Is Solo Travel Lonely? 27 Tips to Stop Feeling Lonely Abroad
So, is solo travel lonely? Honestly… sometimes, yeah it is.
But not always – and probably not in the ways you might think.
I’ve travelled solo through Europe since I was 18 years old, sometimes for weeks and sometimes for months. I’ve watched sunsets over the Adriatic surrounded by couples, eaten pasta in Italy with no one to talk to, and sat on long train rides through Norway, staring out the window and wondering if I’d made a mistake coming here alone.
But I’ve also belly-laughed with strangers, felt free in ways I never have before, and surprised myself with just how not-lonely solo travel can actually be.
This blog post is for you if you’re dreaming of solo travel but you’re scared of those inevitable silent bits in between. If you worry about those awkward dinners for one. Or if you just want to know that you’re not going to feel like the odd one out in every place you visit.
We’re going to dive deep into what solo travel loneliness actually feels like, why it’s totally normal (but not permanent) and, perhaps most importantly, I’ll give you 27 real, practical tips that’ll help you feel more connected, confident and genuinely excited about travelling on your own!
So, let’s talk about the real side of solo travel, because it’s not all perfectly posed Instagram photos, but it’s definitely not all lonely either.
Disclaimer: Some of the links on this blog are affiliate links. That means if you click on one and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission – at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products, places and services I genuinely love and use on my own solo travels. Thank you for supporting my adventures so I can continue to provide free content on this blog! 💛
Why So Many People Think Solo Travel Is Lonely
From the outside looking in, the idea of travelling alone might seem a bit sad to a lot of people.
We’re constantly fed this over-glamourised image that travel is only meaningful when it’s shared. Think romantic getaways, group trips with friends, picture-perfect family holidays…
So when someone chooses to travel solo, especially as a woman, it can spark confusion or even pity. Cue the classic question that brought you here: “But won’t you be lonely?”
In my opinion, this (unfounded) belief is deeply rooted in our society’s obsession with productivity, connection and constant companionship.
Being alone is often equated with being lonely, but that simply isn’t true. Lots of people find true joy in their own company and anyway, solo travel is about independence, not isolation.
But because it doesn’t fit into the usual narrative, as humans we will naturally project our own fears about loneliness onto it.
And that’s why so many of us ask ourselves is solo travel lonely, before we’ve even given ourselves a chance to try it.
Katie’s Top Tip: If people in your life are questioning your solo travel plans, remember this: their fears usually say more about them than about your decision. You should take this as a sign of your own growth, rather than something to worry about. It just means you’re choosing a path that’s braver and bolder than most people ever will.
Why Solo Travel Can Feel Lonely Sometimes
Okay, so society’s opinions have a lot to do with our (often over dramatized) solo travel loneliness beliefs…
But even the most experienced solo travellers (myself very much included!) have had those very real, very lonely moments.
I remember once in particular, I was watching the sunset over the Adriatic in Zadar, Croatia, surrounded by families and happy couples, and it was all so beautiful. I felt an ache in my chest and, in that moment, all I could think was: I wish I had someone to share this with.
This is a totally normal feeling.
And you should know that feeling lonely on the road doesn’t mean you’re doing solo travel wrong, it just means you’re human.
Travelling alone means long stretches of time with just you and your thoughts. And when you’re feeling tired, homesick, or having an off day, that solitude that you once enjoyed can tip into loneliness fast.
Loneliness is a natural part of the emotional cycle of being away from your usual support system.
Katie’s Top Tip: Don’t judge yourself for feeling lonely. Instead, treat it like a signal from your body, telling you it’s time to connect. Whether that’s calling a friend or family member, joining a local group tour or striking up a conversation with a fellow traveller in your hostel, you always have options to find connection.
Why Solo Travel Loneliness Isn’t Always Bad
Now, here’s the reframe no one else will tell you: just because loneliness feels uncomfortable, that doesn’t mean it’s an inherently bad thing.
In fact, solo travel gives you the rare chance to sit with your feelings (yes, even the ones you’d rather forget!), work through them and learn what you actually need to feel content and happy in life.
And trust me, that kind of personal growth doesn’t usually happen when you’re surrounded by distractions, which is one of the biggest benefits of solo travel.
Some of my biggest breakthroughs and proudest moments came from times where I actively chose to ride out the loneliness instead of numbing it with distractions like social media or TV or alcohol.
It was during those times that I really discovered how much I enjoy my own company.
But I also learned valuable life skills, like how to self-soothe, how to find joy in small moments, and how to build new connections and friendships from scratch.
So, instead of asking is solo travel lonely? maybe a better question you could ask yourself is: what can this loneliness teach me?
Katie’s Top Tip: Try journaling when solo travel loneliness hits you. Write down what you’re feeling and then what you need. (No filter here, it’s okay to be a little selfish). It sounds so simple, but journaling has truly helped me turn so many awful, lonely moments into moments of real growth.
Is Solo Travel Lonely?
So, is solo travel lonely? Sometimes, definitely yes.
But, in my experience, solo travel loneliness is never constant and rarely all-consuming.
And it also doesn’t come anywhere close to outweighing the benefits of solo travel, like experiencing true freedom, developing self-trust and feeling empowered within yourself.
The truth is, solo travel is as lonely (or as connected) as you make it.
You’re always in control. You can fill your days with activities and meetups, or you can spend most of your time in stillness and introspection. There’s no “right” way to solo travel.
But the idea that solo travellers are wandering the world in sadness, loneliness and isolation? That’s a completely misguided assumption and just not the reality at all!
Katie’s Top Tip: Remember, solo travel is about choosing yourself. And when you do that, the loneliness loses its power. You start building a relationship with yourself that’s way more valuable than constant company.
27 Tips to Beat Solo Travel Loneliness
Connect Quickly in New Places
These first five solo travel loneliness tips are all about connecting quickly in new places. Because when you know how to meet people, strike up natural conversations and stay open to moments of connection, that feeling of travel loneliness doesn’t stand a chance.
1. Book Accommodation With a Social Vibe
If you’re nervous about feeling alone on your solo trip, where you stay will make all of the difference.
Female-only hostel dorms, boutique hostels, or guesthouses with shared kitchens and communal areas will often attract like-minded travellers looking to connect.
In these types of accommodations, you’ll naturally bump into other solo travellers while making a coffee or relaxing in the lounge, and you can also ask the onsite staff about local spots to meet people too.
It’s a gentle, low-pressure way to meet people.
Having said that, you absolutely don’t have to stay in a hostel if that doesn’t feel like your thing. For example, I personally love a cosy guesthouse with communal spaces, so I have somewhere I can go when I need quiet, but still have the option to chat over breakfast.
The key is choosing accommodation that feels comfy, welcoming and warm to you.
Katie’s Top Tip: Before booking, check reviews and search for phrases like “great for solo travellers” or “social vibe.” Also look for small touches that make it feel like home, like a communal patio, shared kitchen or cosy lounge.
2. Schedule a Walking Tour on Your First Day
Local walking tours are one of the easiest ways to connect with other travellers.
You’re all there for the same reason: to learn a bit about the city you’re in and meet people.
Plus, walking tours are relaxed, often affordable (or even free), and you’ll almost always find someone to chat to within the first five minutes!
As a bonus, you’ll leave your tour with a bit of orientation of your surroundings, some invaluable local tips, and maybe even the contact details of some new friends you’ve made along the way. Some guides even give out their own personal details to guests, so you can connect with them during your trip and ask any questions you have.
Katie’s Top Tip: Look for tours run by locals, or check if your accommodation offers one. And if you’re nervous about joining, don’t be afraid to send a quick message to the tour guide saying it’s your first solo trip – in my experience, they’re usually super lovely and will go out of their way to make you feel extra welcome!
3. Join a Facebook Solo Travel Group Before You Arrive
There are so many dedicated online spaces where solo female travellers share itineraries, local recommendations and even host spontaneous meetups.
Just seeing other women doing what you’re about to do can feel incredibly comforting and sometimes, you might find someone who is already heading to the same city as you.
If you feel comfy and trust the group, you could even post something like “I’ll be in Seville next week, does anyone fancy a coffee or a walk?”
And even if no one’s free, you’ll still have a whole host of tips and advice at the touch of a button.
Katie’s Top Tip: Join groups like Host A Sister or Solo Female Travelers and search the city name. There’s often loads of advice already shared that can help you feel more prepared and less alone.
4. Let Friends or Family Know Where You Are
This is more of a solo female travel safety tip, but it’s also a surprisingly powerful way to feel more connected.
When you’re somewhere unfamiliar, knowing that someone knows exactly where you are (even if they’re halfway across the world), can be very reassuring and help you feel less lonely.
Plus, when you share little updates (no matter how simple or mundane they are), with someone you love and trust, it chips away at that feeling of “I’m out here in the world on my own” and reminds you that you’re still connected, no matter how far away you are.
Katie’s Top Tip: Choose one or two people to check in with regularly. (For me, my person is my mum!) You could also switch it up a bit by sending a voice note or a selfie with a funny update, instead of texting.
5. Create a First Night Ritual You Can Look Forward To
Your first night somewhere new can definitely feel weird, even as an experienced solo female traveller.
That post-arrival adrenaline comedown is very real, especially after a long, tiring travel day.
You’ll (hopefully!) feel excited, but also a bit awkward or unsure of what to do with yourself.
And that can be a confusing emotional mix of emotions to navigate.
So, having a first-night ritual that you always do whenever you arrive somewhere new will gently ease you in and help beat first night solo travel loneliness.
Your ritual can be anything you want it to be. Anything that makes you feel comfortable. For example:
- Maybe that’s finding a local restaurant for dinner and people-watching
- Or calling someone back home to give them a tour of your accommodation (I do this!)
- Or going for a little, no agenda stroll around your neighbourhood to get your bearings
It doesn’t have to be big or elaborate, it just needs to feel comforting and constant.
Katie’s Top Tip: My first night ritual is always this: drop my bag, shower (instant mood boost!), take a short walk to get my bearings, and then call my mum to give her the obligatory tour of my room! It’s nothing fancy but it always, always helps.
Making Friends Without Awkwardness
One of the hardest parts of solo travel is wanting connection, but not knowing how to find it without feeling weird or awkward. But there are so many ways to meet people naturally while travelling solo, even if you’re introverted or have solo travel social anxiety (like me!)
These next few tips are all about helping you build friendships and spark conversations, without the awkward small talk or pressure.
6. Use An App
Yes, there are apps for dating, but there are also amazing apps for meeting platonic friends too, and they are great if you’re looking for a chat, a walk or even a brunch buddy.
Meetup.com is great for joining local events that match your interests: think language exchanges, book clubs, coworking meetups, wine tastings…
Bumble BFF, on the other hand, is more one-to-one, connecting you with other women nearby who are also looking for platonic friends.
I know it might feel a bit intimidating to message a stranger online, but remember that they’re there for the very same reason you are. Everyone’s just looking for a little connection. And you never know who’s out there until you try.
Katie’s Top Tip: Create your profile before you arrive so you can browse events or matches ahead of time. Include a photo that shows your personality and keep your bio casual and open.
7. Take Local Classes
Local classes are so underrated when it comes to beating solo travel loneliness!
They give you a shared focus (which means no awkward silences!) and everyone’s learning something new together, which naturally breaks the ice.
Whether it’s a pasta-making workshop in Rome, glass blowing in Venice, perfume making in Paris, or a yoga class in Barcelona, these experiences add so much to your trip while also connecting you with people who genuinely share your interests.
Plus, you walk away with a new (or improved) skill. Win win!
Katie’s Top Tip: Use platforms like GetYourGuide and filter for small group activities. Look for ones with lots of positive reviews that mention words like “welcoming” or “great for meeting people.”
8. Learn 3 Local Phrases
You don’t need to be fluent by any means, but knowing at least three key key phrases in the local language (for me, these are: hello, thank you and do you speak English?), can make a big difference in how locals respond to you.
Learning a bit of the language shows respect, effort and warmth.
And that tiny bit of language can turn a simple moment (like buying a coffee, for example), into something more friendly and human.
This might not sound like a typical piece of solo travelling advice, but you’d be amazed at how it shifts your energy from feeling isolated to feeling included.
Plus, locals are much more likely to open up when they see you’ve made an effort – even if you get it hilariously wrong!
Katie’s Top Tip: Download Google Translate offline and add your destination’s language, so you’ve always got it to hand.
9. Join a Small Group Tour
If you want company but you’re not keen on doing a full organised solo trip, try a short half or full day small group tour.
These are perfect for overcoming loneliness while travelling solo because you’re with other people for a few hours, bonding over something fun (like wine tasting, a cultural visit, or a local hike), and with most tours you also have free time, so you can also get some space to explore on your own, if you want!
What makes small group tours different from big bus tours is the intimacy.
Smaller groups = easier chats, more interaction (with both the guide and other travellers), and less feeling like just another tourist.
Katie’s Top Tip: Before booking, look for tours described as “intimate” or “local-led” or “great for meeting people.” You can even message the guide in advance to let them know you’re coming solo. Like with the walking tours, they’ll usually go out of their way to help you feel welcome.
10. If You’re Drinking, Sit at the Bar
This one comes with a little aside, because safety should always come first, especially when alcohol is involved in meeting new people.
But if you do fancy a drink, sitting at the bar (instead of at a table), will completely change your experience because you’re more visible, and so other people tend to strike up conversations more naturally.
Just be mindful of a few things: always watch your drink, trust your gut and have your exit plan ready to go if something (or someone) feels off.
Katie’s Top Tip: Order something low-alcohol or non-alcoholic if you want to stay sharp. Also, confidence is key to attracting the right kind of company in a bar (even if you have to fake it).
Managing Your Mindset
Often, the loneliest moments while solo travelling aren’t about being physically alone, but what’s going on in your head.
And solo travel loneliness doesn’t always come from the outside, but instead often starts with the stories we tell ourselves. So these next tips are about gently shifting those stories.
11. Journal Daily
Journaling isn’t just a nice idea on self-help TikTok or something you do once in a while!
Taking ten minutes at the start or end of the day to check in with yourself helps you to untangle your feelings, track your personal growth and remind yourself why you’re doing this in the first place.
Plus, you’ll also have great memories to look back on from your trip!
You don’t need to write pages and pages, either. Just a few bullet points about what you saw, how you felt, what surprised you and what you’re grateful for can make a huge difference.
Journaling will also help you to notice patterns. For example, maybe you always feel a bit low in the evening or super energised if you’ve spent time chatting to someone new.
The more self-awareness you have, the easier it is to find things to combat those patterns and overcome loneliness while travelling solo.
Katie’s Top Tip: If journaling feels hard at first, voice notes work too – just talk into your phone like you’re messaging a friend!
12. Reframe Alone Time as a Gift, Not Lack
Here’s the one mindset shift that changed everything for me on my solo travels: being alone isn’t something you always need to fix. Instead, it’s something to honour and enjoy.
When you’re used to a full schedule, constant background noise, or always having people around, silence can feel very confronting at first.
But over time, alone time will become something you enjoy.
It just takes time and practice, because learning to love your own company is a skill.
So instead of asking, “Why am I alone?” try asking, “What can I do with this freedom?”
That quiet afternoon with no plans? That’s perfect for reading in a local park, visiting a museum, going to the beach, treating yourself to coffee at a cute café…
Katie’s Top Tip: Make a list of things you already love before your trip, like coffee in bed, watching sunsets, reading outside… Then, during your trip, pull it out on days when loneliness creeps in and commit to doing one thing until you feel less lonely and start to enjoy your time alone.
13. Avoid Scrolling – It Just Fuels FOMO
When you’re travelling solo and feeling a bit low, it’s super tempting to reach for your phone. And then before you know where you are, you’re deep in a highlight reel of people laughing with friends, going to weddings, or enjoying group trips.
That’s the fastest way to slip into a spiral of comparison and FOMO.
But you’re not seeing real life. You’re seeing people’s filtered highlight reel.
So, if scrolling is making you feel worse, it’s time to put the phone down and come back to your view. Whether that’s a cobbled street in France, a mountain view in Norway, or even just your guesthouse window – look up.
The world around you is beautiful and worth noticing.
Katie’s Top Tip: Try a digital detox in the mornings and evenings. Instead of scrolling, use that time for a walk, journaling or a leisurely breakfast or dinner.
14. Celebrate Your Independence
You booked the trip. You packed the bag. You navigated the airport. You found your accommodation. You walked into that restaurant alone.
Don’t underestimate the power or bravery in any of that. Because that’s not nothing – it’s a huge deal!
And yet, so many of us downplay it, skipping straight to self-criticism. Why don’t I feel more confident? Why doesn’t my trip look like hers? Why did I make that one mistake? Why do I still feel a bit lonely?
Every single second your spend solo travelling is a moment to celebrate.
Solo travel is brave, full stop.
It teaches you to trust your gut and make decisions without second-guessing yourself. But perhaps most importantly, it teaches you to know that you’ve got yourself, wherever you are in the world.
So, is solo female travel lonely sometimes? Yes, for sure.
But it’s also incredibly freeing. Let yourself feel proud of yourself!
Katie’s Top Tip: Keep a running list in your journal (or phone) called something like proof I can do hard things (this is what mine is called!) Then, add every tiny win. Two of mine are: ordering an entire meal in Spanish (and being understood!), and not crying or giving up when my train got cancelled and I had to change all my plans in ten minutes. Look back in a month or two and you’ll be amazed by what you’ve achieved, I promise.
15. Practice Mindfulness or Meditation
Let’s first reframe what you know about meditation and mindfulness already…
Let me be clear, you don’t need to sit cross-legged for an hour (who has time for that when travelling?!) or be an expert to benefit from mindfulness.
Just five minutes of breathwork, being still and observing your thoughts can help you feel calmer, more grounded and less emotional.
Meditation pulls you out of the loneliness spiral and brings you back to the present moment.
And I promise, the present moment is often a whole lot less scary than it feels in your head.
Mindfulness also helps you notice those little joys we often overlook when travelling. For example, the warm breeze, the feel of the ocean, the taste of local pasta compared to what you have at home, simply just existing in a place you’ve only ever dreamed about before…
Katie’s Top Tip: Download a free app like Insight Timer and try a short 5 minute grounding meditation when you wake up or before bed. And if you’re not into apps, just close your eyes and take five slow breaths. That’s more than enough.
Finding Meaningful Experiences
There’s a difference between just seeing a place and actually feeling it.
Sometimes, when we feel lonely while travelling solo, it’s not about being physically alone but feeling disconnected. So these next tips are all about how to ground your travels in meaning, so they don’t feel like a checklist.
16. Spend Time Volunteering
Volunteering is one of the best ways to feel connected, especially if travel loneliness is setting in.
Whether it’s helping with beach clean ups, working on a local farm, teaching English, or supporting local community projects, giving your time is a beautiful way to create instant connection and leave a lasting, positive impact on the local area.
Don’t get me wrong, you absolutely don’t need to sign up for a three-month commitment (although if that’s your thing – go for it!)
Many organisations like Workaway and Worldpackers offer short-term, low-commitment options perfect for travellers.
It’s one of the best pieces of solo travelling advice I can give: if you want to feel less lonely, give something back.
Katie’s Top Tip: Choose something that genuinely aligns with your interests – animals, nature, people… And as a bonus, volunteering sometimes includes free accommodation or meals too, which helps stretch your budget.
17. Follow a Travel Theme
One of the most underrated and fun tips for solo travellers? Give your trip a theme!
This theme doesn’t have to be complicated or strict, but it should be to excite you and tie the places you visit together in a meaningful way.
For example, your theme could be:
- Visiting local art galleries in every city during your trip to France
- Following a wine tasting route in Portugal
- Hiking every national park in Montenegro
- Visiting places specifically connected to your heritage
- Make it your mission to see every UNESCO sight in a country
Whatever you choose, a theme adds structure, intention and fun to your trip, taking the focus off of being alone and onto the simple joy of travel.
Plus, it makes planning easier and days feel so much more purposeful.
When you’re following a theme, you’re much less likely to wake up wondering what to do because you’re already following your curiosity!
Katie’s Top Tip: Gamify your trip by starting a travel theme tracker in your journal or notes app. As you travel, take one photo or jot down a sentence for each theme stop. Then, at the end of the trip, you’ll have your own little story arc to look back on!
18. Visit Places That Move You
There’s something incredibly powerful about being somewhere that stirs something in you.
That might be…
- A place you’ve dreamed of seeing for years
- A religious or spiritual site
- A memorial
- A childhood bucket list destination
These are the kinds of experiences that make solo travel loneliness feel small compared to the feelings of gratitude you get from actually experiencing it.
When you travel solo, you get to decide what you do and what you skip.
So try to go to the places that make your heart feel something: climb that mountain trail, light a candle in that cathedral, sit quietly in a spot that means something to you…
These more personal moments will remind you why you chose to solo travel in the first place.
Katie’s Top Tip: These are the kind of memories that will last you a lifetime, so don’t skip or rush them when planning your solo travel itinerary.
19. Keep a Photo Journal
When travelling we always take photos of major landmarks, but what about the smaller moments that happen between the big sights? The street dog that walks beside you for a block. A tiny flower growing from the concrete in a bustling city. The perfect, flaky French croissant before you eat it.
These small moments are important too.
So start keeping a photo journal in your phone or as a printed version later. But instead of just adding landmarks or tourist attractions, try to notice and take photos of the little things too.
This helps you stay present as you travel, appreciate your time more fully and reflect on your trip in a much deeper way.
Katie’s Top Tip: Use an app like Day One or Google Photos to easily log one photo a day with a quick caption.
20. Send Physical Postcards
There’s something so nice about handwriting a message and sending it across land and sea, trusting it will reach the recipient from wherever you are in the world.
It connects you to someone you love, gives you a moment to reflect, and reminds you that even though you’re physically solo, you are not alone in the world.
Sending a postcard to my mum directly off the postal ship I was travelling on, above the Arctic Circle in Norway, is still one of my favourite core travel memories!
Writing postcards can also help you process your experiences. Summarising your day or your feelings in a few short sentences is almost its own kind of journaling.
Plus, it’s a beautiful gift: someone missing you back home gets a little piece of your trip in the post!
Katie’s Top Tip: Buy a small stash of postcards and stamps and keep them with you in your day bag. Then, when you’re waiting for a meal, resting in a park or feeling a bit wobbly and just want to feel connected, write one and send it.
Staying Connected
Being far from home doesn’t mean you have to feel far from your people.
But the way you use technology matters.
It’s so easy to fall into a loop of constant messaging or mindless Instagram scrolling, thinking it’ll help, but often it just leaves you feeling lonelier than before. So these next tips are all about using tech intentionally, so you can stay connected in a way that feels good.
21. Schedule Regular Video Calls
It’s so tempting to send constant text updates, little voice notes or selfies throughout the day when you’re travelling solo.
But, while texting and keeping in touch is absolutely okay, if you’re constantly messaging, you’ll be mentally half-in, half-out of your experience.
And often that will increase travel loneliness.
Instead, set aside intentional time for connection.
For example, I schedule a daily video call with my mum every evening to update her on my day and share some photos. And then with the rest of my family and friends, I set aside some time after that call to send them a message with my daily highlights and some of my favourite photos.
When you limit digital connection during the day, you’ll not only be able to experience your travels more deeply in the moment, but you’ll also have more meaningful conversations later, as you haven’t been narrating in real time.
A good call with someone you love does more to overcome loneliness while travelling solo than a day of distracted texting ever could!
Katie’s Top Tip: Time zones are notoriously annoying, so simplify it. Before you travel, choose a set call time that works for both of you and lock it into your daily or weekly routine.
22. Share Social Media Updates Selectively
Posting to socials while travelling solo can absolutely be a great way to document your trip and let loved ones follow along.
But there’s also pressure that comes with social media. Like you need to look like you’re having the time of your life, all the time.
And that pressure can actually make you feel lonelier, especially on quiet or hard days.
So try this: before posting anything, pause and ask yourself why you’re sharing it.
If it’s just for likes or to prove something, give yourself permission to skip it. You don’t owe anyone a highlight reel.
Instead, post when it feels joyful or meaningful, and let the rest stay just for you.
Solo travel loneliness can get so much worse when you compare your real life to everyone else’s curated version, so don’t do that to yourself or the people you love, either.
Katie’s Top Tip: Create a private story or a small group message with just your closest people if you want to share moments without the pressure of public validation.
23. Take Short Social Media Detoxes
Social media can be a lifeline but also a total emotional landmine when you’re travelling solo.
One minute you’re getting inspiration, the next you’re spiralling because someone else is in Santorini with their boyfriend and you’re eating crisps in a hotel bed alone.
(Yep, that’s a real life example I’m putting out there for the internet to read. So no judgement. We’ve all been there!)
Even just a few hour social media break helps you reconnect with your own experience rather than living in everyone else’s.
Use that time to journal, walk or explore somewhere new in your area. You’ll come back to your phone feeling so much less comparison-drained and much more grounded.
Digital detoxes are one of the most underrated tips for solo travellers when it comes to managing mental health on the road!
Katie’s Top Tip: Delete the apps from your home screen for the day, or move them to a hidden folder. Even just that one extra step can interrupt the automatic need to scroll.
Solo Travel Rituals
Travelling alone can be very intense because very day is new: new itineraries, new maps, new people, new decisions.
It’s exciting, yes, but also exhausting.
And when you’re feeling a little off, loneliness when travelling often sneaks in through the cracks of too much of that newness and not enough stability.
But that’s where rituals come in. They are simple, familiar things or habits that travel with you, reminding you that wherever you are, you can always come back to basics.
24. Always Carry Something From Home
Smell is one of the most powerful emotional triggers we have as humans, and it’s an easy way to bring a home comfort when you’re somewhere unfamiliar.
Whether it’s a mini candle, a sample of your favourite perfume or a sachet of lavender tucked into your bag, scent can offer that little dose of familiarity you need to overcome a tough day.
And the same goes for small sentimental items. Maybe it’s a favourite photo, a piece of jewellery, or a mini keepsake. (For me, I have a ring and a lucky St Christopher that I never travel without).
When you’re dealing with solo travel loneliness, even the smallest thing that reminds you that your loved can be so calming.
Katie’s Top Tip: Choose a scent or sentimental item that you associate with calm, good memories – not something that will make you sad or lonelier every time you smell or look at it.
25. Create a Morning Ritual That Feels Like Home
You can and should make every morning your own, regardless of whether you’re travelling or not.
It doesn’t matter where you are, you can still begin the day with a travel morning routine.
Maybe you stretch, grab a coffee, spend 5 minutes journaling, walk to find a pastry for breakfast… It doesn’t matter.
The routine and the familiarity is what matters, rather than the action.
And these rituals give even the busiest travel days structure.
Katie’s Top Tip: Set a gentle reminder on your phone to remind yourself to do your morning ritual every day after waking up. Also, make it easy enough so that you don’t feel you have to skip it on busier days. Consistency is key.
26. Create a Calming Wind-Down Routine
Evenings can often feel like the loneliest part of the day.
It feels like everyone around you is out with friends or as a couple, the adrenaline of a day of exploring is over, and you’re left alone with your thoughts.
So, just like creating a morning routine, creating a regular, relaxing travel evening wind-down routine is one of the most powerful ways to ease solo travel loneliness.
Even something as simple as making a warm drink, gentle stretching, doing your skincare, or listening to your favourite music can healthily distract you from feelings of loneliness.
Katie’s Top Tip: Make sure you travel with everything you need to make this routine easy to complete every evening. For example, download a few favourite songs or playlists so you’re not reliant on WIFI, or find an easy, go-to stretch routine on YouTube.
27. Write a One-Line Diary Entry Each Night
Long travel journals are lovely in theory, but after a full day of solo travelling, you might not have the energy.
If that’s the case, a one-line diary is the perfect low-effort ritual that’s just as impactful.
Just commit to writing one sentence, whether it’s one moment that stood out, one challenge you overcome, or one feeling you felt.
It’s a powerful way to reflect, wind down and acknowledge your day.
Plus, over time, these little lines will create a beautiful flow of memories of your trip!
Katie’s Top Tip: Keep your one line a day in your phone notes app or you could even buy a dedicated, pocket-sized notebook.
Final Thoughts: So, Is Solo Travel Lonely?
Sometimes, yes, solo travel is definitely lonely.
But sometimes it’s the most freeing, connected experience you’ll ever have.
The true answer to the question is solo travel lonely? isn’t black and white.
There will be moments when you feel on top of the world, proud of yourself for travelling on your own.
And there will be other moments, during late nights or hard goodbyes with people you meet, when loneliness sneaks in.
That’s normal.
But here’s what I’ve learned after years of travelling solo across Europe: you can and will feel lonely anywhere – even in a room full of people. But you can also feel totally at peace being on your own in a brand new city.
The difference between the two is how you support yourself through any feelings that arise.
The solo travel loneliness tips in this blog post aren’t magic, by any means, but they are real and practical ways to reconnect with yourself and remind yourself that you are never truly alone.
You’ve got your own back. Remember that.
Now I’d love to hear from you! Which of these tips are you going to try first? Or do you have your own way of beating solo travel loneliness that’s worked for you? Let me know!
Read More About Solo Female Travel:
- 11 Solo Travel Tips for Introverts To Feel Confident
- Solo Travel With Social Anxiety: What It’s Really Like
- 11 Tips to Overcome Solo Travel Anxiety (That Actually Work)
- 7 Steps to Create a Solo Travel Evening Routine You Love
- 7 Easy Steps to a Stress-Free Solo Travel Morning Routine
