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Best solo travel destinations in Europe

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Berlin
Wall history, Museum Island and all-night clubs
9.1
Many cafés, bars and clubs stay open late, so there is always something to do at night. Museum Island and the East Side Gallery are easy to reach by train. Free walking tours cover the city's history. Hostels and coworking cafés are full of other solo travellers.
Highlights:
  • 🏛️ Visit the Reichstag Dome for panoramic city views
  • 🌉 Admire the Brandenburg Gate illuminated at night
  • 🧱 Explore the Berlin Wall Memorial and East Side Gallery
London
A Tapestry of History and Modernity
9.2
More than nine million people live in this city, yet it is easy to find your way. A contactless card works on the Tube, trains and buses. The British Museum, National Gallery and Tate Modern are free to enter. Parks and markets are good places to relax alone.
Highlights:
  • 🎖️ Watch the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace
  • 🎡 Ride the London Eye for sweeping Thames views
  • 👑 See the Crown Jewels inside the Tower of London
Amsterdam
Canals, culture and a vibrant spirit
9.3
This flat Dutch city is built around a ring of canals. It is easy to cross on foot or by bike. The Rijksmuseum and the Anne Frank House are close together. Many cafés have window seats and shared tables for solo guests. Canal cruises and hostel events make it easy to meet people.
Highlights:
  • 🎨 Explore Van Gogh Museum’s masterpieces up close
  • 🏠 Visit the Anne Frank House for a moving experience
  • 🚤 Cruise the scenic canals and pass under arched bridges
Barcelona
Vibrant City of Art and Beaches
9.1
Creative, sunny and social, this city is easy for solo travellers who want company. Hostels run tapas tours and beach days. Tapas bars have counters where one person can eat comfortably. Gaudi's Sagrada Familia and Park Guell are reachable by metro. Keep valuables close in crowded areas.
Highlights:
  • 🚶🏻 Stroll down La Rambla and feel the city’s buzz
  • 🌈 Wander through Park Güell’s colorful mosaic terraces
  • ⛪ Admire Gaudí’s masterpiece, the Sagrada Família up close
Lisbon
Sun-soaked streets and rich history
8.4
Hilly, relaxed and friendly, this capital is easy to enjoy alone. Old trams climb through Alfama to viewpoints over the river. Pastry shops sell custard tarts called pasteis de nata. Fado music is played in small taverns in the evening. Hostels run pub crawls and day trips to Sintra.
Highlights:
  • 🎶 Listen to live Fado music in a cozy Alfama tavern
  • 🏰 Admire the views from Castelo de São Jorge’s hilltop
  • 🚋 Ride the iconic Tram 28 through Lisbon’s historic neighborhoods
Dublin
Where History, Pubs and Culture Collide
8.3
Compared with most capitals, this city is small enough to cover on foot. Pubs often have live folk music. It is easy to start a conversation at the bar. Trinity College holds the Book of Kells. Day trips by train reach the coast at Howth.
Highlights:
  • 🎶 Hear live Irish music in the pubs of Temple Bar
  • 📜 Stroll through Trinity College to see the Book of Kells
  • 🍺 Tour the Guinness Storehouse and enjoy a pint with views
Kraków
Timeless Charm and Rich History
8.3
This Polish city lies on the Vistula River in the south of the country. The Main Market Square is one of the largest medieval squares in Europe. Kazimierz, the old Jewish quarter, has cafés and live music. Day trips go to the Wieliczka salt mine. Meals are cheap and filling.
Highlights:
  • 🕊️ Visit the poignant Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial on a day trip
  • 🚶‍♀️ Walk through the atmospheric streets of the Old Town
  • 🏰 Explore the medieval Wawel Castle overlooking the Vistula River
Madeira
Dramatic Cliffs and Eternal Spring
8.0
The weather is mild all year on this Portuguese island, so hiking is possible in every month. Levadas, old irrigation channels, have flat paths through green mountains. Group hikes are easy to join from Funchal. A cable car rises from Funchal to a hill with gardens and sea views.
Highlights:
  • 🏖️ Swim in the volcanic natural pools of Porto Moniz
  • 🌊 Drive along the dramatic coastal roads of Madeira’s north coast
  • 🥾 Hike the stunning Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo trail above the clouds
Lagos
Golden Cliffs, Surf and Old Town Charm
7.6
Portuguese sailors set out from this port during the Age of Discovery in the 1400s. Today it is a relaxed beach town with golden cliffs and sea caves. Kayak and boat tours at Ponta da Piedade are easy to join alone. Hostels here are social and the old town is walkable.
Highlights:
  • 🏖️ Relax on picturesque Praia Dona Ana beach
  • 🏘️ Stroll through the charming streets of Lagos Old Town
  • 🛥️ Explore the stunning sea caves of Ponta da Piedade
Tarifa
Where Two Seas and Cultures Meet
7.3
This town lies at Spain's southern tip, where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean about 14 kilometres from Morocco. Strong winds blow through the strait, so the town is a centre for kitesurfing and windsurfing. Schools and surf camps offer lessons for beginners. The whitewashed old town has beach bars and small cafés for evening meals.
Highlights:
  • 🚪 Explore historic Puerta de Jerez city gate
  • 🏄‍♂️ Relax and kite surf at Playa de Los Lances beach
  • 🏰 Visit Guzmán el Bueno Castle and enjoy panoramic views
Budapest
A stunning mix of history and nightlife
8.3
Soaking in a thermal bath is a local custom and an easy way for solo visitors to relax. Szechenyi Baths has outdoor pools in a yellow palace. Ruin bars such as Szimpla Kert are social places in old buildings. Trams and the metro are cheap and simple.
Highlights:
  • 🌇 Watch sunset from Fisherman’s Bastion over Buda Castle
  • 🏛️ Admire the Parliament Building from the Danube promenade
  • 💦 Soak in the historic Széchenyi Thermal Baths
Athens
Where ancient ruins meet urban energy
8.7
People have lived on this plain below the Acropolis for thousands of years. Most major sights are within walking distance of each other. Free walking tours are a simple way to meet other travellers. Rooftop bars have views of the lit Parthenon after dark. A good meal costs little.
Highlights:
  • 🌇 Watch the sunset over Athens from Mount Lycabettus
  • 🚶🏻 Wander through the historic streets of Plaka district
  • 🏛️ Climb the Acropolis and admire the Parthenon’s ancient grandeur
Sarajevo
Where East meets West in the Balkans
7.1
Few cities mix Ottoman and Austro Hungarian streets as closely as this one. The Bascarsija bazaar has copper workshops and coffee houses where one person can sit for hours. The Latin Bridge and Tunnel of Hope museum explain the recent past. People are friendly and prices are low.
Highlights:
  • 🕌 Admire the blend of cultures at Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque
  • 🕊️ Visit the moving Sarajevo Tunnel of Hope Museum
  • 🌉 Walk across the historic Latin Bridge in the Old Town
Tbilisi
A blend of old-world charm and energy
7.5
This city was founded in the fifth century and has been a crossroads between Europe and Asia ever since. The old town has sulphur baths, wooden balconies and wine bars. Guesthouses are warm and hosts often invite guests to join a feast. A meal and a bottle of wine cost little.
Highlights:
  • ♨️ Relax in the historic sulfur baths of Abanotubani
  • 🏘️ Wander the colorful streets of the Old Town
  • 🏰 Ride the cable car to Narikala Fortress for city views
Belgrade
Where history, nightlife and the Danube meet
7.3
More than a million people live in this Serbian capital. It has a friendly and lively social scene. Floating clubs called splavovi are moored along the Sava and Danube rivers. Food and drinks are cheap. The Kalemegdan fortress has views of the point where the Sava meets the Danube.
Highlights:
  • ⛪ Visit Saint Sava Temple, one of the largest Orthodox churches
  • 🚶🏻 Stroll along Knez Mihailova Street filled with shops and cafés
  • 🏰 Explore the historic Belgrade Fortress overlooking the confluence of two rivers
Riga
Art Nouveau, Old Town, Baltic Soul
6.7
Eating at the Central Market is a local habit. It is held in five huge former Zeppelin hangars. The old town is compact and safe to walk at night. Many Art Nouveau buildings stand along Alberta Street. Craft beer bars and cafés welcome solo guests. Prices are fair.
Highlights:
  • 🛒 Visit Riga Central Market, housed in former Zeppelin hangars
  • ⛪ Climb St. Peter’s Church tower for panoramic city views
  • 🚶‍♂️ Explore the historic cobblestone streets of Riga Old Town
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