The Best Places to Travel Solo (From Someone Who Actually Lives On The Road)
I’ve been travelling solo and working from the road for years. Barcelona is home, but I spend most of the year somewhere else, laptop in a backpack, trying to keep a training routine alive between flights. So when I read the usual “best places to travel solo” lists, I get a little annoyed. They show you a pretty beach and tell you it’s safe. Cool. But they never answer the question that actually matters when you land alone with no plans: will I make a single friend here, or will I eat dinner by myself for two weeks straight?
That’s the gap. Most of these lists rank scenery. I’m going to rank something more useful. For every place below you get the honest safety picture, a rough daily budget, and the part nobody covers properly: how easy it actually is to meet people. Hostels, coworking spaces, run clubs, coliving, the whole social machine. And because a lot of you work while you travel, I’ll flag where the wifi, cafes and gyms are good enough to keep your life running.
Quick housekeeping before we go. Sort out your solo travel insurance before you leave, because a hospital bill abroad alone is the one thing that can end a trip for good. And figure out the cheapest way to move money abroad early, since bank fees on every withdrawal add up fast over months.
The best solo travel destinations, ranked by how easy solo life actually is
1. Lisbon, Portugal
If a friend messaged me tomorrow saying “first solo trip, where do I go,” I’d say Lisbon without thinking. It’s safe, walkable, sunny, and full of other people doing exactly what you’re doing. The nomad and hostel scene is huge, so you’re never the only solo person in the room.
Meeting people: very easy. Home Lisbon Hostel and Sunset Destination are famous for their social crowds. Coworking at Second Home or Cowork Central, plus a real run club scene along the river. Safety: one of the safest capitals in Europe. Watch your phone on tram 28 and in Bairro Alto at night, that’s about it. Rough daily budget: 60 to 100 euros depending on how much you eat out. Nomad angle: strong wifi, endless cafes that let you sit for hours, decent gyms. My focus is always good here.
2. Chiang Mai, Thailand
The cheapest serious nomad hub on the planet, and probably the easiest place in the world to go from zero friends to a full calendar. There are so many long-stay travellers that a stranger inviting you to dinner on day two feels normal.
Meeting people: absurdly easy. Coworking spaces like Yellow and Alt_ChiangMai double as social clubs, and there’s a coffee-shop crowd everywhere. Safety: very safe. The main risk is scooter accidents, so wear a helmet and don’t ride drunk. Rough daily budget: 35 to 45 euros for a comfortable life, less if you go local. Nomad angle: this is nomad HQ. Fast fibre, cafe culture built for laptops, cheap gyms and Muay Thai everywhere if you want to train.
3. Mexico City
My favourite big city for solo travel right now. The food alone justifies the flight, and the creative, remote-work crowd in Roma Norte and Condesa means you’ll trip over other travellers within a day.
Meeting people: easy. Stay in Roma or Condesa. There are run clubs, language exchanges, coworking at places like Público, and a big Bumble BFF crowd. Safety: honest version, petty theft and phone snatching are real. Use Uber at night, keep your phone in your pocket, stick to the central neighbourhoods and you’ll be fine. Rough daily budget: 40 to 70 euros. Nomad angle: great cafes, solid gyms, good wifi in the right zones. Just avoid signing important calls to dodgy coffee-shop connections.
4. Medellin, Colombia
Colombia surprised me. Medellin has near-perfect weather, a massive expat and nomad community in El Poblado and Laureles, and locals who are genuinely warm to foreigners.
Meeting people: very easy. El Poblado hostels, coliving spots, salsa classes and Spanish schools all funnel you into a social circle fast. Safety: the local rule is “no dar papaya,” meaning don’t give anyone an easy opportunity. Don’t flash your phone, use registered taxis or Uber, and be careful on dating apps. Follow that and it’s a great time. Rough daily budget: 35 to 55 euros. Nomad angle: cheap, spring-like climate year round, strong coworking, and proper gyms. Easy to stay fit here.
5. Barcelona, Spain
My city, so I’ll be blunt. Barcelona is one of the best places in the world to be single and solo, and one of the worst for pickpockets. Both things are true.
Meeting people: easy if you make a small effort. The beach volleyball scene, run clubs, climbing gyms and language exchanges are excellent. Hostels near the old town are very social. Safety: violent crime is low, but Las Ramblas and the metro are pickpocket central. Keep your bag zipped and in front of you. Rough daily budget: 70 to 110 euros. Nomad angle: good coworking, brilliant food markets for eating well, sea swims and mountain trails ten minutes from the city. Hard to beat for a work-and-train base.
6. Tbilisi, Georgia
Underrated and cheap. Many nationalities get a full year visa-free, which makes Georgia a favourite for nomads who want to slow down without paperwork.
Meeting people: medium. Smaller scene than Lisbon or Chiang Mai, but Fabrika hostel is the social anchor and the nomad community is tight and welcoming once you find it. Safety: very safe day and night. Traffic is the biggest hazard. Rough daily budget: 30 to 45 euros. Nomad angle: dirt-cheap rent, great wine and food, growing coworking scene. Wifi is fine in the city, patchy in the mountains.
7. Tokyo, Japan
The safest huge city I’ve ever set foot in. You can wander at 3am and feel completely fine. Solo dining is a national art form here, so eating alone never feels awkward.
Meeting people: harder, and I’ll be honest about it. Locals are polite but reserved, and the language gap is real. Stay in a social hostel, join a food tour or a bar crawl in Shinjuku, and you’ll be okay. Safety: as safe as it gets. Rough daily budget: 80 to 130 euros. Nomad angle: fast everything, incredible food, spotless gyms. Cafe-work culture is less relaxed than Southeast Asia, so lean on coworking.
8. Taipei, Taiwan
Like Tokyo’s more relaxed, cheaper cousin. Very safe, very easy to get around, and locals here are more likely to strike up a chat.
Meeting people: medium and improving. Good hostel scene, growing nomad crowd, night markets that make solo evenings fun. Safety: extremely safe. Rough daily budget: 45 to 70 euros. Nomad angle: excellent wifi, cheap and good food, hiking trails right out of the city for when you need to move your body.
9. Bangkok, Thailand
Chaotic in the best way, and a natural first stop before Chiang Mai or the islands. Nobody blinks at a solo traveller here.
Meeting people: easy. Khao San and the hostel districts are built for solo backpackers, and the nomad crowd is big. Safety: safe for a megacity. Standard scam awareness around taxis and “the temple is closed” hustlers. Rough daily budget: 40 to 60 euros. Nomad angle: great coworking, endless cafes, boxing gyms if you want to train hard and cheap.
10. Buenos Aires, Argentina
If your idea of a good solo trip involves late dinners, wine, and a city that stays up past midnight, this is your place. Deeply social culture.
Meeting people: easy. Palermo is packed with hostels, milonga tango nights, Spanish schools and a growing nomad scene. Safety: petty theft is the issue, same playbook as Mexico City. Phone away, registered rides at night. Rough daily budget: 40 to 65 euros, though inflation makes prices a moving target. Nomad angle: strong cafe culture, good gyms, great steak and produce. Wifi is decent, not world-class.
11. Amsterdam, Netherlands
A gentle, walkable, English-everywhere city that’s ideal for a first solo trip in Europe. You can bike everywhere and it’s almost impossible to get lost or ripped off.
Meeting people: medium to easy. Big hostel scene, and the Dutch speak flawless English, so conversation is never blocked. Safety: very safe. Just respect the bike lanes, they will hit you. Rough daily budget: 80 to 130 euros. Nomad angle: great coworking and cafes, plentiful gyms. Pricey, but everything works.
12. Edinburgh, Scotland
Compact, stunning, and built around pub culture, which is a cheat code for solo travellers. Sit at the bar and someone will talk to you.
Meeting people: easy. Pubs, walking tours, hostels and a friendly local temperament do the work for you. Safety: very safe. Rough daily budget: 70 to 110 euros. Nomad angle: solid wifi and cafes, good gyms, and hills you can run for a proper view. Weather is the only downside, so pack layers.
13. Da Nang and Hoi An, Vietnam
Vietnam is one of the best value trips going, and the Da Nang and Hoi An stretch gives you beach, a growing nomad crowd, and some of the best cheap food anywhere.
Meeting people: medium. Smaller than Chiang Mai but the nomad community is real and hostels are social. Safety: safe. Traffic is intense, so cross roads slowly and steadily. Rough daily budget: 30 to 50 euros. Nomad angle: fast wifi, cheap coworking, and beach mornings before work. Good for focus if you like a quiet base.
14. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The most underrated nomad city in Asia. English is everywhere, it’s cheap, and it’s a brilliant flight hub for exploring the region on weekends.
Meeting people: medium. Not as social as Bangkok, but coworking and a steady expat crowd make it easy enough. Safety: safe. Normal city awareness at night. Rough daily budget: 35 to 55 euros. Nomad angle: excellent wifi, air-conditioned coworking that saves you from the heat, malls with proper gyms.
15. Cape Town, South Africa
The most jaw-dropping city on this list. Mountain, ocean, and an outdoor lifestyle that’s perfect if you care about staying fit. It also demands the most street smarts.
Meeting people: easy. Huge hostel scene, hiking groups, surf schools and a big run and outdoor crowd in Sea Point and the City Bowl. Safety: this is the one that needs real care. Crime is higher than anywhere else here. Don’t walk at night, use Uber, keep valuables hidden, and ask locals which areas to skip. Handled properly, it’s incredible. Rough daily budget: 40 to 70 euros. Nomad angle: great cafes and coworking, endless trail running and climbing, strong fitness culture. Just plan your days around daylight.
16. Split, Croatia
My pick for a first solo summer in Europe with a bit of adventure. The old town is safe and buzzing, and island-hopping boat trips throw solo travellers together instantly.
Meeting people: easy in summer. Sailing trips, party hostels and day tours are social by design. Quieter off season. Safety: very safe. Rough daily budget: 60 to 90 euros in summer. Nomad angle: decent wifi and cafes, sea swims and coastal runs. Better as a summer base than a year-round one.
17. Copenhagen, Denmark
I’ll be straight with you. Copenhagen is one of the safest, cleanest, most beautiful cities anywhere, and one of the harder places to meet strangers. Danes are lovely but private.
Meeting people: harder. Lean on hostels, run clubs and organised events rather than expecting random bar chats. Safety: among the safest on earth. Rough daily budget: 90 to 150 euros. It’s expensive. Nomad angle: superb design, great gyms and cycling, calm places to focus. Your wallet will feel it.
18. Oaxaca, Mexico
For a slower, culture-heavy solo trip, Oaxaca is special. Smaller than Mexico City, deeply local, and a food destination in its own right.
Meeting people: medium. A tight nomad and traveller scene, cooking classes and mezcal tastings make connecting natural. Safety: one of the safer parts of Mexico, with the usual phone awareness at night. Rough daily budget: 35 to 55 euros. Nomad angle: growing coworking, cafes made for lingering, and food that will ruin other food for you.
Which one is right for you?
Your first solo trip: Lisbon, Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Split or Chiang Mai. Safe, easy, English-friendly, and full of other solo people so you never feel like the odd one out.
Solo female travellers: the safety picture deserves more depth than I can give it here, so read a dedicated resource. Adventurous Kate is the best in the game on this. From my list, Japan, Taiwan, Portugal, Slovenia and Scotland come up again and again as the most comfortable.
On a budget: Chiang Mai, Tbilisi, Da Nang, Oaxaca and Medellin. You can live well on 30 to 50 euros a day in all of them.
Working while you travel: Chiang Mai, Lisbon, Mexico City, Medellin and Bali if you can handle the crowds. Reliable wifi, coworking, cafes that tolerate a laptop all day, and gyms so your body doesn’t fall apart while your business grows.
The loneliness thing nobody wants to admit
Here’s the truth most travel lists skip. Solo travel can be lonely. Not always, but it hits. You have an amazing morning, you see something incredible, and there’s no one to turn to and say “did you see that.” The first few days in a new place are usually the hardest.
The fix is not luck, it’s a system. I treat making friends like a task, not a hope. First few nights, I stay somewhere social, a hostel with a bar or a coliving space, even if I could afford a private flat. I say yes to the first invitation I get, always, even when I’m tired. I use structured activities because they remove the awkwardness of introducing yourself cold: a run club, a bouldering gym, a cooking class, a group day tour, a language exchange. You show up alone and leave with numbers. Apps help too. Bumble BFF and the local nomad WhatsApp or Facebook groups are how half my trips get their social kick-start.
The skill of walking into a new place and building a circle from scratch is exactly that, a skill, and it gets better with reps. I’ve written the full playbook in how to make friends in a new country and, for city moves specifically, how to make friends in a new city. Read those before your next trip and the loneliness problem mostly solves itself.
FAQ
Is solo travel really that lonely? It can be, in short bursts, usually at the start. But it’s also the fastest way I know to meet people, because you’re forced to. Travelling with someone lets you hide in each other. Alone, you talk to strangers, and you make more real connections because of it.
What is the safest country for a first solo trip? Japan and Portugal are my top two. Add Taiwan, Scotland and the Netherlands. Low crime, easy transport, and enough other travellers around that you’re never truly on your own.
How do you meet people when travelling alone? Stay somewhere social for the first few nights, say yes to invitations, and use structured activities like run clubs, gyms, classes and group tours. Bumble BFF and local nomad groups fill in the rest. It’s a system, not luck.
What is the best budget destination for solo travel? Chiang Mai for Asia, Medellin or Oaxaca for Latin America, Tbilisi for Europe. All let you live comfortably on 30 to 50 euros a day with a strong social scene.
Where can I travel solo and still work remotely? Chiang Mai, Lisbon, Mexico City and Medellin are the safest bets for reliable wifi, coworking, laptop-friendly cafes and gyms. Bangkok and Bali are strong too.
Is solo travel worth it? Yes. It’s the single best thing I’ve done for my confidence, my work and my friendships. You come back knowing you can handle a strange city alone, and that changes how you carry yourself everywhere else.