Are you planning your first solo trip? Then this post is for you!
Sure, first time solo travel can make you a little nervous because you never know what to expect while traveling. You often land up in weird situations or serious troubles (speaking from experience), but still every trip is worth it. The adrenaline rush you get when you visit a different country or continent for the first time is just incomparable.
Without further ado, let's get started.
1. Portugal
Despite the pandemic, Portugal continues to be one of the most popular tourist attractions of Europe. It is a dream destination for most solo travelers and to be honest, the cities do not intimidate. It has it all - laid-back and friendly locals, rich history, captivating art, great (and cheap) transit systems and breathtaking views. When in Portugal, do not forget to visit the Benagil Caves in Lagao.
Lisbon is just a day trip from the capital and you can find yourself in beautiful beaches (Estoril is one of them), you can try the tasty tarts (go to Belém) or just take a stroll through the city. You do not have to worry about the language gap because Portuguese people are nice and have a decent knowledge of English.
2. Croatia
There is no way I am not going to include this country on my top 5 list. There are just so many things that are truly appealing about this place like the thousands of islands and it's fair share of amazing geography. No visit to Croatia is complete without spending a day in Dubrovnik. It is a chic place in Croatia packed with sophisticated restaurants and bars and laid-back cafes. If you are a Game of Thrones fan, then just know that the King's Landing was filmed here.
A road trip along the Dalmatian coast is one of the best ways to explore the many beauties of Croatia. Yo can see the jaw-dropping cliffs and this road leads to places like Zadar and Split.
Croatia is also one of the safest countries in Europe.
3. Switzerland
I do not know about you but I have about fantasized my first visit to Switzerland countless times before I finally got the opportunity of visiting. It is one of my all-time favorites and I am sure that you will have a mesmerizing time in Switzerland too. Swiss education is world-class but it comes with a heavy price tag. But hat is fair enough because some of the boarding schools here have private ski resorts. How cool is that?
If you go to Switzerland, then do try the Swiss chocolates and Swiss cheese. Just thinking about them makes me hungry.
From Zermatt to Zurich to Matterhorn, literally every city is worth visiting. I can't even begin to list it out in this post. Surely, I will make a post about Switzerland in the future.
If you are into winter sports, then Switzerland is one of the best places. It is really safe and the people are helpful but do remember to have a basic knowledge of French or German when visiting.
4. Netherlands
There are so many amazing places to visit in Netherlands that it is difficult to fit all of them within a small paragraph.
Amsterdam is the capital and is of great interest for the tourists. It is famous for it's red light district and parties. The most popular spots are Rijks museum and the Anne Frank house.
Delft has lots of traditional canals and busy streets while the Hague is one of the most famous parts of Holland known for its reputable art exhibition done at the Royal Picture Gallery and the Gemeente Museum Den Haag.
Get a train outside any of the big cities (yes, most trains have wifi) and you’ll see even more Dutch charm than you thought possible – and probably a windmill or two chucked in for good measure. In the northeast you’ll come across Giethoorn, the Venice of Holland, a village made up of boat-filled waterways.
5. Italy
Imagine a scene - you are sprawled on a beach while eating pizza and you are about to go cliff-diving in the crystal clear water in the next five. Awesome, right? Well, that is Italy for you.
Italy is one of the most visited countries of the world. It has a city for every mood - family-friendly, romantic, trip with your best friends and so on. It is bustling with history, architecture, beaches, mountain ranges, cliffs, islands and what not.
Even after visiting Italy many times, you cannot help but wish for another trip. My favorite parts are the Amalfi coast and the Dolomites. Italy has the perfect contrast of natural beauty and this is why it is so famous among the international tourists.
One thing is for sure - you can never go wrong with Italian food!
So this is my list of best destinations in Europe for first time solo travelers. With the pandemic getting weaker each day, Europe is planning to soon open up the borers for international travelers. I can't wait to be able to travel again and I really do miss the feel of sitting in a plane!
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