The Wanderlist: Where to travel solo this winter
Forget romantic getaways. Some places are better experienced with just you, yourself and you. Here are the best places to travel solo this winter.
Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo’s fast-paced, salaryman culture means that dining alone is common, with many casual restaurants offering counter seating for single diners. You’ll see plenty of office workers quickly slurping up a bowl of ramen or grabbing a few plates of conveyor belt sushi during a busy day, so solo travellers out experiencing the city’s dining scene fit right in.
The city’s serene temples and shrines are quite peaceful to explore alone, such as the enchanting Meiji Shrine, which is set within a forest of more than 120,000 trees brought from across Japan. If you feel like having company for a day, you can take advantage of one of the city’s free guiding services, which are generally staffed by locals looking to practice English.
Richard Schneider via Flickr
Berlin, Germany
Berlin is a city that embraces individuality, which creates an open, welcoming atmosphere for solo travellers. From the Jüdisches Museum to the East Side Gallery, many of Berlin’s more poignant attractions are rewarding to visit solo, allowing you time to reflect and explore at your own pace.
If you’d prefer to join up with a group, there are tons of organizations, such as New Europe Tours, that offer free guided tours of Berlin’s main attractions (you’re just expected to tip your guide at the end). Berlin is chilly in the winter, but if you’re willing to bring some extra layers, it’s a great time to score deals on accommodation.
Mark Healey via Flickr
Austin, Texas
Austin may be Texas’s state capital, but this ultra-cool city’s friendly vibe makes it feel much more like a small town. Well-deserving of its nickname, the “Live Music Capital of the World,” you can catch fantastic performances in Austin almost every night of the week, whether it’s at a classy music hall or a low-key dive bar.
If you’re not totally comfortable dining out solo, the city’s thriving food truck scene means you can dine amazingly well without having to endure a sit-down meal in a restaurant. Afterwards, go for a stroll along the scenic Boardwalk Trail at Lady Bird Lake to see a wonderful view of Austin’s skyline across the lake.
Stuart Seeger via Flikr.
Dublin, Ireland
The Irish are known for their exceptional friendliness and the country’s capital is no exception. Pop into any Dublin pub and it’s not uncommon for a local to strike up a conversation and offer to buy you a drink. Take advantage of the Little Museum’s City of a Thousand Welcomes program. It pairs visitors with local volunteers, who offer tips for exploring the city over a cup of tea or a pint.
Discovering Dublin is less about checking off bucket list sites and more about wandering down cobbled streets and admiring pretty Georgian squares and townhouses — though the 12th-century Christ Church Cathedral and the striking Long Room in Trinity College’s Old Library are worth special stops.
Alberto Gonzalez Limon via Flickr
Melbourne, Australia
Melbourne may be known as Australia’s “Second City,” but it’s the country’s cultural capital, celebrated for its exciting restaurant and art scenes. The city’s approachable atmosphere makes it a popular choice for solo travellers, so you can rest assured you won’t be the only person doing some companionless sightseeing.
Melbourne’s narrow laneways, packed with eclectic galleries and shops, photo-worthy street art and hole-in-the-wall bars, are made for aimless afternoon wandering (plus the city’s grid street layout makes it easy to navigate). Our winter is summer in Australia, so it’s also a prime time to escape to the beachside suburbs nearby.
Rob Deutscher via Flickr
