Top 10 Best First Time Solo Travel Destinations

Is it your first time solo travelling but you’re not sure where to go? Read on for some tips and ideas from a seasoned solo female traveller!

I’ve been travelling solo for over 17 years. I first got on a plane by myself to New York aged 19, and at 22, absolutely desperate to travel, embarked on a 10 month backpacking trip around South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

Now, not to say that taking your first step into solo travel on a round the world trip isn’t incredibly rewarding and freeing, but I’m certainly not suggesting you start that big. My point is, since then I’ve been doing a mix of solo travel as well as travel with family and friends, and I aim for three solo trips a year. So hopefully I can encourage you to take the leap into solo travel and help you find the best first time solo travel destination to suit you!

My advice to those who want to go somewhere by themselves, especially if they’re nervous or unsure how they’ll fare doing a solo trip for the first time, is to do a city break. City breaks are often comfortingly close to home, involve minimal culture shock and you can even pick somewhere that speaks the same language as you do.

Even better is to plan to visit somewhere that is well known for a particular interest of yours. Into art? Head to Paris, Madrid or Florence for your fix. Love theatre? Edinburgh Fringe and the lights of Broadway call! Fancy eating your way through your holiday? The options are endless: try the foodies paradises of San Sebastian or Lyon; Seville for tempting tapas; or Bologna, the food capital of Italy with an actual university dedicated to the art of making gelato.

Here are a few ideas to get you started on planning your first solo travel trip away.

Best First Time Solo Travel Destinations:

1) PARIS

Good for: food, art, avoiding flying

Perfect if you’re feeling antsy about flying or navigating an airport alone, Paris is a great first time solo travel destination. The French capital is super easy to reach on the Eurostar and there are regular deals which can get you there and back for less than £80. So what if it’s dubbed the city of love? You love yourself, don’t you? Well take yourself to Paris, then.

A great destination if you’re particularly into art what with The Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, and Centre Pompidou at your disposal, it’s also a fantastic trip if you’re into sitting outside cafes eating bread, cheese and drinking red wine whilst feeling like you could be Parisian, which I am personally into very much.

There’s so much to see and do – I’ve never been able to fit it all into one weekend which means the French capital is the perfect repeat destination, too. I’ve been with my mum, with friends and solo a few times – even for a day trip!

Paris Travel Guide here.

2) LISBON

Good for: mix of city and beach, rooftop bars, cheap solo accommodation

Lisbon comes high on my list of first time solo travel trips mostly because during my five solo days in this amazing city, I barely had any time to myself! I met people so easily, locals and other tourists alike over meals and drinks at rooftop bars.

Lisbon is also super easy to navigate and has variety in that you can get out to Cascais for a beach day, and Sintra for come culture. It’s also one of the cheaper places you can visit, with well priced Air BnBs which for a solo traveller makes things a lot easier.

Lisbon Travel Guide here.

3) VENICE

Good for: photography, solo dining

Venice is one of my favourite places, and being the capital of aperitivo and cicchetti, makes Venice a fantastic destination for solo dining – especially if you’re a bit nervous about it. Endlessly grazing on bite sized cicchetti by yourself is a great way to ease into tackling a three course solo dining experience in a restaurant, if that’s what you’re worried about.

If you’re a keen photographer it’s also a wonderful place to get stuck in without holding up any travelling companions. The centuries old architecture, bright homes of Burano and the famed Venice Carnival make this the perfect first time solo travel destination for those who like to spend time with their camera.

Venice Travel Guide here.

4) FLORENCE

Good for: art, food, history

The capital of Tuscany is small enough that you can walk everywhere without getting too easily lost, offers food so incredible I still thinking about it years later and has a fantastic amount to see and do. Florence is another good place if you’re into art (it is home of the Renaissance), as well as architecture – the Duomo and Campanile are stunning. The food for me really secured Florence as one of my favourite destinations though, and I can harp on and on about it for as long as someone will let me.

Florence Travel Guide here.

5) BOLOGNA

Good for: food

Okay so there’s a trend; I’m pretty into solo jaunts on Italian soil. There’s just something so inherently chilled about sitting around drinking Aperol Spritz whilst reading a good book or people watching.

If you love Italian food, Bologna is a true gem, and often cited as the food capital of Italy. Being on the edge of Tuscany and close to Parma and Modena, there is a real passion for quality and local produce here.

The city is also home to gelato and has great history, including the oldest university in Europe, dating back nearly 1000 years. There’s lots to explore yet it doesn’t feel overwhelming, and being nearby to other small cities, you can easily hop on a train to explore further afield.

Bologna Travel Guide here.

6) EDINBURGH

Good for: history, live music, theatre

Another great choice if you fancy getting the train (although admittedly flying is often cheaper), or would prefer to try somewhere without a language barrier, Edinburgh has loads to entertain you – mesmerizing history to learn about, great live music and banging seafood.

The Scottish capital holds a certain romance in the winter despite the bitter cold, and if you’re into the arts a trip in August will allow you to fill your days with comedy and theatre at the Fringe Festival. No matter the time of year, do not – I repeat – do NOT miss Mary’s Milk Bar for ice cream. I don’t care if it’s below zero, you have a responsibility to eat excellent gelato.

Edinburgh Travel Guide here.

7) NEW YORK

Good for: sightseeing, fancy cocktails, theatre, views

Perhaps a little more out there given it’s a transatlantic flight away, but you will never be short of things to do in the city that never sleeps, which makes New York a great first time solo travel destination!

Since you can never fit everything into even the first ten times you visit NYC, you’d barely have a moment to notice you’re doing it alone, and at least if you go solo you don’t have to compromise. Instead you can entirely tailor your itinerary to your own priorities, which is a definite plus.

Amazing sights, innovative restaurants and cocktail bars, Broadway, a whole world of shopping – if you want a fast paced trip and are ready to spend some cash, New York could be a great trip for you.

New York Travel Guide here.

8) MADRID

Good for: a short trip, tapas, art museums, easy navigation

If you want to test out the waters for a first time solo weekend away without taking too much (or any!) time off work, Madrid is a solid option. Not that you can’t spend more time there, but there is less to see in Madrid than a lot of other European cities. There are multiple flights a day between London and Madrid so you can be more flexible with flight times around work and still have a great 48 hours in the Spanish capital.

Lots of tapas makes Madrid a solo traveller’s dream, and there’s just enough to keep you entertained culturally with famous museums Reina Sofia, Prado and the gorgeous Royal Palace. Commit the rest of your time sampling Madrid’s amazing food offering and enjoying the great weather.

Madrid Travel Guide here.

9) ROME

Good for: history, views

If you’re worried you may get bored on a solo trip due to being alone, going somewhere with so much to do you could never fit it all into one weekend is a top shout. Rome has an endless number of touristy things to do, and if you like history, the Italian capital is the perfect place for you to explore.

Head to Trastevere for the best local restaurants and bars, imagine the Gladiators fighting as you tour the Colosseum, marvel at the Sistine Chapel.

Rome Travel Guide here.

10) THAILAND

Good for: beaches, street food, a bit of luxury on a solo budget

Clearly not a city break – I’m not suggesting you shoot over to Bangkok for the weekend, as much as I wish that were possible – but it really is a fantastic first time solo travel holiday. Two weeks in Thailand will give you a great insight into the different and diverse areas of the country; Bangkok, Chiang Mai and one or two islands is always a good idea.

Given Thailand’s roads are well travelled by backpackers, you’ll find it easy to meet and chat to people if you want to, whilst also providing the option for seclusion and quiet should you prefer that instead.

Aside from the beautiful beaches, insanely good street food and the smiles of the wonderful Thai people, your money goes a lot further in Thailand, which makes accommodation for one so much better. You can still afford amazing places to stay here, which is often tricky on a solo trip.

Thailand Travel Guides Here.

IN A NUTSHELL

I hope you’ve found these suggestions for your first solo trip useful – I’d love to know where you choose to go! Drop a comment below or drop me a message on Instagram.

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Updated July 2025

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