My Top 5 Affordable Activities for Solo, Female Travellers
Solo travelling is one of my favourite ways to travel as I feel like I connect with a destination on a whole new level. However, many think that solo travel is a lot more expensive than other forms of travel – which isn’t necessarily true. Here are my favourite affordable activities to do while solo travelling!
I have written a ton of guides on solo travelling and how to keep it affordable (find them here), but let’s talk specifically about activities. After all, you don’t spend hours on a plane to then sit in your hotel/hostel room.
There are a few activities and trips I will splurge on, however you can also often find affordable alternatives to more expensive options. Daytrips are one of my favourite examples and I will explain exactly how to exchange those expensive tours for an affordable day out below.
Without further ado, here are my top 5 budget-friendly activities to do in any new destination that allow me to explore the place while also meeting new people:
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Affordable Activities for Solo Female Travellers
1. Free Walking Tours
The above photo was actually taken on a free walking tour in Porto, one of many I have joined across the world. I usually just Google “Free Walking Tour” and the city I’m in and choose one of the best reviewed ones.
There are several great things about free walking tours as a solo traveller:
- They are super affordable. You tip at the end, usually around 5-15€ per person and depending on the city and cost of living.
- You get to know the city lead by a local. There is no better way to explore a new city than from a local’s perspective. Most free tours will also give you a list of their favourite restaurant and other tips on things to do at the end, which makes them so helpful when travelling alone.
- I almost always meet other solo travellers. Sometimes I go on these tours just to meet other people and 90% of the time it works. You will quickly notice the other travellers and it is easy to start a conversation when walking around together for 2-3 hours. A lot of the time I end up leaving the tour together with another traveller to continue exploring.
- You have other people around to take photos for you. Even if you don’t meet a fellow solo traveller, others in the group will always offer to take photos at tourist spots for you. If you don’t like asking strangers for photos, this is a great way to still get the holiday shots you want.
2. Organise a day trip with other solo travellers
The above photo was taken on a day trip with 3 girls I met in my hostel in Saranda, Albania. We rented 2 motorbikes and drove to this beautiful national park, which ended up costing less than 20€ per person.
While for this specific trip there may be tours for similar prices, in many other destinations it is SO much cheaper to organise your own day trip. Especially if you meet other people to share e.g. rental costs with.
I also love organising day trips with other solo travellers as it makes the experience feel a little more relaxed and you have someone to chat with for that day. Plus you get some fantastic photos out of it.
Day trips are also especially easy to find other travellers for. Whether you post on a Facebook group about your plans (e.g. Host a Sister, Travel Girls, or a destination specific group) or find someone else who has posted a daytrip idea, try Bumble Bff or just ask the people in your hostel if they may be interested, a day trip gives you a solid starting ground and in my experience, almost everyone is up for joining.
A great example is when I was on a solo trip in Osaka, Japan. I saw a girl post about heading to Nara while I was there and I messaged her via Facebook. On the day, another girl joined and we got along so well that we spent the entire next 2 weeks travelling together.
3. Join a hostel tour/ activity
This photo was taken while on a food tour organised by my hostel in Lima, Peru. I think the tour cost around $5 and we got to try so many local specialities and I met a TON of other travel girlies.
This obviously works best if you are staying in a hostel, though some hostel allow you to join their tours either way. Most hostels have a list of activities or tours they offer that usually change daily.
For example in Toronto, Canada, my hostel offered a game night where I met some friends that I ended up travelling with for the next 2 weeks. We didn’t even have to pay for this game night except for drinks.
Not only are these activities or tours a great budget way to experience a new city, but you will also meet so many other travellers in a really relaxed setting. 10/10 would recommend.
4. Rent a bike/motorbike
Renting a bike/motorbike is a really great way to see more of a place when solo travelling and often costs no more than $25 for the rental. Fuel is also super affordable for a small motorbike. It’s even better of course if you find someone at the hostel or a Facebook group that is willing to rent it with you and split costs.
That being said, I have also solo rented a motorbike and bike several times and always had a really great time. You get to see so many different spots on your own time, parking is super easy and there is nothing like feeling the wind through your hair on a hot day.
If you are renting a motorbike, I’d recommend practising driving one at home. When I went to Thailand for the first time and rented one on Ko Pha Ngan, I was so thankful for my driving experience as the roads were CHAOTIC. Make sure your travel insurance also includes riding a motorbike.
In many places, bikes are also a fantastic option. They are safer, very affordable and a great way to see much more than you could on foot.
Make sure to check reviews of any rental place prior to signing anything and take a video of the rental before you leave so that they can’t try and frame you for any existing faults (have unfortunately experienced this too many times).
5. Head to local events/ festivals
The vast majority of places I have visited had some local event or festival on, especially if you stay there for more than just a few days. Biarritz for example, which is the one in the photo, had a surf event on at least once a week and it was such a fun time.
Your hostel/hotel will often have information on what is going on, but you could also google “What’s on in x” and your destination to see what events may be coming up while you are there. Common things are cultural events, music festivals, markets, comedy nights, pub crawls, movie showings and much more.
It’s such a great way to get a real feel for the local scene, meet new people and have an amazing time all at once.
FAQ about Solo, Female Travel
How do I deal with loneliness while traveling alone?
When I first started solo travelling, meeting people felt super difficult. Even in hostels, everyone already seemed to be in their little groups and I was struggling. I remember being on week 3 of my Australian East Coast trip and calling my mum sobbing because I felt so lonely.
The more I solo travel, the more I have learned about loneliness and making friends. First of all, I am much more comfortable being with myself now. If I don’t find anyone to hang out with, that is okay. FOMO is sometimes still there, but I always remind myself that I am doing my best.
I usually do meet other people though. A good way is booking hostels with activities as it is SO easy to meet others during say a trivia night or a city tour. Another great way is choosing a female dorm – I often find myself bonding quicker with the girls in there. I also use Bumble BFF. That may sound awkward but I have met some of my now closest friends on there and it has been so great while travelling, especially if I am longer in one place. Finally, Facebook Groups – there are hundreds of travel groups out there and so many other solo travellers just waiting to meet you!
Sometimes though, loneliness prevails. Over the years I have learned that when the feeling refuses to leave, it is my time to go home. It’s a sign from my body that I need a break from travelling and constantly meeting new people. I need familiarity and my family. And that’s okay! Trust me, it took me a while to learn this but stopping a trip early is not failure, especially if it has already been a few months.
What are the benefits of solo travel as a woman?
I have grown immensely as a person since I have started solo travelling – in my overall confidence, trust in my own abilities and also people skills. Making friends used to be hard, now I am very comfortable talking to new people and have met so many of my closest friends while travelling. The best part about the people you meet while travelling is that they have a similar mindset to you and also often a lot to share about their own culture and traditions, meaning your worldview opens up a lot.
Travelling solo also means I get to choose where I go when, I can change plans last-minute and if I don’t like something, I will simply leave. These are all things you can’t do as much when travelling with another person. In addition, you get a lot of time for self-reflection but also to take in this new destination. I have noticed that I experience a place much more intensely when I am solo travelling, compared to when I am with e.g. friends.
Overall, I think solo travel truly changes you as a person. Once you have navigated a new country by yourself, you feel like you can do anything. I would recommend any woman to solo travel at least once in her life! Learn to trust yourself and that you don’t need anyone else to do things for you. Obviously it is nice to have someone else to rely on, but solo travel teaches you that it is not necessary – and that will change your whole perspective on life and relationships.
How do I choose affordable but safe accommodations?
The first thing I do when choosing accommodations in a new destination is research the area. Which areas are safe for tourists, especially solo travellers. There are usually lots of resources about these things. If you are unsure, you could also reach out to accommodations for advice.
Second, I usually stay in hostels or hotels that are rated well amongst solo-travellers. This is so I can meet other travellers but also so I know that the location is good etc. Hostel dorms are usually your cheapest option though some countries also have affordable AirBnBs – for those I always make sure it is a female host.
Reviews are crucial!! Check several sites such as booking, Google, Tripadvisor, etc. Some red flags are people talking about stuff being stolen, no women leaving reviews, bedbugs and any negative comments about staff. A huge red flag for me is also when a hotel responds rudely to complaints – it’s unprofessional and will probably affect you if something goes wrong.
Hi, I'm Bell
I’m a solo traveller, writer and designer. I created my blog to share the many different ways to travel the world. Learn more about me here!
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