Thinking about heading off on your own around Europe and you’re looking for best solo travel destinations Europe has to offer?
Solo travel is one of the best things you can do. The freedom it brings such as going to eat wherever you want, and change your plans on a whim without having to consult a committee first. Want to stay out until 5am? Fine. Want to spend the whole day wandering a city with a coffee and no real plan? Also fine.
But there’s always that little question people ask before their first solo trip.
“Won’t you get lonely?”
Short answer: no.
Long answer: definitely not if you stay in hostels.
Hostels are the secret weapon of solo travellers. They’re basically social hubs where everyone is in the same boat. People arrive alone and leave with a bunch of new friends they’ve spent the last few days exploring a city with.
You’ll meet people in the common room, over breakfast, on hostel pub crawls, or while awkwardly trying to cook pasta in a kitchen that has one saucepan and twenty hungry backpackers.
It’s glorious.
If you’re wondering about the best solo travel destinations Europe has to offer, here are a few places where travelling alone is not just easy — it’s brilliant.
Krakow, Poland
Krakow is one of the absolute best solo travel destinations in Europe and it has been a backpacker favourite for years.
Polands second city is beautiful, affordable, packed with history, and has a hostel scene that practically guarantees you’ll meet people.
The Old Town is where everything happens. Cobbled streets, huge medieval squares, churches popping up everywhere, and bars tucked into basements that seem to appear out of nowhere.
You can wander around here for hours and never get bored.
If you’re travelling solo, a hostel is the way to go, and Greg & Tom Hostel is one of the most famous in the city. It’s known for being incredibly social. They organise dinners, nights out, and all sorts of activities, which makes it ridiculously easy to meet other travellers.
You’ll arrive on your own and within a few hours you’ll probably have a small group heading out for pierogi and beers together.
From Krakow you can also visit Auschwitz and the Wieliczka Salt Mines, which are both powerful experiences and easy day trips.
But most solo travellers will tell you the same thing: Krakow is just a great place to wander, eat, drink and meet people.
Berlin, Germany
Berlin has been a magnet for travellers for decades, and it’s still one of the best solo travel destinations Europe offers.
The city has this slightly chaotic, creative energy that pulls people in. It’s massive, diverse and full of things to see.But let’s be honest about one thing – Berlin is famous for its nightlife.
The clubs here are legendary. Some of them don’t even get going until 3am and keep rolling long after the sun has come up. Even if hardcore techno isn’t your thing, the sheer variety of bars, clubs and live music venues means there’s something for everyone.
Hostels in Berlin are also excellent places to meet people. Big social common rooms, organised pub crawls, and travellers from all over the world who are all keen to go out and experience the city together.
You might arrive solo, but chances are you’ll end up heading out with a small group of people from your hostel.
During the day, Berlin has plenty to explore as well. The Berlin Wall remnants, the Brandenburg Gate, Museum Island, and endless neighbourhoods full of quirky cafes and street art.
It’s the sort of city where every traveller finds their own little rhythm.
Budapest, Hungary
Budapest might just be the perfect solo travel city in Europe.
It has everything you want: incredible architecture, cheap food and drinks, lively nightlife, and one of the best hostel scenes on the continent.
The city is split by the Danube River into Buda and Pest, and both sides have plenty to explore.
Budapest is famous for its ruin bars. These are bars built inside abandoned buildings, filled with mismatched furniture, graffiti and all sorts of strange decorations. They’re chaotic, quirky and absolutely brilliant.
They’re also great places to meet other travellers.
Another Budapest classic is the thermal spas. During the day they’re relaxing bathhouses where you can float around in steaming pools surrounded by grand architecture.
But in the summer, some of them turn into spa parties at night.
Yes, that means hundreds of people dancing, drinking and splashing around in thermal pools with DJs blasting music, only in Budapest.
For something a bit more relaxed, head to Margaret Island in the middle of the Danube. It’s a peaceful green space with walking paths, gardens and outdoor pools where locals and travellers hang out in the summer.
Budapest is the sort of place where you can spend the day exploring castles and viewpoints, then end up dancing in a spa at night with people you met in your hostel that morning.
Vilnius, Lithuania
Vilnius is often overlooked when people talk about the best solo travel destinations in Europe, which is a bit strange because it’s absolutely brilliant.
The Old Town is one of the largest in Europe and full of narrow streets, churches and colourful buildings.
But what really makes Vilnius great for solo travellers is the atmosphere.
The city has a relaxed, friendly vibe and a surprisingly lively bar scene.
The hostels here are fantastic places to meet people. Smaller, social and welcoming, they make it incredibly easy to start chatting to other travellers.
Before you know it you’ll be heading out together to explore the bars around the Old Town.
Vilnius is also affordable compared to many Western European cities, which means your budget goes a lot further.
So if you’re travelling alone and want somewhere that feels authentic, friendly and easy to explore, Vilnius is a fantastic option.
Lake Bled, Slovenia
Lake Bled might be one of the most beautiful places in Europe.
You’ve probably seen the photos, a crystal-clear lake, a tiny island church in the middle, and a medieval castle perched on a cliff overlooking everything.
It’s ridiculously scenic.
But what makes Bled one of the best solo travel destinations in Europe has is that it also has a surprisingly strong hostel scene.
Travellers come here for the nature. Hiking, swimming, rowing boats across the lake, cycling around the water, it’s the sort of place where everyone spends the day outdoors.
And when you’re staying in a hostel, it’s very easy to find people who want to join you.
You might start the day walking around the lake with a group from your hostel, then end up grabbing food and drinks together later that evening.
It’s relaxed, social and incredibly beautiful.
Not a bad combination.
Rome, Italy
Rome is one of those cities that almost doesn’t need explaining.
History is everywhere.
The Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, Vatican City — you could spend days wandering around and still feel like you’ve barely scratched the surface.
But Rome is also fantastic for solo travellers because of its hostel scene.
There are loads of great hostels here, and they’re full of travellers who are keen to explore the city together.
One minute you’re wandering around ancient ruins, the next you’re sitting in a small Italian restaurant with a group of people from your hostel eating pasta and drinking wine.
Speaking of food…
Rome is a dream for anyone who likes eating.
Pizza, pasta, gelato, espresso — it’s all here and it’s all brilliant.
Exploring Rome solo means you can spend hours getting lost in little streets, stopping for food whenever you fancy and joining hostel friends for evenings out afterwards.
Not a bad way to travel.
Valencia, Spain
Valencia is one of those cities that often flies under the radar compared to places like Barcelona or Madrid.
But that’s exactly why it deserves a spot on the list of best solo travel destinations Europe has to offer.
The city has a bit of everything: beaches, culture, great food and a lively social atmosphere.
The City of Arts and Sciences is one of the most striking architectural areas in Europe, with futuristic buildings that look like they belong in a science fiction film.
Then there’s the historic Old Town with its narrow streets, markets and buzzing squares.
And of course, Valencia is the birthplace of paella, so you can’t leave without trying a proper one.
Hostels in Valencia are great for meeting people, and the relaxed Spanish lifestyle means it’s easy to spend long evenings chatting with travellers over food and drinks before heading out into the city.
Add in the beach and the warm weather and you’ve got a pretty fantastic solo travel destination.
Travelling solo in Europe might seem intimidating at first, but it’s actually one of the easiest places in the world to do it.
The cities are well connected, the backpacker scene is huge, and hostels make meeting people incredibly easy.
Stay in hostels, say yes to invitations, join hostel activities and talk to people in the common room.
Before you know it you’ll be exploring cities, heading out for drinks, and creating memories with people you met just hours earlier.
So if you’re wondering about the best solo travel destinations Europe has to offer, start with places like Krakow, Berlin, Budapest, Vilnius, Bled, Rome and Valencia.
Arrive alone but leave with a bunch of new friends.
That’s how solo travel usually works.
