7 great places for solo travelers in Europe

With its endlessly varied nations, myriad cultures, captivating cities, spectacular national parks and long list of outdoor pursuits, Europe has long been a favorite solo travel destination for people of all ages. If sampling solo travel is one of your New Year's resolutions, this continent is the perfect place to go it alone when you travel.

But with so many countries to explore, narrowing down exactly where to take your solo sojourn can be tough. Luckily, one of the perks of traveling alone is that you'll never have to let someone else make the decision for you, so follow your heart to some of the continent's most unique and intriguing places.

To help you narrow down your wishlist, we asked our expert writers to share their recommendations for the best places to travel solo in Europe. Here are their top picks.

1. Sicily, Italy

Recommended by Nicola Williams

On an island where kaleidoscopic cultural and historical riches are all-consuming, travel companions can risk becoming a tiresome distraction. Solo Sicily is unfettered joy. Its sparky combo of seaside, mountains, sassy food, sun-filled wine and lava-spitting volcanoes means you never "get bored." Indeed, there is a deeply moving aura to this sun-scorched island lapped by three seas. It inspires quiet contemplation and a reassuring ease with one’s own company.

Start your journey on the Ionian Coast in Sicily’s hypnotic east. Join a guide on a hike up the explosive slopes of Mt Etna and locals at Catania’s chaotic fish market, or savor vino bursting with sunshine in volcanic vineyards. If you’re a drama queen, star-lit performances at ancient Greek theaters in Syracuse and Taormina will leave you spellbound for days – as will the paradise-on-earth Aeolian archipelago, with cobalt-blue waters and clandestine coves to match every mood and moment.

In the west, island capital Palermo weaves captivating stories in the glittering gold mosaics of the Cappella Palatina at Palazzo dei Normanni, while Stanze al Genio – the unusual palazzo home and majolica tile museum of an art collector – is one of Italy’s loveliest solo B&B stays. Ditto for the oddly romantic, evocative quarry garden Giardino dell’Impossible with enchanting rooms on butterfly-shaped Favignana.

2. Naxos, Greece

Recommended by Helen Iatro

With its white sand beaches and shallow seas, you’d be forgiven for thinking Naxos is exclusively for families. But the Cyclades’ largest isle has set its sights on luring in solo travelers to experience its myriad attractions – from a fortified capital and farm-to-table cuisine to dopamine-spiking water sports.

Start with a walk through Hora – the island's medieval main town – and admire the Venetian-era Glezos and Della Rocca Barozzi towers. Next, try your hand at windsurfing with an expert instructor at Flisvos Sport Club on Agios Georgios beach. If two wheels are more your style, join a Naxos Bikes e-bike and hike tour through olive groves to Mt Zeus, the island’s highest point at 1003m (3290ft).

Afterward, make a stop at Halki village to sample Naxos’ aromatic PDO citron liqueur at a local distillery. Immerse yourself further in the island’s culinary traditions with a visit to a dairy farm hosted by Philema Food Tours. You’ll chat with farmers, feed the animals and assist in making Naxos’ hallmark arseniko cheese.

With tummy sated, center yourself with sunset yoga on the beach in Mikri Vigla. Soul in Motion’s Melina Rigopoulos leads sessions from June to September, along with occasional retreats.

3. Aix-en-Provence, France

Recommended by Nicola Williams

Going it alone in the notoriously feisty metropolis of Marseille in France’s hot south is not for everyone. Meandering the graceful boulevards of its cleaner, safer, slower-paced little sister – just a 45-minute bus or train ride away – most definitely is.

Open your foray in chichi Aix-en-Provence with a café crème and croissant beneath emerald-leafed plane trees at Le Forbin, footsteps from fountain-stitched main avenue Cours Mirabeau. Time slows at the town’s Musée Granet in Quartier Mazarin, packed with pieces by Picasso, Matisse, Monet and local lad Paul Cézanne who painted nearby Montagne Ste-Victoire numerous times. Follow in his footsteps by e-bike for an inspirational day trip, either solo or with a group tour.

Don’t miss the 13th-century Église St-Jean de Malte next to the art museum and the flower gardens of palatial art gallery Hôtel de Caumont (1742), a five-minute walk away. Grab a smoothie, shake or chai latte afterward at Book In Bar; this English-language bookshop-cafe is a honeypot for students from Aix’s prestigious university, should you fancy mingling.

At dusk, take a people-watching pew at a cafe terrace on buzzing rue de la Verrerie, place Richelme or Forum des Cardeurs. For a more intimate scale and vibe, gravitate to place de l’Hôtel de Ville.

4. Palma de Mallorca, Spain

Recommended by Chloe Braithwaite

The Spanish island city of Palma de Mallorca is a sublimely welcoming city, with its well-lit public spaces, beautiful beaches and glut of restaurants, markets and historic sites. That means solo travelers won’t struggle to have the perfect relaxed day alone. Start your visit at Mercat de Santa Catalina, the oldest food market in the city, brimming with tapas and local produce.

Nearby, Lluís Pérez Pastisser is a delightful pastry cafe known for its croissant ibérico con tomatitos – a flaky croissant filled with ibérico ham and tart cherry tomatoes. Excellent coffee can be found at Café Riu Tort, while Mistral Coffee prides itself on beans roasted locally.

Spend your day strolling along Passeig des Borne, a tree-lined boulevard dotted with both luxury and mainstream shops. For a satisfying lunch, El Toque de Queda offers a range of charcuterie boards with local cheeses, or try La Vasca for authentic Basque flavors. Spend your afternoon exploring cultural landmarks like the Catedral de Mallorca with its tranquil Bishop’s Garden and the historic Banys Àrabs (Arab Baths).

In the evening, head to Cineciutat, a non-profit cinema that showcases films in their original languages. Then end the day with a visit to Bar La Sang for natural wines, or reserve a spot at La Rosa Vermutería for a traditional vermouth tasting.

5. Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Recommended by Monica Suma

Bohemian, gently-paced Cluj-Napoca in northwestern Romania, is everything that the much larger, rowdy (and often chaotic) capital of Bucharest is not. Despite being Transylvania’s largest city and the country’s second-biggest metropolis, Cluj (as it’s more commonly known) exudes a different feel. First and foremost, it's more relaxed ⁠– perfect for solo travelers.

This gentle vibe is in part due to the thousands of students who study here, as well as the compact layout of the city center. Cluj-Napoca dates to pre-Roman times (the "Napoca" part refers to the ancient Dacian civilization) but its superb Baroque architecture stems from the Austro-Hungarian era. Easy to explore, and increasingly in demand as the local tech sector flourishes, modern Cluj is artsy, heaps of fun and delightfully cosmopolitan.

These days, contemporary energy comes in high doses. The city hosts the fêted Transylvania International Film Festival in June, and the massive crowd-pulling Electric Castle and Untold festivals in late July and early August respectively – even if you aren't attending, book accommodation in Cluj months ahead or pay exorbitant prices.

Specialty coffee shops are also proliferating around the center, which has the highest number per capita in the country – Narcoffee Roasters is just fabulous. The food scene is equally exciting; country-chic Casa Boema is an enduring favorite for its oasis-like courtyard terrace. Best of all, nature is within easy reach. Walk up to Cetăţuia Park for panoramic views of the city nestled between the Transylvanian Plain and the Apuseni Mountains.

6. Vipava Valley, Slovenia

Recommended by Daniel James Clarke

If you're solo tripping, Slovenia's Vipava Valley is the place to be sipping – especially as you'll never be drinking alone. In this wine-obsessed, welcoming community, sharing a bottle of your home-grown best vino with strangers is de rigeuer. Hundreds of family-owned, small-batch cellars such as Cejkotova Domačija nestle beneath the valley's fertile carpet of vineyards, stacked with casks aging wines made with the native, golden-hued, fruity Zelen grape.

Cycling between these underground tasting cellars is a solo traveler's dream. Gently rolling countryside roads flit between manicured vines and fragrant orchards, with dramatic karst mountains looming beyond. If a two-wheeled tasting tour doesn't appeal, board the seasonal wine train instead for a five-hour, socializing-guaranteed rail ride, pit-stopping at local villages and vineyards. Volunteer during September's harvest, and you'll practically become part of the family.

Viapava's spirit doesn't solely reside in a glass; sober solo adventures abound. Hike or cycle atop the Trnovo Forest Plateau for vivid valley panoramas, or paraglide higher still courtesy of the fierce, locally treasured bora wind. A handful of hostels offer cozy community accommodation, while creative connections are easy to make at Sinji Vrh Pension's artistic workshops.

7. Faroe Islands

Recommended by Daniel James Clarke

Elemental, ethereal and utterly enticing, the Faroe Islands arc from the wild North Atlantic like uncut emeralds scattered by a storm. Commandeered by sheep, gannets and puffins, this seemingly inhospitable land appears an audacious expedition at first glance, but look closer, and you'll find a tight-knit community that has long embraced solo travelers.

In fact, every year, Faroe islanders do exactly that, inviting volunteers willing to assist with maintenance to stay in their farms or homes. Heimablídni (Faroese for home hospitality) is so ingrained that family-hosted, breaking-bread spreads are offered all over the islands. Some require group bookings, while others, like Heima í Stovu's supper club and Durita and Fróði's traditional Faroese feast of skerpikjøt (air-dried lamb) and ræst (fermented lamb and fish), are open to solo travelers with stories to share.

Away from Tórshavn's turf-roofs and contemporary cultural spaces, bite-sized adventures abound. Well-kept roads, island-linking underwater tunnels and regular ferries keep communities connected, and a surprisingly decent bus network affords solo, car-free exploration.

Hikes to seemingly levitating Lake Sørvágsvatn or the cinematic Kallur Lighthouse need no special support; amid soaring sea stacks, ocean-plunging cascades and the turf homes of scenic, fjord-flanked Saksun, you'll feel like a true castaway – but you're never far from a heartwarming chat with a cuppa.