Summer is fast approaching and you want to try travelling alone for the first time. If that’s the case, you’re in luck: this post will tell you exactly where to travel solo in summer. I reached out to some fellow solo travel bloggers and I asked them what their favourite solo travel destinations were. Here’s what they came up with.
Read more: The Best Solo Travel Destinations in Europe
Written by Chrysoula (Travel Passionate)
The sunshine-filled destination of Rhodes in Greece is a wonderful location for a solo summer trip. It has gorgeous beaches, a lively nightlife and a whole host of history and culture to discover.
The Greek Islands are one of the safest places to explore as a solo traveller with warm hospitality, signs, menu and information written in English (as well as many other European languages), and decent flights and public transport so you can easily get around. Rhodes is no different!
First things first: you’ll want to explore Rhodes’ Old Town, a walled city filled with ancient ruins and castles that tell the story of the island’s history. Next you can head out of the perimeter walls. Wander along the harbour, check out local bars, shops and restaurants or head to the beach.
When you want to explore a little further afield, catch the bus to Lindos, a quaint white-washed town that is topped with the magnificent Lindos Acropolis overlooking the sea. Once you’ve spent a few hours discovering Lindos, you might want to head to nearby Anthony Quinn Bay or St. Paul’s Bay Beach for some seaside relaxation. Elsewhere on the island are vineyards, hot springs, monasteries and some epic wind-surfing spots to add to your amazing solo trip to Rhodes.
Written by Diana (The Elusive Family)
Rome is a place of wonder, history and magic. It’s a wonderful place to visit any time of year, and summer is no exception. Though it can get quite warm in Italy during the summer, Rome has a unique feel to it. The experience of venturing throughout the city during this time of year and stopping by gelato shops or popping into a wine shop or pizza parlour makes for an amazing experience.
When visiting Rome as a solo traveller, it is crucial to ensure you purchase tickets in advance when you can, such as for the Colosseum and to go early to the museums including the Borghese Gallery and Capitoline Museum. As a solo traveller, you have an advantage over the thousands of other tourists. Many of them are travelling families and tend to be about later in the day. Group tours are a great way for the solo traveller to get in on some amazing tours being offered in the city.
Must do’s include visiting the Roman Forum, Colosseum, Pantheon, including getting a gelato at Gelateria della Palma nearby, throwing a coin in the Trevi Fountain, visiting the Catacombs and spending the evening exploring Trastevere. Be sure to stop by one of the boats on the Tiber River and get information on the evening festivities which are amazing for solo travellers.
Visiting the Vatican museums and Sistine Chapel in Vatican City is a must. However, be sure to be one of the first in line to beat the crowds that begins to show up late morning. Finally, treat yourself to a dinner at any of the numerous restaurants and head over to the Spanish steps for a quick visit followed by a cup of coffee at Café Greco.
Written by Pashmina (The Gone Goat)
Belgium’s most celebrated historic city, Bruges in Western Flanders, might seem touristy and a path that is filled with well-heeled travellers. But if you look past the touristy sights, connect with the locals and even see the countryside on a bicycle, Bruges may just be one of the best solo travel destinations in summer.
There’s a reason why Bruges was dubbed as the Venice of the North. Admiring the city’s architecture, or even casually strolling through the streets with a waffle in your hand, it is easy to pause and take in the surroundings. When the crowds get overwhelming, rent a bike in Bruges and ride to the border with the Netherlands in Sluis.
Along the way you’ll see the Belgian countryside and get to see the postcard-perfect village of Damme where a themed book market every Sunday of the month. Imagine carefully reading through the books while enjoying your own company with nature on a bicycle – that definitely sounds like the perfect itinerary for a well-spent solo trip.
Written by Vicki (Vicki Viaja)
If you want to have an amazing solo trip in summer, Barcelona is the place to go. Not only is it a wonderfully beautiful city, but it’s also easy to meet new people and other travellers with dozens of events taking place every day.
With its Gothic architecture, the streets of Barcelona’s city centre provide a romantic medieval Catalan charm mixed with a modern vibe of many trendy restaurants, pubs, and tapas bars. During the summer is also the best option to spend some time at the beach where you can either relax by yourself or join a volleyball game.
Moreover, there are many attractions to see throughout the city. The most famous of all is the Sagrada Família. You can either buy a simple entrance ticket and visit by yourself or join a group tour. Either way – this famous cathedral designed by Antoni Gaudí is an absolute must-do when visiting the Catalan capital even if you just spend a day in Barcelona.
But there are many more sights throughout Barcelona that are worth a visit, such as Park Güell or Barrio Gótico. During the summer, you can spend all night outside sipping delicious Spanish vino or Sangria and enjoy the amazing Catalan cuisine.
Written by Karen (Wanderlusting K)
The Netherlands is one of my favourite solo travel destinations! As a traveller who first visited Amsterdam on her first big solo trip turned resident of the Netherlands, I fully endorse this country as being one of the best solo travel destinations due to its reliable train system, numerous cycling paths, and general safety.
With the warm weather, it’s easy to enjoy Amsterdam (and the rest of the Netherlands), exploring it on foot or by bike. If you’re a foodie, you will fall in love with the Dutch sweets from stroopwafels to pancakes. History lovers will find solace in enjoying the beautiful facades of the various buildings as well as the rich histories behind the buildings that you can learn about at many museums.
Similarly, art lovers will find that the world-class museums (such as the Rijksmuseum and the Mauritshuis) make for the perfect solo trip to enjoy viewing the Dutch old masters without anyone rushing you out of the museum. When travelling solo in the Netherlands, I always love to get lost in a city prior to finding a cozy cafe with a view to get a coffee (or a beer) to watch the sunset. The evenings last long in summer, perfect for saving up the energy to go out with your new mates from your hostel!
Related: How to spend 72 hours in Amsterdam
Written by Elisa (World in Paris)
Paris is one of the best solo travel destinations in the summer for first-timers. The days are longer and the weather is good. And apart from the usual top tourist sights the city proposes great festival and events. Yes, the French capital is marketed as a “romantic city” and “the city of lovers”. But it is also a great destination for solo travellers.
You don’t need much company to enjoy the great artworks of the Louvre or to sail and admire Paris’ most beautiful avenue on a Seine river cruise. You can also decide to take a stroll through the beautiful parks of the city. Or why not enjoy your favourite coffee while people watching from a typical Parisian cafe? If you want to meet some people, small group walking tours with a local guide are another great way to explore Paris. Guided tours are great to get a better knowledge of the city and its culture. Moreover, there is a big choice of walking tours, from historical tours to tours by neighbourhood or food & wine tours.
Finally, Paris is surrounded by beautiful small towns and French castles. These are very easy to explore by train on your own. Versailles Palace and Gardens, Fontainebleau or cute towns like Provins or Chantilly are great solo travel destinations for a memorable day.
Written by Arzo (Arzo Travels)
Zurich is one of my favourite solo travel destinations – while I love to visit Zurich at any time of the year (except for the winter), my favourite season is the summer. I am normally not a summer fan but Zurich in the summer is special.
The weather in the summer months can be moody – but most of the time it is warm and sunny and thus perfect to flock to Lake Zurich and spend your days there.
Lake Zurich is so clean and nice that you can take a swim there. It is one of the very few lakes I actually swim in. There are some nice places where you can take a rest, picnic and hop into the water (close to the “Rentenanstalt”).
At the end of the day, head to the other side of the lake and listen to the fun and great musicians – if you want to meet people, this is a great place to do so. Many young people bring their own drinks, sit down, listen to music and enjoy the lovely and friendly atmosphere. It is so easy to talk to people at that time and it is a great way to end a day.
But of course, you can do even more in the summer months: enjoy some hikes to the house mountain Uetliberg, have a coffee in one of the modern and fancy bars at the lake, and decide on which day trips to go. Whether you stay two days in Zurich or longer – in the summer months, you cannot stay long enough!
Written by Becki (Meet Me In Departures)
Spain is one of the easiest solo travel destinations. There’s great food, awesome culture and some fabulous little gems, such as Segovia.
Segovia is a UNESCO listed city you could easily spend a couple of days in, although it’s equally a super easy trip to do from the nation’s capital, Madrid.
Segovia has three main landmarks on offer. First and foremost is the infamous El Acueducto or the Aqueduct of Segovia, said to be built by the devil himself. There is also the Alcazar of Segovia, which looks a little bit like the Magic Kingdom at Disneyland and Segovia Cathedral. Of course, the Aqueduct takes the glory, but there are a ton of other things to see and do in this ancient walled city.
While you are visiting Segovia, you have to call into a cute little cafe called Limón y Mente, just off the Plaza Mayor. They serve a local sweet treat called a ponche segoviano. This delicious treat is a sponge-like cake, with a sweet sticky filling inside. The cake is then covered in marzipan before being dusted with icing sugar. Delicious!
Related: Studying abroad in Spain
Written by Ann Marie (Eco Conscious Traveller)
Thailand is one of those perfect solo travel destinations for people who want to mingle and make friends to travel further afield with! I travelled there on my own and made friends easily. I definitely recommend the islands of Koh Pha Ngan and Koh Tao!
Koh Pha Ngan is famous for its crazy full moon party – if you don’t make it at the right time of the month, there’s also the half moon party and many other moon parties. Koh Tao is an awesome island for diving. If you do a diving course you’ll easily make loads of friends – group activities are always a good way to go for social souls! There’s also a crazy pub crawl on the island starting in a bar called Choppers almost every night of the week so a good option for partying.
Both islands have incredible beaches and I also love the beaches on Railay (Railay’s on the west and Koh Samui and Koh Pha Ngan on the east). If you’re looking for solo travel destinations and really want some time out by yourself there are lots of quieter islands too, such as Koh Chang – a good option not far from Bangkok. Enjoy!
Written by Mike (Live Travel Teach)
One of my favourite solo travel destinations in summer is Java, Indonesia. I personally loved the adventurous volcano hikes and how much more affordable it was than the more touristy Bali. I took public transportation between cities and found guest houses everywhere I went. The people I met told me to watch the sunrise over distant mountains as two volcanoes slowly erupt inside the Tengger Supervolcano. The most famous of these peaks is Mount Bromo, which is constantly erupting, but mild enough that many people hike across the sand sea to the rim.
Mount Ijen is another amazing volcano where you can see a blue fire volcano just a half day away from Mount Bromo. I heard stories of sea turtles hatching along Java’s coast and know many other solo travellers who went all the way north to Borobudur, a 9th century temple and the largest Buddhist temple in the world. Basically, Java has LOTS to do and the great thing about visiting in the summer is that the Indonesian monsoon season doesn’t follow Southeast Asia. Most of the popular solo backpacking spots are getting torrential rains for the summer. Java, however, is pristine at that time of year and should definitely be added to your list!
Written by James (Travel Collecting)
Rajasthan is great for solo travellers, because there are so many opportunities to meet local people and other travellers. A great way to meet local people is to take classes. In Jaipur, you can take a workshop on hand block printing, for example. It’s also possible to learn traditional tie and dye and to take Indian cooking classes. These are also a great way to meet like-minded travellers. You can also do fun activities, like taking a camel safari into the desert and adventure activities such as zip-lining over Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur.
The one downside to travelling in Rajasthan in summer is the heat. I personally like dry desert heat, but it does get very hot. If you need to cool down, head to Mount Abu, where there is a lovely hill station and plenty of other travellers hanging out. Alternatively, go to Udaipur, which is set around a beautiful lake.
Another great way to meet people, cool down and experience Indian culture is to stay at a heritage hotel. Splurge a little on one with a pool; you’re bound to meet other travellers. Many hotels also have rooftop restaurants, with breathtaking views and cooling night breezes. There is so much variety in Rajasthan that every solo traveller should experience it at least once.
Read more: 3 week Rajasthan road trip itinerary
Written by Priyanko (Constant Traveller)
Vietnam is a fabulously cheap solo travel destination for anyone looking for a wholesale immersion into Southeast Asian culture. Summertime is ideal for exploring the breadth of the country, as there is little chance of getting caught in tropical storms. You are likely to find a lot of other solo travellers as well.
If this is your first time in the region, fly in to Ho Chi Minh City first. This is the most ‘Westernised’ city in Vietnam with the tourist district full of great bars and an eclectic nightlife scene. Dip your toes in the country’s history with a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels or take a ride along the Mekong Delta.
Fly in to Hoi An, an impossibly cute city where you are sure to feel like you have time-travelled to the past. The pedestrian area is worth strolling around. From ancient temples to old preserved houses and even cooking classes on offer, this is a city that will stay with you long after you’ve left it.
Come to Hanoi and gorge on the fabulous street food while taking in the sights. From the country’s military history to the embalmed Ho Chi Minh and historic Old City, Hanoi is full of things to see and do. If possible, do try to go on a trek to the mountains of Sapa and take in the sights of Halong Bay before departing the country.
Written by Michael (197 Travel Stamps)
Tokyo is different. It is huge, full of people, quirky, hectic and yet relaxing at the same time. You can walk over world’s busiest pedestrian crossing in Shibuya one minute and relax in Yoyogi Park a minute later.
Tokyo is also a place where tradition and the modern world meet like nowhere else. You can stroll the streets of the traditional Asakusa neighborhood to discover the old way of living in Japan or you can watch the endless lights of Akibahara.
Travelling to Tokyo is a perfect solo travel destination in summer, since you will be able to explore the beauty of the city in perfect weather conditions. I especially like travelling to Tokyo as a solo traveller because I’ve had so many opportunities to meet fellow travellers and engage with them. One of my best experiences was spending a night in a capsule hotel in the neighborhood of Shibuya, one of the best areas to stay in Tokyo. While the entire experience felt so truly Japanese, it was also a great opportunity to meet and start conversations with fellow travellers.
Related: 15 essential experiences for your first time in Tokyo
Written by Marie (Be Marie Korea)
Summer in South Korea gets extremely hot, so it’s best to escape the big cities, like Seoul and Daegu, and make your way to the coast line. The best place to escape to is Busan on the south coast. It is the third-biggest city of South Korea, but, as it is located along the coast, it is much fresher than other major cities. Busan has many stunning beaches and coastline activities like surfing.
Apart from being a great solo travel destination in summer, it is also great for solo travellers all year around. The city is easy to navigate, safe and friendly to foreigners. At one of the many hostels around Haeundae beach, it is easy to meet other travellers and go out together for the evening. It is also quite popular for hostels to organize events and pub crawls, especially in the peak season.
It is recommended to stay at least 2 days in Busan, as there is so much to visit and to see. Book a hostel around Haeundae beach as that’s where all the bars and beach restaurants are.
Written by Jules (Don’t Forget To Move)
In the Indonesian island of Lombok, secluded white sand beaches, gorgeous waterfalls and volcano hikes await the solo traveller looking for a new adventure this summer. This island paradise is just a short trip away from the crowded tourist island of Balii, yet offers so many of the same amazing qualities in a travel destination. Starting in the small tourist hub Kuta Lombok, solo travellers have many opportunities to meet other adventurers or venture off on their own to explore.
If you’re up for a challenge, rent a scooter and head out on a self guided tour of the island. In the south, there are over two dozen stunning beaches that you can get to within an hour’s drive of Kuta Lombok. Each beach is more secluded and isolated than the last. Head inland to find uncrowded waterfalls where it’s just you and Mother Nature admiring the powerful water flowing over the rocks. Or if you’ve had enough of your solo adventures and want to party it up with other crazy tourists, hop a boat over to Gili Trawangan island, where a party awaits every night. With so many things to see in Lombok the only problem you’ll have is fitting them all into your itinerary!
Written by Bradley (Dream Big, Travel Far)
Somewhere I strongly believe all passionate travellers should try to visit in Sri Lanka. Having visited in the summer of 2018, I really was shocked by how many incredible things there were to do there and how breathtakingly beautiful the country was. Best of all, Sri Lankan people are very friendly and welcoming which really helped make for the ultimate getaway.
Which is even better if you are travelling solo and are always looking for friendly new people to meet. There is a very sociable vibe amongst the main backpacking destinations, and you have ample chance to meet fellow travellers and share in adventures. And these adventures can be anything you wish! Around the coast, there are some of the world’s best surf spots.
Then, further inland, there are tonnes of wonderful hiking opportunities that offer up dramatic views. Getting around Sri Lanka is very easy and there are public buses and trains that allow you to get from town to town very quickly and very cheaply. Or for a true solo adventure, you can even rent a tuk tuk and drive yourself around, like I did!
Written by Daniela (Andes and Beyond)
If you’re looking for a different kind of experience this summer, give it a try with Peru’s Amazon rain forest. July, August and September are relatively dry months and therefore a good time to visit this fascinating, wild and yet fragile region of our planet.
Peru’s most popular Amazon tourist destinations are Iquitos, which is situated directly at the Amazon river and can only be reached by plane (or boat), Puerto Maldonado in the south of the country and Tarapoto in the high jungle in Northern Peru.
There are direct flights between Iquitos and Tarapoto but you’d need to fly back to Lima to reach Puerto Maldonado. In all three places, you can either book accommodation in the city and do some half-day or day tours or you can choose a tour of two or more days and stay at a jungle lodge.
As it’s not advisable to venture out alone into the jungle, it doesn’t really matter if you’re travelling solo or not. You’ll be spending quite a bit of time with other people, anyway. Make sure to book with a local company for your tours.
For half-day or day tours, it’s not necessary to make reservations in advance, there are plenty of local options which tend to be cheaper, too. If you have two days left before returning home, I recommend visiting Ica and the Huacachina desert oasis which can easily be reached from Lima by bus.
Written by Daisy (Beyond my Border)
Colombia can be counted among the most beautiful solo travel destinations. During my solo backpacking trip across the country, I fell in love with the country’s gorgeous landscape, fun-loving people, and vast greenery. One of my favourite backpacking towns within Colombia was the Cocora Valley in Salento. Located in the premier coffee region of Colombia, Salento was a calm space that oozed a sense of serenity. Its tranquility and natural beauty are ever more present in Cocora Valley, which is a known valley where hundreds of wax palm trees tower over the small roads along undulating hills.
As a female traveller, I always take precaution prior to a solo trip. I thought Salento and Cocora are both great solo travel destinations not only because of their beauty, but I felt completely safe while embarking upon my backpacking journey. There were lots of other backpackers I met on the road, and plenty of female travellers at that. In addition to coffee bean tours and lots of hiking, you can enjoy the colourful architecture and charming streets. There is a lot to do in and around the town, which makes it the perfect solo travel destination during the summer.
Have you ever travelled by yourself? What’s your favourite solo travel destination in the summer?
Thanks for reading!
-S
PIN IT!
Breathtaking nature, orange wine and bustling cities. What else could you be looking for in your next travel destination? Well, Slovenia has it all. These are my top Slovenia travel tips that will guide you through the holiday of your dreams.
Nobody needs to be convinced that Europe is a popular travel destination. In fact, travel and tourism directly contributed about 14 million jobs to the European economy in 2017.
Read more: My favourite solo travel destinations in Europe
And while that’s great news for Europe, it might make you feel like there are too many tourists. Especially if you’re visiting popular European hotspots like Paris and Rome.
Luckily, you won’t have that problem in some of the more undiscovered European countries – like Slovenia. This country will give you great attractions without the famous European crowds. Think about this:
Slovenia will give you all of the above, but without thousands of people doing the same thing – and for a fraction of the price. And in this article, I’ll tell you all about why I fell in love with Slovenia.
(Click on the links below to go to the relevant section of this blog post!)
On this map, you can find every place that is mentioned in this blog post.
Slovenia travel tips are no use to you if you can’t even get to Slovenia. So here’s a short section on how to get to this hidden gem.
Even though there’s only one airport in the entire country (near its capital Ljubljana), Slovenia is easily accessible by plane from all over Europe. Two low-cost carriers fly to Ljubljana:
Other than that, various ‘regular’ airline carriers fly to Ljubljana, but that will probably cost you a bit more. You may want to consider flying to nearby airports (like Trieste in Italy or Zagreb in Croatia) and taking public transport from there to Ljubljana.
If you don’t mind your trip taking a bit longer or if you want to travel in a more environmentally friendly way, there are various direct trains from Germany, Austria, Italy and Switzerland, among others. This is a great overview of trains to and from Ljubljana by The Man in Seat 61.
Now, this is the part you’ve been waiting for. The actual Slovenia travel tips. So let’s get this show on the road.
As the heading of this section suggests, this will be an overview of places of interest in Slovenia. In other words: whether or not Slovenia is worth a visit. (Spoiler alert: yes, it is.)
I’m not claiming to know the ins and outs of Slovenia, so if you visited recently and know of any place I don’t mention, please let me know in a comment. I’ll be happy to update this post, because I essentially strive to give my audience the most relevant travel tips possible.
The Slovenian capital is mostly known for its reputation as one of the greenest cities of Europe. Whether you’re strolling down its narrow streets or its wide avenues, you’ll feel like you are living in a fairytale.
Some things you can’t miss in Ljubljana: take a stroll along the river Ljubljanica, admire Prešeren Square (Prešernov Trg) and its pink baroque church, walk along the Dragon Bridge and, last but not least, take the cable car up to Ljubljana Castle.
Bled is a small city in the north of Slovenia, mostly known for its lake, with a small island and church in the middle and a castle overlooking the lake from a nearby cliff.
Don’t forget to check out the lake from various viewpoints, hike up to the castle and admire the view, visit the island on the lake and take a trip in a traditional Pletna boat.
About 4 km (2,5 miles) to the north-west of Bled, you’ll find Vintgar Gorge: a gorge-ous ravine along the Radovna river. Vintgar Gorge is a perfect day trip from Bled as it will only take you about half an hour to get there.
In Vintgar Gorge, you’ll see wooden walkways guiding you through the ravine and spectacular natural scenery, and you’ll hear the sounds of birds singing and the water of the river running through the valley.
Lake Bohinj is the second Slovenian lake near Triglav National Park (with Lake Bled being the first). I personally like Lake Bled more than Lake Bohinj, but be sure to judge for yourself.
And although many people might prefer Lake Bled, one aspect of Lake Bohinj alone guarantees a mention in this list: its tranquility. Lake Bohinj is a lot less crowded than Lake Bled is, and it’s often seen to be more authentic and less aimed towards tourists.
With a surface area of over 880 square km (340 square miles), Triglav National Park (often abbreviated to TNP) is one of Europe’s biggest and most admired nature reserves. This park has something for everyone, all year round.
Points of interest include Mount Triglav (which every Slovene is expected to climb at least once in his/her life), Vršič Pass and Pokljuka Plateau.
Now, I’ve given you some pointers as to where to go, but you still don’t really know what to do in Slovenia. And that’s where this four-day travel itinerary comes in.
This is what to do during four laid-back days in Slovenia. (Based on my own trip to Slovenia with one of my best friends this summer)
Our flight to Slovenia arrived in the late afternoon. After arriving at the airport, we took a taxi to our hostel, dumped our bags in our room and went out on the town for dinner.
On your first night, you’ll want to grab dinner at Pop’s Place, a trendy burger bar in Ljubljana’s vibrant city centre. This was for sure one of the best burgers I’ve ever eaten, and they have a large collection of local craft beers as well.
After dinner, check out what Prešeren Square and the Triple Bridge look like at night on the way back to your accommodation.
Related: How to find cheap accommodation as a solo traveller
The first thing you’ll want to do on this morning is to get breakfast at Bazilika Bistro, a small café that serves breakfast and lunch – with loads of vegetarian and vegan options as well.
While you’re on your way to Bazilika, check out the Ursuline Church of the Holy Trinity. In case you’re too hungry to go inside the church, don’t worry. You’re not missing out on a whole lot. The church’s front facade and the adjacent city square are just as impressive, if not more so.
After munching on some banana bread, oatmeal or pie at Bazilika, make your way to Tivoli Park. Admire the flower garden, breathe in the clean green air and rediscover your child-like sense of wonder at the playground. Because shame and regrets are overrated.
Walk back to the city centre (Prešeren Square, Triple Bridge, Ljubljanica) and see what it’s all about during the daytime. Walk along the river Ljubljanica on a street called Cankarjevo nabrežje and find a restaurant for lunch.
Now that you’ve regained the energy you need for an afternoon of exploring, it’s time to discover the old town. Head to Gornji Trg, a beautiful square that’s a lot less crowded than Prešeren Square, but just as interesting.
Get lost in the small cobbled streets around Gornji Trg and find out what Ljubljana is actually like.
Next up on the travel itinerary: Ljubljana Castle (or Ljubljana Grad, as the locals call it). First, take the funicular to go up the hill, or hike it if you’re up for a challenge. Then, admire the view, learn about the history of Ljubljana and enjoy the atmosphere.
Come back down the hill, take a break and have a drink. Because you deserve it.
By now, it’s time to get back to your hostel, Airbnb, hotel, or wherever else you’re sleeping. Freshen up, maybe take a shower or put on some new clothes.
After that, find a restaurant for dinner on your last night in Ljubljana. We opted for TaBar, a tapas restaurant close to Pop’s Place. I strongly recommend you have a glass of orange wine here – or anywhere else, for that matter. And yes, I said orange. While that might sound strange, you’re going to have to trust me on this.
So this is the day you’re leaving Ljubljana for your two day trip to Bled.
So get up, find some breakfast — at your hostel, at a supermarket, at Bazilika — and get ready for the day that’s coming.
Get to the main bus station in Ljubljana (LJUBLJANA AVTOBUSNA POSTAJA), either on foot or by public transport – depending on your accommodation’s location. There are a few different companies offering a coach or bus from Ljubljana to Bled.
You can either buy your bus tickets online or buy them at the counter inside the bus station. The clerk should know just enough English to understand you’re trying to get to Bled.
I recommend you to take the bus in the early afternoon. The bus between Ljubljana and Bled will take just over one hour, which leaves you with plenty of time to locate your accommodation in Bled. (For example, we stayed in this gorgeous Airbnb!)
Related: get a $35 discount for Airbnb by signing up here!
In case you still need to kill some time before your bus gets there, check out Metelkova, a former military headquarters that has been turned into a social and cultural centre.
Grab a quick bite in or around the bus station and board your bus. Just over an hour later, you should arrive at one of Bled’s bus stops, depending on which company you used to get from Ljubljana to Bled.
Once you’ve settled in your accommodation, dropped off your bags and freshened up, it’s time to head to the supermarket and pick up some snacks and drinks.
As for the rest of the day, you can fill it in as you please. This is your free afternoon and night, if you will. We hung around our Airbnb, made dinner and hit the hay early for once, so that we’d be well rested for day four.
This was the day I was most looking forward to. And you’ll soon find out why that is.
You should be set for breakfast, since you went to the supermarket on day 3 and presumably bought some granola, bread or other breakfast food.
Your next destination is Vintgar Gorge. Now, I can hear you thinking: “How do I get from Bled to Vintgar Gorge?” Well, there are a few options:
If you feel like you need some energy before you enter the park, there’s a small restaurant at the entrance where you can get some food or drinks.
Once you’ve gotten to Vintgar Gorge, pay the €5 entry fee (cash only!) and feast your eyes on the gorgeous — excuse the pun — scenery around you.
For your way back from Vintgar Gorge to Bled, you have the same options as before. If you’re feeling too tired to walk, you might want to call a cab – like we did.
By now, it’s lunchtime. Find a restaurant in Bled and feast.
The following Bled activities can be experienced in any order you want, so I’ll just give you the information you need and you’ll have to decide when you want to do what.
After getting the most out of your visit to Bled, head back to your Airbnb, hostel or apartment and cook dinner for the last time before you head back home.
Now, if you really need to ask me if Slovenia is worth a visit after reading all of this, I don’t think this last bit is going to convince you.
But yes, you should definitely visit this European hidden gem. This list of Slovenia travel tips should get you well on your way to plan the ultimate adventure there.
Disclaimer: I am aware of the fact that Slovenia is more than Ljubljana and Bled. But so far, I have only visited these places, so I don’t feel comfortable giving you advice on any other destinations in Slovenia.
Thanks for reading!
-S
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Whenever I tell people I like to travel by myself, I get one of two reactions. It’s always either “Wow, I could never do that” or “Are you sure that’s safe?”, and I’m frankly tired of explaining to people that I don’t travel solo because I have no friends or because nobody wants to travel with me.
Here are some reasons why I wouldn’t recommend travelling alone, because it’s really not for everyone.
Solo travel is for people who are not afraid to talk to strangers. People who feel comfortable initiating a conversation with someone they’ve never talked to and who don’t fear rejection and embarrassment.
If you would self-identify as an introvert, don’t travel by yourself. If you would rather curl up on your couch and immerse yourself in the newest J.K. Rowling novel than be out at the club, sipping on a G&T and showing off your dance moves, don’t travel solo.
Solo travel is expensive. There. I said it.
Eating out for one is more expensive. You’ll have to deal with the single supplement. You won’t be able to take advantage of certain deals.
If you don’t have a bit of money saved up to splurge on a nice trip to treat yourself, don’t travel alone. Because the fact is that you will need that money, especially as a solo traveller. You’ll be more prone to unexpected situations that could cost you a lot of money and you won’t have anybody else to fall back on to solve those problems.
All I’m saying is you shouldn’t trust resources like my free ebook about cheap solo travel. They’re empty words and all they’re doing is selling a pipe dream that is too good to be true.
When I talk to women about travelling alone, they tell me they’re too concerned about their safety abroad to take the leap and travel solo.
Honestly, I don’t blame them.
I’m not going to sit here at my desk while writing this blog post and tell you that solo travel is safe, let alone for a woman travelling alone. You are absolutely taking a risk and anyone who tries to convince you otherwise is either very naive or just plain ignorant.
There are plenty of blog posts that give solo female travellers tips to stay safe. Why do you think there are so many of them? (Answer: because they’re needed.)
The most selfish thing you can do as a traveller is leave everyone you care about behind.
What do you mean, you’re not taking anyone else on this trip? Do you really want to deprive your family and all your friends of a wonderful holiday with you?
Solo travel is really only for selfish people. So please don’t embark on a solo adventure if you’re selfless. You’ll hate yourself for making that decision and you’ll hurt the ones you care about most.
Speaking from experience, you’ll get lonely as a solo traveller. Especially if you’re an introverted solo traveller.
I’ve written about making friends as a solo traveller and made it seem like that wasn’t hard. But it is. Making friends with strangers is one of the most difficult things I had to face on my first solo trip to Dublin.
And don’t even get me started on getting homesick. I know it’s counterintuitive for a travel blogger to get homesick when travelling, but it’s the reality. If you’re even a tiny bit like me, you’ll want to go back home the moment your trip starts. Don’t travel alone.
You will have to sacrifice time and money to travel alone. That’s not an opinion, it’s just a fact.
You’ll need to take time off. Precious time during which you could be working on your next project or starting new projects. You’ll be letting everyone at work down by leaving them for a certain amount of time, disrupting the natural flow of things.
You’ll need to have some money saved up, as I mentioned above. But just saving the money isn’t enough – you need to be comfortable with using that money to finance your trip. Gone are the hours of work you put in to make that money. I’m just saying.
So, if you really think your career is important to you, you might want to reconsider taking this solo trip.
It’s a tough world out there, and that statement only gets more true the older you get.
You’ll find that your accommodation options get more limited as you grow older and expect, or even need, more comfort.
The general rule of thumb is this: if you’re older than 25, it’s not worth it. You can get a sense of adventure from somewhere else, but please don’t travel on your own.
You understand sarcasm.
If it wasn’t clear yet, the main point I was trying to get across in this blog post was that solo travel is absolutely a possibility for everyone. Not everyone will want to be on the road alone, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have the option.
Every reason I mentioned here has been debunked.
Solo travel is not inherently expensive.
Travelling by yourself is not selfish.
Women can absolutely travel alone. In fact, female solo travel is one of the most popular branches of the blogging world, with great bloggers like The Blonde Abroad, Be My Travel Muse, Adventurous Kate and Young Adventuress, among many others. Just throwing it out there.
If you really want to embark on a solo adventure, don’t listen to all the people who try to bring up arguments why you shouldn’t do it. If your heart is telling you to take the leap, do it.
Note: this blog post is based on a chapter of the Solo Travel Handbook (Lonely Planet). If you are considering solo travel, this book is a great starting point.
In case this blog post hasn’t made the idea of solo travel completely unappealing to you, sign up to my newsletter below and you’ll get 10 of my best tips to help you rock your first solo trip.
Thanks for reading!
-S
With over 3.5 million inhabitants, Berlin is one of the biggest cities in Europe. Besides heavy traffic and a very well-thought-out public transport system, that means that there is a lot to do here. The reasons why you should visit Berlin will quickly become clear if you keep reading. This is my three-day, off-the-beaten-path Berlin itinerary for solo travellers.
Note: this post will be something between ‘what I did in Berlin’ and ‘what you should do in Berlin’. That being said, if I recommend a hostel, a restaurant, a café or an activity, it’s because I enjoyed it there. But it’s also because that’s what I did. Feel free to use this Berlin itinerary as a starting point and make your own travel itinerary according to your wants and needs.
I was in Berlin in February 2019, from Monday until Friday. However, I didn’t really get to do any things worth mentioning on Monday or on Friday because of my flight times. For that reason, I’m only including three full days in this itinerary.
This 3-day Berlin itinerary will give you a good idea of what to do in Berlin and what you can expect on a trip to the German capital.
Visiting Berlin off-the-beaten-path doesn’t mean that you can’t visit popular tourist attractions. It just means that you don’t want to spend your entire trip looking at them.
If you’re like me, you’re not fundamentally against popular attractions. You don’t stay away from the Eiffel Tower in Paris or Dam Square in Amsterdam just because many people visit them. After all, there’s a reason why tourist attractions are so popular.
So, since these attractions are still appealing, even when thousands of people lay eyes upon them every day, we’re going to cram the most important sights of Berlin into one day.
Day 1: Morning
After settling into Berlin, you’re going to check out a guided tour of Berlin during the wars of the 20th century.
Day 1: Afternoon
Now it’s time for the bare Berlin essentials. DDR Museum, Bebelplatz, Gendarmenmarkt, Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Brandenburger Tor and Reichstag Building. It’s going to be a busy afternoon.
Note: I didn’t include Checkpoint Charlie in this day (or anywhere else in this Berlin itinerary) because I personally believe it’s not worth a visit. It’s become too much of a tourist trap recently and it’s supposedly really underwhelming.
I told you to get up early, right? You’ll see why that is if you just keep reading. But let me tell you: it’ll be worth it.
Day 2: Morning
This morning, your main project is to visit the abandoned children’s hospital Kinderkrankenhaus Weißensee. You might think “But why would I want to visit a place like that?” and the answer is simple. Street art.
Related: Why I decided to visit an abandoned children’s hospital
Day 2: Afternoon
The next things you should be looking forward to are a free alternative walking tour, guided by locals, and an exhibition about the human body.
The last day of this Berlin itinerary will have you exploring some famous abandoned sites in Berlin, as well as checking out an iconic remainder of the Cold War and an indoor street food market.
Day 3: Morning
Day 3: Afternoon
This is the end of my 3-day solo Berlin itinerary. Hopefully, it’s given you some ideas for things to do in Berlin ‘off the beaten track’, because the German capital is more than just Checkpoint Charlie and Brandenburger Tor.
However, a Berlin itinerary is not the only thing I’m giving you in this post. Although you could stop reading right now if you wanted to. I won’t be offended – and I’d likely never find out anyway.
How expensive is a city trip to Berlin? How long should I save up for this trip?
Luckily for you, I kept track of literally all my expenses while I was in Berlin. So, this is not only a Berlin itinerary, but it also gives you an answer to the question “Is Berlin expensive?”
Honestly, it is quite expensive, but Berlin prices tend to be very similar to any other major western European city.
Note: I used an app called Tripcoin to keep track of my expenses. My flight to Berlin touched down at 2:30 pm on Monday and my flight back home departed in Berlin at 11:05 am.
This is everything I spent that had anything to do with my trip to Berlin.
I know this might sound like a lot, but for a 5-day solo city trip to a big city in western Europe, I’d say it could have been a lot worse.
If you want to splurge on a nice hotel and a fancy restaurant, be my guest. If you want to spend as little money as possible, be my guest. The point of travelling solo is that you can do whatever the hell you want to, so I’m not going to sit here and tell you how much money you should spend in Berlin.
I’m just giving you this information so that you can decide for yourself.
There — now you know why Berlin has become one of my favourite cities to spend time alone in Europe.
Have you ever been to Berlin? What did you think of it?
If you haven’t gone to Berlin, would you consider going there? Why (not)?
Thanks for reading!
-S
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Bali has been in many travel guide books for years now. Maybe too many. The Indonesian island has been receiving travellers from all over the world, taking in the breakfast bowl / salty hair / hipster aesthetic and wanderlusting their way through life. I joined their ranks this summer, and I was in awe at this Indonesian island. That’s why I’ve come up with a few reasons why you should visit Bali – and a few reasons why you shouldn’t.
When I was planning the blog posts that I would write about my travels this summer (I also went to Japan, by the way!), I just couldn’t seem to come up with a good blog post idea for Bali. Since it’s been so popular among travellers lately, it seemed like everything that could have been written about this island has actually been written and I had nothing more to add.
But after a while, I noticed that there weren’t many posts that highlighted both the positive and negative aspects of Bali. Most posts either focused on why Bali is worth a visit or why Bali is not worth a visit.
In this article, I’m taking the middle road and leaving the final decision up to you. These are the main reasons why I believe Bali should and shouldn’t be on your bucket list.
Before you continue reading: watch this Bali travel video I made to get you in the mood for this article. You won’t regret it.
Here’s an overview of everything I talk about in this post, in case you want to skip ahead and read one specific part (just click one of the links below!)
The food scene in Indonesia is unreal. Nasi goreng, beef rendang, chicken satay, not to mention the trendy breakfast bowls that are served daily in hipster cities like Canggu.
There are so many restaurants in Bali worth a visit that you’ll probably barely scratch the tip of the culinary iceberg that is Indonesia.
Also, if you’re used to paying $20+ for a meal, Bali restaurants are heaven on earth. So. Ridiculously. Cheap.
Also #2: breakfast bowls. That’s it.
One of the best things to do in Canggu (or any other city on the island, probably) is to get a massage.
Throughout our five full days on the island, we got three massages. Just throwing this out there to give you an idea.
If you truly want to relax and let go of any kind of stress or tension you have bottled up inside, a massage parlour on Bali is the perfect place for that.
There is nothing better to help you relax after a long, strenuous day of hiking around Bali than getting a foot massage. There’s something soothing about having a stranger rub your feet with essential oils and feeling the pressure leave your body.
Bali massage prices are definitely way cheaper than comparable services in Europe and Northern America. For a 1-hour full body massage, you’ll be set back between 60,000 and 100,000 IDR (about 4-7 USD). For a 30-minute foot massage (which I also highly recommend), you’ll pay about 50,000 IDR (about 3.50 USD).
Still wondering what to do in Bali?
If you’ve got a day left to spare, why not consider leaving the island and taking a day trip to Nusa Penida?
Nusa Penida is an island that is located southeast of Bali and can be easily reached by boat, crossing the Badung Strait. You’ll have to get to Sanur Harbor in Denpasar (ask your taxi driver to help you get there) and then spend about 30 minutes on a speed boat before arriving at your destination.
A Nusa Penida day trip will show you everything that’s worth a visit on the island, and it will also include some – how do I say this – interesting roads. (Read: wobbly and headache-inducing)
Notable sights in Nusa Penida include Kelingking Beach (you’ll know this one from all the Instagram photos), Broken Beach, Angel’s Billabong and Crystal Bay. All of these can be combined easily on a fairly cheap organised day trip, including your own personal driver to take you all around the island.
Bali rice fields are great.
I might just be saying this because I haven’t seen rice paddies anywhere else, but still. I recommend the Tegallang Rice Terraces (about 20 minutes north of Ubud), because you’re able to really walk between the fields and see some locals.
Of course, locals know that these rice paddies are popular among tourists and they try their best to make some money out of it. However, I can still say that Tegallang was the most beautiful rice fields I have seen. So far.
Tip: if you want to take a picture of a local farmer in traditional clothes, you might want to reconsider. As I said before, locals know that their rice fields are popular, and they exploit this knowledge. If you do take a picture of one of them, they’ll expect you to pay up and they won’t leave you until you do.
You might not agree with me if you’ve been to Bali yourself. And I completely get that. After all, local taxi drivers and market/street vendors will always try to find a way to get you to spend some of your hard-earned money on their products. And they probably won’t be very nice and approachable about it.
However, I still strongly believe that the Balinese people are some of the friendliest and most helpful people out there.
One of the most popular things to do in Ubud is without a doubt the monkey sanctuary. In this forest-like terrain, monkeys roam around freely (and sometimes they even try to steal stuff from oblivious travellers’ backpacks).
A visit to Ubud monkey forest is a welcome respite from days of going through traffic in the back of a cab, wondering whether or not today is the day you die in a car crash.
The monkeys have a better training than many people give them credit for. They won’t jump on you, become aggressive or steal from you unless they are provoked. And even if something does happen, the park is guarded by many attentive rangers who have years of experience attending to these monkeys.
Besides, at an entrance fee of only 50,000 IDR (3.50 USD), it’s a steal.
If you’re looking for an authentic view of what Indonesian people are actually like, Bali isn’t the place to be.
As I mentioned before, the Balinese know that their island is immensely popular among Australian, American and European tourists. And they take no shame in using this knowledge to get them some extra pocket money (see also the ‘local farmer’ who posed for pictures with travellers at the rice fields).
If you’re looking for things to do on Bali that haven’t been done a million times by thousands of people yet, you’re going to be looking for quite a while.
I’m not saying that visiting Bali off-the-beaten-path is an unattainable dream that you shouldn’t pursue if you really feel like it.
Everyone who went to Bali has gotten a massage and sat by the beach at Kuta or Canggu. But that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t do it.
Now, this is one of my personal main reasons why Bali is not worth a visit.
Although the people of Bali are generally very kind and accommodating to travellers, Bali is probably not a place where you’ll feel safe and secure as a foreign traveller.
For starters, traffic is crazy. I’m not exaggerating. Cars pass each other left and right on the highway, lanes don’t seem to have any significance and turn signals are not a thing, apparently. And I haven’t even talked about the scooters yet. (More on that later)
This goes without saying, but don’t try to smuggle drugs into Bali. You’ll be faced with massive cash fines and long jail sentences.
Be wary of taxi drivers and street vendors who try to get your attention in order to sell things to you. Once you give them some kind of attention (even just making eye contact or saying ‘No, thank you’ will encourage them), they’ll be difficult to get rid of. Just completely ignore them and move on.
I think you get the gist. I didn’t feel safe in Bali, and chances are that you won’t either.
I promised you more explanation about the problem of heavy traffic in Bali, right? Here it is.
Don’t go to Bali if you’re looking for a week of fun cruising through the island on a rental scooter, unless you’re a highly experienced scooter driver.
On our short stay in Bali, and especially on Nusa Penida, we saw several western-looking travel couples on scooters with bloody and bruised limbs. Admittedly, these might be from other accidents that had nothing to do with Bali, but there were too many for it to be a coincidence.
It’s no fun driving a scooter through rice paddies if you’re injured. Be very careful if you do decide to rent a scooter. Or, better yet, save yourself the trouble and don’t rent a scooter at all. There are plenty of other things to do in Bali.
You know which pictures I’m talking about. The ones on Instagram that show a pretty, tanned blonde girl in an infinity pool, turning her back to the camera, sipping on a coconut cocktail and overlooking the lush rice terraces of Bali.
The truth is, this isn’t what Bali actually looks like. Social media is giving us a false image of travel, and while social media-fueled tourism might be a good thing for local economies, it could lead to disappointment on the part of travellers convinced by this exact idealised image.
Yes, there are beautiful sights to be seen and wonderful things to do in Bali. But the road to these sights is paved with ugly concrete and garbage on the sidewalk.
I went to the beach in Bali twice. And I wasn’t impressed.
Tip: if you’re going to Canggu and you’re not planning on taking surfing classes, don’t go to Batu Bolong Beach. It’s not worth it.
You see, back in Belgium, I grew up in a coast city. Which means that it essentially takes a lot for a beach to impress me. The only beach that I saw during my week in Bali that came close to impressing me wasn’t even in Bali.
Kelingking Beach (Nusa Penida) looked great from up above. The beach down below doesn’t have a lot of people, because it takes a hell of a pathway to get down to the bottom. We didn’t get down, but at least it looked nice from a distance.
Undoubtedly, there are plenty of wonderful beaches in Bali, hidden away from the public. However, we were only in Bali for about six days, so we didn’t really get a chance to discover these.
If you really want to know what I think about it: yes. Bali is overrated. But you shouldn’t abstain from visiting Bali just because I say it’s overrated. I also think there are many things worth seeing and discovering in Bali, and in the end, it’s really your own personal decision.
This whole post boils down to this one question, and the truth is that it’s up to you to decide. You have to ask yourself “Is Bali worth a visit?” and come up with an answer before you make the decision to travel there.
My only hope is that this post might shed some light on the actual condition of the Indonesian island, so that you can make an informed decision for yourself.
Would you still want to visit Bali after reading this post? Why (not)? Let me know in a comment!
Thanks for reading!
-S
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