Ready to dive into solo travel and FINALLY have an epic European summer?! Here are 15 tips for solo travel in Europe, the EASIEST place to get started for beginner solo travelers.

With its cultural similarities to the United States and multitude of English-speakers, Europe is a fantastic place for beginner solo travelers, especially Americans. Europe is incredibly diverse and full of stunning cities, delicious and varied food, centuries of rich history, culture, and art, and so much more. There are tons of countries to explore here, and most have fantastic public-transportation options, making many European countries easy to travel between AND within. Bonus; if you visit EU Member States, you can use the SAME currency, the Euro, for your entire trip! And even if you are an experienced solo traveler, these tips for solo travel in Europe will help make your trip go even smoother!

As someone who’s been to 45+ countries (30+ of those solo!) I am a HUGE advocate for trying solo travel, at least once! Solo travel opens up a world of possibilities; no more waiting for someone to join you, so your bucket list trip is just ONE choice away! And in case you need even more convincing, here’s 15 reasons why you should solo travel. Have I convinced you?! Let me help you take your bucket list trip with my top 15 tips for solo travel in Europe:

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Europe is one of the MOST visited places in the world; and while that can be a plus for solo travelers, as Europeans are generally used to tourists, it also comes with the negative of accommodations, tours, museums, and more often being completely booked out. Make sure to book WELL in advance, ESPECIALLY if you are intending to visit Europe in the summer; which is the high season.

While I’d always advise solo travelers to pack light; it’s especially relevant in Europe. You will be dragging your luggage down cobblestone streets (maybe try a backpack instead; this is one of my FAVORITES and incredibly well-designed!) and into TINY overhead compartments on trains and planes. My personal favorite suitcase is the Away Carry-On; this smaller size fits on pretty much ALL of the tiny planes you might take between countries, and fits in well in train overhead or under-the-seat spaces. Another thing that makes Europe difficult for large bags is that there. are. stairs. everywhere! Do NOT expect elevators in hotels, escalators in subways, or generally for Europe to be as accessible as it is in the States.

Hostels are the BEST way to meet friends while traveling solo, and Europe is the OG of having some awesome hostels. That being said, not all hostels are created equal, so make sure to read up on reviews on HostelWorld before you book. Always make sure to check for bed bugs too, and do not put your suitcase or clothes on the bed until you’ve checked!

If hostels aren’t your vibe, try meeting friends by talking a walking tour. It’s one of the best ways to get an introduction and layout of the city you’re visiting – so do it day one and you’ll be better prepared to solo travel at your destination. If walking tours aren’t your speed, try out a different Europe tour – I LOVE searching on GetYourGuide!

Pick-pocketers to Americans sounds like some sort of Oliver Twist situation, but unfortunately it is still RAMPANT in Europe. Put a leash on your phone and ALWAYS have it attached to you or your bag. If you have a backpack, wind one of the straps around your leg or the table leg so it doesn’t get snatched, or try this ingenious theft-proof backpack. Always lock up your luggage, especially if you are staying in a hostel. Final tip: make sure you familiarize yourself with common local scams so you’re not caught off-guard.

Europe can be expensive to visit, and with the “solo-travel” tax, it can be even more so. If you plan on visiting a couple countries, try balancing more affordable countries with more expensive countries; like pairing Portugal and France, or Spain and the United Kingdom, or Poland and Norway.

Europe has some of the best public transportation systems between trains, subways (metro), buses, and more. It can be intimidating to navigate public transport while solo, but it will save you SO much! And trust me, you’ll feel on top of the world when you get it all figured out! Just make sure to always be aware of your things (see my tip about pick-pocketers!) and be kind to yourself – we have ALL gotten lost or gotten off at the wrong stop while solo traveling. Mistakes are okay and we learn from them! Check out Omnio (please make travelpayouts link for https://www.omio.com/) is a great site to find and compare buses and trains to figure out how to get to Point A to Point B.  Top tip: if you plan on visiting multiple countries, grab yourself a Eurail Pass  to save money on individual tickets!

One of the more challenging parts to visiting Europe is that all of the countries speak different languages! I’d recommend downloading individual languages offline on Google Translate. While you’re at it, download offline Google maps too! Even though it can be tough and many Europeans speak English, I would HIGHLY recommend you at least learn a few local phrases like “hello” and “thank you”. Remember, you are visiting someone else’s home, and learning their language and culture is both polite and a responsibility of a good traveler.

Never travel to Europe without a debit card! Credit cards may be dominant in the United States, but cash is still king in many European countries. ALWAYS have at least some cash on hand, but make sure to split it up for safe-keeping, and/or use a money belt. Just be careful of ATM fees! For your credit cards, make sure you put a travel notice on your card and that your card does not have any foreign transaction fees.

Europe is a haven for backpackers, tourists, and partiers – and there are TONS of incredibly fun night-clubs, raves, and more. As a solo traveler, it is extra important to drink responsibly; by making sure your drink is never left alone, that you watched the bartender pour it (don’t take  offered drinks), and that you don’t drink past your limit. I usually recommend solo travelers not stay out after dark, but certain cities and places in Europe are safer than others and CAUTIOUSLY you could maybe stay out after dark safely  – but make sure to your research! You can also try ordering an Uber (if possible) to get you back to your accommodation faster and safer (but be careful with Uber too!).

If you’ve not seen the lines in Europe for museums and popular attractions, prepare to be stunned! You could be waiting for HOURS – and in summer, lines are NO JOKE. There are even museums that limit the number of entries now, so buying your ticket in advance (often at a particular time slot) is extremely important! Many tickets let you skip the line (or at least wait in a shorter line) than just buying the ticket in person. Tip: you can also check out the local tourism board office; they often have discount cards to museums and landmarks in their city!

Something that is foreign for American tourists is having to pay for public toilets; but this is actually quite common in Europe! You’ll need to have coins (small change) to either pay an attendant or place into a turnstyle-blocked receptacle. Make sure you factor this into your plans; usually I like to plan my bathroom breaks around museum visits, because after you’ve paid for your entry already, the bathroom is probably free.

Be prepared to walk in Europe A LOT. Even when I use public transport, it’s common for me to walk multiple miles across the cities. You’ll definitely want comfortable walking shoes that you’ve already broken in; no one likes a blister! Remember: there will be lots of stairs and probably some uneven cobblestone streets too! Another clutch item to pack is a travel-sized fan  like this one for those HOT HOT HOT European summers. AC is still not common in Europe (unlike in the States), so be prepared to have a warm accommodation. Make sure to stay hydrated and one last thing – ice isn’t very common in most restaurants and you’ll have to pay extra for water, so bring a reusable water bottle! Even though you have to pay for water in restaurants, some cities have clean drinking water publically available in the form of water fountains.

Unlike the United States, tipping culture is much less of a thing, but it can vary from country-to-country in Europe. Some countries don’t tip at all, some it’s polite to just round up, and some do expect a certain amount of tipping. GOOGLE is your friend; don’t be tricked into paying a tip when you don’t have to, but make sure you DO tip when expected. 

Another thing to keep in mind – in the United States, waiters usually bring you your check near the end of the meal without you asking. In Europe, the dining culture is a later and slower (later in the day and slow-paced). It’s normal for your table to be yours for the ENTIRE night, and when you want to pay you’ll actually have to flag down your waiter and let them know you’d like to pay. Although in some countries, you can just take your bill up to the bar or counter to pay.

Many of the electrical plugs in Europe are the same (and they’re still different from US plugs!), but there are juuuust enough exceptions that I’d still recommend you pack a universal adapter like this one. Again, it’s always good to pre-Google the countries you are visiting and check the plugs. One more thing; you definitely will want to check all of your electronics; in the States, we use 110 volts in our outlets, while European outlets are designed for 230 volts. Most modern electronics now have a range of use up to 240 volts, but it’s always good to check so you don’t fry your expensive electronics!

Food, tours, dances, cities, countrysides, local beers, languages – immerse yourself into each European country and just try it all! There are unique offerings you won’t find anywhere else in the world, and it is such a joy to experience all of the amazing things Europe has to offer. You’ll quickly see why it is such a popular destination! And for solo-travelers, it really is a fantastic place to start (or continue) solo traveling.

I’ll never NOT recommend Ireland for your first solo trip! The spoken language is English, and the people are SO KIND. Take a road trip around this stunning isle & you’ll be greeted with lovely views & a welcoming energy. Dublin is also a lower-key & safer city than other major cities in Europe, so it’s a great starting place!

Iceland is one of the best places for a first solo trip. It’s easy to get around, English is commonly spoken, there’s tons of adventure, and it is downright BEAUTIFUL. You’re sure to meet plenty of other travelers on tours or just out exploring too. Only downside is cost!

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