11 Places Where You’ll Be Happy Traveling Solo

Traveling solo, one could argue, is an act of celebration—a chance to affirm how much you matter. Whether you just got promoted at work or are marking a personal milestone, you don’t need to wait for a plus-one to toast your accomplishments. And going alone means you’re there to please just one person: yourself. You can stack your schedule with activities that make you happy (or choose a few intriguing new ones to try), and there’s no confidence boost quite like executing a trip you’ve designed from start to finish, without leaning on anyone along the way. But the best gift you can give yourself is choosing the right destination, one that matches your interests and facilitates (almost) seamless independent travel, whether that’s a curated train journey or a resort teeming with amenities. From Portugal’s preeminent wine region to the bustling streets of Taiwan’s capital, these destinations make the perfect backdrop for seeing the world—and yourself—in a whole new light.

The British Countryside

Enjoy your sundowner with storybook views on Belmond’s new Britannic Explorer train.

With set itineraries, streamlined logistics and built-in opportunities to connect with your fellow travelers, train travel is a natural fit for a party of one. Once you book the route and hop aboard, you won't have to worry about the schedule, and can just kick back or chat with other passengers—something much easier to do when you’re all sitting in a moving car and enjoying incredible scenery together. The new Britannic Explorer, A Belmond Train bumps the experience up a luxurious notch, with private suites and rides through a region that lends itself well to both quiet moments and gregarious pub visits.

Alaska

Whale-watching is just one of the thrilling wildlife-spotting opportunities that Alaska affords travelers.

Virgin Voyages always keeps solo travelers in mind, and the latest addition to its fleet, Brilliant Lady, is no exception. Along with 18-and-up age limits and lower-than-usual upcharges for singles in a double-occupancy room, the ship’s spring and summer Alaska sailings offer an ideal mix of alone time in nature and onboard socializing. Spend your days kayaking in Sitka and whale-watching among glaciers, then head back to the ship to swap stories with other cruisers at dinner, catch a show or bask in the (nearly) midnight sun from your private balcony.  

South Africa

With 18,500 acres of pristine preserved wilderness, there’s always more to explore at Bushmans Kloof. 

In the foothills of the Cederberg Mountains, Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat balances safari thrills with restorative stillness. Here, you decide the pace on any given day. Join in on game drives to spot zebras and African wildcats with your guide, or take a long hike, entirely on your own, and reboot at the spa. With just 18 rooms, suites and villas on a private 18,500-acre reserve, it’s intimate enough to meet fellow guests but spacious enough to appreciate the vastness of the land.

Queenstown, New Zealand

Find out who you really are in the adventure capital of the world, and try your hand at bungee jumping, skydiving or paragliding. (Photo courtesy of Destination Queenstown)

Hitch a ride with Qantas and land right in the heart of Queenstown, on the South Island, then drop your bags at Hotel St. Moritz Queenstown, MGallery Collection—it’s time to leap into something new. The so-called adventure capital of the world is guaranteed to test your limits, whether you’re bungee jumping off Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge or paragliding over Lake Wakatipu. Reward your courage with a local craft beer in the compact town center, with mountain views as your companion.

Yellowstone National Park

Bring your binoculars: Depending on the time of year, you may spot cougars, grizzly bears or a wandering herd of elk from your glamping tent at Under Canvas North Yellowstone.

Yellowstone is spectacular no matter when you go—or whom you go with. In the summer, you can road-trip through the park as you please, or book an Under Canvas glamping tent (the brand has outposts at both the northern and western entrances) to return to at the end of a busy day for a hot shower, gooey s’mores and new friends around the campfire. Winter brings guided snow-coach tours past steaming geysers and, if you’re lucky, a wolf sighting in the distance—an exhilarating experience for those who can stand the cold.

Canggu, Bali

Room service delivered straight to your private pool in Bali? This is the life.

Bali and its well-trodden tourist paths have long made it an excellent destination for solo exploration that’s both comfortable and exciting. In laid-back areas like Canggu, north of the resort area of Seminyak, it’s as easy to strike up conversations at smoothie cafés and beach clubs as it is to slip away to the surf breaks and let the tides reset your inner rhythm. For an extra-relaxing home base, book one of the chic penthouse pools at COMO Uma Canggu, pictured above. 

Douro Valley, Portugal

It’s all about the world-class wine (and food, and spa) at this centuries-old estate turned Six Senses property.

Raise a glass to yourself in this preeminent Portuguese wine region, where terraced slopes meet the namesake river and the views are just as impressive as the vintages. Check in to Six Senses Douro Valley hotel for daily tastings of some heavy hitters, plus cellar tours, cooking classes and grape-seed scrubs at the spa that will fill up your cup in a totally different way.

Taipei, Taiwan

Develop your palate and discover a new favorite food at one of Taipei’s many bustling night markets.

There’s something empowering about navigating a new city on your own—and with its night markets, energetic streets and efficient transportation, Taipei is a great place to start. The hawker stands are a particular treat, where you can graze at your own pace, trying oyster omelets here and soup dumplings there, without worrying for a minute about reservations or seating arrangements. And it’s all more reachable than you might think: EVA Air connects Taipei with multiple European and U.S. hubs, including New York, Los Angeles and Dallas.

South Caicos

If you can tear yourself away from your private cabana at Salterra’s tiered pool, some of the region’s best scuba diving awaits.

Quiet but increasingly built-up, this island in the Turks and Caicos archipelago hits that sweet spot of flying slightly under the radar while attracting the right kind of attention. It’s more accessible than ever thanks to recently introduced nonstop flights from Miami and the year-old Salterra, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa. World-class diving and uncrowded cays set the scene for therapeutic solitude, while new developments ensure you can’t fall too far off the grid.

Antigua, Guatemala

Towering volcanoes make an appropriately dramatic backdrop for your solo adventure in and around Antigua.

Air Canada recently introduced a Montreal–Guatemala City route, giving travelers another way—and another good reason—to discover this part of Central America. Antigua, a charming colonial city and base for adventure, is about a 90-minute cab ride from the airport, and in just one day, you can see a lot of it: Start strong with a morning stroll through jacaranda-filled parks, take a guided afternoon trip to Lake Atitlán and come back in time for chicken stew in a leafy courtyard.

Oslo, Norway

TAK Oslo, the Nordic-Japanese restaurant atop Sommerro hotel, serves some of the capital’s most spectacular views.

If you just can’t choose between city and nature, choose Oslo. For a day among art, you can’t do better than the Munch museum and National Museum, both of which reopened in new locations in the past few years; if you’re game to get outdoors, look for guided excursions to the fjords and forests outside the capital. Dip into Nordic spa culture at Sommerro, a stylish hotel and community hub where you can sweat, swim and socialize under one roof.

Lead photo courtesy of COMO Uma Canggu.