Inspiring journeys - Best places to travel alone

Mozart, the Alps, Sacher torte and much more in the heart of Europe! Offering countless attractions and activities, safe and well-organized, Austria is a stress-free solo travel destination for all, and an ideal female solo travel destination.
Those into art and culture will want to spend some time in Vienna, to see the wonderful Opera House and imperial stables, and Salzburg, for the music festivals and fascinating architecture. Mountain-devotees and sports fans will find heaven in the splendid Austrian mountains. An example? Hikers will enjoy the Johannesweg pilgrimage trail: 80 kilometers across gorgeous meadows, fields and striking peaks.

A friendly, fun and absolutely captivating country where solo travel has been going on for decades. Australia is such a great place for solo travellers that many end up staying longer than scheduled! Fabulous Sydney is a perfect place to start your journey. Make sure you take in the sights – Harbour Bridge, the Opera House, Bondi Beach etc. – and enjoy the café/bar/restaurant scene: you’re sure to make friends.
Sports fans will want to discover Melbourne and its MCG, where the Aussie Rules, rugby and cricket matches are held. But it’s the natural environment that lures most visitors to Australia. Fraser Island, with its giant sand dunes, the Great Barrier Reef, the Gold Coast and amazing Whitsundays will take your breath away. And a visit to Uluru (Ayers Rock), deep in the Outback, where aborigines have strewn their songlines for centuries, is a life-changing experience.

Traveller’s tip: Australia is large, and getting around takes time. Make sure to allow yourself enough, and consider flying between distant destinations.

Wilderness fans this is the country for you! Virtually risk-free, endowed with some of the world’s most spectacular natural parks, Canada also offers solo travellers splendid festivals to attend and lovely cities to discover.
Adventurous sports fans will certainly want to go kayaking or rafting on the South Nahanni River or brave the waves in Nova Scotia. More easy-going nature lovers can delight in Newfoundland roaming the picturesque fishing settlements, and find their peace along the coast, admiring icebergs, whales and seabirds.
The variety of landscapes and natural attractions is jaw-dropping: towering mountains, pristine beaches, rainforest and tundra all in one country! The cities, Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Ontario, are fabulous solo travel destinations too: historic and cultural appeal blend with a breezy, vibrant atmosphere and cutting-edge shopping opportunities.

Awe-inspiring beaches, lush rainforest, astounding national parks, volcanoes and amazing wildlife. Just think: it’s the world’s capital of hummingbirds!
True to its name Costa Rica is one of the richest countries in the world when it comes to biodiversity and sensational natural attractions, and solo travellers needn’t worry about a thing: it’s safe, secure and definitely friendly throughout. Plus, luxurious eco-minded accommodation, fabulous food and a lively local lifestyle make for a truly appealing holiday spot.
Adventure lovers can take their pick: surfing, kayaking, hiking options are glorious. Eco-friendly tourists will find blissful hotels and cottages to stay at, and great farm-to-table restaurants to enjoy the luscious local fare. And the cities, particularly San José, offer a trendy contemporary scene. In a phrase? Costa Rica is pura vida!

Bewitching castles, a friendly atmosphere, memorable scenery and a very safe atmosphere in and out of town. Offering a diversified natural environment criss-crossed by unending hiking trails which lead to emerald green fields, quaint villages and majestic looming castles.
Ireland is a fantastic solo travel destination for outdoorsy types. The cities provide an appealing atmosphere and rich historic heritage.
Make sure you visit Belfast, and see the brand-new Titanic Quarter, MAC Belfast and Ulster Museum in the beautiful Botanical Gardens. However you decide to spend your vacation, what really makes this country so special are the Irish! Earnestly friendly and warmhearted, the locals welcome solo travellers involving them in lively conversations whenever they get a chance.

Lay back and sunbathe, take long walks, spend time in nature. Take in the Art Deco architecture in Miami Beach, wine and dine yourself at the charming beachfront cafés, and visit downtown Miami’s cutting-edge galleries.
Whatever you do, make sure to immerse yourself in the cool latino vibe! Miles and miles of powdery white beaches, a unique always-on-vacation ambiance and striking attractions such as Cape Canaveral and Disneyworld make the Sunshine State a matchless solo travel destination.
Sports fans, and those wishing to meet fellow travellers, should consider visiting Pensacola, Gainesville and Orlando, where local color and character blend with a vital contemporary scene.
If all you want to do is enjoy the outdoors, or relax on the porch, spend time among the magical landscapes of the Keys, Naples or Bonita Beach.

First and foremost: solo travel in Germany is easy, hassle-free, safe and definitely fun. Offering a perfectly organized train infrastructure and excellent in-town transit system makes getting around quick, and straightforward.
Above all, the whole country is a treasure chest of attractiveness. Vibrantly fascinating Berlin, Hamburg and Munich provide a mind-blowing rainbow of diverse stimuli which range from the Bavarian Residenzmuseum and Berlin’s Neues Museum to intriguing nightclubs (and frisky beerhalles!).
And outdoor adventure devotees will think they can never get enough. The Black Forest, snow-capped Alps, hiking trails and superb skiing resorts such as Ochsenkopf and Oberstdorf, guarantee memorable adventures year-round.

Counting over 17,000 islands, of which only 8,000 inhabited, Indonesia is a dizzying polychrome treasury of natural marvels and fascinating traditional heritage. Its variety of diverse landscapes – lush vegetation, beaches, volcanoes – incredibly welcoming locals and pervasive yet light-hearted spirituality makes it the perfect country for solo travellers on a quest for inner peace.
Roam the amazing temples, such as Borobudur, and experience mysticism. Visit the national parks and see jaw-dropping wildlife, such as the Komodo dragon, the world’s largest lizard. Scuba dive and snorkel, spend time with the people learning about their customs.
Shop for sarongs and learn the ancient art of Batik. Options are countless, and rejuvenation guaranteed.

Treat yourself to: an Indonesian spa treatment and massage. Unforgettable.

Boasting one of the lowest crime rates in the world, Japan is one of the safest and best places for solo travel. The shrines, cherry blossoms, national parks and spellbinding centuries-old heritage do the rest, making the land of Samurais and Geishas a temple of artistic and natural allure.
Solo travellers seeking outdoor bliss will have to draw straws. Climbing Mount Fuji, which you can do between early July and September, sea kayaking at Shiretoko National Park, lake cruising and hiking at Akan Mashu National Park and snowboarding in Hokkaido are just a few of the infinite options.
Those seeking mystical inspiration may lose themselves among the many Buddhist temples, zen gardens and Inari Shrines. Spend a day in Tokyo for a fast-paced journey into the future.

Treat yourself to: a couple of days in Kyoto. Sleep in a traditional Japanese hotel, visit the Fushimi Inari Shrine, with its thousands of Torii gates, and participate in a tea ceremony.

Lose yourself in nature and meet the Hobbit! Just as fascinating as Australia, but less extensive, New Zealand provides a captivating all-round experience.
One of the country’s best assets are the incredibly cordial natives. Called kiwis, they are famous for always wholeheartedly welcoming, assisting, and frequently inviting lone sightseers, including solo female travellers, to attend local festivities.
The best place to start exploring the North Island is Auckland. Options are countless: splendid walking paths and hiking trails, leading-edge downtown galleries and the hip café and restaurant scene.
Make sure you don’t miss the gorgeous Coromandel peninsula, for some kayaking, a dip in effervescent springs, or a scenic cruise. Spectacular vistas and yet more bubbling springs are the main features of Rotorua, where adventurous travellers may want to try the Zorb adventures and white-water rafting.
The Southern Island is an oasis both for those seeking adventure and those longing for peace and tranquility. Among the highlights: the Milford Sound, with its cliffs and thick mysterious forests, the Franz Josef Glacier, and stunning Catlins.

Treat yourself to: a hot pool bath after touring the icy Franz Josef Glacier or a glass of heavenly local wine in buzzing Queenstown.

Gentle rolling hills, medieval hilltop villages where time seems to have come to a halt, stupendous basilicas. Fresco-filled churches and basilicas which offer a spiritual experience. And thriving old-world traditions.
Welcome to Umbria, Italy’s greenest and most unspoilt region, one of the best places to travel solo!
Umbria offers solo travellers a wide range of enlightening activities and sightseeing options and unforgettable flavors. Yes, because the rich farms, bountiful fields and pristine forests yield some of Italy’s most precious products: cheeses, wine, cured meats and premium truffle.
Visit delightful Perugia, with its windy cobblestone streets and airy piazzas, and Orvieto, crowned by the splendid Gothic cathedral.
Find traces of Ancient Rome in tiny Carsulae, close to Terni, and Etruscan settlements near Lake Trasimeno, central Italy’s largest lake. You can hike around, or surf on the Lake too, surrounded by the lakefront villages, remarkably well-maintained examples of medieval charm.

Among the very best places to travel solo because… it’s one of the only countries in the world where you can spend days on end on glorious beaches without being surrounded by families! Not to mention the world-acclaimed wines, the evocative towns and cities steeped in history, the nuances of the azulejos and the nostalgic notes of fado.
Boasting over 800 km. of coastline, where dramatic cliffs are intervalled by beaches, dunes and tiny islets, Portugal is a surfer’s and sea-lover’s wonderland. Other marvelous experiences include hiking up the Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês’ peaks, and attending one of the musical festivals, such as Porto’s Festa de São João. Looking for something off-the-beaten-path? Journey to the Beiras, the soul of Portugal.
Start from visiting Coimbra, rich in culture and history, and travel inland, where haunting beauty meets ancient heritage. Admire the scenery: windy climbing roads which lead to tiny villages perched on the mountainside, sun-scorched plains, majestic castles and fortresses.