Our Top Recommended Destinations for Solo Travellers
With translation apps available at our fingertips, specialist companies providing excursions tailored to those travelling alone, and more flights than ever before departing to far-flung destinations, it's a great time to plan a solo adventure. Here are some of our top destination recommendations.
Best for first-time solo adventurers—Italy
A nation that boasts 55 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, countless artistic treasures, mouth-watering food, and a relaxed approach to life, Italy is a firm favourite among travellers worldwide. Read our ultimate guide to Italy.
Prospective solo travellers can hit exciting cities full of upmarket shops and museums brimming with ancient artefacts, as well as sleepy hilltop villages and chilled-out beach towns. This variety makes Italy a great destination for anyone venturing out on their first solo trip, as you can choose to be as adventurous as you like. You can stick to the well-beaten path and explore just the major cities, where there will be plenty of other travellers to meet, and locals are more likely to speak some English, or, if you are looking for a more immersive experience (or would like some alone time), head to the lesser-known regions, smaller towns or the countryside.
Good infrastructure in Italy makes travelling from city to city easy. The trains are accessible, affordable and comfortable, and there are also buses and taxis. You can find hotels of all different standards and requirements, and plenty of one-day or multi-day group tours to join in most destinations.
One of the most popular and beautiful regions of Italy is the Bay of Naples and Amalfi Coast. With colourful houses tumbling down cliffs into the sparkling sea, views of Mount Vesuvius in the distance, and the ruins of Pompeii to explore, it attracts visitors all year round.
Best for foodies—France
French wine and cheese need no introduction, and are just one reason among many to visit this country. Head to Bordeaux to sample some merlot and cabernet sauvignon, sip cognac in the Charente and Charente-Maritime regions, and pop into boulangeries and patisseries up and down the country for warm, fresh baguettes, croissants, brioche and buttery pastries.
Bucket-list destination—Canada
O Canada! If you enjoy the great outdoors, meeting friendly people, exploring cosmopolitan cities and spotting wildlife, then Canada might be the perfect place for a solo adventure.
It's huge in size, but relatively easy to navigate, with one train company covering the whole country, and long highways stretching between cities, and it offers activities for all seasons, with stunning hikes around emerald lakes in spring and summer, world-class skiing in the winter, and glowing foliage in the autumn.
The west of Canada boasts some of its most photographed lakes, including the picture-perfect Lake Louise, which is backed by mountains and surrounded by pine trees, as well as two of its most exciting cities—Vancouver and Calgary. In Vancouver, you can walk or cycle around the 400-hectare Stanley Park, taking in views of the harbour, or visit the food market on Granville Island. Calgary is famous for its an annual rodeo celebration—the Calgary Stampede—so don your cowboy hat and boots and get involved!
Some precautions we recommend in Canada for solo travellers are to take care around the local wildlife, and to always send your planned hiking itinerary to a friend or family member.
Best for off the beaten track—India
If you’re feeling adventurous and want to discover a completely different culture and way of life, India has a wealth of places to visit and sights to see. The seventh-largest country in the world, India provides endless itinerary options.
Explore the popular Golden Triangle in the north, travelling between Delhi, Agra and Jaipur to see the dazzling Taj Mahal and the Amber Fort. Other northern sights include the lakeside city of Udaipur, which featured in the James Bond film "Octopussy", and Jodhpur, known as the Blue City thanks to the colourful houses in the old town.
Further south, you can explore the Kerala backwaters by boat, spot tigers in Ranthambore National Park, or relax on white-sand beaches in Goa.
We recommend reading guidebooks and travel websites before you go so you're aware of what precautions to take (for example, always drinking bottled water), and planning train travel and accommodation in advance.