solo traveler destinations europe

The 7 Best Places In Europe For Solo Travellers

Whether you’re a longterm lone wolf or planning your very first solo travel trip, Europe is the perfect continent to go it alone. Solo travelers are well looked after here – the transport between countries is brilliant, most cities are cosmopolitan and safe (especially for women) and there’s accommodation for all budgets.

Plus, with so much culture and events on in the main cities and even smaller regions, it’s easy to meet people along the way. These are the best places to travel alone in Europe…

Best places in Europe for solo travelersHow do these rankings work?

1. Budapest, Hungary

Brimming with intriguing architecture and rich cultural heritage, Budapest still feels slightly untouched by tourists. It’s compact, making it one of the best places for solo travelers in Europe.

Check out local ruins bars, enjoy a river cruise along the Danube, or meet locals on a walking tour. This city truly has it all, and the local exchange rate makes it an ideal vacation spot for travellers on a budget.

2. Bologna, Italy

The historic capital of the Emilia-Romagna region, in northern Italy, Bologna is a Medieval city with ancient streets to explore, and incredible views from the city’s tower. Lively bars and cafes line the streets and the graffiti-covered piazzas add a bit of edge.

It’s an easily walkable city, with an incredible food scene and friendly locals. No wonder it’s one of the best places in Europe to travel alone.

3. Glasgow, Scotland

Glasgow offers lots of exciting experiences, but where to begin? Scotland’s largest city is vibrant and exciting, with fine art collections, Victorian architecture, cathedrals and parks to explore.

Add in an amazingly creative music scene, whiskey and a passion for sports – this is a city that’s made for a solo weekend break.

Glasgow things to do

4. Toulouse, France

Toulouse’s gorgeous summer-y climate and its exciting fusion of cultures from being so close to the Spanish border makes it a real gem of a place to visit.  Its nickname is La Ville Rose (‘The Pink City’) because of the red-pink clay bricks that are used in the buildings.

It’s a lively, student-friendly city. There’s more than 1,000 events on average every year and summer evenings that are particularly animated!

5. Cork, Ireland

Dublin and Galway might have most of the fame, but Cork is the perfect place for solo travelers. The city is small and easy to navigate, with an exciting independent food and drink scene. There’s charming art galleries and cultural events and it’s also just a short distance to incredible scenery.

The towns of Cobh and Kinsale are well worth a visit for their colourful buildings and fresh seafood.

solo traveler destinations europe

6. Berlin, Germany

Arguably the coolest city in Europe (where else would you find techno-playing spas and abandoned amusement parks?), Berlin is the rough diamond of the continent where people play hard and work hard. This edgy city has graffiti on every corner and has turned into one of Europe’s coolest destinations since the fall of the Berlin Wall in ’89.

solo traveler destinations europe

7. Madrid, Spain

Madrid is the capital of Spain and its most populous city. With culture and history flowing through this city’s veins with its many plazas, palaces and parks, there’s heaps of things to do in Madrid.

The sunniest city in Europe, Madrid has over 300 sunshine-filled days a year, so it’s perfect year-round. It’s the perfect place to travel alone.

solo traveler destinations europe

Sarah Clayton-Lea

Co-founder of Big 7 Travel, Sarah created the company through her passion for championing the world's best food and travel experiences. Before her career in digital media, where she previously held roles such as Editor of Food&Wine Ireland, Sarah worked in the hospitality industry in Dublin and New York.

Contact [email protected]

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