What Makes a Great Solo Travel Destination?
The best solo destinations share a few traits: good public transit (so you're not dependent on anyone), a hostel/social scene (so meeting people is easy), personal safety, and enough solo travelers that you're never the odd one out.
🥇 Best Solo Destinations 2026
1. Thailand — The Classic Solo Trip
Thailand — Built for Solo Travelers
The Banana Pancake Trail (Bangkok → Chiang Mai → islands) is one of the world's best solo travel routes. Hostels are excellent and social, tuk-tuks and trains are cheap, and solo travel is completely normalized. You will make friends within 24 hours.
2. Portugal — Safe, Easy, Beautiful
Portugal — Europe's Easiest Solo Destination
Lisbon and Porto have excellent hostel scenes, walkable city centers, and extremely low crime. Portugal consistently ranks among Europe's safest countries. English is widely spoken and locals are famously warm to tourists.
3. Japan — Safe Solo Paradise
Japan — The Safest Solo Country on Earth
Japan has virtually zero petty crime. You can leave your bag on a table in a café and it'll be there when you return. Solo dining is completely normalized (solo counter seats are everywhere). The bullet train system makes it easy to cover the whole country alone.
4. Colombia — South America's Solo Hotspot
Medellín & Cartagena, Colombia
Medellín's transformation is one of travel's great comeback stories. The city is now genuinely safe for tourists, incredibly social, and has a huge expat and nomad community. Cartagena's walled city is magical. Fly direct from Miami for under $300.
5. Bali — The Digital Nomad Solo Scene
Bali, Indonesia — Solo & Social
Ubud's yoga retreats and Canggu's coworking cafés make Bali one of the world's easiest places to meet people as a solo traveler. The solo scene here is huge — you'll never eat alone unless you choose to.
Solo Travel Safety Tips
- Always share your itinerary with someone at home
- Use apps like Maps.me offline maps — no data needed
- Stay in hostels for the first 2-3 nights to meet people quickly
- Book a walking tour on day 1 — instant social group
- Trust your gut in any situation that feels off
Find Solo Travel Flight Deals
One-person flights are often cheaper per-seat than couples booking together. Search now.
Search Solo Flights →