Best Destinations To Travel Alone For The First Time: A Solo Travel Expert's Choice

xo, kirsteen

What are the best destinations to travel alone to as a newbie? As a solo travel expert, I’ve spent the last 16 years traveling alone all over the globe. I knew it would be beneficial to help solo travel beginners with this question.

With the world more accessible than ever before, and remote working a new reality for many, people are now seizing the opportunity to take on this new and rewarding lifestyle.

But firstly, before making a big leap, it’s very important to ask yourself why you want to solo travel in the first place. To maximize success, you have to be honest. So with that being said, let’s dive in.

Why do women want to solo travel?

If you’re running away from something, traveling alone can be a short-term fix to forget about things. However to enjoy the journey as a newbie to solo travel, find a way to sort things out before you go. Trust me, you’ll enjoy it a lot more.

Why do I recommend my best solo travel destinations for newbies?

Being a solo travel pro, I know the top factor for most women is the safety, ease, and comfort that you want to feel in a destination. Nowhere on the planet can ever be guaranteed as safe. However, when you’re having fun, thoughts actually move away from safety and turn to ease and joy.

What are the best destinations to travel alone as a newbie?

As a solo traveler for almost a third of my life, I’ve listed my top 3 best destinations to travel alone. I’ve both visited and stayed in them for some time. And it’s also worth noting I went to both France and Italy as a solo travel newbie. Not only was it fun, but I also thrived.

traveling alone woman walking in a city - wanderful company

Top 3 solo travel destinations for newbies/beginners:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Antibes, Cote D’Azur, France
Rome, Italy
Edinburgh, Scotland

Let’s have a look at why they are ideal if you are thinking of traveling alone:

1. Antibes, Cote D’Azur

Having spent months in the Cote D’Azur in cities including Nice and Cannes, I’ve no hesitation in recommending this. It is one of the best destinations to travel alone as a newbie.

I spent 3 months in this beautiful, calm town, less than 30 minutes from Nice. The thing I enjoyed most being in Antibes is you’ve great access to many beautiful regions by train. Check out this video I took of Eze at sunrise.

Nice is a beautiful city but it’s much bigger and noisier than Antibes. Personally, I love the peace and quiet. Antibes is full of cute streets and cobbles with quirky shops and has a real authenticity of the Med. The port houses some of the most beautiful luxury yachts and is lovely to walk around.

Ps, I will be posting more on this destination as to why as a solo travel pro, I highly recommend it.

A quick look at Antibes? Check out this video, you’ll love it.

2. Rome

There’s something magical about Italy that makes it one of the best destinations to travel alone as a woman. Italy is full of charm, and the people want you to love it just as much as they do. If you love history then Rome is a treasure chest of wow moments. I’m not the biggest fan of museums but even I was amazed at the richness of the city.

You get the sense in Rome that it’s small which means a feeling of more calm. It’s easy to walk around and navigate on foot and with the trams. As a woman traveling alone too, it’s very friendly and has a very safe feeling as a city.

The best thing to see by far for me was both the food and the fashion. In both, the Italians are the best in the world. It’s amazing to just sit in a café or park as a solo traveler and just watch how the Italians dress and behave. I guarantee it will make you want to throw out all your clothes and start again. Hahaha

And then there is the food!

Well, what can I say again but wow, wow, and more wow. In the 60+ countries I have visited, none come close to Italy aside from Argentina which is full of Italian immigrants.

To go for coffee and sip an espresso with the local businessmen before they go to work is such a pleasurable event. When they see you as a woman traveling alone, they seem to be extra charming. Of course, my advice being a solo travel pro is to have your wits about you and take it all with a pinch of salt.

best destinations to travel alone - Rome taken at night

3. Edinburgh

If you don’t know by now, I’m Scottish and actually lived in Edinburgh for 10+ years. Given how much ease I felt there and how many tourists just love it, I thought it would be a wise choice. It is a city that feels safe and why it’s one of my best destinations to travel alone as a newbie.

After all my years traveling alone, when I’ve gone back to visit, the thing I notice most is the friendliness and kindness of the locals. Of course, I’m biased, but trust me as an expert in solo travel, I have only recommended Edinburgh out of knowing. It’s a place to discover easily on foot and feel comfortable, at ease and welcome.

Scotland is a tiny country and Edinburgh has a far more town feel than a city. It has one main street called Princess Street and no city in the world has a castle in a prime location as beautiful as it.

In August the city hosts the world’s biggest arts event ‘The Edinburgh Festival’ which has so much to see and do. However, avoid August unless you have accommodation booked well in advance. Finding a place to rent is expensive and you may find a lot fully booked.

”it’s not the destination that matters, it’s the change of scene”

brian eno

My advice to note on the best destinations to travel alone?

Any of these 3 destinations are perfect for a woman traveling alone. When it comes to safety and ease, you truly can get that in many cities worldwide, but it takes time to know and feel. As a solo travel pro with a lifetime of traveling alone, you have to try things for yourself and it’s only through life experience you learn.

How do you become a solo female traveler?

I’ve been asked this by many people. Now I’m excited to tell you about my Solo Travel Masterclass which created to share my best solo travel tips based on 16 years on the road. My unique solo travel course also teaches solo travel beginners an entire module on mindset and how to feel at ease.

So if you’re asking how do I start traveling alone and want to know how to plan your very first solo travel adventure, please click here on Solo Travel Masterclass to find out more.