I'm a female solo traveler – these are Europe's best places to visit alone (and the surprising spots to avoid)
If you're desperate to explore Europe for the first time but haven't booked a trip yet because you're waiting for schedules of potential companions to align, this traveler has some advice.
"Pack your bags and take the trip – alone," says Christina Ford, a single Canadian living in London and a devoted solo vacationer.
Christina tells The Independent that "waiting is highly overrated".
Not sure where to go or feeling nervous?
Here Christina unveils top tips to set you up with a memorable solo European vacation, from must-visit places and spots to avoid to advice on making solo travel less intimidating, including advice on how to make eating out alone more awesome than awkward.
"Let's get you traveling, keep you safe, and even make you fall in love with your own company," she says.
Christina's top solo European destinations
Croatia is first out of the blocks on Christina's top solo European destinations list, with the traveler highlighting the "easy island hopping" and the numerous Game of Thrones filming locations, such as Split and Dubrovnik.
The car-free Greek island of Hydra is also a recommendation. There, says Christina, you'll discover "poetry-inspiring beauty".
The five "charming" coastal villages that make up Cinque Terre in Italy are also an itinerary must. Christina says that the area is "ideal for solo hikers who like a glass of wine and a bowl of linguine vongole at the end of their trek".
Two more Italian destinations make the list – Rome and Florence. The former for the "history, ruins, shopping and lifetime-best gelato", and the latter because it's "great for art lovers and historians", and has "insane shopping", including "one of the best outdoor leather markets".
Lisbon and Porto in Portugal get the thumbs up, too. They're "light-filled cities with charm, affordability and friendly locals", says Christina.
She also urges first-time solo travelers to explore Spain – but to "skip Barcelona". Instead, she recommends Malaga, Seville and Ronda. " Spain is great value and offers more than you think," Christina stresses.
Places Christina avoids
Mykonos is beloved by the party-set, but it's one to steer clear of in Christina's opinion. She criticizes the Greek island as "overpriced, influencer-heavy and unwelcoming to solo travelers".
Next on the list is picturesque Santorini. Surprised? Christina admits that it's "gorgeous" but warns that the Cycladic island is "filled with honeymooners" and that "everything is overpriced".
Istanbul is another destination on the no-go ranking that will raise eyebrows. Christina explains: "Beautiful, but not my first pick for solo female travelers. Best seen with a friend or two."
Ibiza is also one to ignore if you're alone. "If you're not partying, skip it," says Christina.
Tips for nervous first-time solo travelers
Christina urges solo travelers to book group tours, because they "allow for structured exploring and the chance to meet other travelers with shared interests".
And AI should be "used to your advantage".
Christina explains: 'My relationship with ChatGPT is getting serious, and for good reason. AI can act as your personal travel agent, translator, executive assistant, historian, and foodie guide all in one.'
Here's a prompt she reveals that she uses to help narrow down her next destination:
"I'm a woman over 50. I love European history, reasonably priced Michelin-star restaurants, walking tours through safe, vibrant streets, a sophisticated nightlife that doesn't cater to influencers taking photos of their apple martinis. I want to avoid high tourist season but still enjoy great weather. I have five nights, need a non-stop flight from (insert city), and want to go somewhere that will ignite my soul. And, oh ya… did I mention shopping?"
How to make dining alone an experience you'll enjoy
"Dining alone can feel awkward or intimidating, especially at dinner," says Christina. "But it doesn't have to be."
She recommends solo adventurers choose restaurants with a bar – "they're more social" – and to avoid romantic or family style places.
"No one wants to be next to a proposal or a toddler meltdown," Christina states.
Christina says: "Be open to the world around you. Strike up a conversation with someone. You'll be surprised what happens."
And she adds: "So go. Take the trip. Get a little lost. Eat the pastry."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Unbelievable reason American Airlines flight to Naples was forced to divert 140 miles away from its destination
Hundreds of passengers onboard an American Airlines flight from Philadelphia to Naples had to divert to Rome, not because of weather, mechanical issues, or a medical emergency - but because the plane was too big to land. The pilot explained the situation over the intercom somewhere over the Tyrrhenian Sea, as the cabin full of hundreds of sleepy-eyed passengers prepared for a smooth descent into sun-soaked Naples. 'Folks,' he said, 'this is your captain speaking. I'm sorry to say, we unfortunately need to divert, as we realized the plane we've been flying across the Atlantic all night isn't actually authorized to land at our destination airport…' The aircraft, American Airlines Flight 780 on June 2, had just completed an eight-hour journey from Philadelphia, traversing the Atlantic and multiple time zones, only to be turned away as the pilots prepared their approach. Before the plane had left the US, American Airlines had swapped out their usual Boeing 787-8 aircraft for a slightly larger Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Such kinds of aircraft substitutions aren't uncommon because of maintenance schedules or operational reasons and on paper, the change seemed harmless enough - the 787-9 is only about 20 feet longer than the 787-8 and boasts similar capabilities. But on this particular route, from Philadelphia to Naples, those extra 20 feet meant the plane was not authorized to land. Just as the plane approached southern Italy and began its descent, air traffic control informed the flight crew that Naples Capodichino Airport could not accommodate the 787-9 due to specific operational restrictions. Despite the clear skies and calm conditions, Naples Airport is only allowed to receive the 787-8 specific model of Dreamliner. Instead, the aircraft banked northwards and headed for Rome's Fiumicino Airport, nearly 140 miles away. Aviation insider @xJonNYC, who first broke the story on social media, called it a 'rough reason for a diversion'. American Airlines later confirmed the incident, citing only 'operational limitations' and offering a perfunctory apology to the 231 passengers and 11 crew onboard. 'We apologize to them for this disruption to their journey,' the airline said in a statement. The passengers made their surprise touchdown in the Italian capital but with no spare aircraft on hand to complete the final leg to Naples customers were placed on buses for the final three-hour journey south.
The Sun
5 hours ago
- The Sun
Three-hour flight to Brit holiday hotspot turns into nightmare 32-HOUR saga as ‘passengers left vomiting & no food'
A THREE-HOUR flight to a Brit holiday hotspot turned into a nightmare 32-hour saga, with passengers left vomiting with no food. The Condor flight DE1234 was embarking on what was supposed to just be a simple flight from Zurich to Heraklion in Crete, Greece - but lasted over a day. 4 4 4 Despite taking off half an hour late, the flight seemed to be on course to reach its destination. And after two hours, the plane began its initial descent to the holiday hotspot Greek isle. But trouble began when the plane's landing was hindered by powerful winds, forcing it to spend hours circling round before the pilot decided to divert to Athens and refuel. The plane landed at the Greek capital at 11:24am - a whopping three hours after it originally departed Zurich. Around two-and-a-half hours later, the crew made another attempt to get the 137 people onboard to Heraklion - but this wasn't achieved, again. During the flight, many passengers were reportedly vomiting due to the terrifyingly powerful winds. And to add fuel to the fire, flyers were only given a glass of water during the whole flight. With weather conditions remaining severe, the plane circled around again before getting diverted to Kos to refuel. On the nearby Greek island, they landed at 3:28pm after a tiring, hour-and-a-half long flight. And with the aircraft again running low on fuel, another divert was made to Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece. Dramatic moment boozed up passenger is hauled off busy plane after VOMITING on another flier Here it was finally decided that passengers and flight attendants should spend the night. The plane touched down at 6:04pm - an unbelievable 11 hours after initially leaving Zurich. Passengers were reportedly forced to pay for their own hotel rooms but are entitled to reimbursement under European aviation guidelines. After a nights sleep, the next day at 9am, one last attempt was made to get to Crete - but wind continued to hinder their journey. Another diversion was made to Athens where it was agreed to give up and fly back to Zurich - 32 hours after their initial departure. Condor reps said: 'Due to extreme weather conditions and strong winds, takeoffs and landings at Heraklion Airport were only possible to a limited extent.' 4
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Inside Michael Jordan's Italian getaway as he puffs a cigar on $115m superyacht... and a surprising confidant is revealed
Michael Jordan began his annual grand European tour in style at the weekend when he swapped his private jet for his lavish superyacht in Sardinia - despite fears over his Los Angeles flagship store. The NBA legend, 62, touched down on the picturesque Italian island with his cohort of nearest and dearest Sunday afternoon as the family kickstarted their summer vacation.
