Do you want to go on a trip on your own but don't know which are the best places to travel alone? Then check out this post with tips on destinations in Brazil and abroad!
I will never forget my first trip alone. It was just two days, in Auckland, New Zealand. I had just made my Topdeck (a kind of group trip like Contiki), and I decided to go to north island to see the scene where scenes from The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings were filmed.
I confess that I don't remember what I did the first night – I was in a private room in one of the biggest hostels in the city center, and I probably had a McDonald's for dinner and went to sleep since the trip was early the next day. The cool thing was that, upon arriving in Hobbiton, I made a friend to take photos with and met other people who were also at my hostel. Before the end of the tour we had already agreed to explore the city together.
It was my first experience traveling by herself, and since that time I have undertaken countless trips on my own. Forgive me for using a very fashionable word, I have to admit that traveling alone is extremely difficult. empowering, because you realize that you have the ability to solve the problems that arise along the way, and that your company is more than enough.
I'm not going to lie to you: I still get nervous every time I get on the plane for an adventure like this, after all, there are many challenges to traveling alone. But just arrive at the destination and start exploring and all this anxiety will go away, and all that’s left is that excitement of the trip. All women should go through this experience!
So, if you are planning your first trip on your own but are not yet sure of the destination or are anxious about the subject, this post is for you. I selected the best places to travel alone (both in terms of security and hospitality), and at the end I even gave some tips to make your trip easier.
Best places to travel alone in Brazil
If this is one of your first (or even a first) trip, my suggestion is to start with a destination in Brazil. It's easier to solve any problem in your own language, and you'll also find it easier to make friends online. hostels, if you want company.
Here are four places to travel alone in Brazil:
Florianópolis
A Magic Island It is safe and has great beaches, as well as having an easy-to-use public transport system. The Lagoa da Conceição region welcomes travelers from all over the world, and there are several hostels for those who want to make friends to explore the region. My recommendation is to stay at Mama Africa, one of the best hostels in Florianópolis.
The destination is a great option for those who love nature and want to take a few days to relax, as in addition to the sea, the city also has numerous trails and parks. Here on the blog there is a itinerary with what to do in Floripa on a weekend, with tour suggestions if you are going to spend more days there.
São Paulo
I know it's not very traditional to choose large cities for a solo trip, especially one that doesn't have a reputation for being So safe. But the truth is that São Paulo has so much to offer and such an easy transport system, that I think it's a super relaxing destination to explore on your own.. But of course, it is worth keeping an eye on your belongings and trying not to walk alone too late at night!
You can enjoy the Avenida Paulista region with MASP, SESC and other attractions, the nightlife in Vila Madalena, the Liberdade neighborhood and its excellent restaurants, Ibirapuera and Villa Lobos park and, of course, countless museums and activities.
My suggestion is staying at The Hostel Paulista which is super well located and has a great price.
Lakes Region
One of the best places to travel alone and relax is the lake region, in Rio de Janeiro. Unlike the state capital, the cities of Arraial do Cabo, Búzios and Cabo Frio are still calm when it comes to violence, and have many hostels and inns for you to enjoy your own company.
Furthermore, they are cheap destinations (especially Arraial do Cabo) and access to the beaches is easy. There are also group boat tours that take you to the main attractions, so you don't even have to worry about a very detailed itinerary and still enjoy making new friends.
My accommodation suggestions are Bravo Pousada + Design or, if you want something more luxurious, the Prainha Inn.
Curitiba
It was the first place I traveled alone in Brazil, and I couldn't have made a better choice. Public transport is easy to use, the attractions are super interesting and the city's hostel network is growing every year.
I suggest a visit to the Botanical Garden, a walk on Rua das Flores and a visit to the Oscar Niemeyer museum, and the Batel region has great bars to enjoy the night. There is also a tourist bus that passes through the main points, like the ones I mentioned and others like Bosque Alemão and Parque Tanguá, whose ticket costs R$50 and is valid for 24 hours.
My accommodation suggestion is Curitiba Casa Hostel, with one of the best breakfasts I've ever experienced when it comes to hostels. The bed is also wonderful!
Best places to travel alone abroad
There are also several excellent cities for traveling alone abroad. In these cases, I recommend that you have at least a basic understanding of English or Spanish, or that you travel to a place that speaks Portuguese.
Here are five international destinations for you to visit on your solo trip:
New York
It was the last trip I took with just myself, and it's one of my favorite places in the world. It's a great option because, in addition to being a safe city, the metro system takes you everywhere, even to airports. It has countless museums, attractions, incredible streets and phenomenal restaurants, and I always leave there thinking about when I will be able to return.
The United States does not have a culture of hostels, so there aren't many in the city. I've already stayed in two, and by far the best was the HI NYC Hostel, which is huge and has countless common areas for those who want to make friends. Furthermore, they have their own program for guests with tours and events, which makes it even easier to fit in. I highly recommend it and There's a full review here on the blog.
Chile Santiago
Another destination that I visited on a solo trip and fell in love with. The place is a delight, with countless cool attractions and a breathtaking view of the Andes Mountains, with lots of nature mixed with the vibe of big city. It has a subway and is super easy to use.
In this post I commented on some of the unmissable tours.. The cool thing is that the more distant tours (like some wineries and nearby cities) are done with agencies that you hire there. When I went to Cajón del Maipo the company was taking several Brazilians, so I met several people.
The city is full of hostels, so there are options for all budgets. I really liked the Providencia Hostalbut my favorite was Rado Boutique Hostel, with a sensational terrace, perfect for drinking wine with other guests at the end of the day.
Portugal
One of the best places to travel alone in Europe, especially because the official language is also Portuguese. It's easy to drive between cities if you want to rent a car, and there are also buses connecting one place to another and agencies that offer trips for a few days.
If you only have a few days, my suggestion is to explore Lisbon and take the train to the nearby beaches, such as Carcavelos and Cascais. Don't forget to try the famous custard tarts and see the Belém Tower!
My hostel suggestion is Home Lisbon Hostel, which, in addition to being super well located, has a score of 9,4 on Booking with more than 2000 reviews!
Buenos Aires
A classic destination for those leaving the country for the first time, and also a great option for those traveling alone. It's easy to get around the city using public transport (the subway works really well), and as they are used to receiving Brazilians, they understand Portuguese well, lol.
Don't forget to visit the city center with the Casa Rosada, shop at Galerias Pacifico, stroll through Palermo and visit the famous El Ateneo bookstore! To stay, I recommend staying at Meridiano Hostel Boutique, hostel super well located in Palermo and with great common areas for those who want to make friends.
Sydney
Now if you want to go to far away, my suggestion is Sydney, Australia. It's one of the few places I've ever seen that combines the best of both worlds: beach and big city.
It's super safe, has an efficient transport system with trains, ferries and buses, and you can still do a lot on foot if you're staying in the center. Be sure to visit Darling Harbour, Manly Beach and take the walk between Coogee and Bondi. It's one of my favorite destinations and I explored a lot on my own, without any fear.
For hostels, I recommend Wake Up! Sydney Central or the Base Sydney, but you can see other accommodation options in Sydney in this post.
New Zealand
How could I not include the place of my first solo trip on this list? New Zealand is the destination for many solo travelers, and it's no wonder as the country has countless options of attractions, extreme sports and a strong culture of hostels.
My suggestion is to visit Queenstown, the city of adrenaline, where you can do activities such as Bungy Jumping (I already told my experience in this post), parachuting, rafting and even venturing onto one of the most famous swings in the world. If you prefer the big city, go to Auckland and explore the surroundings!
One of the most famous hostels is YHA Auckland City, in the middle of the action close to Queen Street.
Spain
Another place to travel alone in Europe, this time with the language being Spanish, which also makes it easier for us Brazilians. The cool thing about Spain is that the country has options for all types of travelers, from big cities like Madrid, cultural centers like Barcelona and paradisiacal beaches in Ibiza and Mallorca.
In Brazil, the most common thing is to find flights to Madrid, as it is where one of the largest airports in the region is located. If you want to visit other places, you can take the train or buy a flight on a low-cost airline. My suggestion is to visit the capital, Barcelona and Valencia.
One of the liveliest hostels in the country is St. Christophers in Barcelona, with its party schedule every night.
Tips for traveling alone
I already wrote a post about how to overcome the fear of traveling alone, if you're still nervous about taking the trip. Even so, I would like to leave some tips here that I think are essential, especially if you are going to be on your own.
Let me know where you're going
What I usually do is create a script with what I'm going to do each day, and share it with my mother. If you don't want to put something together in advance, at least text a friend or family member when you decide what you're going to do that day.
This way, if an emergency happens (we hope not, but it's always better to be safe), people will know where to look for you. Remember to communicate any changes in plans!
Stay connected
The best way to communicate where you are going, use public transport and discover cool places while traveling is by using the internet on your cell phone. If your trip is national this is not a problem, but roaming International travel costs a fortune and is an unfeasible option for most travelers.
To solve this problem, my suggestion is to buy a travel chip. You receive it at your home, before boarding, and it starts working before you even get off the plane. Nothing better than arriving at your destination and being told that everything is fine and being able to call an Uber or find out which bus to take to your hotel.
Ask local staff about places
Something I always do in a new place – with friends or alone – is ask the staff at the hostel reception if such a place Is it safe or is it quiet to walk around the area at night?
In Cape Town, for example, they explained to us that it was quiet to walk around the center and my friend and I went looking for a bar at 11 o'clock at night without any problems. In Johannesburg, however, we were told that it wasn't very safe to go out alone after dark, and we actually realized that the best thing would be to take an Uber to a specific place if we wanted to eat something.
I make this recommendation because, even when researching on the internet and reading about your destination, the reality may be different at the time of your trip. Reviews you find online may be out of date, or written by men (which isn't a problem, but let's face it, men don't face the same types of challenges as women).
Don't want to be alone? Make friends at hostels!
You may have noticed that I only recommended hostels when I mentioned accommodation options in each destination. This is because, in addition to being cheaper when you are traveling with just one person, this type of accommodation also makes it easier if you want to make friends. Most locations have common areas where you can socialize, as well as exclusive tours or events for guests.
I've stayed in hostels in places like Chile, New Zealand, South Africa, New York and Curitiba, and in almost all of them I've made friends to explore the city with me. Some of them I still keep in touch with to this day!
My suggestion is to look for hostels that have common areas (like all the ones I mentioned here in the post), or if you are the type who likes partying and enjoying the night, opt for party hostels.
I always make my reservations on Booking.com, where I find the best prices.
Take out travel insurance (essential!)
Imagine if you had an accident or got sick in the middle of your trip, with no one to help you? I don't want to scare you, but this is a possible situation and you need to be prepared if it happens.
The best way to deal with this situation is to take out travel insurance. In addition to being mandatory for some countries on this list, such as Portugal, insurance guarantees specialized assistance in cases such as illness, flight delay or cancellation and even lost luggage.
Furthermore, as this service offers medical coverage, it takes care of the financial part itself if you need to undergo a consultation or hospitalization. If you are on a tight budget and don't want to incur extra expenses during your trip, hire this service and save thousands of dollars in case something unforeseen happens.
Insurance is the simplest way to travel without worries, as it provides you with specialized assistance in case of emergencies or other typical travel situations.
Best places to travel alone
And there they are, 11 places to travel alone and some tips to make this adventure even more peaceful!
I'm sure you must be nervous thinking about taking a trip on your own, but this is normal even among the most experienced travelers. The important thing is not to let fear win and go explore the world, even if you are your own company! Trust me, it’s totally worth it!
Have you visited any other destination traveling alone? How was the experience? Tell me in the comments!
Did you like this post? Save to Pinterest to read later!
Some links in this post are affiliate links.
I went to Peru alone last year. A unique experience. This year I was going to go to São Paulo and Curitiba, but due to the pandemic it won't be possible. Next year I'm going to Chile and I want to visit Santiago but also the Atacama Desert.
I'm also crazy about visiting the Atacama Desert =)
I loved your post
I've already traveled to Peru and Atacama alone, it was excellent!!!
I also did a backpacking trip by car in the south of the country, leaving SP I did Curitiba, Santa Catarina and RGS... pretty cool too... but fuel is very expensive in SC and RGS, it would be better if I had someone to share the costs, but it was worth it the experience.
Peru and Atacama my DREAM! Glad you had a good experience! 🙂
I loved your post, it was very useful, I have a trip planned to go alone and you gave me a lot of peace of mind, confidence and security, it was everything I needed because I was very insecure
Hi, Jussara! This insecurity is super normal – I've already taken several trips alone and to this day I get nervous when I'm going to take another one! The important thing is to face this nervousness and go anyway! Happy to have helped you, enjoy it and let me know how the experience was! 🙂