11 Solo travel tips for introverts • Insider guide for 2024

Traveling solo isn’t just for extroverts. The world has so much to offer introverts traveling alone – this guide will help you make the most out of every solo vacation.

Ever wondered if you should travel solo as an introvert? YES YOU SHOULD!

It might seem like a scary prospect, but it’s totally doable – that’s why I’ve put together these top solo travel tips for introverts, so you can make travel work for YOU in 2024! 

I’m here to help you travel sustainably, with purpose, and slow enough to enjoy the ride. I’m an introverted travel queen and adore traveling solo, so I’ve got all the best tricks up my sleeve 😀

You don’t have to follow other people’s standards, it’s up to you to make travel what you want it to be. 

We’ll cover everything you need to know, including 11 essential tips, how best to prepare, and some safety tips as well. Plus some travel apps for meeting other travelers!

No time to scroll? Here’s a quick rundown! Click the links to take you straight to the heading.

Pros and cons of solo travel for introverts

You might be wondering, is it really worth it to travel alone? Honestly, if you’re an introvert, it’s probably the best way to travel! 

Don’t let the fear of traveling alone stop you from doing it – I promise, if you’ve done it once, you’ll want to do it again!

These are the best things about traveling alone:

Yes, I know, there are also some cons. But not nearly as many! Here are the cons of solo travel as an introvert:

As you can see, the pros outweigh the cons! Solo travel has even been shown to improve mental health, so while it may be a challenge, it will pay off in the long run. Read more about this at MQ Mental Health!

How to prepare for solo travel

The thing about traveling alone is that you should be prepared for all scenarios. Whatever the weather, and whatever you might encounter, it’s good to get yourself acquainted in advance so you can really enjoy your trip without any stress!

Preparing properly for a trip abroad by yourself may seem daunting, but I’m here to help! Here’s a list of things you’ll need to prepare yourself fully for anything that might go wrong – and all the amazing things you’re about to encounter!

• Set out your budget – this is the FIRST thing you should be doing! No point planning anything unless you know how much your wallet is going to stretch. Make a detailed budget plan and don’t forget to include emergency expenses!

• Plan your itinerary in advance – plan what you want to do when traveling alone. You don’t need to follow it to a T if you’d rather have the freedom, but it’s good to have a basic list of the things you want to do. 
• Learn a few phrases – take a phrase book for the local language but try to learn a few before you leave. It just takes some of the stress out of those first few days!
• Do I need a visa – no point in trying to get on a plane without a valid visa, right? Do all the research/applications before you go and get your passport renewed if needed. 
• Research SIM cards – it’s great to get this out the way before you leave. That way, you can hop off the plane and head straight to your preferred store. 

PRO TIP: Don’t buy SIM cards in the airport!! It’s such a rip off and you can always find a better deal in a local store. 

• Invest in a power bank – you have no idea what a lifesaver this can be until you find yourself with no battery. Pre-empt the potential issues to ensure a smooth trip!
• Pack a first aid kit – packing light is essential if you’ve got nobody to help with your bags, but don’t forget a small first aid kit! 
• Book your accommodation in advance – this ensures zero problems during your trip as you know you’ll never end up with nowhere to stay. Plus, prices are almost always cheaper in advance!
• Fill up on prescriptions – depending on where you’re going, you may not have access to the meds you need. Get enough (and then some) for your whole trip!
• Pick the right luggage – think portability and flexibility. Can you carry everything in one bag? Can you sling it over your shoulder in a pinch? 

One final tip for preparing to solo travel: don’t forget to enjoy the process! Flying can be stressful, especially by yourself. So don’t sweat the small stuff. Enjoy every step!

PRO TIP: If you’re on a budget, I recommend hitting up the thrift stores and charity shops before you go for some great deals – aka leaving you with more cash to spend on your trip. Prefer online shopping? Hit up the Oxfam Online Shop for ethically-sourced clothing and accessories for your trip!

11 TOP travel tips for introverts – the coveted list!

Here we go, folks! Let’s make travel work for YOU!

PSA: don’t forget that everyone’s travel experiences are totally different. What works for one person may not work for another, and that’s ok!

1. Choose accommodation that suits your needs

This one may seem obvious, but many people don’t pay enough attention to it. 

If you just need a hotel room for a few nights and you don’t mind the quality, that’s obviously fine. But if you’re staying somewhere for more than a few days you’ll need to take into account – 

• The safety and convenience of the area
• Wi-Fi strength (if you’re working)
• Your budget
• If you’re happy with a hostel or you need a private room

As introverts, we often forget that there are more options out there aside from your average hotel room. 

For example, if you’re planning on having a super relaxing, home-away-from-home vibe where you don’t care about meeting other people, why not stay in an Airbnb/VRBO? 

On the other hand, if you want to be right in the midst of things to push you out of your comfort zone, consider a hostel somewhere central where you can easily go for a night out with new mates.

Don’t just pick a hotel because it’s cheap – do your research and choose somewhere that will make your adventure even more special! 

PRO TIP: I love both Airbnb and VRBO, but sometimes Airbnb can feel a bit overpriced. Hit up VRBO if you want off-the-beaten-track, often cheaper accommodation! 

HACK: If you’re a solo female traveler, you can sort reviews by gender on some platforms! That way, if you’re wondering how safe other gals felt at a particular hotel, you can just search for reviews by women to see if anyone mentions anything negative safety-wise. 

2. Take each day as it comes & be flexible

Instagram, TikTok and other social media platforms LOVE to lie about solo travel. True, traveling is awesome in pretty much any form, but it’s also not necessarily as glamorous as you might think.

Unless, of course, you’re the Princess of Monaco on a luxury budget. Sigh. 

The biggest, most important lesson I’ve ever learned while solo traveling is that life doesn’t care about your plans. For real, just take what the universe hands you because it may not necessarily be what you planned for 🤪

So, how to combat the unexpected? Be prepared for anything and practice (theoretical) flexibility!

It’s so easy to get overwhelmed, especially if you’re visiting a busy city by yourself. Don’t forget to breathe, take moments of quiet for yourself, and just embrace the chaos. 

Don’t let little upsets ruin your trip. Flight got canceled? Train delayed? Someone stole your bag? Ok, the last one would be pretty upsetting, but the point here is not to let it take over your vacation. Do what you need to do to fix the issue at hand, and move on with your day. You got this!

PRO TIP: As an introvert myself, my favorite thing to do in a new city is to find a library or bookstore when I’m feeling overwhelmed. Libraries are the calmest places ever, so if you need a moment of peace without going all the way back to the hotel, I highly recommend it!

3. Learn a few phrases of the local language

2 heads are often better than one, so when you’re traveling with other people, you can figure things out quicker.

However, when you’re by yourself, it might be more challenging to work out local customs, order food, get directions, or figure out complicated bus routes without knowing the language.

Nobody is expecting you to be fluent, but a bit of effort can take the stress out of the process. Basic things like ordering a glass of wine, asking for a bag in the supermarket, and telling a driver where you want to go – all super helpful!

Remember, you don’t want to be THAT person (you know, the “do you speak English” in a loud voice kind of person). 

Making a little bit of effort can ingratiate yourself to the locals and make people more likely to help you out!

Want a full year’s access to a language platform you can use on the go? I LOVE Mondly for the sheer number of languages you can learn on there, plus there’s an app so you can refer to it whenever you need. Get your discount here!

4. Manage your anxiety with routine (visit, rinse, repeat)

My BIGGEST pro tip to managing solo vacation anxiety is to find a place you love, preferably a café or bar, and frequent it! 

You can use this spot as “your spot” to hang out in the morning over coffee, or as a midday break, or as the start of every evening. After a couple of visits, it will begin to feel like a homey, familiar place and it will remove all the fear of encountering new (and hopefully wonderful) things. 

Plus, the people who work there will start to recognise you, and it’s nice to get a smile from a familiar face every once in a while when you’re traveling solo!

It really does create a nice balance. Since you’re going to be encountering a ton of new things every day, break it up with a familiar spot to bring you back down to earth and combat those overwhelming thoughts.

One of my favorite things to do is find a cozy corner in a café and just while away the time if it all just got too much. It helps me to center my soul and gives me just the right amount of peace, by myself, but with a few people around me so I’d never feel lonely. 

NOTE: Please remember that solo travel doesn’t have to be about go-go-go all the time. There’s no pressure to do all the touristy stuff, either – especially if you hate crowds. Instead, you choose how you want to travel, and if it means living like a local and relaxing, then even better!

5. Go on a walking tour (trust me)

For those who don’t like group tours, I imagine your initial reaction is “excuse me, what??” But seriously, there’s a rhyme to my reason here, so just bear with me.

Walking tours are an amazing way to get to grips with a big city. They’ll show you all the important places to know about and you can just do it once to feel a bit more familiar with your surroundings.

There are a few amazing benefits to taking a walking tour:

• You can find free walking tours (check some out at Guruwalk) so it’s excellent for those penny pinchers
• Most free walking tours are done by locals, so you’ll get a local’s perspective rather than a touristy one!
• You’ll be with other people so it’s a great way to combat some of that solo-travel-loneliness-vibe, but there’s no obligation to speak to anyone
• You’ll be able to find your way around the city faster, so you can do more while you’re there

You can find lots of different types of walking tours on GetYourGuide or Viator, but I personally think Guruwalk is the best. It’s guaranteed to be led by locals and it’s tip-based, so you only pay what you think it’s worth!

6. Aim to have a new experience every day

Your solo trip is entirely your prerogative, so you do you my friend, but do try to step out of your comfort zone!

You don’t have to be around other people or do something totally outlandish every day, so don’t worry – I’m not telling you to get your skydive on day one, but just do something a bit different on the daily.

Never tried sushi? Go for sushi! Actually, sushi is a fab way to go on your first solo trip because they often have bar-style seating, making it feel less awkward to go for dinner by yourself. Hack!

Alternatively, if you’ve never taken a boat ride, or eaten a particularly strange local delicacy, or taken a video of yourself in public – do it! 

It can literally be anything you want it to be. The purpose of this is to gain confidence slowly and push the limits without upsetting yourself or ruining the vibe of your trip. Trust me, you’ll create all sorts of wild memories for yourself that you’ll cherish!

This is also a fantastic way to gain skills for the future, whether that’s learning how to cook a new cuisine, going surfing, doing a painting class, or whatever else is on offer! 

The sky’s the limit, so go wild, friends 🤪

7. Make genuine connections

You think you’re an introvert because you like being alone, but in reality you just love being at peace, and you’re actually introverted around people who bring you peace. 

Your solo journey is more about the experience than anything else, and solo travelers like myself are hard-wired to enjoy these moments without anyone else present.

However, you might find yourself feeling a bit lonely at times. That’s ok (and totally normal), so in those moments, you might actually crave those deeper connections.

As an introvert, it can be tough to make new friends totally from scratch, especially when you’re in an unfamiliar place. Sometimes the culture doesn’t necessarily lend itself to making friends easily, or perhaps there aren’t enough people who can speak your language, so even starting a conversation with someone seems tough.

In moments like this, take some time to speak to some loved ones back home, catch up over video chat to ground yourself and keep the loneliness at bay.

If you do find opportunities to make friends, make sure you’re only expending energy on making genuine friends.

What do I mean by this?

Like I said, solo travel is all about the experience. Don’t take away from that experience by spending time with people who aren’t really your cup of tea. Keep those precious moments for the genuine connections with locals and like-minded travelers, because this helps to keep the solo travel dream alive – and it won’t negatively impact the vibe and experience of your trip.

Want to know where to meet people? Scroll down to the bonus!

8. Immerse yourself in local culture

Traveling on your own presents the most amazing opportunity to really get to grips with the local culture.

You can immerse yourself by learning a few phrases, going to local events and festivals, and connect with the locals by frequenting all the places the tourists would never go!

There’s something to be said for living like a local while you’re traveling. It offers a totally unique experience that’s different from the classic tourist vibe, and you’ll probably learn a lot about yourself on the way. 

The best part? There’s zero obligation to actually engage with people if you would rather keep yourself to yourself. You can totally go to an event and just enjoy the scenery and vibe in your own mental space. You can venture beyond the tourist attractions and hang out around locals without actually talking to them. It’s ok! You do you 😊

So where do you find these events? Here are a few places you might find some info:

• Local Facebook groups (search for expat groups or local community groups)
• Eventbrite
• VisitEurope
• Reddit (a goldmine!)
• Destination Asia
• Humanitix (Australia)

PRO TIP: Feeling up to a challenge? Why not go to a local market and talk to some of the vendors? It’s a great way to really get down with the locals and you may hear about some hidden gems! 

9. Travel slowly with purpose

Traveling solo is an opportunity to travel with less impact on the planet, more cultural awareness, and if you embrace slow travel, you’ll get so much more out of it!

The thing about traveling with other people is that you may need to rush around to get to the things everyone wants to do.

But on your own, you can have slow days, purposeful days at your own pace – less tourist action, more local immersion, and more direction with your itinerary. You can have more time. 

For example, instead of taking the quickest route to get to your next destination, why not slow it down and take a local bus? 

You’ll have less impact on the planet, you’re contributing to the local economy, AND you’ll see more interesting, hidden gems along the way. 

PRO TIP: Want to see more of a city? Why not hire a bicycle? You don’t need to engage with anyone aside from the people in the rental shop and you can explore a city as much as you want. 

If you’d rather road trip by yourself without the hassle of public transport, you should consider hiring a car. Hiring a car as a solo travel gives you total and complete freedom to go wherever, whenever. It’s also great for introverts who love their own company. I personally recommend RentalCars, they always have the best prices!

10. Be sensitive to your bad days

Not all solo travel is all insta-worthy shots and blissful days.

Let’s be realistic: solo travel as an introvert can be lonely and frustrating, and you’re bound to have heavy days where you don’t want to experience anything new. 

This is completely normal, and completely ok!

The best antidote to a bad day is to be sensitive to it. Don’t force yourself to get up and go places if that’s just not where you want to be right now. 

Instead, listen to your body and mind. Practice some self-care, head over to your favorite coffee shop with a good book and a pair of headphones and just relax. Or, just stay in bed. That’s ok, too!

My favorite thing to do on a bad day while solo traveling is to find really good food. I don’t know about you, but amazing food always cheers me up! Seek your pleasure centers, don’t push yourself too hard, and don’t worry about a wasted day.

In my opinion, no matter how you spend your days as a solo traveler, no day is a waste. It’s your vacation, remember? 

11. Don’t be afraid to eat by yourself

When it comes to solo travel tips for beginners, this is definitely a last but not least situation!

This is a big one for many of us, myself included. I always felt so uncomfortable eating alone in a restaurant, especially if I’m the only one by myself! 

It took a while for me to find the courage to actually do it – not just do it, but enjoy it, too!

Eating alone can be so cathartic. You can really focus on your food, the sights, the smells, the vibe of the restaurant. You can observe how the locals eat together, take in everything, and feel so relaxed by the end of the experience.

The thing that makes everything better is finding really good food. If you feel up to it, ask around for the best local restaurants and avoid all the tourist traps – the food will be far better and your experience will be totally unique. 

If you need to dip a toe into the experience, I get it. A great option to start off with is sushi bars, where communal tables are pretty common. You can also try local street food instead of a restaurant!

HACK: If you’re traveling in the summer, try to find a bistro with outdoor seating! Sitting outside facing the street can make you feel less conspicuous and you can do some people-watching instead of worrying about other people looking at you. 

Safety tips for solo travelers

Now you know all the top solo travel tips for introverts, I hope you’re feeling much more confident about your upcoming trip!

Now for some safety tips. For real, traveling solo can make you feel more insecure than traveling in pairs or a group, so taking proper safety precautions will help you keep your trip smooth and stress-free.

These tips aren’t just for solo female travelers, they’re for anyone. Don’t forget, even if you’re a man, bad things can still happen when you’re in an unfamiliar environment!

BONUS: Best apps/places to meet solo travelers

If you’re traveling solo as an introvert, you might be totally averse to meeting other people, and that’s fine. But if you get the socializing itch and need some social interactions, use these tips to meet some fun, like-minded people on your trip!

• Stay at a hostel – to be honest, this is your best bet if you think you’ll want to join others on excursions. Hostels are fab places to meet people!
• Facebook groups – location-specific expat/travel groups are often a goldmine for local events, so follow them if you want opportunities to meet people.
• Dating apps – stay with me on this one! Even if you’re not up for dating, you can create a profile and specify that you’re only looking for travel buddies. Apps like Bumble even have a friends app!
• Pinn Social – this relatively new app provides info on local events
• Nomadlist – focused on traveling nomads, you can find local meetups and events. There is a subscription cost, but if you’re traveling for a while, you might find it’s worth it! It’s a goldmine for other solo backpackers.
• Couchsurfing – while the main focus of Couchsurfing is to connect people looking for free accommodation with hosts, every city also has their own approach to it! Some places do Couchsurfing meetups as well. 
• Tourlina – sort of like a dating app, Tourlina matches you with travel companions for those moments when going solo feels too much!

FAQs about solo travel tips for introverts

🛩️ Can introverts travel solo?

Yes! In fact, introverts might enjoy solo travel more than extroverts because they might enjoy the vibe more. Plus, the total freedom is amazing! Both introverts and extroverts are built for solo travel.

🧳 How do I gain the confidence to travel alone?

The best way to gain confidence in solo travel  is to dip your toe in and do it! If you’ve done it once, it won’t be so scary the next time. Trust me!

👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏽 How do you socialize when traveling alone?

You can socialize by going to local events or meeting others in a hostel! If there are annual festivals going on, these are a fab place to socialize with new people. 

😔 How can I stop feeling lonely when solo traveling?

If you’re feeling the lonely bug while solo traveling, give your people back home a call to help ground yourself. If you’re super lonely, you may need some human contact! Otherwise, try to meet new people where you are using the apps I talk about above. 

🏨 Is it awkward to travel alone?

It can feel awkward to travel alone the first day or so, but once you’re into the swing of it, that feeling goes away pretty quickly. Don’t forget to follow your itinerary and dive into the deep end. Dine alone! Enjoy the freedom! Revel in the alone time. You’re gonna love it ♥️

Conclusion

Well, my fellow introverts, I hope you feel a lot better about your next solo trip! 

We’ve covered so much today about solo travel tips for introverts, so don’t forget you can bookmark this page if you want to refer back to it. 

Drop me a comment if you want any more help, I’m happy to chat if you need some general advice or need a confidence boost! To your journey of self discovery 💛

Until next time amigos,

Lizzie