Astonishingly safe, spotless and easy to navigate, with world-class public transport and a culture where solo dining is completely normal. Endlessly fascinating and low-stress for first-timers. Start in Tokyo — see the best things to do in Tokyo.

Safe, welcoming and excellent value, with walkable cities, a great hostel scene and locals happy to help. Lisbon and Porto are ideal solo bases, and the whole country is easy to explore by train or bus — a perfect first solo trip in Europe.

The original solo-travel classic: cheap, welcoming and wired for meeting people, with a hostel and tour scene that makes it almost impossible to feel alone. From Bangkok’s buzz to island beaches, it’s easy, social and endlessly fun.

Jaw-dropping scenery, a brilliant backpacker network and some of the friendliest people anywhere make New Zealand a dream for solo adventurers. English-speaking and very safe, with organised hikes and hostels that bring travellers together.

Incredible value, fantastic food and a well-trodden traveller trail from north to south make Vietnam one of the most rewarding solo trips in Asia. Group tours, social hostels and easy transport mean company is always nearby when you want it.

One of the safest countries to travel, with epic landscapes you can explore by an easy self-drive or organised small-group tours. Reykjavik is compact and friendly, and group day trips to glaciers and waterfalls make meeting people simple.

Late dinners, lively plazas and an easygoing culture make Spain effortlessly social for solo travellers. Barcelona, Madrid and Seville have superb hostels, walking tours and tapas crawls where striking up conversation is the norm.

A magnet for solo travellers and digital nomads, with a huge wellness, surf and café scene built around community. Affordable, beautiful and easy, with co-working spaces and group activities that make connecting simple. Plan with our Bali travel guide.

Famously warm locals, dramatic Highland scenery and an easy hostel-and-tour network make Scotland a brilliant, safe solo trip. Edinburgh is a compact, sociable base, and small-group tours to the Highlands and islands are made for meeting people.

Safe, compact and gloriously underrated, Slovenia packs lakes, mountains and a charming capital into an easy, affordable package. Lake Bled and Ljubljana are walkable and welcoming, and outdoor day trips make for natural solo company.

English-speaking, safe and built for backpackers, Australia has one of the world’s best traveller infrastructures — hostels, tours and a working-holiday culture that throws solo travellers together. Big distances, but endlessly social and easy.

Vibrant, walkable and packed with culture and incredible food, Mexico’s safer hubs like Mexico City and Oaxaca have a thriving solo and nomad scene. Stick to well-reviewed central neighbourhoods, use registered taxis or apps, and it’s a rewarding, sociable solo trip.