Solo travel has stopped being something you explain. And autumn is the best time to do it: fewer people, lower prices, weather that rewards walking, and — most importantly — places that have become their own again, where locals have time to talk.
Why alone, and why now
When you travel alone, the itinerary isn’t a compromise. You spend three hours in a museum or leave after ten minutes. You change plans because someone suggested something better.
Autumn adds two things: single rooms cost less outside peak season, and busy destinations become approachable without the sense of standing in a queue.
Seven destinations that work solo
Sicily. Perhaps the ideal destination for a lone traveler: so much to take in that company almost gets in the way. A guided climb up Mt Etna, Catania’s chaotic fish market, performances in the ancient theatres of Syracuse and Taormina, and in the west, Palermo with the golden mosaics of the Cappella Palatina. The Aeolian Islands make an easy extension.
Naxos. A Greek island that appears on international solo-travel lists — deservedly. The medieval Hora with its Venetian towers, windsurfing at Agios Georgios, cycling through olive groves toward Mt Zeus, dairy farms and citron liqueur in Halki. In September and October the sea is still warm.
Aix-en-Provence. Small, walkable, with markets, cafés and a quality of light that explains why painters came here. Ideal if you want a slow rhythm rather than a checklist.
The Vipava Valley, Slovenia. Small-producer wineries, hillside villages, trails. Slovenia in general is one of Europe’s friendliest destinations for a solo traveler — and one of the most affordable.
Palma de Mallorca. Outside summer, Palma is a real city: the cathedral, the old town, serious food, and the Serra de Tramuntana mountains half an hour away.
Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Youthful, lively, inexpensive, with a music scene and easy access to Transylvania. The entry on this list that surprises most people.
The Faroe Islands. At the other extreme: fog, cliffs, sheep and hikes that resemble nothing else in Europe. For anyone who wants solo travel to mean genuinely alone.
The practical problem: the single supplement
Let’s be direct about it, because it’s the main reason many people never start. A single supplement can raise the cost noticeably, especially at mid-range hotels and above.
What works:
- Travel off-peak. October and November carry a distinctly smaller supplement than August.
- Guesthouses and small properties rather than chains: they often charge for the room, not the people.
- An organized trip with a small group. You travel alone but don’t pay as though you were, and you have company whenever you want it — without losing your freedom the rest of the time.
Four things that help
- Book the first night and the last. What sits in the middle can stay open.
- Eat at the bar or in the market. A table for one is easier there, and you end up talking to people.
- One group activity per destination. A hike, a cooking class, a walking tour: the simplest way to meet people.
- Tell someone your itinerary and stay in touch. Common sense, not fear.
Thinking of starting?
At Penguin Travels & Tours we have travelers who join every small-group departure on their own — and we also build individual itineraries for people who want to move entirely alone, with a safety net behind them.
Want to take your first solo trip? Stop by our office in Kalamata (Vasilissis Olgas 4) or call us at +30 27210 80701 — we’ll suggest the destination that suits a first step.
