No Valentine? No problem! Here are the best destinations for solo travel
Every time Valentine's Day rolls around, singles are sidelined in favor of couples enjoying candlelit dinners and romantic experiences for two. But in the world of travel, February can mean peak Northern Lights season in Finland, winter sun in the Canary Islands or carnival time in Venice.
And you don’t need a significant other to experience them – in fact, solo travel is quickly becoming one of the most popular global travel trends. Almost one in five trips globally are taken alone, and Google searches for ‘solo travel’ nearly tripled between 2015 and 2020. But some destinations are better suited to solo trips than others. Set your sights on the following countries for a trip where you’ll be safe, meet other travelers and generally boss your time away.
Japan
Spring in Kyoto, Japan. Credit: Dreamstime.com / Sean Pavone
Japan is no stranger to travelers’ bucket lists, thanks to its intriguing blend of futuristic cityscapes, ancient traditions and timeless philosophies. And the country is ideal for a solo adventure, as one of the world’s safest destinations and with a demographic where singledom is common. The Japanese even have a dedicated word for ‘solo customer’: ohitorisama. Book yourself into a pod hotel with room just for one; slurp tonkotsu broth at a branch of Ichiran, where life-changing ramen is served in a secluded booth; and buy a one- to three-week JR Pass to explore the country via its efficient rail network.
Doi Inthanon National Park in Chiang mai, Thailand. Credit: Dreamstime.com: Tawatchai Prakobkit
You’d be hard-pressed to find a friendlier and safer destination than Thailand. From the zen mountains surrounding backpacker-friendly Chiang Mai to the paradise party islands of Koh Phi Phi and Koh Phangan, the whole country is set up for easy transit, making new friends in affordable, hippy-ish hostels, and budget-friendly activities (scooter hire can be as cheap as £5/$7 per day). Even bustling Bangkok is solo traveler friendly – street food tempts you from every corner, flea market vendors are pleased to strike up a chat and the vast, reclining gold Buddha at Wat Pho is best contemplated in quiet solitude.
Picturesque views of the river and mountains in Iceland. Credit: Dreamstime.com: Standret
You can whale watch, horseback ride and mountain trek your way around Iceland with confidence as a solo traveler, as it’s been ranked the safest country in the world. One of the best ways to see its dramatic scenery is with a hired campervan, in which you can trundle around the whole country on its famous Ring Road, Route 1. At 825 miles long in a full circle, you can take your time, stopping at the rainbow-adorned Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls, puffin-dotted Dyrhólaey cliffs and icy Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon along the way. Or, take the shorter Arctic Coast Way – Iceland’s first official touring route, which opened in 2019 and takes you 560 miles along the rugged northern coast.
Lisbon, Portugal at sunset. Credit: Dreamstime.com: Tomas1111
One of the world’s oldest cities, Lisbon is now a destination that prides itself on catering to solo women travelers. Two hostels here were voted the top hostels for solo female travelers in 2019: We Love F. Tourists and Lost Inn, which both offer optional guest experiences including fado music shows, pub crawls, group dinners and walking tours. Even if you venture out alone you’ll be looked after, with Portugal having been named the world’s friendliest country for expats. Sink your teeth into a creamy, cinnamon-dusted pastel de nata and sign up to one of the country’s latest sisterhood-centric experiences: a weeklong skate and surf retreat in picturesque Santa Cruz, 50km north of the capital.
Paragliders at Phewa Lake, Pokhara, Nepal. Credit: Unsplash.com / Kaushal Subedi
Backpacking around India is an unforgettable adventure, but solo travelers might prefer to tackle its chilled-out, northerly neighbour first: Nepal. Capital city Kathmandu’s mazelike alleys are frenetic but fun, with delicately carved temple complexes to discover among the trekking touts, spice-heaped market stalls and eateries frying up momos – Tibetan dumplings that you’ll be addicted to within five minutes of landing. Solo tourists will appreciate the warmth of the famously friendly, polite and generous Nepali people, who’ll help point you in the direction of some of the experiences you mustn’t miss: trekking through the Annapurna mountains on a small group trip, looking out for tigers and elephants on a safari through Chitwan National Park or meeting other backpackers in adventure tourism capital Pokhara.
New Zealand
Queenstown, New Zealand. Credit: Dreamstime.com: Hellen8
Safe, friendly, easy to navigate and with an endless supply of spectacular scenery, New Zealand is one of the world’s greatest backpacking destinations – and is no less awe-inspiring for solo travelers. When the country opens back up to tourism, hopefully this year, make a beeline for Queenstown, the south island’s capital of adventure tourism and the home of the Hoscar awards’ top two Oceania hostels. You’re guaranteed to meet other solo travelers up for some small-group adventures, whether on a scenic cruise over mirror-clear Lake Wakatipu, quad biking over creek crossings and gorge trails, or even doing a mountaineering course in the Southern Alps. You’ll take home a wealth of new experiences and life skills, just for you.
Indonesia’s most-visited island is another famously friendly destination, and easy to navigate thanks to its well-trodden tourist track, reasonably priced food and accommodation (opt for a homestay and be looked after by a family in a traditional setting), and friendly local residents happy to help you find your next adventure. Sure, you could hole up at Kuta beach and sign up to surf lessons, or immerse yourself in fruit smoothies and Buddha bowls with Ubud’s chilled-out expat community. But this could also be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to delve inwards on a meditation, yoga or silent retreat. Even if you brought someone with you, you wouldn’t be able to talk to them…
42nd street at night, New York City, USA. Credit: iStock: mbbirdy
Big, bold and brash in every way, the USA might just be the world capital of fun. And with no language barrier and an easy road network, it couldn’t be simpler than to hire a car or campervan and hit the highway. It’s tempting to head straight inland and hike, road trip and camp your way through the rugged, empty wilderness of Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, South Dakota’s Badlands National Park and Arizona’s Sonoran Desert (where there’s free camping, FYI). But solo travel lends itself well to the USA’s more populated parts, too. Solo dining is par for the course in New York City, which is also undeniably one of the art and culture capitals of the world. Spend your days in art galleries like MoMA and The Met, then stroll back across Central Park to spend the evening at a Broadway show.
Florence Derrick is a travel and lifestyle writer based in London and reporting from all over the world. You can find more of her work on her website and on Twitter @FlorenceDerrick.
