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Best solo travel destinations in North America

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New York City
Five boroughs of skyline, food and museums
9.5
More than eight million people live in the five boroughs of this city. The subway runs all day and night, so getting around alone is simple. Solo diners find bar seating almost everywhere. Central Park and the Staten Island Ferry are free. Both are good ways to see the skyline.
Highlights:
  • 🌃 Visit Times Square at night for unforgettable neon views
  • 🎭 Watch a Broadway musical in the Theater District
  • 🏙️ Admire skyline views from the Top of a skyscraper
Vancouver
Where mountains, ocean and city life meet
8.5
Mountains and ocean sit close to the compact downtown of this Canadian city. Stanley Park covers about 400 hectares. Its seawall path is around nine kilometres long and is popular for walking and cycling. Public transport is reliable. Granville Island market is an easy place for a solo lunch.
Highlights:
  • 🛍️ Explore Granville Island’s public market and artisan shops
  • 🚡 Take a gondola up Grouse Mountain for city views
  • 🚴‍♀️ Walk or cycle around scenic Stanley Park’s seawall
Playa del Carmen
Beach bliss meets Riviera Maya buzz
7.0
An evening walk along Quinta Avenida, a pedestrian street of cafes and shops, is a daily habit here. Hostels, beach clubs and dive shops make it simple to meet other travellers. Ferries cross to Cozumel in less than an hour. Cenotes nearby are good for swimming.
Highlights:
  • 🏖️ Relax on the white sands of Playa Mamitas beach
  • 🕳️ Swim and explore the stunning Rio Secreto cave system
  • 🛍️ Stroll the vibrant Quinta Avenida filled with shops
Austin
Live music, lakes and local flavor
7.6
On the Colorado River in Texas, this city has a 10 mile hike and bike trail around Lady Bird Lake. Live music is played nightly, so it is easy to go out alone. Food trucks and bar seats are good places to meet people. Bats fly out from Congress Avenue Bridge in summer.
Highlights:
  • 🦇 Watch the bats emerge from Congress Avenue Bridge at sunset
  • 💦 Cool off with a swim in Barton Springs Pool
  • 🎸 Listen to live music on Sixth Street
Oaxaca
Colonial Charm and Rich Traditions
7.5
Day of the Dead, from 31 October to 2 November, is the busiest time. Altars, parades and candlelit cemetery visits are common. The dry months from November to April are sunny. Hostels and cooking classes make it easy to meet people. The walkable centre has markets, mezcal bars and colourful streets.
Highlights:
  • 🌿 Relax in the colorful Oaxaca Botanical Garden
  • ⛪ Marvel at the Baroque Templo de Santo Domingo
  • 🏛️ Explore the ancient Zapotec ruins of Monte Albán
San Francisco
Iconic bridges, rolling hills and vibrant culture
8.5
September and October are usually the warmest and sunniest months. Summer is often cool and foggy, so a jacket is useful. Cable cars, buses and trains make it easy to travel without a car. Walking the Golden Gate Bridge and visiting the Ferry Building market are simple solo plans.
Highlights:
  • 🏝️ Explore Alcatraz Island and tour the former prison
  • 🚋 Ride a classic cable car through steep hills
  • 🌉 Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge
New Orleans
Jazz, Creole Flavors and Mardi Gras Vibes
7.9
Lively and welcoming, this city is easy to enjoy alone because music, food and street life are everywhere. Live jazz is played nightly on Frenchmen Street. Cafe du Monde serves beignets and chicory coffee. Walking tours of the French Quarter and old cemeteries are good ways to meet other travellers.
Highlights:
  • 🏘️ Explore historic French Quarter’s colorful streets
  • 🍩 Savor beignets at iconic Café du Monde
  • 🎷 Experience live jazz on vibrant Frenchmen Street
Denver
Sunshine, Culture and Rocky Peaks
7.2
Gold seekers founded this city in 1858. It is called the Mile High City because it lies about one mile above sea level. Solo travellers can join hiking groups, taste beer at taprooms and see concerts at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Mountain trails start less than an hour from the centre.
Highlights:
  • 🍽️ Stroll along Larimer Square and enjoy local dining and shops
  • 🖼️ Visit the Denver Art Museum and see modern masterpieces
  • 🎶 Explore the Red Rocks Amphitheatre and catch a live concert
Portland (Oregon)
Quirky, green and endlessly creative
7.6
Compared with larger West Coast cities, this one is smaller, greener and easy to explore by bike or on foot. Food cart pods offer solo diners many cuisines at low prices. Powell's City of Books is one of the largest independent bookstores in the world. Forest Park has trails inside the city.
Highlights:
  • 🍃 Discover the tranquility of the Portland Japanese Garden
  • 📚 Visit Powell’s City of Books, the world’s largest independent bookstore
  • 🌹 Explore the International Rose Test Garden’s vibrant blooms
Tulum
Ruins, reefs and boho beaches
6.8
Laid back and bohemian, this beach town has yoga studios, cafes and small hotels among palm trees. The Maya ruins of Tulum stand on a cliff above the sea. Cenotes nearby are good for swimming and snorkelling. Hostels and group tours make it easy to meet other travellers.
Highlights:
  • 🏖️ Relax on the pristine white sands of Tulum Beach
  • 💧 Swim and snorkel in the crystal-clear waters of Gran Cenote
  • 🏛️ Explore ancient Mayan ruins perched overlooking Caribbean Sea
San Cristóbal de las Casas
Colonial Charm Meets Indigenous Culture
6.7
In the highlands of Chiapas in southern Mexico, this colonial town lies at about 2,100 metres among pine covered hills. Cobbled streets, cafes and hostels make it popular with backpackers. Nearby Indigenous villages can be visited on guided tours. Evenings are cool, so a jacket is useful.
Highlights:
  • 🧶 Walk through cobblestone streets lined with artisan shops
  • ⛪ Admire the baroque architecture of Santo Domingo Church
  • 🛍️ Explore the colorful markets at Santo Domingo Square
San José
Culture, Coffee and Mountain Views
6.0
Coffee wealth in the 1800s helped build this city, which became the capital of Costa Rica in 1823. The National Theatre opened in 1897 and has a grand interior. Museums and the Central Market are easy to visit on foot. Many travellers use it as a base for day trips.
Highlights:
  • 🌳 Stroll and people-watch in the lively Morazán Park
  • 🏺 Explore the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum and its ancient artifacts
  • 🎭 Visit the National Theater, Costa Rica's architectural gem
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