The World’s Best Solo Hotspots

From family beach holidays, to relaxing trips with your other half, and jam-packed city breaks with your best friends, there are so many different types of holidays with different vibes you can enjoy. But, have you ever considered travelling to a new destination by yourself?

It’s a trend that’s taken the travel world by storm, with 54% of adults considering going on a solo holiday this year – a 36% increase from 2022*. Whilst it’s a great way to visit places you’ve always wanted to go to without having to compromise, safety is rightly a huge concern for many.

If you’ve been toying with the idea of travelling solo, then make sure you read on! We’ve pulled together a list of the top solo hotspots, taking into account how safe cities are, as well as the friendliness of locals, the cost of a stay in a hotel and more. So, it’s time to uncover the best cities to visit by yourself, here.

1. Tokyo, Japan

In first place is Japan’s capital, boasting the most number of attractions compared to any other city on our list, at a huge 10,000; as well as the fourth best safety score, at 76. So, as a solo traveller, whilst you should always keep your wits about you, you won’t need to worry, as the city’s extremely safe.

From the iconic Shibuya Crossing, to shopping on the streets of Harajuku, and taking part in a Sakurai tea experience, you’re in for the trip of a lifetime if you choose to travel to Tokyo. Alternatively, if you want to see what more the country has to offer, then take a look at our range of Japan cruise deals.

2. Prague, Czechia

The second place on our solo hotspots list is the fairytale city of Prague. With its imposing Gothic architecture, deliciously warming food, and cute cobblestoned streets, Prague is the perfect place if you’re looking for somewhere to explore for a few days.

If you’re wondering what makes Czechia’s capital so great for solo travellers, it’s because it scores the second highest on our friendly index, at 62; and it has the fifth best safety score, at 75.3. If you’re sold on the idea of visiting this charming city, then have a look at our selection of European cruises, many of which include a stop off in pretty Prague.

3. Beijing, China

Heading back to Asia, the bustling city of Beijing comes in third place. With 2,000 group tours available in the city, it’s easy to make friends with other travellers, and with the average hotel costing £96 a night, it won’t break the bank either.

Enjoy a solo adventure in Beijing and discover iconic monuments including the Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven, feast on the best Peking duck of your life; and take some time out to walk along the Great Wall of China. You could even extend your trip across the country with one of our cruises in China!

4. Hanoi, Vietnam

Vietnam’s capital ranks in fourth place, thanks to the fact it has the second most group tours on our list, at a huge 3,934 – again, plenty of opportunities to make new travel buddies!

So, spend your time working through the 3,221 attractions Hanoi has to offer, including the tranquil Hoan Kiem lake, the weekend night market, and the lively French Quarter, where you’ll see some of the prettiest art deco architecture in the city. Discover our selection of Vietnam cruise deals, to help you get the best price.

5. Shanghai, China

Rounding off our top five solo travel hotspots is Shanghai, China’s most populous city, with a huge 23.4 million residents.

Known for its chicness and sophistication, the city ranks well for safety, with an index score of 70.1; and the good news is, you’ve got 2,000 attractions to visit.

Start your trip by heading to the top of the Bund to see Shanghai’s sprawling skyline, before taking some time to relax in the peaceful Yuyuan Gardens, before partying the night away at one of the many rooftop bars that are scattered around the city.

Other Solo Hotspots to Consider

Whilst these are the top five cities, there are so many other places you can easily discover on your own; with Chiang Mai, Budapest, Vienna, Rome, and Bucharest all making up the top 10.

If your main consideration is safety, then Munich could be the ideal destination for you, with a safety score of 79.2. Hong Kong and Chiang Mai fall just behind, with all three cities offering unique cultural experiences.

Alternatively, if budget is a big factor when it comes to booking a holiday, then we’d suggest heading to Asia. Pattaya has the cheapest rooms by far, at just £30 a night; with Kolkata, Chiang Mai, and Kuala Lumpur all offering great deals.

Making friends along the way is a huge part of any holiday, especially if you’re travelling on your own. Rome has the biggest opportunity to meet like minded travellers, with 5,000 group tours; and Vienna scores highest on the friendly index, at 64.

Finally, if you’re after somewhere that’ll keep you busy non-stop checking out attractions, and you want to stay closer to home, then why not consider London or Paris – both offering 8,000 various things to do and see?

So, if you’ve been considering whether to take the plunge and travel solo, we hope we’ve persuaded you to give it a go! Travelling alone may sound daunting at first, but it’s such a great experience – not only will you get the chance to meet like minded travellers along the way, but you’ll also be able to tailor your holiday to everything you want to do, so you won’t need to worry about compromising!

If you’re still in need of some travel inspiration, then take a look at our range of cruise destinations – with opportunities in every continent, you’re sure to find the perfect holiday for you!

Methodology and Sources

Sources:

• List of tourist destinations: https://brilliantmaps.com/top-100-tourist-destinations/
• Safety rates: https://www.numbeo.com/crime/rankings_current.jsp
• Friendliest index: https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/friendliest-countries
• Average hotel cost per night: www.numbeo.com
• Number of group activities: www.tripadvisor.com
• Number of attractions: www.tripadvisor.com
• Cost of one-way public transport ticket: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/
• Google trends*

Methodology

This dataset ranks 56 cities across the world based on how well suited they are for solo travellers. To do this, six different factors were used. Once the factors were collected, they were then normalised, to provide each factor with a score of between 0 and 1. The normalised values were then summed, to give each city a total score out of 4. The cities were then ranked from highest to lowest, based on their total scores. The factors used are as follows:

• Safety rates
• Friendliest index
• Average hotel cost per night
• Number of group activities
• The number of attractions
• Cost of one-way public transport ticket

Data gathered August 2023. The most recent data possible was used in compiling this data set.