5 Fantastic Places For Vacationing Alone
Traveling alone has the potential to be intimidating. But similar to taking precautions when you're camping alone, if you plan ahead, you'll find that traveling alone has a number of rewards. There's no disagreement over where to eat and what to do. You can take your time and linger whenever you want — if you want to spend all day gazing at the Mona Lisa in Paris, who's going to stop you? You don't have to wait for anyone else's vacation schedule to line up with your own; if you've got the time and saved up the money, the world is your oyster.
Wherever you go, make your trip as successful and stress-free as possible, do some homework beforehand. Plan your trip around your must-sees, and figure out how you'll be getting around. Make sure to check any potential safety advisories before traveling, and if you're traveling internationally, find out in advance if a visa or other documentation is needed for entry. And ideally leave at least the basics of your itinerary with a friend or relative, so someone knows where you are — and so they can be jealous of all the cool stuff you'll be doing!
All of that being said, there are some places that are easier for solo travel. Pack your bags to visit these five destinations that are great for vacationing alone due to the ease of getting around, the options of things to do, and their relative safety.
New Zealand has something for everyone
New Zealand is well-known for being safe and fun for solo travelers, per Stay At Base. It's got something for everyone, from wine lovers to adventure junkies and everyone in between. What makes it particularly ideal is you don't have to have a car to be able to get around. There's plenty of tours, buses, and connections between popular destinations across the islands to make getting around easy.
The North Island has the country's largest city Auckland with world-class museums and some great restaurants, per The Culture Trip. Get a great view of the city skyline and Waitemata along with a good meal from Harbour Society on the 15th floor of SO/Auckland. Wine lovers should make sure to take the 40-minute ferry ride to Waiheke Island, home to 30 boutique wineries with hop-on, hop-off bus tours. The North Island also has the famous black sand Piha Beach, the Hobbiton film set from "The Lord of the Rings," and geothermal hot springs — take time to visit the Polynesian Spa — and a living Maori village in Rotorua, according to Explore Now or Never.
The South Island has the Adventure Capital of the World — Queenstown, where you can bungee jump, white water raft, kayak, mountain bike, and more. You can see native birds, including the famous kiwi, on Stewart Island, and the southwest edge of the island is Fiordland National Park with the majestic Milford and Doubtful Sounds, per Visit New Zealand.
British Columbia has city sights and mountain adventure
British Columbia, Canada has great solo travel options: two spots particularly easy to get around and get to are Vancouver and Whistler. Vancouver is a buzzing metropolis, and there are hop-on, hop-off bus routes through the city, via Vancouver Planner. Stanley Park is a can't miss with beaches, trails, totem poles, and an aquarium. For a unique perspective, Talasay Tours focuses on the indigenous history of the area. There's also the 460-feet-long Capilano Suspension Bridge amidst the lush West Coast rainforest — a free 25-minute shuttle runs there to and from Vancouver. Foodies have options in Vancouver from high-end sushi to a twist on the classic poutine, via Eater. And just south of Vancouver is Richmond — home to the Dumpling Trail — 15 places with amazing and authentic dumplings of all kinds.
To enjoy the mountains, it takes 2-3 hours to get to Whistler from Vancouver, home to North America's largest ski resort. Between the two is the town of Squamish, where "Virgin River" films for Jack's bar. Whistler is home to absolutely world-class skiing and snowboarding in the winter. In the summer, you can hit the mountain bike trails with a guide or solo, take a hike — here are some tips to being safer when hiking alone, and get to know more about the area wildlife on a black bear viewing tour. The resort village is walkable and bikeable, and there are seasonal free shuttles, per Tourism Whistler.
Stockholm and its archipelago has lots to explore
The Scandinavian countries all have advantages for anyone traveling alone because, as Nordic Visitor put it, many people speak English and they're ranked as some of the safest in the world. And it's particularly easy to get to and around Sweden, according to The Points Guy. The capital city of Stockholm has an easy to navigate subway system — which is also home to some fantastic art, but much of the city is walkable, per The Break of Dawns. Wander the winding, cobblestone streets of Gamla Stan, which means old town, home to the Royal Palace.
Stockholm has a number of museums from the Vasa Museum, the world's only preserved 17th century ship to ABBA The Museum, where you can virtually join the band and try on costumes. Make sure to stop at a cafe for the Swedish tradition of "fika" — taking a break from the bustle of daily life with a coffee and a baked treat and just relaxing, per The Kitchn.
Extending east of the city is Stockholm's archipelago, made up of 30,000 islands. It's got small coastal villages, beaches, and forests to explore. Accessible by ferry, you can make it a day trip or spend several nights in the slower, calmer islands of the archipelago, per Nordic Visitor. Kayak tours are available to explore the natural maze of islands for a few hours or for a few days.
History and modernity meet in Japan
Japan has a combination of vibrant cities and beautiful countryside, and it's known for being a safe place, per Japan-Guide. Keep in mind that local's knowledge of English may be lower here, but according to Boutique Japan, there's English language on much of the signage, particularly in tourist destinations. If you're planning to stay awhile and explore, there's a rail pass for 7, 14, or 21 days that can help get you around the country easily.
Tokyo is a recommended as your first solo visit stop by Ms. Travel Solo. The bustling capital has the world's busiest intersection, Shibuya Crossing, a number of shrines and temples, and for the birthplace of Kawaii "cute" culture and fashion, the Harajuku district is a can't miss. You can take a day trip tour from Tokyo to check out Mt. Fuji and Hakone, a traditional onsen (hot spring) town. Nikko is a small town two hours by train from Tokyo that has the elaborate Toshogu Shrine, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, per Truly Tokyo. It's particularly beautiful in fall as the leaves change.
For more history, the city of Kyoto has 1,600 temples. Some can't miss sites for Ms. Travel Solo are the iconic orange torii gates at the Fushimi Inari Shrine, the bamboo forest, and if you go in spring, it's cherry blossom season.
Wildlife abounds in the Galapagos Islands
If you're a nature lover, the Galapagos Islands are a bucket list destination that is accessible and enjoyable for those traveling solo. 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, the volcanic islands have species that you can't find anywhere else in the world and ones that so amazed Charles Darwin in 1835: Galapagos iguanas, sea lions, penguins, and, of course, tortoises all live there, per GlobeTrotterGirls. Along with dedicated wildlife spotting, you can go hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, and scuba diving in the islands, but activities are regulated and tour guides are needed to protect the ecosystem, per REI. Don't forget your camera!
The easiest way to visit with all of the fees and requirements needed to visit these islands is to go with a tour company, according to U.S. News & World Report. You can fly to the islands from Quito and Guayaquil, Ecuador and stay on San Cristóbal Island, Santa Cruz Island, or Isabela Island and take day trips to check out the islands. For more exploration options, a cruise is the way to go, per Travel + Leisure. Some cruise ships charge a single supplement if you want your own room, otherwise you'd be sharing a room. The 16-passenger Vaya Solaris has solo rooms for no extra charge as does the SS Mary Anne, a three-masted schooner.