Approximately 500 million international tourists visit Europe every year. Of these 500 million, about 115 million are students and most likely backpackers. There’s no doubt that Europe is one of the hottest continents for young solo travelers. Although most nations in Europe are tourist-friendly, first-time solo travelers might have a few concerns about traveling around foreign lands.
If you want to visit Europe but don’t know where to go, then this is the list for you. Below, we’ve listed eight of the best places to travel alone in Europe. Not only are all of these destinations safe, they are affordable and are far from the hordes of tourists in overpriced obvious draws like Paris, London, and Rome.
1. Budapest, Hungary
We’ll begin our list of the best places to travel alone in Europe with the exhilarating Hungarian capital Budapest. Sometimes called the “Paris of the East,” Budapest is well known for its ornate architecture, grand boulevards, café culture, and thermal baths. In recent years, Budapest has become a hub for bohemian artists and students, all of which contributes to the city’s youthful energy.
You’ll definitely want to take a few selfies by the city’s Gothic-style Parliament alongside the beautiful blue Danube River. A few other hot spots for tourists include the Széchenyi Spa, St. Stephen’s Basilica, and the Hungarian State Opera House.
2. Salzburg, Austria
Every classical music buff should already know that Salzburg is the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Even if you’re not into classical music, you can’t help but feel a sense of awe as you enter the house in which the world’s greatest child prodigy was born.
Besides basking in the glory of this city’s most famous resident, there are plenty of cathedrals, gardens, and palaces to visit here. You can even take a few pics while singing “Do, Re, Mi” on the mountains where “The Sound of Music” was filmed! Definitely try to book your trip to coincide with the world famous Salzburg Music Festival between July and August.
3. Trieste, Italy
Has anybody out there ever taken a course on Modernist literature? If so, then you might know that Irish novelist James Joyce spent a great deal of time teaching in the Italian city of Trieste. Unfortunately, that’s really the only reason someone outside of Italy would know of Trieste nowadays, and that’s a great shame.
Trieste, which is about an hour’s drive from Venice, is one of the safest, cleanest, and most surprising cities on our list of the best places to travel alone in Europe. In Trieste you’ll find a Roman Theatre, a well-preserved old town, plenty of cafés, a huge cave, and a relaxing pier…and we haven’t even scratched the surface. If you want to experience a superb Italian city without mobs of tourists or fears of pickpockets, definitely book a trip to Trieste.
4. The City of Luxembourg, Luxembourg
In recent decades, Luxembourg City has become extremely important economically and politically. Since Luxembourg was a founding member of the EU, it often hosts political gatherings in its capital city. Plus, thanks to Luxembourg City’s tax rate, numerous multinational corporations have set up their headquarters here. With this high profile status, Luxembourg City has built itself up into quite the tourist city.
Perhaps the best part of visiting here is that you can easily explore the city on foot. Be sure to linger in the medieval district and then check out the modern architecture in the Krichberg area. If you’re into fine dining, you’re in luck: Luxembourg City has a high concentration of Michelin star restaurants.
5. Belfast, Northern Ireland
This capital of Northern Ireland is swiftly becoming one of the trendiest travel destinations in the UK. Ever since the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, Belfast has re-invented itself as a cosmopolitan city with plenty of hotels, gastro-pubs, clubs, and extremely high safety standards. Belfast now has a robust public transportation system, so it’s extremely easy for tourists to navigate the city.
Nowadays most tourists to Belfast come to see the filming locations of “Game of Thrones,” but there are also many world-renowned museums here such as the Titanic Belfast and the Ulster Museum. No matter what interests you in a European vacation, at least consider putting Belfast on your short-list of the best places to travel alone in Europe.
6. Basel, Switzerland
Switzerland is one of the safest, cleanest, and friendliest nations on earth. Honestly, anywhere you go in this nation alone you’re sure to have a spectacular vacation. In our list of the best places to travel alone in Europe we’ve chosen the Swiss city of Basel near the French and German borders. Basel is an art lover’s paradise. The city has over two dozen museums and hosts a world famous art market summit every year.
Some of these museums include the Fine Arts Museum, the Museum of Cultures, and even a Dollhouse Museum. In addition to museums, Basel has a wonderful medieval square and an interesting red cathedral. While you’re here, be sure to plan a day-trip to the nearby Roman ruins called Augusta Raurica.
7. Bucharest, Romania
Sometimes called the “Little Paris,” Romania’s capital is a beautiful city with plenty to offer the adventurous traveler. Thanks to generous grants from the EU, Bucharest construction crews have been hard at work building state-of-the-art skyscrapers all over the city.
The obvious “selfie spot” in Bucharest is by the massive Palace of the Parliament, which is the second largest building in the world. One of the most interesting museums here is the open-air Village Museum that shows what folk life was like in Romania’s past.
There are also many lovely parks to explore in Bucharest, including the Cismigiu Garden and the Herastrau Park. If you’re into nightlife, shopping, or dining, you’ll have no issues finding great clubs, malls, and restaurants throughout this dynamic capital.
8. Kraków, Poland
We’ll close our list of the best places to travel alone in Europe the city of Kraków in southern Poland. Believe it or not, tourist traffic into Kraków is even higher than into Poland’s capital Warsaw. Once you see Kraków’s immaculate Historic Old Town, you’ll understand why so many tourists fall in love with this city.
Of course, since Kraków was the center of the Nazi government during WWII, there are many somber museums and monuments around the city. Here you’ll get to tour Oskar Schindler’s Factory Museum and learn more about the man who inspired Schindler’s List. Definitely load up on some delicious Polish cuisine at a local pub before leaving this popular city.
Summing Up
As mentioned before, all of the destinations listed above are highly reviewed by tourists and extremely safe for single travelers. Hopefully you’ve found one city on this list of the best places to travel alone in Europe that has piqued your interest. No matter where you go, however, you’ll certainly have a glorious time basking in the magic of Europe.