@Finley
Central Greece (Meteora) and the islands (especially Santorini) are amazing, with great people.
London, Scotland, and Ireland might be a lot for two weeks. I’d suggest either London and southern England or a combination of London and Scotland, flying into London and flying out from Scotland. Have you thought about tours? They could be safer in Egypt, and maybe at other places, you’d meet people. Anywhere in Europe is pretty safe as long as you stay aware of your surroundings. Pickpockets are the main concern.
I’m a woman from the USA, and I’ve traveled alone to Paris, London, and Dublin, and I loved it! Especially Paris and Dublin. You can absolutely do it! They’re easy solo destinations with lots to see, so you’ll stay busy. If it’s your first time solo and you only speak English, London, Scotland, and Ireland might be the cosiest fit. They have good transportation.
I like to take at least one day trip that’s a guided tour outside the crowded cities. For instance, in Ireland, I did a guided tour to the Cliffs of Moher, where a shuttle picked us up, and they made it really fun.
I went to Amsterdam for my first solo trip, and I absolutely loved it! It was super easy to get around, and I felt safe the entire time. Everyone spoke English, which eased my worries.
Avoid Egypt. Consider visiting Portugal, Spain, or Croatia.
Daryn said:
Avoid Egypt. Consider visiting Portugal, Spain, or Croatia.
I completely agree about Portugal. I visited in 2022 with my wife, and we felt safe the whole time. It’s a beautiful country from top to bottom and not too expensive!
@Finlo
How long did you stay in Portugal? Any suggestions?
Cameron said:
@Finlo
How long did you stay in Portugal? Any suggestions?
I found Lisbon easy to explore, and there are lots of English speakers. The food is great too. I haven’t been to other cities, and I doubt I’d spend more than five days in Lisbon. I’d prefer Spain (like Sevilla, Granada, or any Catalonian city) or France (Paris for a few days and then more time in the countryside or seaside towns, but I speak French which is helpful. Scotland is also a personal favorite, though I don’t like London – it’s too crowded and the transport is tough).
Good for you! I’m proud of you for taking this step on your own!
I would recommend starting with Scotland and Ireland. And it’s not just because I’m Scottish. You won’t have language issues, but it’s different enough that you’ll feel like you’ve experienced something new.
Feel free to message me if you have questions. I’d be happy to help.
@kb110659
Thanks for the motivation! Any tips for Scotland? Would love to hear your thoughts.
Cameron said:
@kb110659
Thanks for the motivation! Any tips for Scotland? Would love to hear your thoughts.
Edinburgh seems like the perfect choice. It’s beautiful, and you could easily spend a few days there.
I completely agree with everyone that you should skip Egypt. Traveling solo as a woman in Europe should be easy and a good beginning. If you’re nervous about your first solo trip, consider a shorter weekend trip to a closer destination. It’s not for everyone, and that’s alright. There are group travel options for all interests, ages, etc., in case you find solo travel is not your thing. You didn’t ask, and sorry if you already know this, but as someone who started traveling solo internationally at 21, I have a few tips: put your itinerary with hotel, flight, and train details in a Google doc and share it with someone. Leave copies of your passport, credit cards, etc., at home. Share your location with someone if you have an iPhone (not sure how it works on Android). Check in daily with a friend. Consider registering your trip with your government’s state department; it might sound odd, but I’ve heard stories of people in unexpected situations in other countries who received useful information. This might seem overkill, but it helped ease my mind knowing someone was looking out for me. I’ve traveled alone all over the world, and I wouldn’t swap those moments for anything.
How adventurous are you, and how comfortable are you dealing with different cultures? When I went to Egypt, I never felt unsafe, but for Americans without a lot of experience in different cultures, it could be tough, especially as a woman who might not be Arabic. If language is a big factor, UK, Scotland, or Ireland is the way to go. English is commonly spoken in the Netherlands and Belgium too, less in France depending on the city you stay in.
@Baer
I consider myself adventurous (but everyone defines it differently), but honestly, I don’t know what I don’t know. I think city vibes and language are my main concerns. I’ve traveled a lot but not much solo. I’m still new to this.
@Cameron
I spent a week in France last year, both in and outside Paris. A couple of times I needed a translator app (mostly for transit), but my high school French from 20 years ago was usually enough alongside English.
Paris has an edge because public areas are easy to find. Keep up basic safety tips for touristy, pickpocket-prone areas, and your instincts will guide you.
@Marlowe
Do you have an itinerary for that trip? It sounds like it was fun and relaxing.
Cameron said:
@Marlowe
Do you have an itinerary for that trip? It sounds like it was fun and relaxing.
Yes, but you’ll never replicate it.
I arrived Saturday after a red-eye from Atlanta on Air France. Their 777-200 is a bit outdated, and they keep the business class cabin a little warm. The later business class flight on their A350 was much nicer. Checked into a hotel (could only get Hyatt Place CDG, which is okay), freshened up, then went to Musee de l’Air et l’Espace. Took an Uber near the École Militaire for a wrestling event (yes, told you it was unrepeatable!). Strolled around for dinner, then wandered to Marathon Pour Tous (where they let anyone run the marathon route at night – it was set up, so why not?) up to the Louvre for the flame. Honestly, it was more beautiful than I’d expected. Glad to hear they’re planning to light it again this summer.
On Sunday, I woke up late - too late. Scrambled to catch the second half of the weightlifting final (that ticket was only $25!). Had lunch at a deli then moved to Station Afrique, a setup for several African nations in a local park for nationals. It was the games’ last day, and very few events were left, but those usually get lively in the evenings. Oh well, I saw a different corner of Paris. Dinner at another deli because I needed the restroom, then over to Stade de France for the closing ceremony. Ended up on the Tom Cruise corner, who knew? Took a mix of RER and Ubers back to the hotel to cut costs.
Monday, I got up slowly, headed to the airport, then took the RER into the city. Had lunch at a café, did a bit of shopping, and hit the Centre Pompidou (not many museums are open on Mondays). Liked the larger works better but they have something for everyone. Did some shopping, and wandered down past Hotel de Ville before reaching Arc de Triomphe. At the northwest corner, there’s a pedestrian subway to the center of the roundabout, then you can either take the stairs (or figured out later, the elevator). It’s beautiful, plus it holds the unknown soldier underneath. Quite a bit to see. A nice dinner and headed towards the Eiffel Tower, but skipped going up since my legs were shot from walking so much. Just took some photos and back to the hotel.
Next day, checked out of the Hyatt Place, back to CDG and returning the rental car. (Pro tip, EVs are ready in France, with great infrastructure - my rental car had a fob to tap for charging, easy to use.) I got an international driving permit in the US (any AAA office will do), then hit the motorway. First stop was Reims to check out a race course I saw in a Tim Traveler video. Took a few shots from the roadside before continuing to Charleville-Mézières, where I found lots of interesting pit stops for breaks and photos. Ended the night in Verdun since I have family there; it was something I wanted to see. I found a fast charger outside the town at a Ford dealership since the hotel wasn’t great about charging. Could have parked closer but I was uncertain about my plans. Dinner was great except I accidentally chose something that didn’t suit my palate. Wandered to the memorial then back to the hotel as it started to rain.
The next day, packed the car again and drove to where the old army camp was after WWII, and went into the cathedral (amazing!). Grabbed lunch before heading back to CDG, but I ran late and Air France wouldn’t let me check in or board. Returned the car with too little charge, which was a double whammy. Luckily, I had enough Flying Blue miles to rebook for the next day. FaceTimed my boss from the drop-off lane to explain I wouldn’t be remote as expected (he joked saying I’d definitely be remote). Then FaceTimed my wife, who expected me home that night. I told my boss it was good practice for delivering that news. My wife insisted I enjoy myself, so I booked a room at Hyatt Regency Paris Étoile for the night. It’s one of the few tall buildings in Paris, giving amazing views. I booked it with club access, so went to the top floor for a late snack and to cool down. Already had my Paris visit plans laid out when it was getting darker, so I opted for comfort mode. Walked to an Italian place nearby (many local places cater to tourists - English and French were both very common), bought a few items from a market and returned to enjoy the view from my window with Culturebox (an arts channel) on.
The next morning, had breakfast on the top floor before leaving at 8:30. Caught a bus and RER back to the airport and made sure my passport was stamped out of EU by 10:10, just in time for my 2PM departure. Air France offered an upgrade from economy to Premium Economy for about $300, which was ideal for a 6-foot, 250-pound guy. I had SkyTeam Elite Plus status at that time, so I used the lounge to relax a bit before the flight to Atlanta. The flight was smooth, and upon landing, I grabbed some Waffle House before heading home. Yes, breakfast in Paris while looking at the Eiffel and dinner at Waffle House.
Additional notes:
- No, I didn’t visit the Louvre this time, but I went a couple of years back for my honeymoon. You could easily spend a whole day there; we barely tapped out after one wing.
- That honeymoon was around New Year’s when we also stayed in the Hyatt Regency. If you walk up Avenue de la Grande Armée towards the Arc, you’ll see the fireworks with much less crowd than if you wandered along the Champs Élysées.
- Transit in Paris is the way to go. Ubers are pricey, and it’s a hassle to reach the airport.
- Paris boasts excellent parks and green spaces, plus public water taps to fill bottles. Take breaks as you need.
- Even if you pick different places from my suggestions, visiting smaller cities is absolutely worth it.
If you’re feeling stressed, maybe try a short solo trip within the US first. It will help you gain confidence before traveling to new places.
There are tour groups aimed at women. I would check them out for your first solo trip. Also, look into Road Scholar tours; they’re fantastic! I once stayed in a Rome apartment for a month with my best friend. It was our base camp, and we enjoyed taking trains and buses across the country. It was a great trip, and together we had more fun than if I had traveled solo.
@Ben
Any suggestions for group tours besides Road Scholar?