Booking your first solo trip is equal parts thrilling and terrifying — and that’s completely normal. I’ve been traveling solo for over a decade, and I still remember how nerve-wracking my first trip alone felt. Since then I’ve made plenty of mistakes, met incredible people along the way, and learned exactly what makes solo travel easier, safer, and genuinely enjoyable.

If you’re planning your first solo trip, this guide covers everything: how to stay safe, how to meet people without trying too hard, and how to actually enjoy your own company. These are the solo travel tips I wish someone had handed me before my first trip alone. Post updated July 2026.

The Most Important Solo Travel Tips

If you only remember five things before you go:

1. Buy travel insurance before you book anything else
2. Book accommodation with a high volume of recent reviews, not just a high rating
3. Share your itinerary with someone at home
4. Stay alert (and sober) if you’re exploring at night
5. Say yes to small conversations — they’re how solo trips turn into stories

Now let’s get into the full list.

Before You Go: Planning Tips for Solo Travellers

1. Choose your destination wisely

Some destinations are simply easier — and safer — for a first solo trip than others. Look for places with reliable public transport, a strong safety record, and an established solo-travel and backpacker scene, which makes it easier to meet people. Research your destination’s specific safety considerations for solo travellers before you commit to a route.

2. Buy travel insurance

This is non-negotiable. When you’re travelling alone, there’s no one else to lean on if things go wrong — a cancelled flight, a lost bag, or a medical issue. Good travel insurance means one bad moment doesn’t turn into a financial disaster on top of a stressful one.

3. Book accommodation by review volume, not just star rating

A 5-star hotel with one review means far less than a 4.5-star hotel with 2,000 reviews. Always check how many people have left a review before trusting the overall score — photos can be curated, but review volume is harder to fake.

4. Share your itinerary with someone at home

Send a family member or friend your flight details, accommodation addresses, and a rough day-by-day plan. It takes five minutes and gives both of you peace of mind.

5. Pack light

You are the only person carrying your bags — up every staircase, across every cobblestone street, through every train station with no lift. Pack less than you think you need. You’ll thank yourself by day two.

6. Learn a few words of the local language

Even just “hello,” “thank you,” and “excuse me” go a long way. Locals notice the effort, and it opens doors — literally and socially — that stay closed to travellers who don’t try.

Staying Safe While Travelling Alone

7. Stay sober if you’re exploring at night

This is a personal rule I’ve never broken: a glass of wine with dinner is fine, but if I’m walking alone at night, I stay sober. Being alert means being able to make a fast decision if a situation feels wrong — and trusting that instinct is one of the most important solo travel safety tips there is.

8. Trust your gut, always

If a street, a person, or a situation feels off, leave. You don’t owe anyone an explanation, and you don’t need to be polite about removing yourself from discomfort.

9. Use public transport with confidence

It’s often the cheapest, most authentic, and safest way to get around — but do your research on peak times, common scams, and which lines to avoid late at night before you rely on it.

10. Start your day early

Sunrise is a solo traveller’s secret weapon. Popular sites are empty, the light is beautiful, and you get to experience a destination before the crowds — and before you’re navigating unfamiliar streets in the dark.

How to Meet People While Travelling Solo

11. Make the first move in conversation

Everyone gets asked the same three questions: Where are you from? Where are you headed next? What’s been your favourite place so far? These are easy openers — use them. A solo dinner can turn into a group adventure within minutes.

12. Visit local coffee shops

Cafés are one of the best places to strike up a conversation, watch the world go by, or simply take a break from “seeing the sights.” Some of the best local recommendations I’ve ever gotten came from a barista.

13. Ask locals for their favourite spots

Waiters, bus drivers, and hotel staff usually know the best places long before any guidebook does. Ask, and follow their advice without overthinking it.

14. Stay in social accommodation

Hostels, guesthouses, and social-style hotels are built for meeting people. Communal kitchens, rooftop bars, and shared lounges do a lot of the hard work for you.

15. Consider a small-group tour for part of your trip

You don’t have to choose between solo travel and social travel. Booking a food tour, hike, or day trip introduces you to fellow travellers without requiring you to commit to a full group itinerary.

How to Actually Enjoy Solo Travel

16. Travel with a book

Downtime — a long train ride, a solo dinner, a queue — feels completely different with a book in hand. It removes the self-consciousness that can creep in during quiet moments alone.

17. Get lost on purpose

Set aside at least one day with no itinerary. Wander without a destination. This is how you stumble onto the places that never make it into a guidebook.

18. Give yourself small challenges

Try visiting ten coffee shops in a day, or seeing how many neighbourhoods you can explore on foot before sundown. Playful goals make solo days feel purposeful rather than aimless.

19. Learn something new while you’re there

A cooking class, a language lesson, a dance workshop — learning a skill is one of the fastest ways to feel immersed in a place, and it’s a built-in way to meet people too.

20. Take your time

You don’t have to see everything. Spend two hours in one museum room if that’s what pulls you in. Solo travel means no one else’s pace to keep up with.

21. Embrace the freedom

This is the one that changes people. Travelling alone gives you the space to actually get to know yourself — your real preferences, your pace, your curiosity — without anyone else’s opinions shaping the trip. Most solo travellers say this is what keeps them coming back to it.

Frequently Asked Questions About Solo Travel

Is solo travel safe for beginners? Yes, with preparation. Choosing well-travelled destinations, staying alert at night, sharing your itinerary with someone at home, and trusting your instincts are the biggest factors in staying safe as a first-time solo traveller.

What is the best way to meet people while travelling alone? Staying in social accommodation like hostels, joining a short group tour or class, and simply asking the easy conversation-starter questions (where are you from, where are you headed) are the fastest ways to meet people organically.

How do I stop feeling lonely on a solo trip? Build in small social touchpoints — a communal breakfast, a group activity, a chat with a local shopkeeper — rather than expecting constant company. Most solo travellers find the loneliness fades within the first few days.

What should I pack for my first solo trip? Pack lighter than you think you need. A single bag you can carry up stairs and across cobblestones without help will make every part of your trip easier.

---

Ready to book your first solo adventure? Explore the best destinations for solo travel or find out the safest cities for solo female travellers in Europe.

---

Solo travel must haves

---