The Solo Traveller
Your independence, passion, and lifelong memories.
Solo snapshots
‘Solo snapshots’ are our quick-hit guides to destinations around the world. Bite-sized (and possibly a little bit cheeky), our snapshots aim to give you an instant feel for a place, and possibly the spark you need to inspire your next adventure.
The Long Room, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. Photographer: Hanna May.
Dublin, Ireland
Nickname: The Fair City
Translation: If it’s poured, played, or poetically phrased, it belongs in Dublin.
Solo tip: Don’t rush. Dublin rewards lingering over coffee, a pint, and conversation. Solo travellers fit right in, because everyone’s up for a chat, and silence never lasts long here.
Language: English and Irish (Gaeilge)
Solo tip: Listen closely. The accent shifts from musical to mischievous block by block. Learn a ‘go raibh maith agat’ (thank you), because the locals will grin and tell you you’ve done grand.
Vibe: Story-soaked, sociable, and proudly imperfect, Dublin is a city where every doorway hides a tale.
Solo tip: Wander aimlessly between Trinity College, Temple Bar, and the Liffey. You’ll collect moments accentuated by buskers, laughter, and that feeling of being exactly where you should be.
Landmark: Trinity College Library is home to the 9th century Book of Kells and the scent of centuries
Solo tip: Go early. Watch light filter through the Long Room and feel like part of a quieter Dublin, one that hums away from the tourist rush.
Nightlife: Pubs, poetry, theatre, and live music are everywhere.
Solo tip: Pull up a stool, order a Guinness, and don’t be surprised if someone strikes up a conversation or a song. Dublin’s warmth is its best kept secret, and it never leaves you drinking alone.
Recharge zone: St Stephen’s Green or the Grand Canal
Solo tip: Pack a book, find a bench, and let Dublin slow your heartbeat. Even in the heart of the city, there’s always space and designated ‘quiet areas’ to exhale.
Wild card: The storytelling tours are equal parts history, theatre, and craic (fun).
Solo tip: Go solo and sit up front. You’ll laugh louder, learn faster, and walk away with a story of your own to tell.
Colourful homes along coastline of Nuuk, Greenland. Photography: Backyard Production.
Nuuk, Greenland
Nickname: The Northern Capital
Translation: If it’s bright, bold, and built to survive the cold, it belongs in Nuuk.
Solo tip: Embrace the stillness. There’s no rush here, because the pace matches the rhythm of the sea and the sky. Walk the harbour, breathe the clean air, and let solitude feel like a luxury.
Language: Greenlandic (Kalaallisut), with Danish and English widely spoken.
Solo tip: Learn a few local words, and ‘Qujanaq’ (thank you) goes a long way. Locals are warm but understated, and your curiosity will be met with quiet kindness.
Vibe: Stark, soulful, and self-contained – a small city with a big horizon.
Solo tip: Visit the harbour at dusk when the water mirrors the sky. It’s easy to feel small here, but that’s part of the magic of being alone in a place that dwarfs you.
Landmark: The Nuuk Cathedral and the old colonial harbour
Solo tip: Wander between the red wooden buildings and the sea. It’s a glimpse into the island’s layered history – part Norse, part Inuit, part modern Greenland.
Nightlife: Low-key and local. Cafés double as music venues, bars serve Arctic brews, and conversations that stretch into the long light.
Solo tip: Order a local beer or Greenlandic coffee and let the night unfold slowly. The best moments here aren’t planned.
Recharge zone: The surrounding fjords
Solo tip: Take a boat trip or hike into the wilderness, where you’ll find silence vast enough to reset your mind. Out here, solitude doesn’t mean loneliness, it means belonging to something bigger.
Wild card: The Northern Lights in Winter
Solo tip: Wrap up, step outside, and look up. Alone under the dancing sky, you’ll understand why people call this ‘the edge of the world’.
The Academy of Fine Arts, The University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Photography: Mirza77.
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Nickname: The Jerusalem of Europe
Translation: If it’s brewed, baked, or born from survival, it belongs in Sarajevo.
Solo tip: Start your day with a Bosnian coffee – thick, slow, and served with ritual. It’s a conversation starter, even when no one else is at your table.
Language: Bosnian, Serbian, and Croatian – three names, one rhythm of warmth.
Solo tip: Locals love a good chat. Even if words are limited, your effort to say ‘Hvala’ (thank you) or ‘Dobar dan’ (good day) will open hearts and doors.
Vibe: Grit and grace. Sarajevo is lived-in, layered, and honest – a city that wears its history with pride.
Solo tip: Wander Baščaršija’s cobbled alleys without a plan. Let the scent of ćevapi (grilled, skinless sausages) or fresh bread lead you. Solo travel here feels like time travel … with snacks!
Landmark: The Latin Bridge is quiet now but was once the stage for a moment that changed the world
Solo tip: Stand by the Miljacka River and trace the outlines of the past. It’s hard to imagine that, here, a single gunshot set history in motion. Sarajevo has endured and walking it alone feels like paying quiet respect.
Nightlife: Ferhadija Street and the riverside cafés
Solo tip: Find a seat, order a Sarajevsko beer or a glass of rakija (fruit brandy), and watch the city light up. Locals are friendly and curious, and solo travellers are never left alone for long unless they want to be.
Recharge zone: The Yellow Fortress (Žuta Tabija)
Solo tip: Climb at sunset. The view over the city’s red roofs and minarets is worth every step. Bring a pastry, sit on the wall, and let the muezzin’s call wrap around you.
Wild card: The trams are relics of old Europe with stories in every seat
Solo tip: Ride them just to watch life go by. Sarajevo moves at its own pace, and for a solo traveller, that’s exactly the point.
Tbilisi spills down its hillsides into the Mtkvari River, a jumble of wooden balconies, winding alleys, and echoes of empires past. Photography: Lukas Bischoff.
Tbilisi, Georgia
Nickname: The Balcony City of the Caucasus
Translation: If it’s steaming, steep, or poured into a glass, it probably belongs in Tbilisi.
Solo tip: Take the hills one step at a time. The views, courtyards, and unexpected cafés reward every detour.
Language: Georgian, one of the world’s oldest scripts, swirling and elegant
Solo tip: Don’t stress the language barrier. A smile and a ‘Madloba’ (thank you) will carry you far. Locals are proud to share their city, especially with travellers who try a word or two.
Vibe: East meets West, tradition meets modern – a city that thrives on contrasts
Solo tip: Settle into a café terrace, sip wine, and watch the theatre of street life unfold. You’ll never feel out of place on your own here.
Landmark: The sulphur baths of Abanotubani
Solo tip: Go for a solo soak. It’s a centuries-old ritual, part cleansing, part community, and completely liberating when you don’t need to match anyone else’s rhythm.
Nightlife: Rustaveli Avenue and Fabrika’s courtyard
Solo tip: Join the scene with a glass of local Saperavi wine or craft beer. Whether you linger in a jazz bar or a warehouse-turned-social hub, you’ll find company or contentment either way.
Recharge zone: Mtatsminda Park, high above the city
Solo tip: Ride the funicular up, breathe the cooler air, and look down at the patchwork of roofs and river. It’s a natural pause button on the solo journey.
Wild card: The hidden courtyards and crumbling façades of the old town
Solo tip: Wander with no map. Behind carved doors and peeling paint, you’ll stumble upon gardens, cats, and glimpses of daily life, the kind of discoveries that belong to solo explorers alone.
Colorful buildings of the UNESCO World Heritage listed historic quarter of the seaport city of Valparaíso, Chile. Photography: F11photo.
Valparaíso, Chile
Nickname: The Hill City of Colour
Translation: If it’s painted, it probably has a story, and maybe a staircase to match.
Solo tip: Don’t rush the hills. Valparaíso rewards wandering at your own pace, getting lost in alleyways, murals, and viewpoints. Every corner has a photo waiting to be taken, and no one will judge you for lingering.
Language: Chilean Spanish (with local slang that twists your tongue)
Solo tip: Smile, nod, and say ‘Gracias!’. Even if you can’t keep up with the rapid-fire locals, they’ll appreciate the effort, and you might catch the rhythm of the city through conversation anyway.
Vibe: Bohemian chaos with Pacific winds – a city that looks like a carnival exploded on a cliffside
Solo tip: Let yourself get swept up in it. Music, murals, and a freshly caught and cooked seafood feast make wandering alone feel like an immersive art installation.
Landmark: Ascensor Artillería – a funicular with a view that stops your breath
Solo tip: Ride it solo. Stand at the edge, watch the ocean and rooftops stretch below you, and enjoy the vertigo – this is the kind of city that makes you feel alive without a single companion.
Nightlife: Cerro Alegre and Cerro Concepción – street art, cafés, and rooftop bars
Solo tip: Grab a table, sip a pisco sour, and let the city hum around you. Solo dining here feels natural – everyone’s wandering, sketching, or snapping photos anyway.
Recharge zone: The Pacific coastline
Solo tip: Walk along the shore at sunset. Sand between your toes, gulls overhead, graffitied walls behind – a perfect solo reset. Bring a notebook, or just your thoughts, and let the rhythm of the waves keep you company.
In Valparaíso, murals are everywhere – big and small, political, whimsical, or just plain beautiful. Solo wandering lets you stop, stare, and take your time. Photography: Mauro Mora.
Wild card: The murals
Solo tip: Follow them like a scavenger hunt. They’re everywhere, big and small, political, whimsical, or just plain beautiful. Solo wandering lets you stop, stare, and take your time – no one is dragging you along.
Palm trees framing the wooden door of an old house in Stone Town, Zanzibar. Photography: Sabine.
Zanzibar City (Stone Town), Tanzania
Nickname: The Spice Island’s Labyrinth
Translation: If you can smell cinnamon, you’re close to home.
Solo tip: Don’t fight the maze. Stone Town is meant to be wandered. Every wrong turn leads to carved doors, hidden courtyards, or a spice-seller who’ll happily point you in the right direction.
Language: Swahili (and a rhythm that’s as much music as words)
Solo tip: A cheerful ‘jambo’ (hello) or ‘asante’ (thank you) opens every door. Locals are warm, and even if your Swahili stops there, the effort earns smiles and conversation.
Vibe: Time-travel with a sea breeze
Solo tip: Slow down. Here, old Omani palaces, crumbling balconies, and the call to prayer carried on salty air are mesmerising. This isn’t a city for rushing or schedules. Let the tide, the alleys, and the spice markets set your pace. Your solo traveller’s secret weapon here is patience.
Icon: The famous carved doors
Solo tip: Pause at the doors, they’re more than decoration. Each carving tells a story, featuring swirls of vines, lotus flowers, or protective spikes borrowed from India. Walking alone, you can stop as often as you like, trace the patterns with your eyes, and imagine who has passed through over centuries. It’s sightseeing disguised as daydreaming.
Landmark: The Old Fort
Solo tip: Skip the quick look-around this weathered stone and open-air theatre and stay for a performance or a craft market. Alone, you can linger without anyone hurrying you along. Sit with an ice-cold sugarcane juice and just soak it in.
Nightlife: Forodhani Gardens food market at dusk
Solo tip: Go hungry, go curious. Stroll the stalls, order Zanzibar pizza (yes, it’s a thing), and let vendors tempt you. Solo diners fit right in, because everyone’s balancing plates and wandering, and there’s no table-for-one awkwardness.
Recharge zone: The Indian Ocean itself
Solo tip: Slip onto a dhow (traditional sailing boat) for a sunset ride. No tour group chatter, just you, the sail, and the horizon. Being alone feels natural when the sky is doing all the talking.
Wild card: Freddie Mercury’s birthplace
Solo tip: This is where the rock legend meets the island legend. Embrace the kitsch. Snap the photo, hum a tune, and let yourself enjoy the strangeness of finding Queen memorabilia in a Swahili house. Solo travel is the perfect excuse to indulge in quirks without compromise.
Istanbul, Türkiye, at sunset – looking towards Golden Horn Bay, the Hagia Sophia, and boats on the Bosphorus. Photography: Soleg.
Istanbul, Türkiye
Nickname: The City on Two Continents (where Europe and Asia shake hands daily)
Translation: Half the fun is crossing the Bosphorus just because you can.
Solo tip: Ferry rides are made for solo travellers. Cheap, breezy, and always with tea in hand, you’ll never feel awkward watching the skyline roll by alone.
Language: Turkish (with generous side dishes of gestures and charm)
Solo tip: Don’t stress about grammar, because warmth counts more than vocabulary here. A teşekkürler (thank you) and a smile go far. Locals love helping, and sometimes the best conversations happen with three words and a lot of hand signals.
Vibe: A swirl of ancient, modern, chaotic, and calm – often in the same street
Solo tip: Lean into the contrasts. One minute you’re lost in the Grand Bazaar, the next you’re sipping coffee by the Bosphorus. It’s a city that rewards curiosity, not perfection.
Landmark: Hagia Sophia, the dome of all domes
Solo tip: Go early, stand still, and look up. Don’t rush it. Solo, you can take the time most groups don’t. Outside, linger in Sultanahmet Square with a simit (sesame bread ring) and let the city swirl around you.
Nightlife: Rooftop bars, meyhanes (taverns), and streets that don’t sleep
Solo tip: Start with a meyhane. Order meze, sip rakı, and don’t be shy about dining alone – the tables are made for long nights, and no one will blink if you’re travelling solo. Rooftops are perfect for people-watching with a city view that makes you feel both tiny and infinite.
Recharge zone: The hammam (Turkish bath)
Solo tip: This is where solo shines. Surrender to the steam, the scrub, and the marble. No phones and no small talk, just you and centuries of ritual. It’s self-care at its most elemental.
Wild card: The cats of Istanbul. They run the place.
Solo tip: Stop and greet them, because it’s the quickest way to connect with locals. Cats are community treasures here, fed by shopkeepers and strangers alike. Sharing a snack with a street cat can spark a conversation you didn’t know you needed.
Osaka, Japan
Nickname: The Nation’s Kitchen (also known as ‘Japan’s Friendliest City’)
Translation: If it’s edible, grilled or skewered, it’s probably delicious here.
Solo tip: Don’t be shy about eating alone – Osaka is famous for its food-loving culture, and many restaurants are designed for solo diners. Pull up a stool at a takoyaki stand or okonomiyaki grill and dive in.
Language: Kansai-ben (aka, Japan’s sassiest dialect)
Solo tip: Don’t worry if you don’t understand the punchlines, just laugh along. People here are warm, witty, and often louder than Tokyo folk. Locals are famously friendly and open to conversation – even with a language barrier. A smile and a simple ‘sumimasen’ (excuse me) can spark a connection on a train or in a queue.
Vibe: Less Tokyo chic, more ‘grab a beer and let’s talk about life’.
Solo tip: You can exhale here. Osaka is a city where you can show up as you are. It’s less formal than Tokyo, a great place to build confidence navigating Japan independently, and it’s one of the easiest places in Japan to relax, so go with the flow.
Landmark: Osaka Castle – all glamour and no ego
Solo tip: Take the long walk through the park to get there. It’s like a meditation disguised as sightseeing. Go early or late to enjoy the grounds in relative quiet. Bring a snack, sit by the moat, and people-watch with a sense of calm amid the city bustle.
Nightlife: Big, bold, bright. Welcome to Dotonbori.
Solo tip: You might feel like a glowing noodle in a neon soup, but that’s part of the charm. You’re not lost, you’re just exploring with flair. Dotonbori can feel overwhelming alone, but it’s also one of the safest places to wander after dark. Stick to well-lit areas and follow the food.
Recharge zone: Osaka’s underground malls (yes, really!)
Solo tip: If crowds or weather get too much, retreat into Osaka’s extensive underground shopping arcades. Great for regrouping without giving up your spirit for exploring. Escape the sun, rain, or your own overthinking with an air-conditioned wander beneath the city. Bonus: lots of snacks.
Wild card: Universal Studios Japan – childhood joy, unlocked!
Solo tip: Go solo, ride everything with zero guilt, and skip the queues like a legend using the single-rider line. It’s one of the few theme parks in the world where going solo doesn’t feel strange – many locals do it, and the single-rider lines are blissfully short.
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