7 Things To Do While Traveling Solo
A Quick Note: Now is obviously not the time to be planning big trips but that doesn’t mean it will be this way forever. The following advice is to help feed your wanderlust and resource you as you dream and plan for future travel. If you are planning to travel, please be sure to travel safely.
Many womxn are intimidated by solo travel. One reason is because they worry about how they will spend their time. They aren’t sure what they will do and begin to imagine their vacation will look like a Friday night stuck at home with no plans. But solo travel is nothing like this! All it takes is a little research and planning.
Before your trip, take some time to find out what your destination has to offer and make a list of the activities you most want to do while you are visiting. Begin swapping out your nervousness for excitement! Here are some ideas for staying busy during your solo travels:
Sign up for a Walking Tour
Walking Tours are one of my favorite things to do on the first day of a trip in a new city. Not only do they force you to get moving after a flight or long car ride, but they are also a quick and easy way to help you get your bearings. When you’re walking around later and aren’t exactly sure where you are, the walking tour will have helped you to recognize landmarks. It’s also a helpful way to create a foundational understanding of local culture and history.
Some of my favorite walking tours are the free/pay-what-you-can tours. I find the guides of these tours are usually more engaged and excited to share both the main sites and some off-the-beaten-path local spots.
Ask Your Friends
Whenever I am in the research stage of planning a trip, I post some version of this question on social media: “What should I see, do and eat in ____?” People love sharing their expertise, so they almost always jump at the chance to respond. Friends will also occasionally tag a friend who lives where I am going -- they may just be tagging them to ask for suggestions or they may be encouraging us both to meet up.
If you think having someone to meet up with would make you feel more comfortable, add “Who should I meet?” to your post. And ask the people who are recommended if they’d be down for a drink or showing you around their favorite part of town.
Sign Up For a Class
Cooking classes, dance classes, drink mixing, pasta making, glass blowing… just about every destination offers a variety of classes that offer visitors a unique opportunity to experience local life and culture.
I’ve taken cooking classes in both Bali and Champagne. I learned to make pasta in Florence and took Italian lessons in Lecce. In Guatemala I learned to make homemade corn tortillas, and in Clearwater I learned to paddleboard.
You can find great classes by checking out TripAdvisor, asking your host/concierge what they recommend, or searching Airbnb Experiences.
Check Facebook Events
Did you know you can search Facebook events by date and location? I love to use this feature while planning a trip because these events are usually less touristy and more affordable. With Facebook events, you’ll find everything from festivals and art gallery openings to movie nights and yoga in the park.
Check The Hostel Schedule
A great way to meet people while you are traveling alone is to check out the schedule of the local hostels. Most hostels have a variety of activities on their schedules ranging from pub crawls and karaoke to walking tours and yoga classes. Not only are these activities usually pretty affordable, but they’re also great for anyone traveling alone who is worried about finding something relatively safe to do at night.
Go Out For Ice Cream
With so many really cute (and delicious) ice cream shops out there, why not work them into your travels?
Back in 2015, I spent a weekend in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. I was in the middle of reading Harry Potter, so I was perfectly content to sit with my ice cream cone and enjoy my book, while occasionally people watching.
If you don’t have a book you’re currently hooked on, that’s ok! Take your ice cream for a walk instead. Whenever I’m in Italy, I make an unofficial goal to eat gelato everyday. I pick a new spot to try (and a new flavor) then meander the city or town, taking in all the sights, while enjoying my tasty treat.
Go See a Play
I once accidentally ended up in Sydney, Australia a day early. With nothing planned, I went out exploring and came across a theater with a crowd outside. Most everyone was dressed in suits and sparkly dresses -- meanwhile, I was still wearing my snoopy t-shirt, yoga pants and flip flops from the plane. The banner outside the theater read “Angela Lansbury and James Earl Jones in Driving Miss Daisy.” I was very intrigued by the idea that there was only a brick wall between me and JAMES. EARL. JONES. So I bought a ticket. Did I feel a bit awkward and underdressed? Sure! But did it matter in the end? Not at all. I saw an INCREDIBLE play starring Hollywood legends, chatted with my neighbors during the intermission, and all around had a wonderfully spontaneous night.
These are just seven ideas to help you come up with things to do while traveling solo, but the options really are endless. If, even after researching, you find that you’re still intimidated just know that it is totally normal to feel nervous.
I recommend easing into solo travel with these five easy steps and suggest planning out a loose schedule for your solo trips. I especially like the idea Tiffani Emery shared in this interview about her first solo travel experience:
I researched what I wanted to see and do before I left, and I booked three tours. I was a little nervous and afraid of going out by myself, so my strategy was to have a plan... I booked the tours specifically so I would know I had to be somewhere at a certain time. I think if I had gone without a plan, I would have gotten overwhelmed and wouldn't have known what to do and would have stayed in my Airbnb the whole time.
Having a tour booked for each morning of her trip kept Tiffani from overthinking and encouraged her to get out the door.
If you have questions about solo travel or want more guidance, please send me a message. That’s what I’m here for!