Looking for the best places to travel alone in Europe? Well, you’re in the right place. Keep scrolling to discover the best cities in Europe for solo travel and my recommendations for the safest places to travel alone in Europe.

So far I’ve published posts on the best places to travel alone in Australia and the United States. Hence it’s now time to turn my attention towards Europe. Altogether, I’ve spent approximately six months travelling solo across Europe and in that time I’ve visited (and revisited) many amazing cities. So, from my personal solo travel experience, here are 21 of the best places to travel alone in Europe. 

I base whether a city is a good place to visit alone in Europe on a few elements. This includes good public transport and easy navigation, hostel options, a variety of activities you can do alone and friendly locals. 

Before we begin, make sure you check out these two informative guides: top tips for travelling alone in Europe and my Europe budget travel tips. 

Best places to travel alone in Europe

1. Dublin

I flew into Dublin after visiting family in Bristol and my initial thought was, this city is BUSY. But besides the crowds, Dublin is one of the best cities in Europe for solo travel for multiple reasons. This includes the fact you can easily walk between most attractions or catch public transport. I only caught two buses: one from the airport and the other to the train station. Dublin is also overflowing with hostels and fun things to do. I recommend doing a free walking tour (how unusual), visiting the Chester Beatty Library, having a picnic lunch in St Stephen’s Green and going on a Dublin doors excursion. 

Where to stay in Dublin: Abbey Court Hostel, which has pros and cons. Pros: central location and large common area. Cons: small eight-bed dorms and tiny ensuite bathroom.

Related Dublin posts: 20 things to do in Dublin and my Ireland/Northern Ireland itinerary for solo travellers.

Colourful Dublin

2. Amsterdam

I’ve said this before, but when I first visited Amsterdam at the ripe old age of 18, it was overwhelming. I was overwhelmed by the eccentrically-dressed locals, the smell of pot in the air and by our eye-opening adventures into the Red Light District at night. But when I returned 10 years later, it felt like I was visiting a different city entirely. Amsterdam is now firmly one of my favourite European destinations and it also happens to be one of the best places to travel alone in Europe. With friendly locals, good public transport options and many walkable districts, I highly recommend visiting Amsterdam as a solo traveller.

Where to stay in Amsterdam: Generator Amsterdam, which again had pros and cons. Pros: modern facilities in a scenic park setting. Cons: expensive and located about a 30-minute walk from the city centre. 

Related Amsterdam posts: My three-day guide to Amsterdam and where (and what) to eat in Amsterdam. Omg, that post makes me want a fresh stroopwafel immediately.

Houses lining one of Amsterdam’s many canals

3. London

Ah, lovely London. I don’t feel the need to live in London like so many fellow Aussies, but it’s one of my favourites cities in Europe to visit. I love that I’ve been there multiple times, yet I still have things to tick off my London bucket list. As one of the best cities in Europe for solo travel, spend your time visiting museums, having lunch at its many marketplaces, strolling through its colourful neighbourhoods and shopping along Oxford Street, of course. I also highly suggest seeing a show on the West End. I went to two matinees on my recent visit to London and my row alone was made up of multiple people seeing the musical alone.

Where to stay in London: I’ve stayed at Wombats multiple times and it’s fantastic. Good common areas, kitchen facilities, an onsite bar with nightly activities, and modern rooms. I also stayed one night at Astor Victoria because it was close to the Victoria Coach Station, but it had nothing on Wombats.

Related London posts: My solo traveller’s guide to London, an Oxford day trip from London and London at Christmas.

The Churchill Arms pub at Christmas

4. Copenhagen

Copenhagen is definitely one of the most expensive cities to visit alone in Europe. Nevertheless, it’s a great city for solo female travellers. There are plenty of hostels to choose from, a long list of things to do and the friendliest locals. From the talkative guy behind the counter in 7/11 to the supermarket clerk, everyone politely switched to English without hesitation. 

Where to stay in Copenhagen: Urban House Copenhagen by Meininger was expensive, but the dorm rooms were modern and large with plush beds. There’s also a kitchen, multiple common areas and you’re walking distance from many of Copenhagen’s main attractions.

Related Copenhagen post: My budget travel guide to Copenhagen and if you’re interested in a Malmö day trip, check out this post.

Copenhagen’s colourful Nyhavn Harbour

5. Belfast

Belfast may be one of the most surprising cities on this list of the best places to travel alone in Europe. However, I really enjoyed my weekend in the city. I did a day trip to Giant’s Causeway and the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and spent the following day seeing the sights and joining an eye-opening political walking tour. This is my top pick for things to do in Belfast if you want to learn more about the city’s history. 

Belfast isn’t the city that instantly comes to mind when thinking about the safest places to travel alone in Europe. But I felt comfortable walking around the sleepy city centre during the day and along the main street at night to get back to my hostel. I didn’t know what to expect in Belfast as I’d previously heard mixed reviews, but I highly recommend visiting if you’re travelling alone in Europe and the UK.

Where to stay in Belfast: Vagabonds, a very welcoming and cosy hostel located just outside the city centre.

Related Belfast posts: A weekend in Belfast (check it out for a detailed description of the walking tour) and once again, my Ireland and North Ireland solo travel itinerary.

Belfast City Hall starting to glow

6. Brussels

Brussels and I are basically BFFs now, having visited three times in roughly two years. It’s definitely one of the best cities in Europe for solo travel. There’s plenty to see and do, delicious food to eat and beer to drink, and the day trip opportunities are worth the visit alone. Solo travellers can easily hop on a train to places like Liege, Antwerp, Bruges and Ghent. I prefer Bruges and Ghent to Antwerp, but I also haven’t had the pleasure of visiting Liege yet. 

Where to stay in Brussels: I’ve stayed at both Captaincy Guesthouse and Generation Europe Youth Hostel and the guesthouse is one of the best places I’ve stayed across Europe.

Related Brussel post: All the things to do in Brussels.

Exploring Brussels, fueled by chocolate and waffles.

7. Bruges

Speaking of Belgium, I’ve also spent the weekend in Bruges and it’s another one of the best places to travel alone in Europe. A small and walkable city, you only need a day or two to see Bruge’s main sights. But it’s one of the prettiest places to visit in Europe, so I had to add it to my list.

Where to stay in Bruges: Lybeer Hostel. This hostel is in a great location with clean rooms and cosy common areas.

Related Bruges post: The best places to visit in Bruges to take the prettiest photos.

Picking a favourite Bruges photo is very difficult…

8. Edinburgh

Hello, my name is Hayley and I love Edinburgh. Thankfully, it also happens to be one of Europe’s top solo travel destinations. It’s easy to walk between the Old and New Towns, but public transport is easy to navigate if needed. There are plenty of things to do in Edinburgh too. Some of my favourite Edinburgh attractions include Dean Village, Calton Hill and the National Museum of Scotland. If you have time, I also highly recommend doing a day trip with Rabbie Tours. I’ve done their West Highlands and Loch Ness day tours.

Where to stay in Edinburgh: I’ve stayed at Kick Ass Greyfriars twice and would definitely recommend staying there if on a budget. It’s affordable, clean and located in the heart of the Old Town.

Related Edinburgh post: 10 reasons to add Edinburgh to your bucket list.

Edinburgh Castle glowing in the morning light

9. Ljubljana

If you’re looking for a solo vacation that combines city sightseeing with the most picture-perfect natural attraction imaginable, head to Ljubljana and do a day trip to Lake Bled. Ljubljana is a compact city, so you can comfortably see the main sights in a weekend. But don’t miss out on Lake Bled – it’s amazing! 

Where to stay in Ljubljana: Vila Veselova is a small boutique hostel with friendly staff that’s walking distance from the bus stop and the city centre.

Related Ljubljana post: How to do a day trip from Lake Bled to Ljubljana.

Lake Bled is the main reason to visit Ljubljana, seriously 😂

10. Paris

Ah, Paris. One of the top destinations in Europe, period, it just so happens to be one of the best cities in Europe for solo travel too. There are so many things to do in Paris, you could easily spend a week or more wandering around the city. 

Where to stay in Paris: I highly recommend staying at Le Village Hostel in Montmartre. It’s surrounded by cute cafes, bakeries and you know, Sacre Coeur.

Related Paris post: My solo travel guide to Paris.

Colourful Parisian streets

11. Wrocław

Wrocław is probably one of the more unexpected cities on this list of the best places to travel alone in Europe. I headed there on a whim from Berlin and it was a very pleasant surprise. It’s incredibly cheap and there are enough things to do in Wrocław to keep you busy for a weekend. If there’s only one thing you do though, make sure you indulge in some oven-baked perogies from Pierogarnia Stary Młyn.

Where to stay in Wroclaw: TOGOTO is a relatively new hostel with modern and cheap private rooms.

Related Wroclaw post: Here’s my Wrocław city break post.

The Ossolineum Institute in Wroclaw

11 of the cheapest cities to visit in Europe

12. Vilnius

When travelling alone in Europe, I highly recommend heading to the Baltics. I found the region to be one of the safest places to travel alone in Europe. Vilnius is another walkable and cheap city with friendly locals and delicious food. While in Vilnius, definitely do one (or more) of the tours organised by Vilnius With Locals Tours. I did two (the main one and the alternative tour) and thoroughly enjoyed them both.

Where to stay in Vilnius: I loved my stay at Old Town Trio Hotel. I had a cheap private room for myself and there was a very clean bathroom across the hall. It’s also walking distance from the bus station and city centre.

Related Vilnius post: 9 things you can’t miss on a visit to Vilnius.

Vilnius views

13. Prague

I’ve visited Prague twice now as a solo traveller and there are still things for me to tick off my Prague bucket list. Make sure you spend time exploring Prague Castle, the New Town and the Old Town. Please also enjoy a chimney cake smothered in Nutella for me!

Where to stay in Prague: If you’re looking for a great hostel, check out Sophie’s Hostel. The dorms are basically apartments, with a large bedroom with five single beds, a private bathroom and a small kitchenette. It’s also close to public transport and walking distance to many of Prague’s top attractions.

Related Prague post: My Prague solo travel guide.

Prague street scenes

14. Budapest

Another one of the best places to travel alone in Europe is Budapest. There are plenty of things to do in Budapest, plus it’s cheap, pretty and has good food galore. Don’t be scared to visit in late autumn (basically winter) either. I visited Budapest in mid-November and the Christmas market was already in full swing, which meant more delicious food to enjoy.

Where to stay in Budapest: I stayed at the centrally-located Wombats Hostel (seriously, one of my favourite hostel chains in Europe).

Related Budapest post: A winter’s weekend in Budapest, featuring 15+ things to do.

Another day, another European city view.

15. Zagreb

I only spent one day in Zagreb, but the underrated destination is also one of the best places to travel solo in Europe. If you only have one day in Zagreb like me, I recommend doing a free walking tour, as it allows you to see and learn more about Zagreb’s most important landmarks.

Where to stay in Zagreb: Dots Hostel is a boutique family-owned hostel located close to the city with affordable private rooms.

Related Zagreb post: How to spend 24 hours in Zagreb.

Welcome to Zagreb!

16. Athens

I was actually worried before my solo vacation in Athens, as I didn’t know if it was a great destination for solo female travellers in Europe. As it turns out, I needn’t have worried as I loved my time in Athens and felt totally comfortable there while travelling alone in Europe. There are so many things to do in Athens, but my favourites included this free walking tour (I know, I know, I love a good walking tour), exploring Anafiotika and Plaka, and eating all the Greek food (another running theme). If you have time, I also did a Greek Islands cruise and it was such a great way to glimpse the islands with limited time in Greece.

Where to stay in Athens: You have to stay at Mosaikon Athens. Located close to Monastiraki Square, the staff here were so welcoming and friendly. My dorm room was also very modern, with privacy blinds on each bed and a large private bathroom.

Related Athens posts: A guide to Athens in November and a recap of my Greek Islands day cruise from Athens.

One of my favourite photos from Athens

My top tips for solo travellers staying in hostels

 17. Stockholm

Now, Stockholm is probably one of the more expensive solo travel destinations in Europe on this list. I ended up only spending one day in Stockholm before heading onto Gothenburg and Malmö. But I did still like my visit and I made sure I didn’t miss indulging in a cinnamon scroll or two and strolling through the Old Town.

Where to stay in Stockholm: I stayed at Generator Stockholm and while it was expensive, I find Generator to be a great hostel chain. They’re always clean with comfortable beds and good common areas.

Related Stockholm post: 8 things to do with one day in Stockholm.

The delectable cabinet at Bröd & Salt

18. Riga

Another destination in the Baltics, Riga is a great city for solo travel in Europe. I had a lovely time exploring Riga – doing a walking tour, visiting the market and exploring the Old Town. My favourite solo activity was seeing the sunset from the Skyline Bar, though. Don’t miss it!

Where to stay in Riga: I stayed in a very cheap private room I found at Appart-31 via Booking.com. However, another hostel option is the top-rated Tree House Hostel.

Related Riga post: 15 things to do during a weekend in Riga.

The amazing views waiting for you from Riga’s Skyline Bar

19. Berlin

Full disclosure: Berlin isn’t my favourite destination in Europe. However, it is one of the best places to visit alone in Europe. It’s another big city with plenty of solo traveller-friendly attractions to keep you busy. My top recommendations include visiting the East Side Gallery, enjoying lunch at Markthalle Neun and wandering around the city centre.

Where to stay in Berlin: I stayed at Singer109 and it was great! There were large common areas, an onsite bar and it was walking distance to Alexanderplatz.

Checking out Berlin’s East Side Gallery

20. York

A second English addition to this list of the best cities in Europe for solo travel, I really enjoyed my brief time in York. While I only had a day to explore, I saw most of the main York sights. My top recommendations include picking up lunch and snacks at the Shambles Market and waking up early to take photos of the pretty York streets without the crowds.

Where to stay in York: I stayed at Astor York and it had its pros and cons. While it was located on the city’s outskirts, it was walking distance to the train/bus station. The dorms were also cosy but with metal bunk beds (a.k.a the worst). 

Related York post: I have two York blog posts, including a one day in York itinerary and the best free things to do in York.

Look how pretty York is 😍

21. Salzburg

Now, Salzburg has pros and cons as a solo traveller destination, but I still had to include it on this list of the best places to travel alone in Europe. The main disadvantage for me was that while it’s a short two-hour bus ride from Munich, the bus drop-off spot is located on the city’s outskirts. However, there was a public bus stop across the road and I found it easy to get a bus into the city and my hostel. Thankfully, Salzburg makes up for that extra annoyance with its incredible scenery. I recommend seeing the view from Aussicht Kapuzinerberg, walking along the river, exploring the Old Town and doing a trip to Hallstatt, of course.

Where to stay in Salzburg: Yoho International Youth Hostel is a great place to stay in Salzburg, as it’s centrally located with an onsite bar and cosy dorm rooms. I also loved that they played The Sound of Music every night, as you could see the film locations on-screen before seeing them in real life the next day.

Related Salzburg post: My guide to a Hallstatt day trip from Salzburg.

Autumn in Salzburg

Well, that’s a wrap on my personal recommendations for the best places to travel alone in Europe.

As I mentioned at the beginning, I’ve personally visited all of these solo travel destinations in Europe. So when I can eventually return, I’ll be sure to update this list. Remember, for more advice, check out my Europe itinerary, solo travel destinations around the world and my entire Europe archive.