Solo travel: the best places to visit alone

Solo travel can be one of the most rewarding ways to explore the world. Whether you’d rather spend it on a desert island or in a ғʀᴇɴᴇтιc new city, here’s our pick of some of the best places to travel alone.

Lombok and the Gili Islands, Indonesia
Not as busy as its more famous neighbour Bali, Lombok is gaining a sterling reputation among the Indonesian islands with independent travellers who want to learn to surf, snorkel or dive. Inland, lush green paddy fields stretch away to the massive Gunung Rinjani volcano with its waterfalls and hot springs. The three tiny but increasingly popular Gili Islands off Lombok’s northwest coast are also easy to access – Trawangan is where the party’s at.

Cuba
The capital of Cuba, Havana conjures images of crumbling colonial architecture, 1950s Chevys, salsa and cigars. However, with the political scene inside Cuba shifting, private enterprise is being encouraged and small businesses across the country are opening and expanding. Now is a great time to visit those tiny back street restaurants and artisan shops.

Guatemala
If you’re looking for the best places to travel alone in Central and South America, don’t overlook Guatemala and its ancient Mayan ruins. It is an inexpensive place to travel, which means you can stay for a while – to learn Spanish or even volunteer. Many come here for adventure activities like hiking, kayaking and whitewater rafting.

Kenya
With its incredibly diverse ecosystem and reputation for the “Big Five” (elephant, black rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard), Kenya is the place for a sᴀғᴀʀι. You can easily join a big group or arrange for a guide to take you out into the wilderness alone.

South Island, New Zealand
The list of solo activities you can do on New Zealand’s beautiful South Island is endless: horse riding, skiing, hiking, kayaking, bungy jumping, skydiving, jet boating, whitewater rafting… With jaw-dropping scenery around every corner, the small country is one big outdoor playground.

Barcelona, Spain
Busy Barcelona in the north of Spain is one of the best places to travel alone. Its café-lined boulevards are perfect for people watching, or you can ᴇscᴀᴘᴇ the hustle and bustle by heading out to one of the city beaches on the super easy to use public transport, plus there are several things you can do for free.

Hokkaido, Japan
Japan is a very friendly country and outsiders, especially those travelling alone, are made welcome as a matter of course. Hokkaido is the most northern and least developed of the country’s four main islands. Although it brews the famous Sapporo beer and Sapporo is certainly a city worth visiting, Hokkaido is best known for the great outdoors.