Travelling Alone for the First Time? 11 Solo Travel Tips
So you’re travelling alone for the first time? Or you want to plan your first solo trip, but don’t know how to travel solo successfully? After years of travelling solo around the globe, I’m sharing my tips to ensure your first solo travel trip is a success!
I get it; solo travel can sound really daunting. A quick Google search will pull up images of solo travellers hiking through the wilderness with nothing but a backpack or exploring South America by bus for months on end. And while those trips might sound awesome, they’re not the only way to travel solo. I have travelled solo quite a bit but never for months at a time, living out of a backpack on a mountaintop.
Big adventure trips are not the only kind of solo trips you can take, and they’re certainly not how most solo travellers start out! If you are nervous about travelling alone for the first time, join the club! Most solo travellers were full of nerves – I know I was – and started with small trips, not epic journeys, for their first time out solo.
So if you’re curious about solo travel and want to dip your toe in, check out my 11 solo travel tips to get you on the road!
1. Practice travelling alone for the first time
Before your jump into your first big solo trip, practice travelling alone for the first time. In fact, you can practice without even leaving your hometown!
Plan a solo staycation where you book a place in your city and spend the day or weekend alone. Practice doing all of the travel planning and booking yourself, especially if that’s a part of solo travel that makes you nervous. Continue to act like you’re on a solo trip by taking yourself out to eat alone, to a movie alone, or to an art gallery or museum alone.
By practicing in a place that’s comfortable and familiar to you, you’ll be able to build up your solo travel skills. I’ve gotten so comfortable with it that I often prefer to go to a museum or cafe by myself (don’t tell my husband!). Plus, you’ll be a quick call or Uber ride away from friends, family and your comfy bed if you need support.
2. Start small with your first solo travel trip
For your very first solo trip, I recommend starting small to make travelling alone for the first time as easy as possible. This might mean a shorter trip in a place that is more comfortable to you, such as a couple of days in a city with a shared language and customs to your hometown rather than months in a country you’ve never heard of.
Growing up in Toronto, my first solo trip was to London. It was an English speaking big city, similar to my hometown, and I was just there for a few days (though I did continue on to spend a few more weeks solo travelling Europe, but you can keep your first trip short!).
You could also start small by just designating part of a trip as solo travel. For example, if you’re travelling with a partner, you could decide to spend an afternoon, a day or a weekend doing your own thing, and then meet back up with them. I’m a huge fan of travelling solo even if you have a partner. Especially on longer trips when you’re with each other 24/7, it can be nice to have a break and pursue your own passions. Plus it gives you lots to talk about when you get back together!
Or you could arrange to solo travel for part of a trip and then meet up with friends or family members for the other part. On a recent trip to the UK, I spent a couple of days in London solo, met up with friends and visited their home in Cheltenham, and then continued onto a weekend in Bath solo. It was the perfect combination of solo and friend travel all in one trip!
3. Do your research when planning a solo trip
While I’m a big fan of doing research before any trip (I love travel research!), it’s especially important when planning a solo trip. You are the only person you will have to rely on for where you’re going, how to get there, when things open, etc. Even if you enjoy spontaneous travel, I highly recommend doing a bit of research ahead of time.
Some things I like to do before a solo trip:
- Book accommodation: I want to ensure the place I’m staying is safe, clean and in a good neighbourhood. I don’t want the stress of trying to find a place when I arrive, so I always do lots of research and book ahead.
- Book major transportation: Likewise, I want to ensure I know where I’m going and when, so I will book major train, plane and bus tickets ahead of time. These are also usually cheaper when booked early!
- Save points of interest and restaurants on Google Maps: I love putting together a list of places I want to visit and restaurants I want to eat at. I’ll use this to plan a loose itinerary based on what things are in the same area. This research will also let me know if I need to book anything ahead of time.
- Map out my route from the airport to my accommodation: Just in case my phone doesn’t work or I can’t get online, I always write out the instructions for how to get from the airport to my accommodation. From there, I know I will have wifi and be able to map out the rest of my route.
- Learn local customs: If I haven’t been to a place before, I’ll do a bit of research into local customs, currency, language, etc. While I don’t think you need to be an expert before travelling, it’s always respectful to know the basics.
4. How to travel solo successfully? Safety first!
Safety is, of course, a major concern for solo travellers and something that should be taken very seriously. While there are dangers out there, I don’t think it helps to go into a trip fearful. Remember that the majority of people are kind and don’t want to hurt you.
That being said, it’s important to keep your wits about you. Trust your gut and always be aware of your surroundings. This means not having your head behind a screen all day long!
Everyone will have their own practices for keeping safe. When I’m solo travelling, it’s really important for me to know where I’m going; I don’t want to look lost. So I will always map out a route before I leave a place and keep the map up on my phone. I try to stay in areas with other people, especially if it’s dark, and don’t go out to bars or clubs (mostly because I’m 30 and my back hurts).
I wear a cross-body bag where the zippers are close to my chest, to discourage theft, and won’t put in headphones when I’m walking at night. I opt for public transit, when possible, over private ride sharing services. And I’m always conscious about keeping my phone and wallet out of sight. My goal when I’m travelling, especially solo, is to look as local and confident as possible.
Another common safety tip for solo travellers is to make sure someone always knows where you are. You can do this by keeping in touch with someone back at home or someone you meet locally. Many ride share services also have a feature where you can track your location or send your details to a friend.
Having a local SIM card so you can immediately call or get online when you need to is also very helpful. One of the easiest ways to do this is with an eSIM.
Check out Sim Local eSIMs, with plans available around the world, calling and texts included, and awesome 24/7 customer support. Plus use my code TEASPOON to get 5% off!
Check out my beginner travel tips for more travel and safety advice!
5. Remember that no one cares that you’re travelling alone
Think back to the last time you ate at a restaurant. Did you notice anyone dining alone? Probably not. You were probably too busy focused on your own dining experience to notice anyone else at the restaurant. And even if you did happen to notice a solo diner, odds are you didn’t think, “I can’t believe that person is dining alone. How pathetic!”
I’ve heard so many people say they won’t travel solo because they’re too embarrassed to eat out alone or go to an event or museum alone. But the truth is: No one cares! Likely no one will even register that you’re there by yourself and those that do aren’t going to think you’re sad or lonely or pathetic for doing so. In fact, they’re probably jealous that you’re brave and cool enough to do your own thing.
Of course, there are some awkward moments when you travel alone for the first time. It’s not fun saying, “No, it’s just me!” when the server asks if you’re waiting for someone else. It can be uncomfortable to not have someone to buddy up with on a tour or share jokes with at a show.
But anytime I feel a bit awkward on a solo trip, I just remember that it’s almost completely in my head and no one else cares that I’m here by myself.
6. Remember the benefits of solo travel
If you’re nervous about travelling alone for the first time, keep in mind all of the benefits of solo travel. There’s a reason so many solo travellers are exploring the world right now!
For starters, a solo trip means you control the itinerary and you schedule. You get to decide what you do, when you’ll do it and you don’t have to run your plans by anyone. Best of all, you can change your mind in the moment! If the museum you thought you’d love is a bust, you can leave early instead of slogging through it.
Or if you wake up at the crack of dawn, you can head to a funky coffee shop and start your day, instead of waiting for your travel companions to wake up. Everything on a solo trip is based on what YOU want.
Solo travel also gives you a lot of time to reflect and reconnect. When was the last time you enjoyed your own company and relied solely on yourself? Some of my favourite solo travel moments are walking in beautiful places with nothing but my own company. I love journalling in cafes or just taking my time on walks through parks or galleries. It’s nice to be with my own thoughts for a while and reflect on what I’m doing.
Perhaps the biggest benefit of solo travel is not having to wait for someone to see the world. When we were living abroad in Prague, I saw a great flight deal to Stockholm. Instead of staying home because my husband couldn’t get the days off work, I booked it and spent an awesome 3 days exploring Stockholm – now one of my favourite European cities!
So many people say they’d love to taste wine in France, temple hop in Cambodia, surf in Australia or climb mountains in Peru. And yet they put it all off because their spouse can’t get time off work, their friends are flakey, or their siblings don’t want to go to those places. But rather than just accept you’ll never cross these epic places off of your bucket list, why not leave everyone at home and travel solo?
For more benefits, check out my 12 reasons to solo travel!
7. Make travelling alone for the first time easier for yourself
If you’re still worried about travelling alone for the first time, do what you need to do to make it easier for yourself. I don’t subscribe to the theory that travelling solo means going on epic multi-day hikes without ever seeing another human or parachuting into a rural town and needing to befriend a local family for food and shelter. Solo travel, like all travel, is what you make of it.
There’s no one right way to travel solo. If you need to take a few “shortcuts” in order to feel more comfortable on your first solo trip, go for it! For example, if I’m not feeling up to dining out alone, I’ll get take-out. You are still a real solo traveller even if you spend every night of your trip back in your hotel with take-out and Netflix. I did that on a solo trip to Antwerp in 2018 and got to binge watch Sabrina (remember that show?) with Vietnamese takeout and Belgian chocolates in bed!
One of my solo travel hacks is to always have a book on me. That way, if I find myself with time to spare or if I’m feeling awkward at a restaurant, I can just pull my book out for company. I know some other travellers like to phone loved ones from home while they’re travelling solo, which can also make you feel less alone or uncomfortable.
8. Make friends (but know you don’t have to)
Here’s a secret of solo travel: You don’t actually have to be solo the whole time! One of the easiest ways to make friends when you’re travelling is to be solo. You’re much more approachable and there are endless opportunities to meet other people. You can join tours or pub crawls – events that are designed to help solo travellers meet each other – and befriend fellow sightseers.
When I was solo travelling in Madrid in 2012, I signed up for a bus tour one day. As I was waiting for the bus, I was reading my book (solo travel hack!). Another passenger commented on the book, we got to talking and ended up spending the whole day together. We toured the Royal Palace, got drinks and tapas together, and enjoyed an awesome day as new friends.
Even if I’m not making a travel BFF, I do find that when I’m travelling solo, it’s just easier to have conversations with people. Hotel staff, gift shop employees and even locals on the street are more likely to engage in a chat, share some tips or crack a joke if I’m by myself.
But if you’re not wanting to make friends and actually want to relish your solo time, that’s fine too. In fact, that’s usually how I solo travel these days. It’s completely fine to not go on the pub crawl or hostel-sponsored tour and just do your own thing by yourself. You’re not a better or worse solo traveller for trying or not trying to meet people.
9. Get support for your first time travelling alone
Just because you’re travelling alone for the first time doesn’t mean you need to go it alone! Get support from friends, family and fellow travellers to help motivate you to go on your trip.
I find that announcing something online can help keep you accountable. If you’re nervous about your upcoming solo trip, announcing it online can be a great way to motivate yourself to actually make it happen. You told everyone on Twitter that you’re travelling solo this summer, now you have to do it! Of course, if you do announce your travel plans online, do so safely. There’s no need to give out specific details like your flight number or hotel address.
You can also find supportive groups of travellers online. There are lots of travel groups and communities on social media brimming with advice and inspiration. You’ll find travellers who can motivate you to go solo, help you plan your itinerary, or even grab a coffee with once you get to town.
Offline, you can reach out to friends and family for support. For example, you could enlist friends to do trip research with you or share stories of their own solo travels. You could set up regular video calls with your partner while you’re away. Or you could ask your sister to watch your dog or water your plants while you’re travelling.
10. Don’t solo travel again if you hate it
Just because you go on one solo trip doesn’t mean you have to only travel solo from now on. In fact, you could never go on another solo trip again! If you absolutely hate the experience, solo travel can be a one and done thing. Sometimes people who are nervous about solo travel forget that this could literally just be a 3-day weekend that happens once in your life and never again.
That being said, before you throw the solo towel in, I encourage you to take a step back. Don’t make the decision to never solo travel again right after your flight is delayed and you miss your connection or five minutes into your first dinner alone. Give yourself time to get past the minor downsides of travel and reflect on your trip as a whole.
Perhaps you don’t have to give up on solo travel entirely but instead can tweak things for your next trip. If this one felt too lonely, arrange to join a group tour on your next solo trip. If you found yourself getting bored, make sure to do more itinerary research for your next one. And if your first solo trip was just too difficult, consider an easier trip next time, perhaps to a place you’ve already been!
11. Nervous about travelling solo for the first time? Just book it!
At the end of the day, sometimes the scariest part about travelling solo for the first time is just taking the plunge and pressing “book now” on your flight. Once that’s done, a lot of that anxiety lifts because you’ve made the decision. You are going on your first solo trip!
Especially in a day and age where travel is more refundable (or at least, good for a credit), it might make sense to book your flight first. I’m not saying you should just book a flight anywhere without doing any research (though hats off if that’s your travel style!). But if you find you’ve been putting off solo travel for years, the best thing to do might be to book something, and then you’ll be forced to figure out the rest.
Odds are you’ll be glad you did!
Bonus: The best solo travel destinations in Europe and beyond
I’ve been lucky to travel solo to a few different places around the world, but mostly in Europe. To me, the ideal solo travel destination is a big city with lots to do, easy transportation links, and a culture and/or language I can understand. Based on that, some of the best solo travel destinations in Europe are:
- Amsterdam: A charming city with a distinct look and feel that will feel like a fairytale for your first solo adventure. English is widely spoken and transportation around the city is easy. While it has a reputation for notorious nightlife, it’s actually an extremely safe city.
- London: A huge city with something to do and something to eat for everyone! You’ll find no shortage of activities and events in London, plus getting around in English and by tube couldn’t be easier.
- Stockholm: A modern city with a surprising amount to do and pleasant temperature in the summer. Embrace both old and new Europe in Sweden’s capital, where English is widely spoken. But don’t forget your wallet for this pricy Scandinavian city!
If you need more inspiration for your first solo adventure, I asked 33 travel bloggers the best place to go for your first solo travel trip.
Final thoughts on travelling alone for the first time
I still remember how nervous I was in 2012 booking my very first solo trip abroad (and very first trip to Europe!). I had butterflies in my stomach, equal parts worry and excitement, because I knew this big adventure was ahead of me.
Whether you start with three weeks in Europe or a day trip to a nearby town, travelling alone for the first time is going to feel scary but so wonderful once you do it. I promise you are going to have a life changing experience, seeing the world on your own terms and spending time with a pretty cool person (you!). You’ll come back full of stories to share, lessons learned and, hopefully, inspiration to plan your next solo adventure.
Have I inspired you to try travelling alone for the first time? I hope so! Let me know where you’d like to go on your first solo trip or, if you’re a veteran solo traveller, where was your first trip and what advice do you have for newbies?
Excellent advice here! I really like how you emphasize that most folks are kind and helpful and truly don’t care enough to make judgements about solo travellers. I think *that* is the biggest fear for many.
Thanks! I agree. A lot of would-be solo travellers are nervous to do things alone because they think everyone would be staring at them. But most people don’t notice, let alone care!
Great tips and inspiration!
Thanks much!
I would say traveling alone or solo is the best way to enjoy ourselves and we’ll learn to be independent.
Absolutely!
What a spiffing post! I’ve been travelling solo for 11+ years now; I agree with every single point. I too did a couple of posts on solo travel for women; when I posted them on social media, it really amazed me how many, many women have never travelled alone.
More solo trips to you!
Thanks so much! Awesome to hear you’ve enjoyed your solo travels and are encouraging others to get out on the road too.
Great tips here. I’m considering doing my first solo trip next February, so these are helpful. I also like how you talk about doing some solo traveling on your own even when you’re with another person. I’ve been doing that our last few trips, and to no fault of my wife’s, it ends up being some of my favorite times. It’s just nice to be able to do my own thing, especially when we’ve been around each other 24/7 like you said. I know she appreciates it, too.
Thanks, Paul! I hope you get to go on your solo trip next year. And yes, it’s so important to take that solo time when you’re with one other person all the time. My husband and I try to do this too on our trips and it always makes our time back together so much better.
Love this Riana how you positively encourage others to go solo and experience this a trip by yourself. Totally agree with your first two tips to start small. If one has never travelled alone before, it is a safer approach to do so on a small scale. It won’t feel too overwhelming if one stayed regional or in a neighbouring city plus the amount of time, maybe a weekend, is doable before you committ to a longer period. I was happy to see you suggested some places and Amsterdam was the first recommendation. I fully approve!
Thanks so much, Carolin! Yeah I hate the idea of people thinking they can’t solo travel because they don’t want to spend weeks and weeks by themselves on the other side of the world. Solo travel can definitely start small!
The tip about practicing solo travel in your own city first genuinely stopped me in my tracks — I did something similar before my first real solo trip, and eating alone at a restaurant without my phone as a security blanket was honestly the hardest and most useful thing I’d done in years. What’s interesting is that according to a 2023 Solo Travel Society survey, over 70% of first-time solo travelers say their biggest barrier isn’t safety or logistics — it’s simply the fear of being seen alone in public, which your staycation idea addresses directly before you’re 5,000 miles from home. There’s something almost radical about reclaiming your own company, and I think that reframe — from “I’m alone” to “I’m with myself” — is the real skill being built. For those who’ve taken that first small trip, what was the moment it shifted from anxiety to something that actually felt like freedom?
Thanks for sharing another fun stat, Adam. (Or perhaps I should thank Adam’s buddy, ChatGPT, given all the em-dashes and similar format to your previous comments on my blog). I think a fear of being seen alone in public is less about not enjoying your own company and more about how other people perceive you being alone. But perhaps societally, if it was more acceptable to be seen alone, this wouldn’t feel as scary. I actually think it’s a great practice in spending less of your trip (and your life) worrying about how others perceive you. Because most people aren’t looking at you anyway.