Perspectives

For solo travellers, it’s about having a plan that keeps our funds safe, flexible, and acc

Throughout the world’s most celebrated destinations, locals and visitors are scrambling for a moment of calm amid the claustrophobic chaos. Photography: Garvit Nama.

Travelling ‘solo smart’ beyond the crowds

By Emily Clarke

Briefly …

With tourism surging, solo travellers face exorbitant prices, packed landmarks and crowded streets. Smart planning, timing, flexibility, and a few insider strategies can help us experience destinations fully, without getting swallowed up by the crowds.

Travel is back – and so are the crowds, swelling to levels that overwhelm visitors and locals alike. Streets overflow, monuments are gridlocked, and the air is thick with the constant buzz of bodies jostling for space. Throughout the world’s most celebrated destinations, locals and visitors are scrambling for a moment of calm amid the claustrophobic chaos.

Tourism is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it injects vital income into local economies, supporting jobs, infrastructure, and small businesses that might otherwise struggle. On the other, the influx of visitors can drive up rents, strain public services, and transform the everyday life of residents. The challenge for destinations is finding a balance by harnessing the economic benefits while ensuring that local communities can maintain a liveable environment.

In Amsterdam, a group of local citizens called ‘Amsterdam Has a Choice’ is suing the city to cap overnight tourist stays to 20 million per year. The group’s complaints include loss of character, displacement of residents, sidewalks swamped with visitors, and shops catering only to tourists. It’s a legal move reflecting growing resident frustration with overtourism throughout the world’s most popular destinations during peak travel seasons.

Venice now faces a significant decline in its resident population due to the pressures of overtourism. Photography: Marc Land.

Venice, once a thriving city, now faces a significant decline in its resident population due to the pressures of overtourism. The historic centre's population has plummeted from 174,000 in the 1950s to fewer than 49,000 today, as homes are converted into short-term rentals and local businesses cater primarily to tourists. This transformation has led to a loss of community and authenticity, with many residents feeling displaced in their own city.

In Barcelona, on World Tourism Day (27 September), residents took to the streets to protest the overwhelming impact of mass tourism on their daily lives. Demonstrators gathered at popular landmarks, voicing concerns over rising housing costs, overcrowded public spaces, and the erosion of local culture. The protests reflect a growing sentiment among locals that the city's charm is being overshadowed by the influx of tourists. Authorities are now considering measures to promote sustainable tourism and alleviate the pressure on residents.

A recent Booking.com report found that 71% of travellers are actively searching for ways to dodge overcrowded destinations and peak visitation times. Solo travellers are at the forefront of this movement, planning visits in off-peak months, navigating quiet side streets, and targeting overlooked attractions to experience the destination before the crowds take over.

So, what do you need to factor into your planning if, like me, the thought of ‘crowd crush’ and mile-long queues everywhere you go makes you feel like giving certain places a miss altogether?

The Meguro River, Tokyo, Japan, is a famous destination, especially during the cherry blossom season, when it becomes a tunnel of pink flowers. Photography: Sora Sagano.

Start with your calendar

Peak seasons might come with better weather or major events, but they also bring packed trains, long queues, and inflated prices. Travelling in the shoulder seasons – late September in Europe, early November in Southeast Asia, or April in Japan – means fewer people, better deals, and a more relaxed pace. The light is still good, the days still pleasant, and you may often even have the beach, museum, or view mostly to yourself. Spring (March–May) in Japan, for example, brings cherry blossoms, mild weather, and full blooms, while it is best to avoid July and August in Europe, or December to January in Southeast Asia, when crowds and costs peak.

Toulouse, France. Photography: Paul Melki.

Look beyond the usual stops

Second cities are a solo traveller’s secret weapon. While crowds swarm to Rome, try Bologna or Lecce. Skip Paris in favour of Lyon or Toulouse, or swap Bangkok for Chiang Rai. These places are often cheaper, less hectic, and still rich in culture, cuisine, and connection. There’s a particular joy in exploring somewhere you haven’t already seen a hundred times on social media.

Of course we all want to visit Rome

Let’s be honest, some places are popular for a reason. Rome, Kyoto, Paris, Dubrovnik – they’re magnificent, and many solo travellers dream of experiencing them. The key isn’t to skip them, but to approach them differently. Visit in the off-season – January in Rome, for instance, brings atmospheric streets and near-empty piazzas. Take care when you book your visits to the popular attractions, because while some people recommend booking a visit early in the morning, you may very well share the same idea with a hundred other travellers! Always rely on local advice from the venue itself, or local tourism offices.

And don’t be afraid to wander off script if the dreaded queues are too long. Some of the best moments happen in side streets, neighbourhood cafés, and unplanned detours. Even in the busiest cities, there’s always room to travel lightly and mindfully. You don’t have to dodge the icons – just avoid being swallowed by the crowds.

The Louvre is Paris’s most-visited attraction, so if you want to dodge the queues, around 3pm is the perfect time. Photography: Martin Bennie.

… and the Mona Lisa

The Louvre is Paris’s most-visited attraction, so, if you want to dodge the queues, around 3pm is the perfect time. The queues will have subsided significantly, and you’ll still have plenty of time inside. Late openings on Friday are also less popular than you might imagine. Roll up at 6pm and enjoy your visit in relative peace and quiet.

Use technology to your advantage

Solo travellers can stay agile, and smart tech helps. Apps like Google Maps’ ‘Popular Times’ feature or crowd-forecast sites such as avoid-crowds.com let you check when museums, beaches, or monuments are at their quietest. Pre-purchasing tickets, or changing plans at short notice, makes it easier to sidestep congestion, which is something solo travellers are uniquely free to do.

Embrace alternatives and smaller events

Instead of joining the crush at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August, explore the calendars of smaller literary and music festivals in regional areas. These offer the same creative buzz without the gridlock and often spark the kind of authentic and memorable connections and conversations we thrive on.

Base yourself somewhere calm

Staying in a smaller town and day-tripping into a busier hub can completely change your travel experience. Base yourself in Nara and train into Kyoto or stay in Sintra instead of Lisbon. Accommodation can often be more affordable out of the big city centres, and if your itinerary is action-packed, you can always overnight in your big city of choice. Choosing to stay in accommodation a little way out of the city centre means you can return each night to the peace and quiet – a precious gift after a full day of exploration.

Solo travel creates space for spontaneous connections with your barista, a bookseller, or the person at the next table. Photography: Benyamin Bohlouli.

Listen to locals

Solo travel creates space for spontaneous connections with your barista, a bookseller, or the person at the next table. These exchanges often lead to discoveries you won’t find in a guidebook – the lesser-known but historically significant landmarks, the locals’ favourite beach away from the crowds (there is always at least one!), or the best time to experience that breathtaking view from a lookout without being clocked by a dozen rogue selfie sticks.

Travel slow

Slow travel is the natural companion to avoiding crowds. It’s about settling into a place for longer, exploring at a casual, more relaxed pace, and trading your checklist for immersion and reflection. By staying put for a few extra days (or weeks), you can skip peak tourist hours, visit attractions when they’re quieter, and savour the rhythm of local life. This approach encourages deeper connections with people, culture, and place, transforming a trip from something you do into something you experience.

In an age when more people are on the move than ever, choosing to travel differently isn’t just possible, it’s powerful. For solo travellers, avoiding the crowds isn’t about hiding from the world – it’s about smart planning, flexibility, and making the most of travelling solo in our own time and on our own terms.

Sources

The Global AI Sentiment Report. Booking.com, and published articles about Amsterdam, Venice, Barcelona, and Paris.

Emily Clarke is a passionate solo traveller who doesn’t handle crowds at all well, and The Solo Traveller’s Tourism Collaborations Lead.