Destinations for First-Time Solo Travelers: North America & International

Some first time solo travelers head out without a moment's thought.

Others think about solo travel for a few years before going.

I know this to be true because I receive emails from readers who tell me of finally stepping out for their first solo trip.

It is to those who hesitate that I dedicate this post.

I want all first time solo travelers to have excellent experiences. It's either the trip that builds confidence and leads to many more or the trip that curtails future travel. It's important to get it right. For this reason I think the first priority for the first time solo traveler is to choose a destination where they speak the local language.

Since this site is in English I'm going to assume that you are English-speaking. Whether you're in your 20s or 30s or over 50, these 10 very different destinations are great for the first-time solo traveler.

Montreal with the mural of one of its most famous citizens, Leonard Cohen.

North American Destinations for First-Time Solo Travel

It was not easy to decide which five are the top destinations for solo travel beginners. There are so many. I've chosen five that tend to be easier to navigate and offer a range of experiences.

1. Nashville, Tennessee. Nashville is a small city with a lot of music going on. It's super easy to navigate Nashville and not too expensive. People are friendly and they have Downtown Ambassadors in bright yellow shirts to help visitors find their way. Read: Affordable Nashville: 32 Free and Low-cost Tips and Nashville: There’s More than a Little Country in this City Girl
2. Montreal, Quebec. Montreal is officially French speaking but don't worry. There is plenty of English spoken which makes it both accessible and exotic. It's a little less European than Quebec City but it still has a European flavor, especially in Old Montreal.  It's also a city that is alive with arts, culture, and festivals and easy to get to for many in North America. Don't forget to have a Montreal bagel! Read: Solo Travel in Montreal: Food, Art & Culture.
3. Key West, Florida. Key West lies on the southernmost tip of the Florida Keys and is the most southerly point of the continental United States. It's definitely a party town but it's also great if you're more of a beach, fine dining, and just relaxing person. Stay anywhere near the center of town and you won't need a car. It's all walkable. Read A Perfect Day in Paradise and Positive Thinking and Solo Travel.
4. San Francisco, California. San Francisco has a great vibe with unique neighborhoods to explore and lots to see in the tourist areas like Fisherman's Wharf. Ride a bike across the Golden Gate bridge to Sausalito and take the ferry back. Read: Solo Travel Destination: San Francisco, United States and A Particular Kind of Heaven: A Spring Tradition in San Francisco. My stop in San Francisco was part of an Amtrak trip on the Coast Starlight from Seattle to Los Angeles. Read The Coast Starlight: a Slice of Americana.
5. Vancouver, British Columbia. This is one of my favorite cities. Like San Francisco, the city center is built around the water but what makes Vancouver special is that it is easy to get into nature. Public beaches go on for miles from the University of British Columbia campus around English Bay and into Stanley Park. In North Vancouver there's skiing in winter and hiking year-round that can be reached by public transit. Read One Day in Vancouver – Food, Ferries and a Walk around Stanley Park and Solo Travel Destination: Vancouver, Canada.
6. Halifax, Nova Scotia. A big, small city on the east coast of Canada, Halifax is the hub of Atlantic Canada. I love all the maritime provinces but if you want to go to one city with lots to do, I recommend Halifax. It offers friendly people (Maritimers are famous for their hospitality), great seafood, lots of nature to enjoy and a vibrant cultural scene. Read Solo Travel to Halifax: Why, How and 10 Things to Do.
7. Kauai, Hawaii. One of the quieter islands in Hawaii, Kauai had a magnetic effect on me. Despite wanting to return home to those I love, I also didn't want to leave. My experience of it included big nature, quiet nights, and a slow pace. With one main road on the island it's impossible to get lost. I did lots but also relaxed and read lots. It's a perfect vacation destination for solo travelers. Read Affordable Kauai Update – 32 Free and Low-Cost Tips, Budget Accommodation in Kauai: Four Ways to Stay and Life-Changing Travel: How to Take the Best of Your Travels Home.

The Opera Bar at the Sydney Opera House.

International Destinations for First-Time Solo Travelers

 

1. London, England. Yes, London. You'll notice that in North America I stayed away from the big, popular cities like New York, Chicago, and LA, but in the UK, London is a must and it's very doable for the first-time solo traveler. Stay central. Walk lots. See the iconic sights that you recognize from movies. Take in the theater. Shop. Read: Solo Travel London on a Budget and Best Places to Stay in London: Accommodation for Solo Travelers.
2. The Lake District, England. I just love the UK, but while I could go on and on about destinations there – Liverpool, Edinburgh, Bath, Cambridge – if I had to make only one recommendation outside of London it would be the Lake District. It's so beautiful and so welcoming. Try to go during the shoulder season when school is in or it will be very busy. Read: London and the Lake District: 12-Day Itinerary. Also read Pub Life in the Lake District but be gentle, this is among the first posts I wrote on Solo Traveler.
3. Dublin, Ireland. Ireland is such a warm and friendly country and Dublin is your entry point. From pubs to theater to festivals and fine food, there's lots to enjoy. I'm not a big museum fan but it currently holds my favorite museum in the world, the Epic Ireland. Read: Affordable Dublin: 32 Free and Low-Cost Tips  and Dublin, Cork & Galway: Exploring Ireland Solo.
4. Sydney, Australia. What a great city and a great city to get out of as well. It's so easy to enjoy both the urban setting and nature escapes from Sydney. People are super-friendly and there are vibrant arts, food, and sports scenes. Read: Affordable Sydney: 32 Free & Low-Cost Tips. Of course, New Zealand could just as easily have been chosen here but I don't have the experience there that I have in Sydney.
5. Amsterdam, Netherlands. Explore by boat or on foot, take in a tour of the countryside, discover tasty new treats in the Dutch tradition and fall in love with Amsterdam. You won't find a city that speaks as much English yet is so different from any native English-speaking city. Read Solo in Amsterdam: A City that Left Me Wanting More. And, if you want to be a just a little more adventurous, head south to Den Bosch for a day or more. Read Den Bosch: Solo Travel Beyond Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
6. Iceland. This young, island country offers some of the most diverse landscapes and the best scenery in the world. I stood aghast time and again and declared that it is like the Isle of Skye (which I love) on steroids. Iceland is a spectacular destination for a road trip that you will never forget. Read A Road Trip Through Iceland and Solo Travel Destination: Iceland.
7. Belfast and Northern Ireland. I may be a little partial to this destination. In my family, one grandmother and two great-grandparents emigrated from Northern Ireland. I visited the older generation there many times before they passed on. Then, I went and explored my heart's second home solo. But you don’t need a connection with Northern Ireland to fall in love with it. From Belfast to Derry, from the loughs (lakes or bays) to the glens, from fables to festivals, there is a lot to do, see, and enjoy in Northern Ireland. Read Solo Travel Northern Ireland: Tips for Belfast and Beyond and Of Gobbins and Giants: Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coastal Route.

And, of course, tours are great for solo travel beginners. Check out our Deals page for tours with no or very low single supplements and sign up for our Solo Traveler Advisory of Deals.