Today, I reveal 23 of my favourite solo travel destinations around the world. From Las Vegas to London, this post is guaranteed to inspire you to go on your own solo travel adventure.

It’s about time I compiled a list of my favourite solo travel destinations in one post, right? In case you didn’t know, I am a big advocate for solo travel. I have travelled alone across four continents (so far), and I have no plans to stop anytime soon. In the beginning, the thought of travelling alone and moving across the world by myself made me have an actual breakdown in a San Francisco hostel room.

Today, I don’t think twice. I don’t believe you should let anything get in the way of you and your travel dreams. Yes, visiting places with friends is amazing. But so is visiting Brussels and spending a weekend with new people from different countries. So, from North America to Europe to Asia and Australia, here are my (tried and tested) favourite solo travel destinations for fellow solo female travellers.

This post was updated in April 2020

Before we get into the solo travel destinations, here are my top solo travel tips

Firstly, I want to quickly talk about the four boxes a place has to tick before I deem it solo travel-worthy 😉. Most importantly, I have to feel safe and comfortable. Secondly, it has to have some good attractions you can enjoy alone and it must have easy-to-navigate public transport. Finally, the language barrier can’t be too much of a struggle.

Now, let’s look at some of the other helpful solo travel posts scattered across Hayley on Holiday. There is a post on how to meet people as a solo traveller and tips on staying at a hostel solo. Then we have my post on how to travel alone in Europe, which is helpful no matter what continent you visit. Finally, I have comprehensive guides similar to this one on my solo travels through Europe in 2017 and North America. Okay, I think that just about covers it 😂.

Copenhagen – one of the best solo travel destinations in Europe.

Must-visit solo travel destinations around the world

1. Dublin

I wouldn’t say Dublin is my favourite place in the world, but it’s a great place to visit alone in Europe. Although I only took one bus during my visit, there were different transport options available. I also felt very comfortable walking around the entire city early in the morning and at night. There’s plenty of things to do in Dublin as well. You can base yourself in Dublin and do day trips to places like Northern Ireland, Cork and Galway too.

Where to stay in Dublin: Abbey Court Hostel

Related post: My 12 day Ireland and Northern Ireland itinerary

2. Amsterdam

To be honest, travelling around Europe solo did make me nervous because of the language barrier. But I constantly see UK residents on Instagram hopping over to mainland Europe for the weekend. So I thought if they could do it, so could I. Amsterdam was the best city I visited in Europe in terms of the minimal language barrier. Every local who served me – whether it was at a shop or cafe – spoke amazing English and were so polite. I was honestly blown away by the hospitality and this is why Amsterdam is now one of my favourite cities in Europe. I also spent a lot of time walking around admiring the architecture and eating a lot of good food.

Where to stay in Amsterdam: Generator Amsterdam

Related posts: Where (and what) to eat in Amsterdam and my Amsterdam guide

3. Las Vegas

I’ve written previously how I was sceptical about visiting Las Vegas alone. But it turns out, travelling solo to Las Vegas is still a lot of fun. I walked up and down the Strip (even at night) and felt safe. Next, I went all out and hit the buffet. I also did two tours: a night tour with Big Bus and a day tour to the Grand Canyon. Yes, Las Vegas would be a lot of fun with your favourite people, but I am here to tell you that you can still enjoy yourself in Vegas alone.

Where to stay in Las Vegas: Hostel Cat

Related posts: Visiting Vegas solo (still one of my most popular posts), my budget travel guide and the best Vegas tours for solo travellers.

4. Adelaide

My solo long weekend in Adelaide in 2018 was one of the best solo vacations I’d had in a while and it cemented Adelaide in my list of top solo travel destinations in Australia. Firstly, it has to be one of the friendliest places in Australia. Secondly, there’s actually a lot of things to do and see in Adelaide. I had a busy few days visiting free attractions, going to the beach and exploring neighbouring Hahndorf. I highly recommend adding Adelaide to your Australia bucket list.

Where to stay in Adelaide: YHA Adelaide Central

Related post: My weekend guide to Adelaide

5. London

London is one of the best first-time solo travel destinations. The city’s public transport is fantastic – expensive, but extremely efficient. There’s also possibly too much to do in London. I have now spent nearly a month in the city altogether and I still have so many things left on my bucket list. This time I stayed near Tower Bridge and felt comfortable walking around here once the sunset too. I met up with a born-and-bred Londoner (who I’d previously met in a Vancouver hostel dorm room) and she said she’s never once felt unsafe walking around London after dark.

Where to stay in London: Wombats City Hostel

Related posts: Christmas in London and my comprehensive London travel guide.

6. Vancouver

My home sweet (second) home. Even if I hadn’t spent over two years living in Vancouver, I would still recommend it as one of my favourite solo travel destinations. Firstly, public transport is fantastic. Secondly, there are lots of things to do. Thirdly, there are plenty of accessible day trip options, like getting the bus to wonderful Whistler.

Where to stay in Vancouver: I’ve written a post on where to stay in Vancouver, but for solo travellers, I recommend Samesun Backpackers and this Airbnb.

Related posts: Where do I begin? Well, we have my 24-hour itinerary, the best free things to do, my favourite things to do at night and where to take the best skyline photos.

7. Copenhagen

Copenhagen is definitely not the cheapest place to visit alone, but it’s still one of the best solo travel destinations in Europe. It’s easy to walk between the city’s main attractions, locals speak excellent English and did I mention you can do a day trip to Sweden?

Where to stay in Copenhagen: Urban House Copenhagen by Meininger

Related post: Don’t worry, I’ve got you – here’s my Copenhagen budget travel guide, filled with free things to do in the city.

8. Singapore

Singapore is one of Asia’s best solo travel destinations, as transport is excellent and the city is very safe. I felt totally comfortable visiting sights at night and walking back to my hostel from the train station. I also loved the different tourist attractions on offer in Singapore. Oh, and the cheap meals from the hawker centre near my hostel were the BEST.

Where to stay in Singapore: I’ve now stayed at Dream Lodge three times!

Related posts: My favourite Singapore photos, top things to do in Singapore and how to visit Singapore on a budget.

9. Belfast

I heard a lot of mixed reviews about Belfast prior to visiting. However, I wanted to see it for myself and see if what people were saying was true. In Belfast, I found a city with fantastic day trips and a very interesting (albeit sad) history. I felt safe walking the 10 minutes from the city centre to my hostel at night and had a great day exploring the city. Don’t always believe what you hear.

Where to stay in Belfast: Vagabonds Belfast

Related post: My Ireland and Northern Ireland itinerary

10. Portland

Oh, how I love you Portland. It wins for being one of the best places to visit alone in the United States and for being one of my favourite cities, period. I have written a lot about Portland on the blog, as it’s just such a friendly, beautiful and walkable city. I have visited three times now and always find something new to do with every visit.

Where to stay in Portland: HI Northwest Portland

Related posts: 20 things to do in Portland, all of the reasons why I love Portland and the best Portland desserts.

Speaking of solo travel destinations in the United States, check out my guide to the best places to visit alone in the US of A.

11. Brisbane

Brisbane is another city I’ve called home, but I’ve also visited it as a solo traveller on multiple occasions and I think it’s one of the best places to visit alone in Australia. There is plenty to see and do around the CBD and South Bank, but it’s also easy to walk or get a bus/train to other interesting areas, like West End, Kangaroo Point and Fortitude Valley.

Where to stay in Brisbane: I’ve stayed in a few different places, but I keep returning to Brisbane City YHA.

Related post: My ultimate guide to Brisbane

12. Brussels

In the end, I visited Brussels twice during my European adventures in 2017. Once again, it was another welcoming and walkable European city. The locals I interacted with spoke very good English and were also very friendly. Plus, there are so many cities within easy reach for day trips (I visited Bruges with girls I met in my dorm room). Don’t stay anywhere else, this guesthouse is the best!

Where to stay in Brussels: Sleephere Brussels

Related post: 26 things to do in Brussels

13. Bruges

While we’re on the topic of Belgium, I also recommend visiting Bruges alone. Although I visited on a day trip in 2017, on my return to Europe in 2019 I did a solo weekend in Bruges. Because it’s a very compact city, it’s very easy to walk between all of Bruges’ photogenic attractions (as you will see in my blog post, there are a lot). Bruges also gets points for delicious food and for being close to other Belgium solo travel destinations. You could do a day trip to Brussels or Ghent, which is just as picturesque.

Where to stay in Bruges: Lybeer Travellers’ Hostel

Related post: The best places to visit in Bruges for beautiful photos.

14. Honolulu

Could you get any more opposite than Bruges and Honolulu? 😂 Anyway, I’ve visited Honolulu twice now and it may not be an obvious choice, but I think it’s one of the best solo travel destinations in the USA. Honolulu is a huge tourist destination, so it’s overflowing with restaurants, shops and hostels. Even the buses are geared towards tourists, with voiceovers detailing attractions at each stop. While in Honolulu, take advantage of the plethora of day trips and tours available and visit other Oahu attractions too, like Hanauma Bay and the North Shore.

Where to stay in Honolulu: The Beach Waikiki Boutique Hostel

Related posts: My Oahu travel guide and a day tour review

15. Edinburgh

If I was to do the ex-pat thing again, Edinburgh would be the city I call home. I loved its gorgeous brick buildings, free attractions and pub offerings. I also only walked around Edinburgh, because both the New and Old Towns were easily accessible from my hostel. Yes, why I did do a heck of a lot of walking in Europe! If you have time, I also recommend doing a day trip through the Scottish Highlands.

Where to stay in Edinburgh: Kick Ass Greyfriars (I’ve also stayed here twice).

16. The Canadian Rockies

The Canadian Rockies are still one of the most beautiful solo travel destinations I’ve visited. Banff is actually very accessible if travelling solo and without a car. It’s only 1.5 hours by bus from Calgary and you can walk or get the public bus to a lot of the town’s main attractions. I also did a tour to Lake Louise, which was as incredible as I hoped.

Where to stay in Banff: Samesun Banff

Related posts: My solo travel guide to the Canadian Rockies and two days in Banff.

17. Ljubljana

Ljubljana makes the cut on this solo travel destinations list as it’s the place to base yourself to see Lake Bled if you’re a fellow solo female traveller. I found it quite seamless to get a local bus to and from Lake Bled, although I was anxious beforehand. In Ljubljana, everyone I met was very friendly: from the walking tour guide to the hostel receptionist. It isn’t overrun with attractions, so two days is a perfect amount of time in Ljubljana.

Where to stay in Ljubljana: Vila Veselova

Related post: How to do a Lake Bled day trip

18. Tokyo

Another place I was anxious about visiting solo was Tokyo. That city is a sensory overload! There were so many bright lights and people and noises. But I loved it and I hope to return soon, now that I’m based in Australia again. I felt comfortable walking to my hostel at night and the Japanese people I interacted with were all very friendly. The public transport is also fairly easy to use, as there are thankfully signs in English everywhere, directing you where to go. I also did a day trip to Mount Fuji, which was awesome.

Where to stay in Tokyo: bAKpAK Tokyo Hostel (the tiniest rooms you ever did see).

Related post: My solo travel guide to Tokyo

19. San Francisco

Another US destination, San Francisco is a great city to visit alone. You certainly won’t be bored visiting all of its different neighbourhoods and attractions, like Haight-Ashbury, the Mission District, the Golden Gate Bridge and Fisherman’s Wharf. I won’t list all of my favourite things to do in San Francisco because we will be here all day, but you should add it to your list of solo travel destinations to visit in the United States.

Where to stay in San Francisco: I’ve stayed at both USA Hostel and Orange Village Hostel and I would recommend both.

20. Paris

Paris is synonymous with romantic escapes, but I’m here to tell you it’s also one of the best places to visit alone in Europe. Although some French people won’t converse in English, I think you can get by just pointing at the delicious pastry you want. I also love Paris because there is just so much to see and do, like London. I used the Metro daily as well and found it easy to navigate, which helps in a big city.

Where to stay in Paris: Le Village Hostel

Related post: My solo travel guide to Paris

21. Wrocław

Wrocław may be an interesting addition to this list, but I really enjoyed my time in this Polish city and I think it’s one of the best solo travel destinations in Europe. Let me begin by saying Poland, in general, is a very cheap country to visit. So if you’re like me and enjoy solo travel with a dash of budget travel, head to Wrocław. Secondly, it may be a small city with an incredibly colourful Old Town, but there’s actually a lot of things to do and see. Wrocław is also a total foodie destination (hello, oven-baked perogies) and the locals are very friendly. When can I go back?

Where to stay in Wrocław: TOGOTO Hostel

Related posts: Other cheap cities I recommend visiting across Europe

22. Melbourne

I have to give a shoutout to Melbourne, my current home, as it’s one of the best places to visit alone in Australia. There are plenty of transport options and too many things to do (like, my list is still long and I’ve lived here for nearly two years). Go to brunch, visit St Kilda, spend a day wandering around the city’s many laneways and go on a day trip. I promise you’ll love it.

Where to stay in Melbourne: I’ve written a post on where to stay in Melbourne, but for solo travellers, I’ve stayed at and recommend Space Hotel.

Related posts: I mean, there are all of the links above, but I’ve also got posts on free things to do, things to do at night and another Melbourne food diary, just in case 😉.

For more solo travel destinations in Australia, check out this post.

23. Vilnius

Like a lot of people, I visited Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn over 10 days in 2019. Although all of these places are great solo travel destinations, my personal favourite was Vilnius. I really enjoyed my time in Vilnius, which you can read more about in the blog post below. But from quirky Užupis to the abundance of street art to the delicious food, I highly recommend visiting Vilnius. I should also mention that Vilnius is another very walkable city and day trips are very inexpensive if you use local buses (on my list for next time).

Where to stay in Vilnius: Old Town Trio Hotel

Related post: Things not to be missed on a visit to Vilnius

I hope this list of solo travel destinations gives you solo vacation ideas and inspiration, no matter where in the world you’re located.

From the best places for solo female travel in Australia to my top solo travel destinations in Europe, this post covers all bases. Click through the related blog posts spread throughout for more inspiration as well. They will definitely keep you busy.

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