My 8 Best Places to Travel Solo for the First Time
It’s a new year and time to make your bucketlist solo travel plans for 2026. And while there are many destinations all over social media, why not explore some more underrated places? Here are my top 7 for 2026!
We have already explored my top affordable destination for solo, female travellers in 2026, but now it’s time to talk about the unsung heroes.
The countries that aren’t mentioned on many blogs or showcased in TikTok videos. The ones you may never consider visiting, despite them offering the most breath-taking nature, or historic cities or friendliest locals. And don’t worry, all of these are still very much safe to solo travel as a woman.
So, here are my underrated favourites this year:
My Top 8 Countries for First-Time Solo Travellers
All of these are chosen from my own experience of feeling safe, meeting lots of other travellers and just an overall “easy” travel experience. This can of course vary based on your background and home country, so this is based on my own experience 🙂 Let me know in the comments below if I missed any country!
1. Japan
If you are solo travelling for the first time, there is one country where you will feel 100% safe and that is Japan. I have travelled Japan solo as a woman several times now, and walked around at night and explored everywhere with zero safety concerns.
I’d say it is one of the easiest countries to start with solo travelling, despite the language barrier (which is getting less in major cities and you have Google translate). Some of the reasons are the safety aspect, the fact that solo dining is actually normal, the public transit is exceptionally good and it’s actually pretty easy to find affordable accommodation for solo travellers (like capsule hotels).
In addition, there are so many other travellers all over Japan. When I went alone, I didn’t actually spend any time alone. I met some of the loveliest girls while travelling Japan.
Check out my Japan guides:
2. Australia
Australia is actually the first country I ever solo travelled with the Working Holiday Visa, and honestly it was a great one to start with. I made a lot of mistakes back then while travelling (safety wise, hostel choices, etc), and Australia was very forgiving as a travel destination.
The number one thing that makes solo travel easy here is the sheer amount of other solo travellers. Any adventure or road trip I wanted to do, I just hopped on one of the many Facebook Travel Groups specific for Australia and found people to do it with. And that was ten years ago, there’s even more now.
It’s also an English-speaking country with big cities and many jobs (that pay a good salary), which makes it ideal for anyone wanting to do Work & Travel.
3. Croatia
From my experience, Croatia is a great first-time solo destination. It’s safe (just watch for pickpockets in busy cities), there’s lots of other travellers, great hostels (And affordable hotels) and so many cool things to do.
Some of my favourite places in Croatia to visit are:
- Dubrovnik
- Rovinj
- Zadar
- Plitvice Lakes National Park
However there are many more amazing places along the coast and inland to explore. You could also join one of the Croatia sail & swim excursions, which just scream summer fun to me (plus they always have lots of other solo travellers). Check out the one below or main tour operators like Sail Croatia or Topdeck Travel.
4. Slovenia
I have seen Slovenia slowly enter the travel hype on social media, and for good reason. After all, it has some of the most diverse natural beauty. From the imposing peaks of Triglav National Park to the green banks of Soča River, Slovenia’s picturesque lanscapes are somehow still underrated.
I visited Ljubljana and Lake Bled a year ago and never felt uncomfortable or unsafe. The Slovenian people are very welcoming and generally kind, most speak good English and you will meet many other travellers. Perfect for a first trip!
5. Portugal
Portugal is one of my all-time favourite destinations, however I don’t mean Lisbon necessarily. One of the cities in Portugal I love more than anything is Porto, where I met so many lovely people and truly felt so much kindness. Plus it’s amazing for surfing.
Speaking of surfing, heading to a surf camp is actually a great way to solo travel for the first time. There will 100% be other solo travellers and the awkwardness is taken away because you are learning a new skill together.
Porto has some great ones, or Lagos & The Algarve in the South. Even if you aren’t into surfing, Portugal has some of the most beautiful, local towns like Aveiro or Nazare, both of which I enjoyed visiting a lot!
6. Canada
Canada is another country where I did a year of Work & Travel (solo) and it’s a great one to start your solo travel journey. Canadians are super friendly, you’ll meet lots of other travellers and there are just so many things to do. I find Canada especially good if you want to try seasonal work, such as a ski resort in winter or parks in summer.
Safety-wise, Canada is really good too, though there are areas of the big cities like Vancouver where homelessness is a big problem and affects safety. I have found all my hostels really helpful with giving information on where to be careful.
As for how to travel, to see some of the most beautiful parts of Canada you really need a car or camper. You can usually find other people to do this with, or on the East Coast I travelled by train/bus between the cities and met THE loveliest people (highly recommend the M Montreal hostel).
Check out more of my Canada blog posts here.
7. Greece
When I say Greece, I really mean the Greek Islands. They usually have a very strong travel infrastructure due to the current boom in tourism there, lots of other solo travellers and offer a relaxed travel experience yet many things to explore should you wish.
Some favourites would be Paros, Rhodes (most budget-friendly), Naxos, Corfu and Crete. They are safe, the locals are super friendly and you will always find another solo traveller (should you want to).
Greece is actually one of my favourites to solo travel when I just want a relaxing holiday instead of full-on travel. I have found there is very little judgement there for solo explorers and you can just rent yourself a motorcycle and have the time of your life!
Related article: How to Spend 5 Days in Rhodes, Greece
8. Ireland
Ireland is a great first-time solo destination. The locals are extremely friendly and happy to help, the country is stunning and everyone speaks English. If you pull up a chair at the local Irish bar, you will never be alone for long either.
Ideally, you may want to rent a car to see some of the must beautiful nature of Ireland. That being said, it’s also perfectly doable without one. Trains and buses to cover much of the country, and there are many tours for those areas you can’t reach without a car.
FAQ about Solo, Female Travel
What are the best safety precautions to take in unfamiliar places?
There are a few important safety precautions to take when travelling somewhere new as a solo, female traveller.
First of all you need to research your destination – is it safe to travel to (check government websites), do other people travel there, how much information about it is out there, where are the safe areas to stay in, what are some things you need to keep in mind when there.
Once you have determined this and made a rough itinerary, make sure to share this with family/friends. When I solo travel, I always text someone exactly where I am staying when including addresses. We also agree that I text daily unless I am on tours etc. This isn’t to be obsessive but so someone knows exactly where you are and can alert authorities in case of an emergency. This is a precaution so don’t let it scare you.
When I solo travel I also trust my gut and put my safety above all else. If a situation feels unsafe, I get out of it no matter the cost. Money can come back, your life doesn’t.
In general, I’d say avoid being out alone at night, know which areas are safe and which to avoid (your accommodation can usually give you advice on this) and drink only when with friends or in a safe location.
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.
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.
Related Article: The Truth about Loneliness as a Solo, Female Traveller
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