If you’re dreaming of solo travel, waking up in a new city and asking only yourself, “What do I want to do today?”, you have come to the right place. Here, there is no space for compromises, no debates about the dinner spot, just pure, unadulterated freedom.
But now you are hit with the overwhelming choice. The well-meaning (but slightly panicked) voices of friends and family asking, “But will you be safe?”
Choosing a country for your first, or fifteenth, is never easy. So let’s cancel that subscription to anxiety with a fool-proof matchmaking service to help you find your perfect travel soulmate for 2025.
And if paperwork stresses you out, HandyVisas takes care of all the boring stuff, so all you have to do is find a direction to point your compass!
Iceland
If Iceland were on a dating app, its profile would be minimalist, ridiculously good-looking, and its bio would just say: “Adventurous. Independent. Likes long, dramatic walks. I can show you the lights.” Iceland is the strong, silent type of travel destination. It’s consistently ranked as one of the safest countries on the planet, making it the ultimate destination to silence the worriers back home.
This is a place built for solo exploration. You can rent a car and cruise the Ring Road at your own pace, with a landscape that changes from volcanic plains to glacial lagoons every hour. The tourism infrastructure is superb, with countless day tours from Reykjavik for everything from glacier hiking to chasing the Northern Lights. You’ll meet other solo travelers on these tours without having to try. And in a country this epic, being alone with your thoughts while staring at a 100-foot waterfall doesn’t feel lonely; it feels profound.
Slovenia
Slovenia is a wildcard destination that is quickly gaining popularity among all kinds of travelers. It’s a geographical pocket rocket, packing in alpine mountains, a fairytale capital, and a tiny slice of Mediterranean coast, all within a couple of hours of each other. For a solo traveler, this is a dream. You can cover so much ground without stressful, long travel days.
Start in Ljubljana, the capital, which feels more like a charming town and is so safe you’ll forget to even think about it. Then, head to Lake Bled. Yes, it’s all over your Instagram feed for a reason. Rowing yourself to the island in the middle of the lake is a solo rite of passage. For the more adventurous, the Soča Valley offers a playground of hiking, rafting, and canyoning. Slovenia delivers a huge adventure punch without the intimidating crowds or price tag of its more famous neighbours.
Vietnam
Ready for a full-body sensory hug? Vietnam is calling. This country is an explosion of life, color, flavor, and kindness that is incredibly welcoming to solo women. It’s also absurdly affordable, meaning your travel fund will stretch further than you ever imagined. The safety net here is the sheer energy and the warmth of the people.
The food scene alone is worth the flight. Joining a street food tour in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City is one of the best ways to dive headfirst into the culture and meet other travelers. For a calmer vibe, the ancient town of Hoi An is a lantern-lit dreamscape where you can get clothes custom-made and cycle through rice paddies. Getting around is a breeze with ride-hailing apps like Grab and cheap internal flights. Vietnam teaches you to go with the flow, to trust your instincts, and that the best meals are often served on a tiny plastic stool.
Portugal
Portugal is effortlessly cool with its overload of art, wine, and good music, but is also completely unpretentious. It has that perfect mix of historic grandeur and relaxed, modern beach-town vibes. It’s a country where you can feel comfortable sitting alone at a cafe, sipping a coffee and reading a book for hours.
In Lisbon, you can spend your days riding the charming yellow trams and getting lost in the tiled streets of the Alfama district. In Porto, you can tour the port wine cellars and take a boat trip down the Douro River. The public transport is excellent, making it easy to hop between cities or head south to the Algarve for dramatic coastal walks. Portugal doesn’t shout for your attention; it just confidently waits for you to discover its charm.
Choosing to travel solo is a power move. It’s a declaration that you are enough, that your own company is a delight, and that you are capable of navigating this big, beautiful world on your own terms. It’s not about being fearless; it’s about feeling the fear and then looking at the flight prices anyway.
So, pick your partner. Are you ready for a dramatic fling with Iceland or a soulful connection with Vietnam? The ‘book now’ button is waiting for you. Go on, give it a click.
