What solo travel is really like: the good, the bad & the lonely moments
Updated: Sep 14
Last updated: September 2026
As someone who has been travelling the world for years now, for the majority of the time alone, I definitely have firsthand experience of the best and worst parts of solo female travelling. I will always advocate for it, but we also have to openly talk about the downsides of this travel style. I am hoping that talking about everything and anything related to solo travelling will encourage women across the globe to travel alone while also being aware of the potential downsides of it.
Solo travelling can be one of the most rewarding and empowering experiences you will ever have, but I also think social media or the movies often romanticises it too much. There are incredible highs, moments of unshakeable confidence and freedom, but there are also difficult days that people rarely speak openly about. In this post, I wanted to share what solo travel really feels like, the good parts, the uncomfortable parts, and the emotional realities that can come with travelling alone for longer periods of time.
If you’ve never travelled alone before, a lot of these emotions can feel overwhelming or disheartening at first, which is why I wrote more in depth about the emotional side of solo travel and the feelings many people experience during their first solo trip. You can read it here.
One thing I would also highlight is that your first destination can massively shape your solo travel experience, especially if you are still building confidence travelling alone. This is why I collected some of my favourite destinations that, in my opinion, are ideal for first-time solo travellers, check it out here.
The benefits of solo travel
I could talk about this part for days, so I will try to summarise it. The best part of solo travelling is definitely the self-development element of it. No podcast, self-help book, or life coach can help or test you more than being alone on the other side of the globe, trying to figure it all out, at times even under stress or pressure. Travelling the world alone can help you feel so free, yet responsible. Since you are your own company most of the time, you discover things about yourself left, right, and centre. You will be your best friend and advisor. You will be the one in control and the one who needs to solve problems. Your patience will be tested on a daily basis, and sometimes life will ask you: how bad do you want this? But this is what will shape you into a more patient and resilient human being.
Another thing I would mention is that travelling alone makes you more sociable. A lot of the time when I tell people I travel alone, they think it must be very anti-social. But I beg to differ. In my experience, travelling alone makes you more open to starting a conversation or opening up to people. Especially if you want to find company, making that first move and being courageous is your only chance at socialising and making connections. More on that in my detailed post on how to make friends while travelling solo. I admit, this is not something that you will always find easy, but it is definitely a habit that you can get into very easily. I love me a personality test, and I do one every once in a while. The more I solo travel, the more extroverted I seem to be based on these personality tests. Coincidence? I think not.
And of course, your increased level of confidence. I mean, after climbing mountains with food poisoning or sleeping on the airport floor because a storm delayed all the flights, you learn to be so confident on your own, so that simple, everyday tasks seem like a walk in the park.
And last but not least, solo travel changes the relationship you have with yourself, and for the better. You become more independent and also more self-aware. When you spend long periods of time alone in new environments, you notice your habits, fears, coping mechanisms, and strengths and weaknesses much more clearly. I went through a phase when I binge-read many self-development books, but none of them thought me as much about myself as finding my own strengths or facing my shadows alone on the other side of the globe.
The downsides of solo travel
You only have yourself to rely on. There will be certain situations, when you will have to rely purely on your instincts and making the best possible decision for you. If you are naturally very independent this may not seem like a big deal, but if you are the type of person who likes to discuss matters before making decisions, this may be something to prepare for. Don't worry, most of the time this doesn't mean some grand, life changing decisions, but some of these can also alter the course of your travels or the way you experience things. As negative as this sounds at first, I think it is also a very beneficial element of travelling on your long term life quality; responsibility and independent thinking are skills you can literally transfer to any other area of your life.
Another difficult part of travelling alone is decision fatigue. And as first-world problem it sounds, it can get to you. When you are solo travelling, every small decision becomes your responsibility: where to stay, how to get somewhere safely, whether to trust someone, whether to change plans, or even where to eat when you feel mentally exhausted. No one else to dsicuss this with or ask for advice. At first this can feel overwhelming, especially if you are used to relying on others for reassurance or shared decision-making. Sometimes this can make you cry over whether you should take the bus or the train. But over time, I think this also becomes one of the most valuable lessons solo travel teaches you: learning to trust your own judgment.
Looking back, there are so many small things I wish I had known before my first solo trip that would have made the experience feel far less overwhelming. To help you overcome these and make your trip run more smoothly, I shared 32 travel tips I wish I knew before my first trip
The ugly parts of solo travel
You can feel alone and lonely in the most beautiful destinations. It may only hit you after a while because initially, you have that feeling of freedom and excitement. But that sometimes wears off, and you feel lonely experiencing some of the most amazing locations on your own. Which is good on one hand, because you really learn to enjoy your own company. But when you spend a few weeks or months in a great location but don't seem to find the right kind of people to share the experience with, you can feel pretty lonely. Depending on the length of your trip, you may not have to face this issue because, in my experience, this is more like a feeling that occurs at the 4-5 week mark, but it's definitely something to be aware of. Every trip and individual is different so may even feel this way on Day 1.
One thing that genuinely helped me during difficult moments was learning how to become more open to connection while travelling, even in very small and natural ways. I shared my top tips in this blog post.
Is solo travel worth it?
I am hoping the bad and the ugly did not put you off from wanting to try solo travelling. Despite everything I mentioned in this post, the loneliness, uncertainty, scary moments, and emotional ups and downs, I still believe solo travel is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done for myself. I am a big advocate for everyone trying it at least once nor twice. You learn so many life lessons and skills in such a short amount of time that will improve other areas of your life in ways you could have not even imagined. My honest take is that the good outweighs the difficult parts by far, and if travelling alone is something you keep thinking about, there is probably a reason for that. Just remember to start small, a solo dinner date in your hometown or an organised day trip can show you whether it is for you or not.
Is solo travel lonely?
Not at all, but you have to make an effort not to feel lonely when travelling alone. I think there is a misconception that solo travel is for the introverts and those who like to keep to themselves, but I have come across some of the biggest social butterflies when meeting fellow solo travellers. Yes, there will be lonely moments, but in all honesty I think there can be lonely moments at any point in life, even if there are people around you. I think one thing to intentionally pay attention to is either open conversations with fellow travellers when you can, or respond to other people with open-ended questions when they try to make a connection.
FAQs
Is solo travelling safe for women?
Safety is probably one of the biggest concerns when it comes to solo female travel, and I would lie if I said this is something I never have to worry about. From my experience, a lot of places are much safer than we imagine them to be before we go (I often find that things/places look scarier in my head than irl), but that doesn’t mean you should switch off your awareness or forget common sense. There will always be moments where you are more alert, especially in new places, but overall, I don’t think safety should stop you from travelling alone, you just have to remember to take safety measure wherever you go, trust your gut and don't prioritise anything above your safety. Also, sticking to touristy areas, trusted accommodation, tours etc will make you feel much more comfortable.
What are the benefits of solo travel?
I would definitely start with the endless freedom you get. There will be no one to check your travel plans with, no compromise or altering your trip, just doing things your own way. Of coure, the even better benefits of it all is the self-development part. You will get to meet a new version of yourself with each trip you take, and that is priceless.
What are the downsides of solo travel?
As much as I love travelling solo, I am also a realist, and I don’t think it’s helpful to pretend there are no difficult parts. One of the main downsides is that everything is on you, from the small decisions to the bigger ones, and that can become a little tiring at times. There are also moments where you might feel disconnected or slightly overwhelmed, especially if you’re constantly moving between places without a strong sense of routine or familiarity. Simple tasks like booking a train ticket may seem more difficult due to decision fatigue.
Does solo travel build confidence?
Yes, but I don’t think it happens in a sudden, dramatic way where you wake up one day and feel like a new person (like some movies show you). Each trip will make you feel more accomplished because you can look back and think, I did it all by myself. With each challenge or issue to solve on a trip you will be pushed more and more outside of your comfort zone.
I hope you found this honest take on solo female travelling insightful. Obviously, it's all my personal experience and doesn't necessarily apply to everyone, but I hope that it will give someone the courage to book that trip and embark on their own adventures as solo female travellers.
And if you’re looking for a way to feel more grounded while travelling, don’t forget to grab my free Travel Wellness Routine Builder. It’s packed with simple tools like a printable checklist, self-care prompts, and mini rituals to help you feel more at home, wherever the journey takes you.
