As some of you may know, I’ve done my fair share of solo traveling. I’ve been at it since 2013, and in fact, this very blog was born from my passion for exploring the world on my own. After spending much of the past decade traveling independently, I’ve decided to put together a list of my favorite solo travel destinations.
The list is based solely on my experiences traveling these countries solo and how much fun I had along the way. Solo traveling doesn’t necessarily mean being alone, as you’ll see in this article. The list is based on how easy it was to meet people, travel together, affordability, public transportation, and more.
So without further ado, here are 10 of the best destinations to visit if you’re embarking on your first solo travel adventure! Let’s begin, shall we?
10 Best Travel Destinations for Solo Travelers
1. Albania
Let’s kick off the list with one of my favorite countries in the Balkans, and in Europe overall, Albania. This beautiful destination has it all, from stunning coastlines to breathtaking mountains perfect for hiking, and it has a thriving backpacking scene with many hostels in both big cities and small towns.
With plenty of hostels and a strong backpacking community, Albania is a great place to meet travelers from all walks of life. Since Tirana, the capital, sits in the heart of the country, you'll often meet people fresh off the plane who are either heading north to the Albanian Alps for hiking or south to explore the coastlines.
This makes it very easy for you to make friends and tag along with them. That’s exactly how I traveled in Albania, and it was awesome. Come to think of it, I don't think I was ever without travel friends in Albania. It’s really that easy!
Not to mention how affordable everything is compared to the rest of Europe, making it much easier to get around as a solo traveler. The public transportation is quite good, but can be confusing, so it really helps if you have other people around to help figure out and navigate the country together.
I met so many people in Albania, and it really made my trip feel complete, far from what it would have been if I had traveled alone the whole time. I remember fondly the group I met in a mountain hut in the Albanian Alps when we were stuck there for two days due to heavy rain. We quickly became friends and hiked through the mountains together afterward.
It was such a small yet memorable moment that I won’t forget anytime soon! If you are looking for a great place in Europe to meet people as a solo traveler, be sure to visit Albania.
2. Southern Spain
Here’s another of my favorite destinations for solo traveling in Europe: Spain. This laid-back country is full of rich history and stunning architecture waiting for you to explore. While Spain can be quite expensive, especially in cities like Barcelona, other places in the south, such as Granada and Seville, are still affordable and very backpacker-friendly, especially Granada.
I had a fairly limited amount of time in Spain, so when I traveled to Southern Spain, I didn’t expect much. I had planned to stay only a few days before heading up to Barcelona, but I met some people in Granada, and we had such a great time together that I ended up spending an entire week there!
The hostel I was staying in has a really lovely common area with big tables, which allows people to congregate and befriend one another. The hostel often hosts paella parties and pub crawls, which was how I met my group of friends, and we spent the next week exploring the city together.
We went on a walking tour together, went on day trips, and hiked the famous waterfall hiking trails together. In the evening, we found a nice medieval-themed tavern where we could get a beer for 2 EUR that comes with one free Tapas per pint. As you can expect, we went to town with the tapas and beers and spent the rest of the night hanging out and enjoying each other's company. It was awesome.
If you’re looking for a European country that’s perfect for solo travel, full of beautiful sights and scenery, easy to get around, and relatively affordable compared to the rest of Europe, then you’re going to love Southern Spain.
3. Thailand
And now we are moving to Southeast Asia, my personal favorite region to travel solo, and you can't go wrong with Thailand, the crowned jewel of the region, and my home country 😉.
I may be biased, of course, but out of all the places on this list, Thailand is probably the easiest when it comes to solo traveling. The safety is top-notch, unlike in many places in South America. It is very easy to get around Thailand, thanks to all the backpackers traveling the same route, so transfers and buses are plentiful throughout the year.
Accommodation and food are extremely affordable, allowing you to stretch your trip further and longer than in many other countries on this list. With so many travelers from around the world, a thriving backpacking community that has been developing for decades, and laid-back, friendly locals, it’s easy to make friends here.
I’ve met so many people, both locals and tourists, in my own country from all over the world, and many of these friendships have lasted to this day. In fact, I recently met a Swiss couple while crossing the border from Laos to Thailand on one of my Isaan trips, and I even showed them around Bangkok when they visited!
It’s these random encounters that make solo travel so memorable, and there’s no easier place to experience them than in Thailand. If you’re just starting your first solo journey and looking for your first destination, Thailand is your best bet!
4. Indonesia
I’ve been solo traveling for more than 10 years, and sometimes it can feel tiring, as if solo travel is losing its charm. When that happens, I always visit Indonesia to reignite my love for traveling alone.
I’m not sure why, but every time I visit, it reminds me why I love solo traveling so much, every single time. That’s why I’ve ended up visiting the country more than five times in the past decade, and each trip leaves me feeling more energized than ever!
I believe it has to do with how vast Indonesia is, and no matter how many times I visit, there’s always something new to explore. The locals, especially on the less-visited islands like Sumatra and Flores, are some of the friendliest people I’ve ever met.
Travelers you meet in these places are often like-minded individuals who look beyond the usual destinations like Bali and seek more adventure, of which there’s plenty to be found here, and that's why I always solo travel when in Indonesia.
For example, I went on a solo trip to Sumatra and went jungle trekking to track down wild orangutans. We were a group of four, spending three days in the jungle, sleeping at a camp by waterfalls, sharing meals, swimming in the rivers, and we quickly became friends.
On another occasion, I stayed with a tribe in the Mentawai jungle. My friend from Lithuania and I were the only tourists there, and we spent five days together, sharing adventures and countless conversations.
It’s these small, memorable moments that make Indonesia one of the best solo travel destinations out there, not to mention how affordable the country is. If you’re seeking a solo travel adventure, anywhere in Indonesia outside of Bali is sure to be incredible.
5. Vietnam
Vietnam is an up-and-coming destination that’s quickly catching up to Thailand, with improving tourism infrastructure and facilities while retaining its affordability and charm. It’s a great alternative for those who have already visited Thailand or are looking for something a bit different from the usual well-trodden paths.
Vietnam has a growing backpacker community, with many affordable hostels and motorbike rental shops, making it easy and cheap to get around. Its straightforward north-to-south (or vice versa) route also makes it simple to meet like-minded travelers you can tag along with as a solo traveler.
Accommodation and food in Vietnam are excellent and even more affordable than in Thailand. In less-traveled areas, you will often find fewer tourists, which makes it much easier to make friends and travel together. Many travelers share the mentality of being on the same journey, looking out for each other along the way.
That was certainly the case for me in places like Phong Nha and Sapa, where traveling with others can make the experience even better, especially when staying in a homestay in Sapa. Nights there are much more fun when you have someone to hang out with. Also, if you plan to rent a scooter in Vietnam, it’s always safer to have a travel companion in case anything happens.
You can also join one of the many shared tours running in popular places like Halong Bay or Ha Giang Loop, which allow you to make new friends while seeing more of the country without breaking the bank. If you’re looking for an alternative destination in Southeast Asia, Vietnam is definitely worth checking out.
6. Malaysia
Another overlooked destination that I found very fun to solo travel in is Malaysia, which is often a transit country as many regional flights fly through Kuala Lumpur, its capital city, and you will find many travelers passing through the country from Singapore to Thailand or vice versa.
This makes it a great place to make new travel friends and tag along with them if you are doing a larger Southeast Asia trip. There are also many hostels available in cities like Kuala Lumpur and Penang, which are both worth visiting. The public transportation is even better than Thailand, and yet remains affordable.
Not to mention, most passports allow you to stay in Malaysia for 90 days, which is much more generous than many other countries in the region. While it may not have as many tourist attractions as its neighbors, the country still has plenty to offer solo travelers.
I especially enjoy Penang, which shares a similar Chinese heritage with parts of Southern Thailand, like Phuket, giving it a unique vibe compared to other places in Malaysia. The island is also much more casual and laid-back, with beaches, alcohol sales, and incredible street food that you can enjoy to your heart’s content.
I met a lovely group of travelers in Penang, and we spent a few days exploring the island together. I continued to meet some of them in Southern Thailand and all the way to Bangkok as we traveled in the same direction. Malaysia is often overlooked, so if you’re looking to solo travel and want a destination that’s less popular than Thailand or Vietnam, Malaysia is definitely worth considering.
7. Colombia
Colombia is probably one of the most fun countries I’ve visited in South America, thanks to its friendly people, outgoing culture, and vibrant backpacking scene. It was my first country in South America, so it holds a special place in my heart as one of my favorite solo travel destinations in the region.
Although Colombia, or South America in general, is not as safe as Southeast Asia, it remains one of the most popular regions for solo travel, thanks to its friendly people who really brighten up cities like Medellín and Bogotá.
In these big cities, you’ll often find weekly events that bring travelers and locals together. For example, Gringo Tuesday is held at a bar in Bogotá, where you can come and practice English or Spanish with locals, expats, and fellow travelers.
In Medellín, you can also attend a free weekly dance workshop to learn salsa with locals. I attended both events and found the locals to be extremely welcoming. I made several friends during these activities, which made my experience even more memorable.
There are also plenty of hostels in popular spots outside the big cities, like Cartagena and Salento, making it easy to travel from north to south affordably while meeting fellow travelers along the way. I had a blast in Colombia, and if you’re looking to start your solo journey in South America, make it Colombia!
8. Peru
Another awesome place to solo travel in South America is Peru, hands down my favorite country of the whole continent, thanks to its unique and vibrant culture, delicious cuisine, and tons of cool places to visit and things to do, all at a very affordable price.
Of course, Peru has Machu Picchu, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, a must-see for every traveler, solo or not. Cusco is the city where you’ll find all kinds of travelers, as many base themselves here while exploring Machu Picchu and its surrounding attractions.
You will find many hostels in Cusco where you can find other travelers to tag along with. There are many side trips you can take from here that will allow you to tag along with others and go on an adventure like hiking the Rainbow Mountain, Salkantay Trek, and more.
If you would rather be alone in the mountains, you know, doing proper solo traveling, you can also do that in Huaraz, the hiking capital of Peru where you will find many hiking trails and multi-day treks you can embark. I spent 4 days hiking and camping on the Santa Cruz trek alone in Huaraz and it was awesome.
Peru has a great bus system, making it very easy for solo travelers to get around. On top of that, it remains one of the most affordable countries in South America, with hostels in most locations and cheap, delicious food available everywhere. If you ask me, it’s the ultimate solo travel destination in South America!
9. Jordan
You might be surprised, but the Middle East also has a great destination for solo travelers. One of my favorite countries there is Jordan, which is best known for Petra, the Rose Ancient City, with its famous temple carved on the side of a mountain.
Out of all the Middle Eastern countries, Jordan is one of the most relaxed, with a handful of hostels available in places like Amman, its capital, and Petra. This makes it easy for solo travelers to travel affordably and meet fellow travelers.
Public transportation is relatively good compared to other Middle Eastern countries, which often rely heavily on cars. You can access destinations like Petra and Jerash via buses quite affordably.
In Petra, you can spend one to two days hiking around the ancient site with people you meet at your hostel, and enjoy a lovely meal while watching the sunset from the rooftop, sampling hummus and drinks along the way.
That’s exactly how my time in Petra went: I met a German and a Lebanese traveler at the hostel, and we went on hikes and enjoyed hummus parties together. It was an unforgettable experience. If you are looking for a friendly and easy destination in the Middle East to solo travel, I highly recommend you check out Jordan.
10. New Zealand
Out of all the countries I’ve listed here, New Zealand is probably the most expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. I spent over a month backpacking from north to south, using only buses and hostels, and had one of the best times of my life there without breaking the bank.
New Zealand is blessed with stunning natural beauty, especially on the South Island, and you can easily reach most popular destinations by bus or shared transfers, saving a significant amount of money as a solo traveler.
Almost every town in New Zealand has a hostel where you can stay cheaply and meet like-minded travelers. Since the country is narrow, with most people traveling either from north to south or vice versa, it’s easy to find others on the same route and tag along with them.
The backpacking community and hostel vibe are among the best you’ll find, with organized movie nights and events you can join. Many hostel staff are travelers participating in Workaway programs, which makes them easy to befriend and connect with.
New Zealand is also one of the safest countries in the world, and you can save even more by hitchhiking to destinations where public transportation doesn’t run. That’s how I got around Franz Josef and Dunedin with friends I met at hostels.
If you’re young and looking for a rite of passage into solo traveling, I cannot recommend New Zealand enough. During my one-month solo trip, I met so many incredible people, and it remains some of my favorite travel memories to this day. With its stunning sights, breathtaking scenery, and welcoming community, what more could you ask for?
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