Few things are more thrilling than discovering a new destination, and when travelers dare to go solo, the experience is even more memorable. Liberating and nerve-wracking in equal measure, having the confidence to tackle a trip on your own is a travel milestone worth celebrating. Whether they’re well-established globetrotters who have hit the road unaccompanied many times or are new to the style of travel and daydreaming of a solo adventure, we talked to four travel advisors to gather their solo travel insights — including the most popular destinations, safety tips and other expert advice — to help spark some inspiration.
Destinations and Trends
According to Asia Lantz, owner of Travel With Asia and recipient of ASTA’s 2025 Travel Advisor of the Year award, solo travelers are “looking for destinations that feel both immersive and approachable.” In addition to Bali, which Lantz says is a longstanding solo travel contender, Japan is having a moment alongside Portugal and Iceland in Europe. “Portugal was my most-booked destination for travelers in 2025, followed by Iceland, and that trend is continuing into 2026 already, with 4/6 of my Portugal trips booked since January being for solo travelers,” she said.
Seconding Japan and Portugal as two of the hottest solo travel locales is Delia duPlessis, owner of Dream Destinations Travel. “Japan [is my] number one requested solo destination,” she said. “It is safe, a culture that apparently embraces solo dining and has amazing public transport.” Regarding Portugal, duPlessis said, “Cities like Lisbon and Porto are huge for solo travelers as they are affordable, sunny and have a big digital nomad community.”
Avid solo traveler and travel advisor, Cole Sjoholm, says cruising, across all destinations, is a great way for solo vacationers to see the world while making life-long connections in the process. “Solo travelers are discovering how social cruise ships are and how easy it is to connect with other passengers through Facebook groups, onboard meetups, shared dining and organized shore excursions,” he said. “It creates a level of friendship and togetherness that is often harder to find with other types of vacations.”
By way of trends, Lantz said she’s seeing an uptick in solo travel requests from one dominant group. “I think one of the biggest shifts we’re seeing is that solo travel is no longer viewed as a ‘backup plan,’” she said. “More people, and in my experience, more women, are intentionally choosing to travel solo because they don’t want to wait for schedules, relationships or life circumstances before taking their dream trip. A lot of travelers want experiences that feel meaningful, not just relaxing, and solo travel often creates space for that in a really unique way. It allows you to grow in confidence in a way that traveling with friends or a partner just doesn’t.”
For duPlessis, “Slow Soloing,” is another emerging trend that’s impacting the way her clients book trips. “Instead of hitting five cities in 10 days, solo travelers are booking one apartment for two weeks,” she said.
Advice For First Timers
Traveling solo for the first time can be intimidating, which is why many of our advisor experts recommended starting small. “Do a ‘practice run,’” said duPlessis. “If they [a traveler] have never traveled solo, they should try it locally where they feel comfortable and maybe for a long weekend not far from home. That will help with getting used to eating and exploring alone.”
Similarly, Lantz said it’s OK to start with a destination that feels manageable. “Solo travel doesn’t have to mean backpacking alone through remote areas to ‘count’ as an adventure,” she said. “Don’t let social media fool you or make you feel like you’re not ‘doing enough’ as a solo traveler. A river cruise or guided tour that includes built-in opportunities to meet people can be an amazing launch point if you’re feeling anxious about traveling solo.”
Rebecca Smiley, owner of Smiley Travel, said pacing matters, too. “You don’t want to over plan or under plan,” she said. “Letting yourself get a little bored can be where the fun is! If you allow yourself to be bored, you often meet new people, enjoy a cafe moment or take an extra-long walk in the city. If you over plan, you just wear yourself out. But if you have no plans, it might be a little too boring, especially if you don’t have something to look forward to.”
One way budding solo travelers can pass the time, and make the most of their trip, is by picking up a new hobby, something Sjoholm is a big proponent of as he took countless photos during his journey to visit all seven continents in a single calendar year. “My best advice is to find a great solo hobby like photography or journaling that gives your trip purpose without making you feel alone,” he said. “Having something to focus on that only requires one person is key to easing into solo travel.”
Whatever they decide, the most important thing is that solo travel-hopefuls simply go. “Stop waiting for someone else to go with you,” said Lantz. “Some of the most transformative travel experiences happen when you’re on your own because you become more open to meeting people, trying new things and learning what you actually enjoy while traveling.”
Notes On Safety
Of course, safety is always important and even more so when traveling alone. Here are our experts’ tips for staying vigilant while away from home. “Share your itinerary with someone at home that you trust: a bestie, a partner or even your parents,” said Lantz. “Arrive during daylight if possible, and don’t overpack your schedule the first few days. Jetlag is real, and taking your time to get your bearings those first few days in a new city is so key.”
DuPlessis echoed this sentiment, sharing that solo travelers should be mindful to do their research, download offline maps and trust their gut. “Get to know the area where you will be staying and have local emergency numbers in your phone on speed dial,” she said. “Always download the offline version of the city [map] and have Uber or cab numbers accessible. … If a street feels ‘off’ or a stranger is too friendly, it’s okay to be rude to stay safe. Intuition is a solo traveler’s best friend.”
Advisor Favorites
When asked about the best places they’ve traveled solo, advisors’ answers spanned the gamut. “I thoroughly love Hoi An, Vietnam,” said Sjoholm. “Getting lost in alleyways, surrounded by vibrancy — the hustle and bustle, the colors, the lanterns, the languages that are completely foreign to me — and being able to reflect on how different cultures function is simply my favorite experience. Hoi An during the day and after sunset feel like two completely different destinations. I love both, but I especially enjoy how vastly different the vibes are within the same day.”
For Smiley, it’s all about Florence, Italy. “It's a great place to be solo,” she said. “There's so much you can do just by walking around. It's also easy to catch trains to other cities or join group excursions. I love the gardens, the river and just enjoying all of the little wine windows and restaurants. One of my favorite things to do was get my morning coffee at this record store near the Duomo and watch the tours start to crowd the area ... without having to sit in the thick of it. I liked giggling at all of the selfie sticks and tour flags.”
Lantz is a big fan of Iceland, namely Reykjavik. “It has to be Iceland for me!” she said. “It wasn't my first solo destination, but it was one of the best experiences I've had traveling solo. I stayed on Laugavegur Street in Reykjavik, and it's the center-point of the city with tons of dining, nightlife and things to do. Night two I was reading a book at one of the city's oldest bars and met a fellow group of solo travelers, and the next day we all ended up driving the Golden Circle together. One of the best travel memories I have!”
Lastly, duPlessis says she loves experiencing new places. “Internationally, almost everywhere to try at least once,” she said. “Locally, I love a good road or train trip trying new places. My go-to are national parks.”
As a final takeaway, Sjoholm shared that, like anything, solo travel has its ups and downs, but it’s well worth it in the end. “Solo travel has completely changed my life for the better,” he said. “There are many happy tears and just as many difficult ones. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, and there will be hard days. It’s important to have clarity on why you’re going on a solo trip before you go — what you want to get out of it, what you want to learn about yourself and how you’ll handle the difficult moments. Just as important is how you’ll capture and relive the amazing moments that will stay with you for the rest of your life.”
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