The 9 Best Destinations for Solo Travel in 2027
From safe, walkable cities to easygoing islands, these are the places that make traveling alone feel effortless and genuinely fun.
Last updated June 22, 2026
A bustling night scene at Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo, showcasing illuminated billboards and crowds. · Justin Brinkhoff
Solo travel rewards a particular kind of place: somewhere safe enough to wander after dark, walkable or wired with good public transit, and sociable enough that you can find company when you want it and slip back into your own rhythm when you don't. The best solo destinations make logistics easy so you can spend your energy on the trip itself.
This list spans continents and budgets, from polished, hyper-safe cities to laid-back islands and old-world capitals where a shared table or a hostel common room turns strangers into travel friends. Each pick is chosen for how it actually feels to arrive alone with a backpack and figure it out.
Use it as a shortlist rather than a ranking to follow to the letter. Match the vibe to what you want from 2027, whether that's culture and food, nature and movement, or simply a place where eating dinner by yourself feels completely normal.
1
TokyoHonshu, Japan Google
Tokyo is arguably the easiest big city on earth to navigate alone, with spotless trains that run on time and a culture where solo dining is the norm rather than a pity case. Counter seats at ramen shops, conveyor-belt sushi, and standing bars in Shinjuku's Omoide Yokocho are built for one, and nobody blinks if you eat, drink, and explore on your own. Crime is famously low, signage is increasingly bilingual, and you can fill days with everything from the teamLab digital art museums to quiet temple gardens in Yanaka. It is stimulating without ever feeling unsafe, which is exactly what a solo traveler wants.
- Slurping ramen at a solo counter seat
- teamLab Planets digital art museum
- Late-night izakaya hopping in Omoide Yokocho
- Day-tripping to Kamakura's Great Buddha
Best for: first-time solo travelers who want safety and stimulation
Getting there: Fly into Narita or Haneda; the Narita Express or Keisei Skyliner reaches central Tokyo in under an hour
2
LisbonPortugal Google
Lisbon pairs warm weather, low prices for Western Europe, and a famously friendly, English-speaking welcome that makes solo arrivals painless. The compact center invites long aimless walks past tiled facades, miradouros (viewpoints) with river views, and tram 28 rattling up steep hills. Hostels here are genuinely social, with rooftop bars and group dinners, while Time Out Market lets you eat alone among a crowd without feeling out of place. Add cheap day trips to Sintra's palaces and a strong digital-nomad scene, and it is a soft landing for a first solo trip in Europe.
- Sunset at Miradouro da Senhora do Monte
- Pastel de nata from Manteigaria
- A day trip to Sintra's Pena Palace
- Fado music in an Alfama tavern
Best for: social solo travelers and digital nomads
Getting there: Direct flights from across Europe and North America; the metro red line links the airport to downtown in about 20 minutes
3
Chiang MaiNorthern Thailand Google
Chiang Mai is the spiritual home of solo and long-term travelers in Southeast Asia, with a moat-ringed old city full of temples, cheap guesthouses, and cafes designed for laptops and lingering. It is calmer and cheaper than Bangkok, easy to get around by foot or scooter, and packed with low-cost ways to meet people: cooking classes, Muay Thai gyms, meditation retreats, and the sprawling Sunday Walking Street market. Ethical elephant sanctuaries and jungle treks sit a short ride away, and the food, from khao soi to night-market grills, is reason enough to come. The community of fellow solo travelers means you are rarely alone unless you choose to be.
- Khao soi (curry noodle soup) at a local shop
- A Thai cooking class
- The Sunday Walking Street market
- Doi Suthep temple overlooking the city
Best for: budget travelers and digital nomads staying a while
Getting there: Domestic flights from Bangkok take about 75 minutes; overnight trains and buses also run from the capital
4
Mexico CityMexico Google
Mexico City rewards solo travelers willing to engage with one of the world's great food and culture capitals at a fraction of European prices. Base yourself in walkable, leafy Roma or Condesa, where cafes, mezcal bars, and taquerias make eating alone a pleasure, and the metro plus rideshare apps cover the rest. World-class museums (the Frida Kahlo house, the Anthropology Museum) and Teotihuacan's pyramids fill your days, while the city's social hostel scene and food tours make connecting easy. Stick to the central neighborhoods, stay aware at night, and use registered cabs or apps, and it is a thrilling, affordable solo base.
- Tacos al pastor in Roma Norte
- The National Museum of Anthropology
- Sunrise hot-air balloon over Teotihuacan
- Weekend canal boats at Xochimilco
Best for: food lovers and culture seekers on a budget
Getting there: Direct flights from across the Americas and Europe; use authorized airport taxis or a rideshare app into the center
5
LjubljanaSlovenia Google
Ljubljana is the kind of small, safe, green European capital that solo travelers love and overlook in equal measure. The car-free old town curls along an emerald river lined with cafe terraces, and you can see the highlights on foot in a relaxed day, then hike up to the castle for the view. It is consistently ranked among Europe's safest cities, locals speak excellent English, and prices undercut Western Europe. Use it as a base for easy solo day trips to Lake Bled's island church and the Postojna caves, both reachable by bus.
- Riverside cafes along the Ljubljanica
- Ljubljana Castle funicular and views
- A day trip to Lake Bled
- Central Market and a Slovenian wine bar
Best for: relaxed solo travelers who want safety and nature nearby
Getting there: Fly into Ljubljana or take a 2-hour bus/train from Zagreb; central Europe is well connected by rail and bus
6
TaipeiTaiwan Google
Taipei is exceptionally safe, efficient, and welcoming, with a metro that makes getting around alone foolproof and night markets where solo eating is the entire point. Graze your way through Raohe and Shilin markets on stinky tofu, beef noodle soup, and bubble tea, soak in the Beitou hot springs, or hike up Elephant Mountain at dusk for the Taipei 101 skyline. People are notably kind to confused visitors, English signage is good, and 24-hour convenience stores plus cheap, frequent transit remove the small stresses of traveling alone. It is one of Asia's most underrated solo cities.
- Night-market grazing at Raohe
- Beef noodle soup, the city's signature dish
- Elephant Mountain sunset over Taipei 101
- Beitou's public hot springs
Best for: solo travelers who want safety, food, and easy logistics
Getting there: Fly into Taoyuan International; the airport MRT reaches Taipei Main Station in about 35 minutes
7
QueenstownSouth Island, New Zealand Google
Queenstown is the adventure capital of New Zealand and a natural magnet for solo travelers, especially backpackers working their way around the South Island. The lakeside town is small, safe, and overflowing with social hostels, group hikes, and shared adventure activities, so meeting people takes no effort. Whether you bungee jump, ride the Skyline Gondola, hike to Ben Lomond, or use it as a launchpad to Milford Sound and the Routeburn Track, there is always a group heading the same way. English-speaking and very safe, it suits solo travelers who want the outdoors plus easy company.
- The Skyline Gondola and luge
- A day trip to Milford Sound
- Hiking the Ben Lomond track
- A Fergburger after a day outdoors
Best for: outdoorsy and adventure-minded solo travelers
Getting there: Direct flights from Auckland (about 2 hours) and Australian cities land at Queenstown Airport, a short shuttle from town
8
KrakówPoland Google
Kraków offers one of Europe's most rewarding solo experiences for the price, with a beautifully preserved medieval center you can explore entirely on foot. The vast Main Market Square, Wawel Castle, and the atmospheric Kazimierz district full of milk bars and craft-beer spots give you days of self-guided wandering, while sobering day trips to Auschwitz-Birkenau and the Wieliczka Salt Mine add depth. It is very safe, affordable, and friendly to English speakers, with a hostel and walking-tour culture that makes solo connection simple. Cheap, hearty Polish food (pierogi, zapiekanka) means eating alone never strains the budget.
- Rynek Główny, Europe's largest medieval square
- Pierogi at a traditional milk bar
- Kazimierz's bars and street art
- A day trip to the Wieliczka Salt Mine
Best for: history lovers and budget-conscious solo travelers
Getting there: Budget flights from across Europe; the train from the airport reaches the main station in about 20 minutes
9
KotorMontenegro Google
Kotor packs an outsized amount of beauty into a tiny, safe, walkable package, making it ideal for a slower solo stretch on the Adriatic. A maze-like Venetian old town sits at the foot of dramatic mountains, wrapped around a fjord-like bay, and the climb up the city walls delivers one of the Balkans' best views. It is cheaper than nearby Croatia, easy to navigate without a car, and small enough that you quickly recognize faces in the cafe-lined squares. Boat trips to Our Lady of the Rocks and the old town of Perast make easy solo half-days.
- Hiking the Kotor city walls at golden hour
- A boat trip to Our Lady of the Rocks
- Wandering Perast's stone waterfront
- Seafood and a glass of Vranac in the old town
Best for: solo travelers wanting scenery and a slower pace
Getting there: Fly into Tivat (15 minutes away) or Podgorica; buses connect Kotor along the coast from Dubrovnik in about 2.5 hours
Good to Know
Stay central and social Book your first couple of nights in a well-reviewed hostel or guesthouse in a central, walkable neighborhood. Social properties with common areas, group dinners, or walking tours are the fastest way to meet people when you arrive alone.
Time your visit Shoulder seasons (spring and autumn) bring better prices, thinner crowds, and a higher ratio of fellow travelers actually looking to connect. Peak summer can mean packed hostels and inflated rates in places like Kotor and Queenstown.
Stay safe and connected Buy a local eSIM on arrival so you always have maps and rideshare apps, share your location with someone at home, and trust your instincts about neighborhoods at night. Keep digital copies of your passport and a backup card separate from your wallet.
Build in easy social activities Cooking classes, food tours, free walking tours, and group day trips are low-pressure ways to meet people and learn a place fast. Book one for your first full day to set the social tone of the trip.
Balance company and solitude The joy of solo travel is choosing your own pace, so don't feel obligated to be social all the time. Mix group activities with quiet mornings and solo meals at the counter seats these cities do so well.
The best solo destinations for 2027 share a simple quality: they make going it alone feel easy, safe, and rich with possibility, whether you crave the buzz of Tokyo or the quiet of Kotor's bay. Pick the one that matches the trip you actually want, book that first social activity, and let the rest unfold. Traveling alone is less about being by yourself than about being free to follow your own curiosity, and these places give you the perfect runway to do it.