There’s a particular kind of freedom that comes with solo travel — one I discovered in my twenties, living out of a suitcase and calling cities across the world home for weeks at a time. Renting an apartment in Berlin in autumn. Learning to make macarons in a Parisian kitchen. Driving the South Island of New Zealand with no fixed plan. After nearly a decade of solo travel across six continents, I’ve learned what makes a destination genuinely great for travelling alone — and what makes it hard work.
This is my updated guide to the best places to travel solo in 2026: destinations I’ve visited alone and would recommend without hesitation.
What makes a destination good for solo travel?
Not all destinations are equally suited to solo travellers. The best ones tend to share a few qualities: they’re safe, easy to navigate independently, have reliable public transport, and offer enough to fill your days without needing a companion to split costs or logistics. Social opportunities — whether through hostels, tours, or simply a culture that’s warm to visitors — matter too.
Every destination in this list scores well across safety, affordability, accessibility, variety of experiences, and ease of meeting other people. These aren’t destinations I’ve read about — they’re places I’ve navigated alone.
The best places to travel solo in 2026
Japan
Japan consistently tops the list of best solo travel destinations for good reason. It’s one of the safest countries in the world, the public transport system is so efficient it feels almost choreographed, and the combination of ancient temples, hyper-modern cities, and extraordinary food means you’re never short of things to do. Solo dining is completely normal here — many restaurants have counter seating designed for it. Japan rewards slow, curious travel, and it’s a place I return to again and again.
How long to spend: 10–14 days minimum to cover Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka
Favourite city: Kyoto
Favourite attraction: Fushimi Inari Shrine at dawn, before the crowds arrive
Best for: Train travel — the JR Pass is one of travel’s great inventions
Read more:
What to Know Before you Visit Japan
A complete 7 day itinerary for Japan
Staying with Buddhist Monks in Japan
Iceland
Iceland is one of those rare places where the landscape does all the work — you simply show up and it delivers. It’s exceptionally safe, English is spoken everywhere, and the ring road makes it ideal for a solo self-drive. The weather is famously unpredictable, which honestly just adds to the adventure. Northern lights, black sand beaches, glacier hikes, whale watching — Iceland packs more natural drama per square kilometre than almost anywhere else on earth.
How long to spend: 7–10 days to complete the ring road at a comfortable pace
Favourite city: Reykjavik — small, walkable, and genuinely fun for a solo night out
Favourite attraction: Diamond Beach — icebergs on black sand, completely otherworldly
Best for: A scenic solo road trip
Read more:
10 Places in Iceland you can not miss
The 20 Best places for solo female travel
New Zealand
New Zealand might be the most naturally beautiful country I’ve ever visited, and it’s built for independent travellers. The locals are famously friendly, the infrastructure is excellent, and the sheer variety — mountains, fjords, beaches, vineyards — means you can design your trip entirely around what excites you. The South Island in particular is one of the great solo road trip routes in the world. Rent a van, drive without a plan, and see what happens.
How long to spend: 2–3 weeks to do the South Island justice
Favourite cities: Queenstown and Wanaka (impossible to choose between them)
Favourite attraction: Roy’s Peak, Wanaka — one of the best hikes in the southern hemisphere
Best for: A slow road trip in a campervan
Read more:
The Ultimate New Zealand Packing List
The three best luxury lodges in New Zealand
Costa Rica
For solo travellers who want nature, warmth, and easy social energy, Costa Rica delivers. The country is safe by Central American standards, the “pura vida” attitude of the locals makes it one of the most welcoming places I’ve visited, and the activity options — surfing, zip-lining, wildlife spotting, hiking active volcanoes — are genuinely world-class. Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean coast is a particular favourite: laid-back, colourful, and full of travellers doing the same thing you are.
Favourite city: Puerto Viejo
Favourite attraction: Manuel Antonio National Park
Best for: A relaxed atmosphere & immersion in nature
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam has a quality that’s rare in major European cities: it feels manageable. The centre is compact and walkable, the bike infrastructure is excellent, and the mix of world-class museums, beautiful canals, and a genuinely welcoming local culture makes it easy to fill days independently. It’s also one of the best cities in Europe for meeting other solo travellers — the hostel scene is strong and the city has a natural social energy. Go beyond the centre if you can; the rest of the Netherlands is equally worth exploring.
Favourite attraction: Van Gogh Museum
Best for: An urban escape with small town charm
Read more:
Solo in Amsterdam: The Best Things to do in Amsterdam Solo
The Best Bookstores in Amsterdam
Slovenia
Slovenia is one of Europe’s best-kept secrets, and I say that as someone who has spent a lot of time trying to find them. The capital Ljubljana is one of the most charming, walkable cities on the continent — largely car-free in the centre, full of good food, and completely manageable to explore alone in a day or two. From there, Lake Bled is just an hour away: a glacial lake with a church on an island and a medieval castle on the cliff above it. It looks fake. It isn’t. A week in Slovenia by rental car or train is one of the most rewarding solo trips I’ve done in Europe.
How long to spend: 5–7 days
Favourite city: Ljubljana — the most underrated capital in Europe
Favourite attraction: Lake Bled at sunrise, before the day-trippers arrive
Best for: Slow travel through a small country with enormous variety
Read more:
The best Castles to visit in Slovenia
Your Complete Guide to Slovenia
Bali, Indonesia
Bali has a way of getting under your skin that’s difficult to explain until you’ve been. It’s one of the most popular solo travel destinations in the world, and the reason is simple: it’s incredibly easy to be alone here without ever feeling lonely. The infrastructure for independent travellers is well-established — affordable accommodation ranges from beautifully designed guesthouses to full villas, the food scene is extraordinary at every price point, and the mix of surf, spirituality, rice terraces, and genuine warmth from locals creates an atmosphere that feels restorative in a way few destinations manage. Canggu is the hub for digital nomads and long-term solo travellers, with co-working spaces, great cafes, and a social scene that makes meeting people effortless. Ubud offers a slower, more spiritual counterpoint — morning yoga, cooking classes, temple ceremonies, and some of the most beautiful scenery on the island. Give yourself long enough to experience both.
How long to spend: 2 weeks minimum — Bali rewards those who don’t rush it
Favourite area: Canggu for energy and connection; Ubud for stillness and nature
Favourite attraction: Tegalalang Rice Terraces at sunrise — go early to beat the crowds
Best for: Solo travellers who want to slow down, reset, and meet like-minded people
FAQ — Solo Travel in 2026
Is solo travel safe in 2026?
Solo travel is safer and more accessible than ever in 2026, particularly in the destinations on this list. The key is choosing destinations that suit your experience level, researching entry requirements before you go, and taking standard precautions around accommodation, transport, and sharing your itinerary with someone at home.
What is the best country for first-time solo travellers?
Japan and New Zealand are consistently the best starting points for first-time solo travellers — both are extremely safe, English-friendly, easy to navigate independently, and offer enough variety to fill weeks without needing to plan rigidly in advance.
Is solo travel good for women specifically?
All six destinations on this list are excellent for solo female travellers. For a longer list specifically focused on solo female travel, see my guide to the 20 best places for solo female travel.
How do you meet people when travelling solo?
Staying in social accommodation (hostels, guesthouses), booking group day tours, and using apps like Meetup or Couchsurfing’s events feature are the most reliable ways to meet people on the road. Most solo travellers find that connection happens naturally — you’re more approachable alone than you think.
What should I budget for solo travel in 2026?
It varies enormously by destination. Iceland and New Zealand sit at the higher end — budget AUD $200–300/day for accommodation, food, and activities. Japan and Slovenia can be done comfortably for AUD $120–180/day. Costa Rica falls in the middle. The biggest saving in solo travel is flexibility — travelling in shoulder season (just outside peak months) cuts costs significantly across all destinations.
Brooke Saward founded World of Wanderlust as a place to share inspiration from her travels and to inspire others to see our world. She now divides her time between adventures abroad and adventures in the kitchen, with a particular weakness for French pastries.
