you’ll hopefully have a few ideas that actually excite you.

Top Tips for Solo Travel

If this is your first solo trip, a little prep goes a long way. Here’s what I wish someone had told me before my first one.

Pick your destination based on your energy, not your Instagram feed

Some places are basically built for meeting people (this will be music to your ears if this is your first solo trip!) – hostel common rooms, group tours, old towns you can wander for hours. Others are made for proper alone time, slow mornings and no small talk.

Before you book, have a think about what kind of environment you’d like. Burnt out from working and craving quiet? Best to skip the party hostel during the full moon in Thailand. Looking to connect with people? Go somewhere on the backpacker trail that is busy and very well-travelled.

Budget for ‘yes’ moments

The best moments from any solo trip are usually the ones you didn’t plan – the sunrise paddleboarding you booked at 10 pm the night before (guilty!!), the cooking class you wandered into by accident. Leave a little buffer in your budget specifically for these moments, separate from flights and accommodation. That way you’re never missing out on fun, spontaneous activities.

Share your plans with someone, but leave room for things to just happen.

Tell a friend your rough plan (to stop people worrying back home) and check in every now and then – simple, easy, worth doing. But don’t plan everything too rigidly. A slow morning reading a book in a cafe can turn into a new friendship. A missed bus can turn into an unplanned beach day. Leave room for things to just happen.

The Best Destinations for Solo Travel

Whether you’re chasing a backpacker budget, a bit of luxury, a road trip with no fixed plan, or a serious hike, here are 15 of the best places for solo travel right now – broken down by exactly the kind of experience you’re after.

Thailand

• This is a great solo travel destination for backpackers and budget travel.
• Thailand has hot, tropical weather year-round (we love that), with the cooler, drier seasons being between November – February.

Thailand is the OG backpacking destination (it was actually part of my first ever 8-week backpacking trip around SE Asia). It’s such a great place to solo travel because it’s super affordable, easy to navigate for a first-timer, and the backpacker infrastructure (hostels, buses, group tours) is among the best in the world. You’re literally set up to meet people and know you’ll cross paths with many other solo travellers in Thailand!

Consider these adventures:

• Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan
• Temple-hopping in Chiang Mai
• Island-hopping around Koh Lanta or Koh Phi Phi
• Wellness retreat in Phuket
• Sleep in a floating bamboo bungalow in Khao Sok National Park
• Explore all the street food, including Pad Thai and Mango Sticky Rice!

Thailand has over 1,400 islands, so whatever your style of adventure, you’ll never run out of new ones to explore.

Philippines

• This is a great solo travel destination for beautiful beaches and island hopping
• The weather is tropical year-round, though it’s worth avoiding typhoon season (roughly June–November).

If you’re after one of the best places for solo travel spots with postcard-worthy views, the Philippines is for you. Think beautiful turquoise waters, limestone islands, sardine runs, and a country genuinely known for some of the friendliest people in the world (expect to join in on some karaoke!).

El Nido and Coron in Palawan have some of the clearest waters I’ve ever seen, while Siargao has become the go-to for surfers and digital nomads.

The Philippines has over 7,000 islands, so “running out of things to do” simply isn’t possible.

Vietnam

• This is a great solo travel destination for adventure seekers, culture lovers, and budget travellers.
• February to April is the best time to visit Vietnam, with warm temperatures, lower humidity, and less rain. Heading north between December and February? Best to pack a few layers and dig into a hot bowl of pho to warm you up!

Vietnam really is such a loved and favourite destination because it offers backpacker affordability with real cultural depth and scenery. From the limestone cliffs of Ha Long Bay to the scooter chaos and hidden cafes of Hanoi and the lantern-lit streets of Hoi An, this is a country that is great for slow travel and immersing yourself in the local life.

Many solo travellers in Vietnam travel by sleeper buses (which I think are great!) or by the famous train route stretching the majority of the country.

Indonesia

• This is a great solo travel destination for a balance of adventure (especially known for diving and volcanoes) and ultimate relaxation.
• It’s warm year-round; the dry season, April–October, is the best time to travel, as it avoids heavy rainfall.

Bali will always be a hotspot for solo travel, and honestly, whether you’re drawn to the surf towns of Canggu and Uluwatu, the rice terraces of Ubud, or the quieter beaches of Sanur, there is so much to do, whatever your interests. It’s affordable and has a large community of solo travellers and digital nomads, making it easy to meet people along the way.

Bali has over 20,000 temples for you to explore. It’s worth checking out a traditional Kecak fire dance show while you are there.

Portugal

• This is a great solo travel destination for amazing food, rich history, and a laid-back lifestyle.
• The weather is mild for most of the year, with peak summer (July–August) hot and busy. Spring and early autumn are ideal for sightseeing, with warm days and fewer crowds.

Portugal is on the list because it’s brilliant whether you’re travelling solo or as a couple, wanting that chilled-out, beautiful atmosphere. Lisbon and Porto are great walkable cities; the food and wine scene keeps you coming back for more; and the Algarve coastline offers some of Europe’s best beaches without Italy or France’s price tag (always a plus!).

It’s also one of the safest, most solo-friendly countries in Europe, making it ideal for a first international trip.

Australia

• This is a great solo travel destination for beautiful beaches, wildlife and insane road trips.
• Weather varies hugely by region and season, as it’s a huge country, so research depending on whether you’re chasing sun or escaping it.

Australia is made for a road trip; it’s one of the best solo travel experiences for anyone who loves freedom. The Great Ocean Road, the East Coast backpacker route from Sydney to Cairns, or a red-dirt Outback adventure all offer completely different experiences within one country. Renting a campervan is the most popular and cost-effective way to travel, with plenty of solo-friendly campsites along popular routes.

The USA West Coast

• This is a great solo travel destination for city life, outdoor adventure and a road trip dream.
• The best time to visit the USA West Coast is from May to October, when the weather is warm and ideal for road trips, hiking, and exploring the coastline. Spring and autumn offer pleasant temperatures, fewer crowds, and excellent conditions for visiting national parks.

A West Coast road trip – California through to the Pacific Northwest – is a bucket-list solo adventure combining big cities, national parks, and very impressive coastal driving.

Highlights include Highway 1’s cliffside views, Yosemite’s granite peaks, and the laid-back energy of Portland and San Francisco. This trip allows for spontaneity – pulling off at a lookout, extending a stay in a town you didn’t expect to love. Highway 1 stretches over 1,000km along the California coastline alone.

The road trip you’ve been putting off? Here is our guide to the top road trip destinations in the USA.

New Zealand

• This is a great solo travel destination for road trips and hiking
• The best time to visit New Zealand is from November to April, when warm weather makes it ideal for hiking, road trips, and outdoor adventures. For fewer crowds and beautiful autumn colours, travel between March and May.

For hikers, New Zealand is hard to beat and should be added to the bucket list. The Great Walks network (Tongariro, Milford, Routeburn) offers some of the most scenic, well-marked, solo-friendly trails on the planet. Hiking huts along the multi-day routes are a brilliant way to meet other solo trekkers each evening.

Fun fact: New Zealand has more sheep than people, even today.

Nepal

• This is a great solo travel destination for hiking and a deeper spiritual adventure.
• Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) offer the clearest skies and most stable weather. This is especially important if you are thinking about trekking (which you most likely will, as this is what Nepal is famous for).

Nepal is the ultimate destination for solo travellers seeking adventure and some of the best hiking spots in the world, with the Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Circuit treks being some of the most popular.

The teahouses along major routes make solo trekking really accessible – you don’t need to camp, and you’ll constantly cross paths with other trekkers. However, it’s worth hiring a guide if you aren’t an experienced hiker.

Interrailing Europe

• This is a great solo travel destination for exploring multiple countries and experiencing lots of European cultures in just one trip.
• May to June and September to October offer pleasant weather, fewer crowds, and lower prices. The peak summer season brings longer days and a lively atmosphere, but it is the busiest and most expensive time to travel.

If you want multiple destinations with relatively easy planning, an Interrail pass through Europe is one of the best solo travel destination decisions you can make in a single booking. Hop between Amsterdam, Prague, Budapest, and the Italian coast, with the freedom to change your route as you go. Some of these train journeys really are the most picturesque views too. The train carriages along this route are full of other solo travellers, making it easy to make new friends along the way.

An Interrail Global Pass lets you travel across up to 33 countries on a single ticket.

Japan

• This is a great solo travel destination for solo travel but make it luxury.
• While Japan is an all-year-round destination. Spring (cherry blossom season, March–April), Autumn (fall foliage, October–November), Winter (Skiing, December- April)

Japan is a brilliant choice for a solo trip if you like things to feel organised and easy. It’s incredibly safe, spotlessly clean, and surprisingly straightforward to navigate, even with limited Japanese (worth downloading Google Translate, though).

Tokyo and Kyoto offer a mix of Michelin-starred meals or local eateries, with counter seating making solo dining feel completely natural. The bullet train network makes travelling between cities really easy, although major stations can take a little getting used to. For the easiest way to get around, I’d recommend a Japan Rail Pass or individual Shinkansen tickets.

Mexico

• This is a great solo travel destination for vibrant culture, incredible food, and diverse landscapes.
• Weather is warm to hot most of the year, with the dry season (November–April) ideal for travel.

Mexico is often high up there on people’s list, one of the best solo travel destinations for travellers who want vibrant cities, beach time, and serious food culture in one trip.

Mexico City offers so much history with museums and a buzzing café scene, while Oaxaca and Tulum bring a slower, more colourful pace. An established digital nomad and solo traveller scene makes it easy to head here without a plan and figure it out as you go. From tacos (yum!) and colonial towns to Caribbean beaches and ancient ruins, Mexico is packed with so much variety.

Greece

• This is a great solo travel destination for island hopping and euro summer vibes
• Summer (June–September) is hot and busy, while late spring or early autumn offers a more relaxed, budget-friendly alternative.

Greece is a long-time favourite among solo travel destinations, and the Greek islands offer an easy rhythm of ferry-hopping, beach days, and ancient history. I have yet to meet anyone who doesn’t fall in love with Greece after their first visit.

Santorini and Mykonos are some of the most popular islands, but quieter islands like Naxos or Paros offer the same beauty but with fewer crowds and lower prices. The ferry network between islands is set up for tourists, making everything easy and flexible as a solo traveller.

Greece has over 6,000 islands, but only around 200 are inhabited.

Costa Rica

• This is a great solo travel destination for wildlife, surfing and adventure.
• The dry season (December–April) is the most popular time to travel, though the ‘green season’ (May – November) brings lower prices and lush scenery (just expect more rainfall).

Costa Rica is one of the best places for solo travel if you want adventure sports, rainforest, and beach time without needing to rough it. Zip-lining, surfing, volcano hikes, and wildlife spotting (sloths, toucans, and monkeys) are easily arranged through hostels and tour operators that are solo travellers friendly.

Spain

• This is a great solo travel destination for travellers seeking historic cities, tapas culture, and a laid-back way of life.
• The weather is warm for most of the year, with summer (June–August) very hot, especially inland.

Finishing the list off with Spain because if you want a genuinely easy entry point into solo travel, Spain is the perfect place. Cities like Barcelona, Seville, and Valencia are walkable, social, and full of free walking tours. The tapas culture also makes solo dining feel completely natural (though if you’re anything like me, you’ll end up making friends so you can try even more dishes!).

Spain is incredibly easy to travel solo, with a well-established hostel scene and plenty of opportunities to meet other travellers along the way. It’s also the kind of country where you could easily spend weeks exploring many of the cities – each with its own unique culture, food, and character. Seville will always be a favourite of mine.

Fun fact: Spain has the second-highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world.

At the end of the day, there’s no right answer, just the destination that fits the kind of trip you need right now. Whether that’s making friends in Southeast Asia, slowing down in Japan, or heading on a bigger trip in the car and road-tripping along the USA West Coast.

Whichever one you keep coming back to is probably the one. So pick a place, open a new tab, and start looking at flights. The hardest part is often deciding to go.

Have you solo travelled yet ?

What are the best places you’ve solo-travelled to? Anything you’d add to this best solo travel destinations bucket list?

Mollie Bylett