The Best Destinations for your First (or any) Solo Trip
- Margaux
- 24 hours ago
- 4 min read
If you’re just starting out with solo travel, it may seem daunting at first. My best advice is to start small with shorter trips in countries culturally similar to your own, and then branch out when your confidence grows. This blog post will go through some of the best destinations for your first solo trip, ranging from city breaks to full countries.
The Best Cities for your first Solo Trip
If you’re looking for a couple of days away to start your solo travel journey, here are some great cities to explore:
Amsterdam, Netherlands: the Dutch speak English very well, so it’s easy to communicate with locals if you need help or advice on getting around. Amsterdam’s public transport is great and very intuitive, but you can also walk anywhere in the city which is really nice. I felt very safe there. See my three-day guide to Amsterdam here.
Copenhagen, Denmark: much like Amsterdam, Copenhagen is a very easy city to navigate, and you can walk around most of it. English is widely spoken and people are very friendly and willing to help out if you need.
Budapest, Hungary: I felt very safe in Budapest and absolutely loved the city. There is a very good public transport network, and you can walk the main sights in the city centre. There are also plenty of great hostels in the city to meet people. While fewer people speak English, they are very used to tourists, and all the main spots will have people able to help you. Check out my Budapest itinerary here.
Kotor, Montenegro: Kotor is a small town in Montenegro which is really popular for tourists, and for good reason as it is stunning. You will be able to walk anywhere in the town and it’s very easy to book yourself on boat tours and the like through your hostel or travel agencies around town. I felt really safe there.
Singapore: as one of the safest countries on Earth, Singapore is a great place for your first solo trip. I’ve heard you can leave your laptop open in a café, go for a walk, and come back hours later to find your laptop untouched. Singapore’s public transport system is second to none, and it’s so easy to get around. English is widely spoken and people are always willing to help you. See my Singpore itinerary here.
London, England: London is a huge city but it’s a great place to explore solo because there’s so much to do. Obviously English is spoken everywhere, and getting around is very easy. There are also plenty of great day trips out of the city if you’re feeling more adventurous.
The Best Countries for your first Solo Trip
If you’ve got more time and want to explore more, here are some of my favourite countries to travel solo.
Thailand: Thailand is backpacker-central, and it is so easy to navigate. It is also very easy to meet people because of the huge hostel culture, almost everyone speaks a bit of English, and the locals are so incredibly friendly. See my guide to getting around Thailand and my one month Thailand itinerary and guide for more inspiration!
Vietnam: much like Thailand, Vietnam is very popular for backpackers, and is equally easy to navigate. There are also plenty of great organised tours like the Ha Giang Loop and Ha Long Bay where you can meet people. The local people are so friendly and willing to help you, and will also speak a good amount of English. Check out my one-month Vietnam itinerary and guide, plus my guide to getting around Vietnam for more.
Australia: a lot of the people I met in Australia were first-time solo travellers and backpackers, and it makes sense. The country, and especially its East Coast, is unbelievably easy to navigate, and there are so many group tours to do, like K’Gari and the Whitsundays, where you’ll be sure to meet people. Check out my guide to getting around Australia and my one month Australia itinerary too.
Indonesia: Indonesia is also a popular solo travel destination. A lot of people go to Bali, which is very easy to get around and explore, but its neighbouring islands of Java and Lombok are also great. You can have a look at my 10 day Bali itinerary and one week Java itinerary to see more. Java in particular was unforgettable.
New Zealand: last but not least, my favourite country on this planet, New Zealand. The country is so safe, people are very friendly, and your experience will be unmatched. If you don’t want to rent a car, you can easily see all of the best parts of the country by bus using the Intercity bus network, or book onto the Kiwi Experience where you’ll also meet plenty of people. I have a full-blown guide to backpacking New Zealand without a car here, and advice on getting around by bus here. You won’t regret it!
I hope these destinations give you some good inspiration for your first (or any) solo trip. If you are looking for safety tips for solo (especially female) travellers, check out my post here, and if you need a hostel survival guide, look no further than this blog post. Solo travel will be the best thing you ever do, so get out and give it a go. Just remember to only leave your footprints behind :)
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