Best places to solo travel (from someone who's actually been there alone)

True story. First time I arrived in Morocco, I went out for dinner at 6pm sharp, inhaled my food, and sprinted back to the hostel before dark because I was convinced something terrible was going to happen to me.

Truth be told,  nothing happened. And I now regularly walk home from dinner at 1am there without a second thought.

I tell you this because most "best places to solo travel" lists are written by people who want to sound like they know everything. I'd rather tell you the truth,  including the part where I was absolutely terrified and completely wrong about it.

So here are the places I've actually been to alone. What they're really like. And what I wish someone had told me before I went.

One thing first though: every single place on this list is safe. Not "safe if you never leave your hotel" safe, actually safe, for a solo traveller who uses common sense and treats people with respect. Which I'm guessing you do, otherwise you wouldn't be reading a blog called La Siesta Project.

Okay. Let's go.

01 · North Africa

Morocco 🇲🇦

I'm biased. I'll say that upfront. Morocco changed my life in ways I'm still figuring out. So take this with a pinch of salt,  but also, trust me on this one.

Morocco has a reputation for being difficult, overwhelming, even dangerous. And look, I get it. The medinas are loud, the culture is completely different from what most Western travellers are used to, and yes, in the bigger cities people will try to sell you things aggressively. That's real.

But here's what's also real: I have never once felt unsafe there. Not in years of going back. Not once.

The thing is, Morocco rewards you massively for showing up with respect. Not performing respect,  actually having it. You're entering a different culture, a different way of life. You're not there to live your normal life in a prettier setting. You're there to actually experience something new. Dress appropriately, learn a few words, don't try to impose your way of doing things  and Morocco will open up to you in a way that very few places do.

!!! Honest note: yes, there are scams in tourist areas. Mostly harmless ones someone offering to show you around and then asking for money, that kind of thing. Google "common Morocco tourist scams" before you go and you'll spot them from a mile away. It's not dangerous. It's just the reality of a country with a lot of tourism and a lot of economic inequality.

The Atlantic coast,  Taghazout, Tamraght, Aourir,  is where my heart is. Surf, sunsets, and the most amazing community, the only problem might be you won't wanna leave. I do apologize for that. 

02 · South Asia

Sri Lanka 🇱🇰

Sri Lanka is one of those places that surprises you. It's small enough to feel manageable, diverse enough to feel like several countries in one , jungle, beach, tea plantations, ancient temples, all within a few hours of each other.

The people are warm in a way that feels completely genuine. Tourism is deeply woven into the culture here, but that's not an excuse to treat people like a service. Same rule as everywhere: show up with respect, treat people the way you'd want to be treated, and Sri Lanka gives you everything back tenfold.

For solo travellers it's genuinely one of the easiest places I've been. Getting around is simple, the surf on the south coast is incredible, and the sense of community you find in the smaller coastal towns is something I still think about.

!!!! Honest note: avoid the intercity buses on mountain roads if you value your nerves. I'm not joking. The views are stunning. The driving is... a spiritual experience. Take the train instead, it's genuinely one of the most beautiful journeys in the world and worth every second.

03 · Northern Spain

North coast of Spain 🇪🇸

Okay, this one is a secret. And I feel slightly guilty sharing it. But here we go.

Cantabria is where I learned to surf. I know this coastline personally, I grew up there, I've eaten in the local spots, I've driven those roads more times than I can count. And I genuinely cannot understand why more people outside of Spain don't know about it.

World-class surf. Dramatic green cliffs that look nothing like what you'd expect from Spain. Food that will make you want to cry. And a local community that hasn't been overrun by mass tourism yet,  which, in 2026, is increasingly rare and increasingly precious.

It's also incredibly easy to travel solo here. English is widely spoken, the culture is familiar if you're European, and you'll find surfers and travellers from all over the world who ended up here by accident and never fully left.

!!!! Honest note: it rains. It's northern Spain. Pack layers and manage your expectations weather-wise. The green is green for a reason. And honestly? A moody grey sky over those cliffs hits different.

04 · Western Europe

Portugal — Ericeira 🇵🇹

Ericeira is a World Surfing Reserve. One of only a handful on the entire planet. So the waves are kind of a big deal.

But honestly, what makes Ericeira special for solo travellers isn't just the surf. It's the town. Small enough to walk everywhere, big enough to always find something happening. The kind of place where you sit down for a coffee alone and leave with dinner plans and three new friends.

Portugal in general is one of the most accessible solo travel destinations in Europe, safe, English-speaking, affordable by Western European standards, and with a warmth that doesn't feel performative. The food is extraordinary. The light is extraordinary. Everything is a bit extraordinary, actually.

05 · Southeast Asia

Thailand 🇹🇭

Thailand is a classic for a reason. And I know "classic" can sound like a warning, like it's going to be overrun with tourists and Instagram spots,  but hear me out.

For solo travel, Thailand is genuinely fantastic. Easy to navigate, incredibly varied, and full of people who are warm and genuinely want to help. The infrastructure is there. The food is unreal. And once you get out of the main tourist spots, there's so much more to find.

The main thing to know going in: in bigger cities, especially Bangkok, there are common tourist scams. Tuk-tuk drivers telling you the palace is closed today (it isn't), gem shops, overpriced excursions. None of this is dangerous,  it's just annoying and avoidable. Spend ten minutes googling "common Thailand scams" before you go and you'll be completely fine.

⚠️ Honest note: respect the temples. Cover your shoulders and knees. Remove your shoes. Don't touch the monks. These aren't just suggestions, they're genuine signs of respect for a culture that's letting you in. Act accordingly.

06 · Southeast Asia

Indonesia 🇮🇩

Indonesia has changed a lot in recent years. The digital nomad boom has made it more connected and more accessible than ever, especially Bali, which at this point basically has its own expat infrastructure.

But what hasn't changed is the hospitality. The people here are genuinely, profoundly kind. Not in a surface-level way,  in a way that comes from a culture that has community and welcome at its core. The wealth distribution in this country is also quite shocking, so I'd say more than anywhere else, be kind to locals, they are experiencing tourist prices at local wages and struggling because of that. Arrive with respect for their values and traditions (and Indonesia is a deeply spiritual country,  different islands, different customs, worth researching before you go) and you will be welcomed in a way that stays with you.

Moving between islands is part of the adventure and simpler than it sounds. Each island has its own personality. Don't just do Bali,  venture beyond it and you'll find something much quieter and much more real.

07 · Southeast Asia

Cambodia 🇰🇭

Cambodia is rawer than Thailand, less polished than Bali, and that's exactly what makes it so powerful.

The history here is heavy and recent and you can't, and shouldn't, ignore it. Understanding what Cambodia has been through in living memory changes the way you move through it. Every act of kindness you encounter feels like something earned rather than given. The resilience of the people here is genuinely humbling.

For solo travellers it's very manageable, especially around the main tourist routes. Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, the coast. Just go with the intention to actually understand the place you're in, not just to collect the photos.

!!! Honest note: go to the historical sites with the intention to understand, not just to photograph. Angkor Wat is breathtaking. It's also a place of deep cultural and spiritual significance. Act like it. 

08 · Indian Ocean

Maldives (but make it local) 🇲🇻

Wait, hear me out before you scroll past thinking this isn't for you.

I'm not talking about the overwater bungalows and the all-inclusive honeymoon resorts. I'm talking about the local islands. Which are a completely different thing and honestly one of the best kept secrets in travel.

You can walk across most of these islands in twenty minutes. You take public ferries between them. The air is different here, there's a peace that's hard to find anywhere else. The water is that impossible shade of blue that looks like someone turned up the saturation in real life.

The people are warm and welcoming. The Maldives is a Muslim country, so dress modestly away from the beach, but every local island has designated bikini beaches where you can swim freely. They're beautiful and usually blissfully quiet. There is honestly so much to do in these islands. 

!!!! Honest note: it's not a budget destination even on local islands, the Maldives is remote and everything costs more because of it. But it's also not as expensive as people picture it, I payed 30 euros/night  for a hotel room in a local island. 

So there you go. Eight places I've actually been to alone,  with all the good bits and the honest bits included.

Every single one of them gave me something I still carry. Not a souvenir. More like a version of myself I didn't know was there until I showed up somewhere new and had no choice but to find her.

That's the thing about solo travel, I think, get out there and find all these realities of yourself in all these new places. 

Loads of love,
Inés