Going it alone is a rite of passage that every American traveler should try at least once. There is a specific kind of freedom that comes from waking up in a new city and realizing you do not have to check with anyone else before deciding where to eat or when to leave the museum. However, the two biggest hurdles for solo adventurers are usually the “single supplement” fees that hotels love to charge and the fear of picking a place that is totally dead during the off season.
The trick is to match your budget with the right time of year. If you time it right, you can snag a luxury experience on a shoestring budget or find a bustling social scene even when you are traveling solo. Here is a breakdown of the best spots for solo travelers in 2026, categorized by the time of year and how much cash you will need to pull it off.
Spring: Flowers and Fresh Starts
Budget Option: Mexico City, Mexico
For Americans, Mexico City is an absolute steal in the spring. The weather is dry and pleasant before the summer rains arrive. As a solo traveler, you can live like royalty here on fifty dollars a day. The street food is world class and incredibly cheap. You can spend your mornings wandering through the blue house of Frida Kahlo or exploring the massive Chapultepec Park. The city is very social, so if you stay in a boutique hostel in Roma or Condesa, you will meet plenty of other solo travelers at the local coffee shops.
Mid Range Option: Seville, Spain
Spring in Andalusia is legendary. This is when the orange blossoms scent the entire city. It is slightly more expensive than Mexico, but your dollar still goes a long way compared to London or New York. The city is very walkable and feels very safe for solo travelers at night. If you go during April, you might catch the Feria de Abril, which is a massive week long party. It is a great place to sit at a tapas bar alone because the culture is built around small plates and quick bites. You will never feel awkward eating by yourself here.
Summer: Chasing the Sun
Budget Option: Bali, Indonesia
While the flight from the United States is a long one, once you arrive in Bali, your costs plummet. Summer is the dry season here, making it the perfect time for solo travelers who want to learn to surf or practice yoga. Places like Canggu or Ubud are packed with digital nomads and solo adventurers from all over the world. You can rent a private villa with a pool for the price of a budget motel in the Midwest. The social scene is baked into the culture, so you are never truly alone unless you want to be.
Mid Range Option: Lisbon, Portugal
Portugal remains one of the most solo friendly spots in Europe. In the summer, the Atlantic breeze keeps the heat manageable. The city is famous for its “hostels” that feel more like five star hotels, often hosting communal dinners that are perfect for meeting people. You can spend your days riding the yellow trams or taking a quick train ride to the beaches of Cascais. It is a vibrant, colorful place where the sun stays up late, giving you plenty of time to explore safely.
Fall: Crisp Air and Lower Prices
Budget Option: Hanoi, Vietnam
September and October are fantastic months to visit Northern Vietnam. The heat of the summer has faded, and the landscape is lush. Vietnam is incredibly affordable for solo travelers. You can get a high quality meal for three dollars and a clean, comfortable hotel room for twenty. Hanoi is a maze of history and energy. It can be overwhelming at first, but the locals are kind and the backpacker community is very tight knit. Taking a solo cruise through Ha Long Bay is a great way to meet people in a structured environment.
Mid Range Option: Prague, Czech Republic
Prague in the fall looks like a movie set. The crowds of the summer have thinned out, and the beer halls are cozy and inviting. It is a very safe city for solo travelers, and most people in the tourism industry speak excellent English. You can spend hours walking across the Charles Bridge or exploring the castle complex. Because the city is so compact, you don’t have to worry about complicated transport. A nice dinner and a few world class beers will still cost you less than a standard meal back home.
Winter: Snowy Peaks or Desert Heat
Budget Option: Antigua, Guatemala
If you want to escape the American winter without spending a fortune, Guatemala is a hidden gem. Antigua is a colonial town surrounded by volcanoes. In the winter, the sky is clear and the sun is bright. It is a hub for solo travelers who come to study Spanish or hike the nearby Acatenango volcano. The town is small, colorful, and very easy to navigate. You can find plenty of group treks and activities that make it easy to link up with other travelers for a day or two.
Mid Range Option: Scottsdale, Arizona
Sometimes you don’t want to deal with a passport. Scottsdale in the winter is paradise. While the rest of the country is freezing, you can hike Camelback Mountain in a t-shirt. It is a bit more expensive than the international options, but for a solo traveler, it offers a high level of comfort and safety. There are countless resorts with beautiful pools where you can relax with a book. The Old Town area is full of galleries and restaurants that are very welcoming to solo diners.
My Own Solo Story
I remember my first solo trip to a small town in the mountains of Peru. I was terrified that I would spend the whole time feeling lonely or that I would get stuck in a situation I couldn’t handle. On my third night, I was sitting at a tiny communal table in a soup shop. A woman from Germany sat down across from me, and we ended up talking for three hours about everything from politics to our favorite movies. We hiked a trail together the next day. That trip taught me that being “solo” doesn’t mean being alone. It actually makes you much more approachable to the rest of the world.
Tips for the Solo Journey
If you are worried about the budget, look for “free walking tours” in every city you visit. They are a great way to get your bearings and meet other people who are also traveling alone. Also, do not be afraid to sit at the bar instead of a table when you eat out. It is the universal signal that you are open to a conversation, and the bartenders are usually the best sources for local tips that you won’t find in a guidebook.
Traveling alone is the best gift you can give yourself. It forces you to rely on your own instincts and allows you to see the world exactly the way you want to see it. Whether you are eating street tacos in Mexico or watching the sunset in Prague, you are the director of your own story.
