Mates not free? No significant other to speak of right now?
That doesn’t mean you should miss out on your annual getaway.
Holidays can be a great reset for body and mind. Opting for a solo mystery holiday is an amazing way to grab your own future by the horns, make some new friends and see the sights.
Here we highlight the very best solo mystery holiday destinations. How have we come up with our all-important top 10?
We’ve used our own experiences and expertise to rank the destinations which follow on four key criteria.
Choosing the 10 best solo mystery holiday destinations
To make it onto our list of unmissable solo mystery holiday spots, destinations need to rank highly for these four measures:
- Safety. We’ve sought to include the destinations with a great rep for safety, especially for women travelling alone.
- Friendliness. Let’s face it, it’s easier to meet fellow solo travellers and locals in some places over others. We’re highlighting those where friends are easy to come by.
- Things to do. Our chosen solo mystery holiday destinations have also been picked for the range of activities they offer lone travellers, by day and by night.
- Infrastructure. Hotel or restaurant not welcoming to solo travellers? Then you won’t find it on our list!
With that all clear, let’s get going with the destinations we think you should favour for your next solo mystery holiday!
Top 10 Solo Mystery Holidays
10. Copenhagen
The Danish capital is one of the safest cities in the world. But here safe doesn’t equal dull.
Highly compact, getting about on foot or by bike is easy, making checking out the sights a piece of cake and meaning you won’t be travelling for miles just to see a single attraction.
Independently-minded Danes are also entirely unbothered by dining alone, with cafés, restaurants (and hotels) very used to offering tables (and rooms) to solo travellers.
9. Prague
Worried about travelling alone pricing you out? Don’t be with a solo mystery holiday to budget-friendly Prague.
The Czech capital also has a long list of daytime and nighttime activities perfect for solo travellers.
These range from cruises beneath the Vltava River’s historic bridges to trike tours and medieval banquets. Is there a better way to make new friends?
8. Bali
This top-notch Indonesian island has been welcoming international visitors of all kinds for decades.
The result? A destination where locals and local businesses are both warm and welcoming.
With a thriving expat community and plenty of other holidaymakers around, you won’t feel out of place hitting the beach or exploring the unique island temples even when on a solo mystery holiday.
And with scooters the main way of getting about, flying solo actually makes a lot of practical sense too!
7. Singapore
Low crime rates make Singapore another fab long-haul destination for solo travellers. But that’s just the start.
Attractions such as Supertree Grove in the Gardens by the Bay have become global icons, and are especially loved when lit up by night.
A city for night owls as well as early birds, there’s plenty of action after the sun goes down, from street food markets to after-hours museum entry.
6. Costa Rica
Known for its animal and plant life – home to around 5% of the world total – the usual way to explore Costa Rica is on guided tours, meaning instant buddies to share experiences with.
If Costa Rica is your bag, you’re sure to share the same vibes with other travellers, whether in a bar in often-overlooked capital San José or on a hike through the rainforests surrounding Arenal volcano.
5. Corfu
Europe has plenty of islands to choose between. So why pick Corfu for a solo mystery holiday?
If you’re keen on a true escape – where it’s just you, the sound of the waves and a good book – then Corfu is difficult to argue against.
The island is easy to get around, locals in tiny villages are happy for a chat, given the relaxed way of life, and nothing is that far away from anything else!
4. Switzerland Bernina Express
Who needs friends in tow when you’ve got views like those enjoyed on Switzerland’s Bernina Express?
One of the most-loved – and awarded – rail journeys on the planet, solo travellers can sit back in comfy seats and let the English-language audio guide envelop them while soaking up extraordinary Alpine vistas from super-large windows.
Plus, at either end of the line in Chur and Tirano there’s loads to keep you entertained – should you be able to tear yourself away from the combo of views and Swiss food!
3. Lisbon
Famed for its seven hills, Lisbon is the sort of friendly yet bustling city where solo mystery holiday goers never feel like an odd one out.
Many of its key sights and places to hang might be under the radar, but that’s exactly why we love going back to the Portuguese capital.
In addition, Lisbon is a great pick weather wise, with around 2,800 hours of sunshine a year but temperatures kept in check by the proximity of the Portuguese coast!
2. Amsterdam
fancy a partner in crime for a day of sightseeing?
A common stop on tours of Europe, Amsterdam’s hostels and hotels make it easy to meet people from all around the world.
If not, that works in the Dutch capital too, with many of the city’s top attractions focussed around major art galleries and museums where you could easily lose yourself for half a day without uttering a word.
1. Tokyo
You’ve got to be special to hit our number one spot. And boy is Tokyo special.
Perhaps the best place in the world for a solo mystery holiday, with hotels, restaurants and transport all designed around people travelling alone.
The Japanese capital is both safe and exciting, with cultural attractions you won’t find anywhere else, excellent takeaway meals that help keep costs under control and a true sense of leaving your regular life behind for a few days!
Whether you’re new to solo mystery holidays or an old hand, there’s never been a better moment for some alone time. With our pick of the top solo mystery holiday destinations around, you can’t go far wrong either – even if you end up going far.
