Best Places to Travel Solo in 2026
Travelling alone is not about being lonely. It is about moving at your own pace, meeting people on your own terms, and proving to yourself that you can handle a new place solo. The right destination makes that first trip feel exciting instead of intimidating.
This guide covers the best places to travel solo, organised by exactly who you are as a traveller: a first-timer, a woman travelling alone, a US-based traveller, or a budget backpacker, instead of one generic list.
Who this guide is for: first-time solo travellers, solo women, US-based travellers who want a domestic trip, and budget-conscious backpackers planning a solo trip in 2026.
Last verified: June 2026. Safety conditions and travel advisories can change, so confirm current guidance for your destination before booking.
How We Chose These Destinations
Every destination here was evaluated against the same criteria, so the picks stay consistent rather than random.
- General safety, based on independent data rather than personal impression alone
- Ease of navigating alone, including public transport and language barriers
- Availability of budget-friendly accommodation, such as hostels
- A genuine reason to travel there solo, not just general popularity
- A mix of US and international, beginner and experienced-traveler options
Quick Comparison: Top Solo Travel Destinations at a Glance
| Destination | Type | Best For | Budget Level | Language Barrier |
| Iceland | International | First-time solo travelers | $$$ | Low, English widely spoken |
| Japan | International | Safety and public transport | $$ to $$$ | Moderate, signage often in English in cities |
| Portugal | International | Budget-friendly Europe trip | $$ | Low |
| Costa Rica | International | Nature and adventure | $$ | Low to moderate |
| Thailand | International | Backpacking on a budget | $ | Moderate |
| Portland, Oregon | USA | Walkable US city | $$ | None |
| New York City | USA | Solo city energy | $$$ | None |
| Honolulu, Hawaii | USA | Solo beach trip | $$$ | None |
Budget levels are general estimates and vary by season and travel style, so treat them as a starting point rather than a fixed figure.
Best Places to Travel Solo by Category
- Best overall for first-timers: Iceland
- Best for safety-conscious solo women: Japan
- Best US city for solo travel: Portland, Oregon
- Best budget backpacking destination: Thailand
- Best for solo nature and adventure: Costa Rica
Best Destination by Travel Style
| Travel Style | Best Destination |
| Beach | Honolulu, Hawaii |
| Hiking | Iceland |
| Culture | Japan |
| Food | Portugal |
| Nightlife | Thailand |
| Digital Nomad | Portugal |
| Photography | Iceland |
| Wellness | Costa Rica |
Solo Travel Budget Estimates
| Destination | Backpacker Budget | Mid-Range Budget |
| Thailand | $35 to $60 per day | $80 to $150 per day |
| Portugal | $60 to $100 per day | $140 to $220 per day |
| Costa Rica | $50 to $90 per day | $130 to $200 per day |
| Japan | $70 to $110 per day | $150 to $250 per day |
| Iceland | $140 to $220 per day | $250 or more per day |
These are general estimates based on typical accommodation, food, and local transport costs, and they shift with season and personal travel style, so use them as a starting point rather than a fixed budget.
How Long Should Your First Solo Trip Be?
- Weekend trip (2 to 3 days): a good test run for a nearby US city like Portland or a domestic destination.
- Five days: enough time to settle into one international city without feeling rushed.
- One week: the most common length for a first international solo trip, long enough to see a country without over-scheduling every day.
- Two weeks: better suited to a second or third solo trip, once you’re comfortable adjusting plans on the go.
Solo Travel Comparison: How Destinations Stack Up
| Destination | First Trip | Solo Women | Budget | Adventure | Beaches |
| Iceland | Excellent | Excellent | Limited | Strong | Fair |
| Japan | Excellent | Excellent | Fair | Fair | Fair |
| Thailand | Good | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Portugal | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Fair | Good |
| Costa Rica | Good | Good | Good | Excellent | Excellent |
Best Time to Go for Each Destination
| Destination | Best Time to Visit |
| Iceland | June to September |
| Japan | March to May, or October to November |
| Portugal | April to June, or September |
| Thailand | November to February |
| Costa Rica | December to April |
Best Solo Travel Destinations
These destinations work well for solo travellers of any experience level, based on safety, ease of navigation, and genuine solo-friendly infrastructure.
Iceland
Best for: travellers who want stunning scenery without needing advanced trip-planning skills.
Why it works solo: English is spoken almost everywhere; organised day tours make it easy to see the countryside without a rental car; and the country is currently ranked as the most peaceful in the world for the 19th consecutive year, according to the latest Global Peace Index.
Who should skip this: budget travellers, since Iceland is consistently one of the more expensive countries in Europe to visit.
Practical tip: booking a Golden Circle day tour on your first day is an easy, low-pressure way to see major sights before navigating anything independently.
Japan
Best for: solo travellers who want a big cultural experience with a strong reputation for safety.
Why it works solo: an extremely reliable public transport system, low crime rates, and a culture where dining and travelling alone is common and unremarkable, unlike in some countries.
Who should skip this: travellers uncomfortable with any language barrier outside major cities, since English signage becomes less common in smaller towns.
Practical tip: if you’re planning to visit several cities, compare the cost of a Japan Rail Pass with individual tickets before purchasing, since price changes in recent years mean the pass isn’t always the cheaper option anymore. Since this is a long-haul flight for most US travellers, our guide to the best airlines for international travel can help you compare cabin comfort before booking.
Portugal
Best for: first-time European solo travellers on a moderate budget.
Why it works solo: lower costs than most of Western Europe, a strong hostel scene in Lisbon and Porto, and a compact size that makes multi-city trips manageable without long travel days.
Who should skip this: travellers seeking a fast-paced nightlife scene, since Portugal offers a more relaxed atmosphere than many major European capitals.
Practical tip: the train between Lisbon and Porto takes around three hours, making a two-city solo trip easy without needing to fly. If you’re extending a European solo trip further, our guide to the best time to visit Greece covers seasonal timing that applies to much of Southern Europe.
Costa Rica
Best for: solo travellers who want nature, adventure activities, and a laid-back atmosphere.
Why it works solo: a well-established tourism infrastructure, traveller-friendly towns like Nosara and Santa Teresa, and a strong reputation for safety relative to its neighbours.
Who should skip this: travellers wanting a fully hands-off trip, since some rural roads and infrastructure require more flexibility than a typical resort destination.
Practical tip: shared coworking and hostel spaces in surf towns make it easier to meet other solo travellers than in more remote parts of the country.
Thailand
Best for: budget-focused solo travellers, especially first-time backpackers.
Why it works solo: an established backpacker trail, extremely affordable food and accommodation, and a well-developed travel agent network that can arrange onwards transport quickly.
Who should skip this: travellers who want a slow, quiet trip, since the most popular backpacker circuit can feel socially busy rather than solitary.
Practical tip: booking your first few nights in advance and figuring out onwards travel once you arrive tends to work better than over-planning a full Thailand itinerary from home.
Solo Travel USA
If you want a solo trip without leaving the country, these US cities are consistently strong picks. They combine walkability, good public transportation, and plenty of activities that are easy to enjoy independently. If you don’t currently have a valid passport, our guide to places to travel without a passport covers island options like Puerto Rico that work well for a solo trip too.
Portland, Oregon
Best for: solo travellers who want a walkable city with easy day trips nearby.
Why it works solo: a compact, walkable downtown, reliable public transport, and easy access to the Columbia River Gorge and Willamette Valley for day trips.
Who should skip this: travellers wanting a fast-paced, high-energy city trip, since Portland leans more relaxed than cities like New York.
Practical tip: a day trip to the Willamette Valley wine region works well solo, since many tasting rooms are used to serving individual visitors.
New York City
Best for: solo travellers who want city energy without needing a car.
Why it works solo: dining and exploring alone is genuinely normal here, unlike in many other US cities, and the subway makes getting around without a car straightforward.
Who should skip this: travellers on a tight budget, since New York is consistently one of the more expensive US cities to visit.
Practical tip: booking a hotel near a major subway line, rather than focusing only on neighbourhood reputation, tends to matter more for a smooth solo trip.
Honolulu, Hawaii
Best for: solo travellers who want a beach-focused US trip.
Why it works solo: a strong tourist infrastructure geared toward individual visitors, along with organised tours that make it easy to see the island without a rental car.
Who should skip this: budget travellers, since Hawaii is consistently more expensive than mainland US destinations for flights and hotels.
Practical tip: Waikiki’s concentration of hotels and tour operators makes it the easiest home base for a first solo Hawaii trip.
Solo Trips for Women
Solo female travel comes with its own set of priorities, and these destinations consistently rank well for safety and ease specifically for women travelling alone.
Iceland: its long-standing top ranking in the Global Peace Index, combined with widespread English fluency, makes it one of the most consistently recommended first solo trips for women.
Japan: low crime rates and a culture where solo dining and travel are common make Japan a frequently recommended pick for solo female travellers, particularly in major cities like Tokyo and Osaka.
Costa Rica: Costa Rica is widely regarded as one of the safer destinations in Central America for independent travellers, though standard travel precautions still apply.
Portugal: a strong hostel network and generally low reported crime rates make Portugal a common recommendation for a first solo trip to Europe.
Practical tip for women travelling solo: sharing your itinerary with someone at home and checking in at each destination is a simple habit that experienced solo female travellers consistently recommend.
Best Solo Travel Destinations for Beginners
If this is your first solo trip, these destinations are specifically chosen for ease rather than adventure.
Ireland: English-speaking, compact, and consistently ranked among the world’s most peaceful countries, making it a low-stress first solo destination.
Japan: an extremely reliable transport system and low crime rate make navigation genuinely easy, even with a moderate language barrier outside major cities.
Portugal: A manageable size and lower cost than much of Western Europe make it easy to build confidence without a huge trip-planning burden.
Practical tip: Starting with a short, three- to five-day trip to one of these destinations before attempting a longer or more remote solo trip tends to build confidence faster than jumping straight into a monthlong backpacking trip.
Solo Travel Safety Tips
| Destination | Violent Crime | Public Transport | Typical Nighttime Safety |
| Japan | Very low | Excellent | Generally safe |
| Iceland | Very low | Good | Generally safe |
| Portugal | Low | Good | Usually safe |
| Costa Rica | Moderate | Fair | Tourist areas generally safer |
| Thailand | Moderate | Good | Tourist areas generally safer |
Ratings are general patterns based on independent safety data and traveller reports, not a guarantee, and conditions can vary by specific neighbourhood or town.
- Check official travel advisories before booking. You can see here the current advisory level for any country on the US State Department’s travel advisory site, which is updated regularly.
- Share your itinerary with someone at home, including hotel names and expected check-in dates, so someone knows your general plan.
- Check in regularly, Even a quick message confirming you’ve arrived safely at each stop.
- Research neighbourhood safety for your specific accommodation, rather than relying only on a city’s general reputation.
- Keep a backup of important documents, such as a photo of your passport stored separately from the physical copy.
Common Mistakes When Planning a Solo Trip
- Over-planning every hour: leaving room for spontaneity is often what makes solo travel memorable, and overly rigid itineraries can add unnecessary stress.
- Booking a destination based only on popularity: a destination that’s a great fit for someone else may not match your comfort level or interests.
- Skipping travel insurance: solo travellers don’t have a companion to help manage an emergency, which makes insurance more important, not less.
- Not researching local customs in advance: basic cultural awareness reduces the odds of an awkward or unsafe situation.
- Choosing a remote, low-infrastructure destination for a first solo trip: it’s usually better to build confidence somewhere well-established first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is solo travel safe?
Yes, for most well-travelled destinations, especially when you check official travel advisories, share your itinerary with someone at home, and use the same common-sense precautions you’d use anywhere.
What are the best countries for solo travel?
Iceland, Japan, and Portugal are consistently ranked among the best countries for solo travel, thanks to strong safety records and solo-friendly infrastructure.
What are the safest countries for solo travel?
According to the Global Peace Index, Iceland, Ireland, and Austria have ranked among the world’s most peaceful countries in recent years, making them common recommendations for safety-focused solo travellers.
What are cheap solo vacation options?
Thailand and Portugal both offer strong value for solo travellers, with affordable accommodation and food costs compared to destinations like Iceland or Japan.
What are the best solo trips for guys?
Thailand, Costa Rica, and Portugal are frequently recommended for solo male travellers who want a mix of budget-friendly backpacking and adventure activities.
What are the best solo travel destinations in Europe?
Portugal, Iceland, and Ireland are commonly recommended for first-time solo travellers in Europe, thanks to lower language barriers and strong safety reputations.
Is solo travel good for beginners?
Yes, especially in destinations with strong public transport, low language barriers, and solid safety records, such as Ireland, Japan, or Portugal.
What are good solo backpacking destinations?
Thailand and Indonesia are frequently recommended for solo backpackers, thanks to established backpacker routes, affordable hostels, and a strong community of fellow travellers.
Final Recommendation
If this is your first solo trip, Iceland or Ireland offers the easiest entry point with minimal language barriers. If safety data matters most to your decision, Japan combines low crime rates with excellent public transport. If budget is the top priority, Thailand and Portugal both offer strong value without sacrificing solo-friendly infrastructure.
Conclusion
The best place to travel solo depends on your experience level, budget, and comfort with a language barrier, not just a single ranked list. Compare your priorities against the destinations above, check current travel advisories, and start with a shorter trip if this is your first time travelling alone.
Sources
- Global Peace Index, Institute for Economics and Peace (Vision of Humanity)
- US Department of State travel advisories
- Official tourism boards for the destinations listed above
- Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection safest destinations rankings
