How You Too Can Become a Confident Solo Traveller

A couple of months ago I was in the bar of the hostel I was staying at in Vienna, Austria, chatting with two women from Ireland who had just arrived. As I’d been in the city a few days (and it wasn’t my first visit) I offered to share some of my tips, and circle important or useful things on their city map. They were a little surprised that I was by myself, and, I think, even more so when they realised I was four or five years younger than them.

“How can you be only 24,” they asked, “and so good at this travel thing?”

At the time, I deflected the question. I speak German, I explained, which makes it easier. It’s true, speaking the language of the city you’re roaming around in can make solo travel feel more comfortable, but it’s by no means necessary.

Since then, I’ve thought more about it, and realised that lots of the lists and articles I see on solo travel don’t quite hit the spot. This won’t be a guide of what to pack, or where to go, or how to keep yourself safe once you’re there — there are already plenty of those articles. These are the baby steps I think will help to turn you into someone who can step off a plane or train, take a deep breath, and set out to explore and enjoy yourself.

The first thing is to start exploring your own area by yourself. Whether that means taking long walks in the countryside, following a river path for half an hour and then turning back, or simply taking new and unfamiliar routes when you’re going about your daily routine, you’ll start to develop the habits you need to stand on your own two feet somewhere you don’t know. You’ll get used to looking like you know where you’re going (even if you haven’t a clue!), being aware of what’s around you, and really looking at the environment and noticing new things.

Then — and this is tough even for the stubbornly-self-sufficient (myself included) — start ‘doing activities’ by yourself. Going to the cinema can be an easy place to start — and a mid-week or early evening film is often emptier, if you’re worried about being sandwiched between two couples. If you have an Everyman cinema near you, they don’t allow you to book a half of a sofa (their seating is all sofas and armchairs), so you will get your own little space to cocoon yourself in. To level up, go to the theatre by yourself, and then to a gig.

One of the hardest things can be going out to eat by yourself. I do this a lot when I’m travelling for work and often end up going to Nando’s. One of my guy best friends always finds a pub for dinner when he’s away, but I’ve been ‘bothered’ too many times when eating alone in pubs to want to do that frequently. The secret weapon of the solo diner is the book. Reading (and a physical book can be even more effective than a Kindle) is a far more obvious sign that you don’t want to be disturbed than scrolling through your phone. Sometimes, of course, you do want to strike up a conversation, and for those times, finding somewhere you can eat at a bar or at a large communal table is a winner.

But how do you get from roaming around your own city to travelling elsewhere by yourself? For me there are two steps.

One: some kind of organised trip. Whether this is an outdoor fitness holiday, a Contiki-style bus tour, or a writing or yoga retreat, all you’ll have to do is get yourself to the start point. From there you won’t have to worry about logistics, directions, or what to do to fill your days. Another upside if you’re worried about not having anyone to talk to is that there are likely to be lots of other solo travellers, all looking for people to shoot the breeze during the trip.

Two: Book a short trip to somewhere there are lots of things you want to do. Fill your days with plans of museums to visit and places to see. Joining a walking tour on your first day, for example, is a great way to get to know the city’s geography. Even better if someone you know lives there, so you can meet for a coffee. It’s reassuring to see someone familiar when you’re on a solo adventure.

Travelling by yourself can be daunting — but it’s just as rewarding as everyone says. There’s a joy that comes from knowing that you, and only you, got yourself where you wanted.

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