Have you ever wanted to solo travel, but had no clue where the best place to travel to that’s safe? I’ve compiled a list of 15 best destinations to solo travel to that are safe, fun, easy to get around, beautiful, and a great place to meet other solo travelers.
Solo travel is one of my favorite things to do, which is actually really shocking because I used to despise being alone. I used to hate the thought of solo traveling. It was never something I ever wanted to do. Although some of that is still true, the truth is, you’re never truly alone. Solo travel allows you to meet so many people from all around the world and you get to learn so much about yourself. Everyone should solo travel at least once… or twice… in their life. It’s an experience that is so unique, so special, and so life-changing.
I know solo travel can seem really scary at times, but trust me – there’s tons of great places that are perfect for solo travelers to go to. The 15 countries that are listed in this post are excellent places to start your solo travel journey.
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1. Croatia
Croatia is a wonderful mix of party, beauty, nature, and delicious food. It is very easy to get around and there is a lot of solo travelers there. If you go to Croatia, you must go to Plitvice Lakes National Park or Krka National Park. When you’re in Dubrovnik, Croatia, you can also do a lot of day trips to other countries. It’s a great city to easily travel to other places.
When I was traveling in Croatia, I was talking to a few locals about how safe it is to solo travel there. The locals were very adamant that it is one of the safest countries in the world. One of them even joked that you could even fall asleep on the sidewalk with your phone in your hand and no one would steal it from you *I do not recommend doing this though*.
2. Portugal
Portugal is a very beautiful country. There’s a lot to see and do there. From Lisbon, to Porto, to Lagos – there’s tons of different places to explore. Lisbon is full of delicious food that is specific to Portgual. You must try the Porto wine when you’re in Porto and you must get the Pasteis de Nata when in Belem, which is an egg custard tart that is DELICIOUS! There is a lot of solo female travelers there and it is a very safe place to travel.
3. Philippines
The Philippines is a beautiful country to explore. If you’re able to, I recommend staying in the Philippines for at least a month. My favorite places were: El Nido, Coron, Port Barton, Malapascua, Siquijor, and Siargao. There is so much to see and do there, and everywhere is absolutely breathtaking. A lot of the places you will want to travel to are spread out over several different islands and it takes a long time to get to each destination. However, I promise you, each destination is truly worth it.
4. India
Contrary to India being labeled as “unsafe”, it actually is a very beautiful country to solo travel to. India is such a special place if you’re on a spiritual journey *insert Eat Pray Love*. In Northern India, you can do lots of yoga, meditation, self-development courses, learn about culture and spirituality, and so much more. On top of that, there’s so many beautiful sights to see and is full of activities and places to go. As always, I do not recommend walking alone at night.
5. Thailand
Thailand is a great country to travel to. I have gone with friends and separately solo traveled there. The islands of Thailand is a great place to explore. Thailand is full of delicious and cheap food, a great place to get scuba certified and explore the beauty and culture that Thailand has to offer. If you want to get certified, I recommend getting it done in Koh Tao.
6. Malaysia
If you’re traveling to Malaysia, you are most likely starting in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. The great thing about starting there is a lot of travelers are starting there too. A lot of people are traveling the same route and it’s a great way to meet people and travel together. People also end in Kuala Lumpur so it’s great way to get tips on what they did in the country.
7. Slovenia
If you’re in Europe, you must go to Slovenia. It is an absolutely beautiful country and unfortunately, a lot of people skip going there. I almost skipped it, due to not knowing anything about Slovenia and its hidden treasures. When you’re traveling to Slovenia, you must go to Lake Bled, Lake Bohinj, and Ljubljana.
8. Iceland
Unfortunately, I have not traveled to Iceland yet, but Iceland is a very popular solo travel destination. It is a more expensive country to travel to, but it is a very safe country to visit. I definitely am going to go here soon!
9. Japan
The Japanese are some of the most friendliest and most welcoming locals in the world. Japan is a great place to solo travel. It’s very clean, very easy to get around, and a lot of sights to see. The train system is incredible and is very easy to get around. You can even use Google Maps to get the train times.
10. Bali
Bali is one of my favorite countries. It has popped off since Instagram made it a very popular destination. It is a great destination to solo travel. There is a lot of expats there and a great place to meet other travelers. There is so much to do there – you can chill on a beach, dive, snorkel, surf, visit rice paddies, and so much more. I definitely recommend going to the Gili islands.
11. Myanmar
Right now, as of July 2021, I do not recommend traveling to Myanmar. There is ongoing civil unrest and armed conflict right now and it is not safe to travel there. If you’re not sure what is happening in Myanmar, please Google it. It is so sad to see what is happening there.
Myanmar is one of my favorite countries though and a great place to solo travel *when safe to do so*. There is so many other solo travelers there and there is so much to see. I spent a month there and wish I stayed longer. There’s mountains, hiking, visiting villages, going to the lake, temples, meditation, and so much more. It holds a special place in my heart and I met so many amazing solo travelers there. I definitely recommend doing the trek to Inle Lake where you get to visit a lot of villages and locals.
12. South Korea
South Korea is a great place to solo travel to. It is fairly clean, very easy to get around, and a lot of delicious food. A lot of the locals try to help you if you need help. You must go to a jjimjilbang while you’re in South Korea. A jjimjilbang is a Korean bathhouse with pools, hot springs, saunas, massages, and several wellness rooms. It is definitely an experience and a great way to pamper yourself. If you’re able to, go to Spa Land in Busan. It is one of the top jjimjilbang’s in Korea.
13. Alaska
Alaska is absolutely breathtaking and a great place if you’re an adventurer. You can hike glaciers, see an abundance of wildlife, ice climb, go on a helicopter ride, and so much more. There is so much to see in Alaska and it is a perfect place for people who love the outdoors, be in nature, and go on adventures. If you’re traveling during June-September, I recommend going to Brooks Falls where you can see the iconic bears fishing.
14. Taiwan
Taiwan is a great place to solo travel. It’s very clean, a lot to see, and a lot of delicious food. The nightlife is incredible there too. It’s sometimes hard to communicate with the locals, but that’s what Google Translate is for! If you’re in Taiwan, make sure you go to the night markets. It’s definitely a unique experience!
15. Hawaii
Hawaii is very safe place to travel alone. Oahu is a great place to start if you’re looking for a good mix of city life and island vibes. There’s a lot to see and do in Oahu. You can go snorkeling, diving, hiking, surfing, go to the beach, or explore the island. Hawaii is such a beautiful place. If you’re an American, Hawaii is a great place to dip your toes in solo travel as you can get comfortable first with solo travel while you’re still in your home country and then advance to abroad later.
There’s so many places around the world where you can solo travel. Don’t let it be this “scary” thing that prevents you from doing it. I promise – it will be such an incredible experience! If you still have fears with solo travel or need some more help, I would love to help you.
Where is your favorite solo travel destination? Or where do you plan on going for your first solo trip? Let me know in the comments!
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