Ten Places to Travel Solo Right Now

For the first time since the Covid situation interrupted the travel plans of those of us hopelessly addicted to the exploration of other cultures, this summer is almost like the summer of 2019 but without the crowds and with a very appreciative group of Schengen countries who are open for business! You can travel solo, but not alone with any of the wonderful tours offered by companies like Globus Journeys or Gate1.

I have personally done tours and trips to Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Amsterdam, France, Israel and Jordan…all since September of 2021 and have enjoyed every moment of each adventure. Early on there were some issues with mask protocol and pre-trip Covid testing status but there is little of that now in July of 2022. Vaccination status continues to be an issue and can be a deal-breaker with most if not all tour companies and cruise lines so if you are vaccine averse, you’ll have problems. For those of us who are not, the world is open for business!

Here are my Top Ten Recommendations for European Senior Solo Travel Abroad Right Now:

1. Portugal
2. Ireland
3. Switzerland
4. Austria
5. France
6. The Netherlands
7. Belgium
8. Spain
9. Iceland
10. Greece

And why?

Portugal has an amazing history and celebrates its explorers with the Monument to the Discoveries among others, and then there is the Portuguese Riviera: Cascais, Cape Roca and the Queluz Palace. It’s also charming, safe for the solo female traveler and the tapas places offer great food along with a neighborhood style of hospitality.

Dublin is another city offering that “neighborhood’ pub-crawl feeling and a casual fish n’chips vibe with your mates but it is chock full of history that you can hardly keep from tripping over (make absolutely sure you visit Trinity College and the Book of Kells) but there are all of these amazing natural wonders to visit that are within a day’s drive (like the Cliffs of Moher) along with the unspeakably adorable towns like Adare and Killarney and Blarney (yes, that stone).

There is no place in Switzerland that is not breathtakingly beautiful, impeccably polite and the definition of pristine. And safe. And the food is spectacular. Did I mention it is like living in a postcard? It is. Pick a city, you cannot go wrong. Interlaken, Lucerne, Berne, Zermatt, Geneva, Zurich and all points north south east or west.

Austria has the spectacular cities of Vienna and Salzburg. Walkable, crammed with museums and wonderful restaurants. Streets filled with shops and cafes stocked with the most beautiful pastries on the planet. And the streets very safe, well lit, busy at all hours. Solo female travel-friendly.

Ah France, just spent three weeks and wish it had been six. Better, wish I had an apartment so I could pop back and forth. On this adventure I fell in love with Saint Malo (this traveling broad recommends reading the lusciously descriptive spectacular storytelling in the novel All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr for more of the area’s context), the Medoc Region and it’s luscious wines, and AIX…just AIX. You’ll know.

Amsterdam, city of a million bicycles, the Rijksmuseum, the coffee shops that are not really, canals so picturesque it’ll break your heart and, yes, windmills! And did I mention walkable and very safe? And great food? That too.

Belgium gets a nod for it’s chocolate and lace certainly but ohmygosh the country has so much to see. Bruges and Brussels need a couple of days each and there’s The Grand Place and of course you have to see the Manneken Pis…and I had the best moules and frites I’ve ever had in my life. You will be told about the origin of the Belgian Fry, NOT historically attributable to the French. This is turning into a food post but I have to mention Belgian waffles. It was remarkable to watch them being mixed, baked ( or whatever you call what they do in a waffle-maker) and then topped with a variety of toppings and combinations that would challenge all but the most organized chef.

Sevilla and her Plaza de Espana offers some serious beauty including the Casa de Pilates and a walk through the Santa Cruz quarter. A visit to the Seville Cathedral and Columbus’s Tomb is a must. Public transport makes everything accessible and the city is well lit at all hours. Put Flamenco on the list as well and find yourself a place to enjoy a traditional Andalusian dinner…which will not be a problem as there are so many charming restaurants.

Iceland is a treasure trove of natural wonders, the guidebooks all mention Blue Lagoon and glacier hiking but every view is spectacular and crime is practically non-existent, another plus for the solo senior traveler. Snorkeling options abound and I understand there’s a wonderful foodie culture with food truck tours and walkabout restaurant specialities.

I’ve included Greece because there are SO many affordable trips to these iconic islands available right now, most of them include cruising which is always a great option for the solo traveler, senior or not. Cruise lines haven’t done a great job of marketing to us but they do offer a variety of ports of call including Athens, Mykonos and Santorini, all white washed and ready to host the cast of Mama Mia! You can’t NOT have a great time in Greece. It’s just not possible.