Your 2026 Solo Travel Era Starts Now!
If 2025 was the year we survived everything life threw at us, then 2026 is the year we get intentional about joy — and solo travel is right at the top of that list.
All over Threads, women are asking the same things:
“Are solo trips safe?”
“What’s a good solo travel destination?”
“Does traveling alone feel lonely?”
Let’s breathe together for a second.
Because the truth is simple:
Solo travel, especially solo travel for women, is one of the most powerful forms of self-care, growth, and liberation.
And the idea that it’s lonely or boring? We’re debunking that today…
Why Solo Travel Matters…
Especially for Women
There is something spiritually grounding about stepping into a new city with nothing but your intuition, your playlist, and the version of yourself that’s finally ready to expand.
Solo travel lets you:
- Move with ease
- Wake up when you want
- Eat where you want
- Explore without compromise
- Hear your own thoughts clearly
- Build confidence in real time
For Black women — sisters traveling solo — this is sacred.
It’s rest we don’t often get. It’s stillness we rarely allow. It’s freedom we deeply deserve.
And in 2026?
We need to claim it loudly.
Let’s get into it…
Choose Tourist-Friendly Solo Travel Destinations First…
Your first solo trip does not need to be an Eat-Pray-Love journey across three continents.
It can literally be a weekend trip.
Actually, the best way to start is by choosing a beginner-friendly city with strong tourism infrastructure, walkability, and clear systems for visitors.
These are the places that help you build confidence and return home feeling empowered — not overwhelmed.
Below are the best solo travel destinations for first-time solo travelers… with reasons why.
Now look, everyone’s experience will be different so I caution you not to lean too close into this list. This is my experience.
🌍
Five of My
Best Solo Travel Destinations for Women
🇵🇹 Lisbon, Portugal
Best city for solo travel beginners
Lisbon is walkable, sunny, English-friendly, and full of cute cafés, trams, and easy guided tours. It is basically the type of city that lets you breathe while you figure out your solo travel rhythm.
What really makes Portugal shine for Black women, though, is its thriving Black expat community. There are always brunches, mixers, creative events, and group chats you can tap into before you even pack your suitcase. That sense of connection makes traveling alone feel less intimidating and way more “I got this.”
Overall, Lisbon is safe, beautiful, and low-stress… the perfect vibe for stepping into your 2026 solo travel era with confidence.
Now real talk… some sisters have run into bad actors who were racist. But just like the U.S., you’re going to run into jerks anywhere, and those moments usually don’t define the entire experience.
I’ve been to Lisbon twice and still felt fully seen and welcomed. And listen… folks keep telling me Porto is where the magic is these days, so best believe when I make that third trip back, you will absolutely catch me in Porto living my best life.
Plan your solo trip to Portugal…
🇪🇸 Barcelona, Spain
A fun & social solo trip
Barcelona is that city that meets you with beaches, tapas, art, nightlife, and enough vibrancy to keep your days full without ever feeling chaotic. It’s tourist-heavy in the best way, walkable, welcoming, and overflowing with guided tours, meetups, and sun-soaked spots perfect for solo exploration.
I’ve visited Barcelona twice, and each time it felt like the kind of place that holds you gently while still giving you room to roam. If you’re a solo female traveler who craves structure, beauty, and community, this city really delivers.
And if you want to go deeper beyond Barcelona, we actually have a full Spain guide written by Kamryn Kinlow, who moved there to volunteer abroad and shares so many gems about navigating the country with ease and intention. Barcelona is a stunning entry point into Spain and an even better entry point into your solo travel era.
🇬🇧 London, England
No language barrier & a lot of familiar things to do
London is one of the easiest places to start your solo travel era because it truly feels like America… just with an accent and a whole new set of slang to giggle through.
This is the land that practically invented sarcasm, so don’t take anything personally! In general, people mind their business, keep it moving, and let you blend right in without ever feeling watched or out of place. Public transportation is incredibly straightforward, so if you’ve mastered the subway in NYC, MARTA in ATL, or the Metro in D.C., you’ll slide right into the Tube like a pro.
Now look, folks definitely have strong opinions about Americans, but honestly? It rarely overshadows the overall experience. Again, take what they have to say with a grain of salt. This of London like NYC’s rival sport team… they got a whole lot to say, but will still kick back buy you a drink on game day.
Tipping isn’t a big thing here, so that’s also one less stressor on your plate. London also offers Black neighborhoods, global cultures, and food from everywhere, giving you the same sense of diversity you’d find in major U.S. cities.
With museums, markets, theater, iconic neighborhoods, and endless things to do, it remains one of the best solo destinations for women who want comfort + culture. You’ll be surprised how quickly London becomes easy, familiar, and downright fun to explore on your own.
🇮🇸 Reykjavík, Iceland
One of the safest countries in the world
Iceland is one of the easiest and most magical places to choose for your first—or next—solo trip. Tours typically pick you up right from your hotel or a nearby assigned bus stop, English is widely spoken, and the entire country feels like a peaceful, open-air sanctuary.
Nature is everywhere you turn: waterfalls, black-sand beaches, lagoons, glaciers, and landscapes that genuinely slow your heartbeat in the best way.
My very first solo trip was to Iceland, and it quite literally changed my life. It showed me how powerful it is to be alone without feeling lonely, and how healing a trip can be when the world around you feels quiet, safe, and stunning.
It’s perfect for wellness-focused travelers and soft-adventure seekers who want beauty without intensity. And, if you want to plan your own trip with confidence, we also have a full Iceland guide written by Danielle Desir, packed with tips, tours, and insights from someone who knows the destination well.
Iceland is ease, wonder, and clarity wrapped into one unforgettable solo experience.
🇺🇸 Honolulu, Hawai‘i
A domestic solo trip that still feels global
Hawaii is one of those destinations that eases you into solo travel with familiarity and wonder all at once. You get the comfort of American customs—currency, signage, transportation—blended with the incredible beauty and depth of Hawaiian culture.
Honestly, it feels like it should have been its own country… but history had other plans. I spent my 41st birthday there solo, doing all the touristy things just to get my bearings. It was the perfect way to settle into the islands at my own pace.
When I go back, though, I’m diving deeper into learning about the Indigenous culture, because Hawaii is so much more than beaches and luaus—it carries stories, traditions, and a spirit that deserves to be engaged with respectfully.
As a starting place for solo travel, it’s soft, stunning, approachable, and full of opportunities to explore, reflect, and reconnect with yourself in the middle of some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.
Hawaii is an easy “yes” for anyone wanting a gentle, uplifting solo travel beginning.
Plan your solo trip to Hawaii…
But isn’t Solo Travel Lonely and Boring?
No.
No, no, and no again.
Being alone is different that being lonely if you can learn to sit with yourself.
Traveling alone is:
- Peaceful
- Restorative
- Engaging
- Eye-opening
- Deeply fulfilling
When women travel solo, they often say:
“I didn’t realize how much I needed time with myself. With my own thoughts.”
And as for boredom?
That usually means the itinerary needs a little more flavor, you probably need to work a little harder to discover what you like…. not necessarily that solo trips aren’t for you.
Around the world, solo female travelers (and black women traveling solo especially) report:
- Meeting more people than they expected
- Enjoying slower mornings
- Feeling more confident
- Finding joy in their own company
Solo travel isn’t about being alone. It’s about coming home to yourself.
Your 2026 Solo Travel Checklist
Before I wrap things up… let me leave you with a tangible takeaway…
Before You Go…
- ☐ Pick a tourist-friendly city (start easy!)
- ☐ Research neighborhoods + transit
- ☐ Book at least one guided tour
- ☐ Download offline maps (Google Maps)
- ☐ Make photocopies of important documents (passport, travel confirmations, visa, etc.)
- ☐ Set up an international phone plan or eSIM
- TMobile & Verizon have pretty decent international phone plans, but if your phone is unlocked, you can easily get an eSIM – I use Airalo for my eSIM.
- ☐ Plan your airport arrival in advance
- If you can avoid landing at night, please do. If not, set up transportation in advance (you can just book a transfer to your hotel through the hotel or on sites like GetYourGuide.)
- ☐ Use a crossbody bag
- ☐ Pack a portable charger (maybe even two)
- ☐ Travel adapters for international plugs
Overall Safety Tips for Solo Women…
- ☐ Don’t announce that you’re alone
- ☐ Know basic local phrases
- ☐ Master the look of confidence
- ☐ Save your hotel address in multiple places
- ☐ Trust your intuition
- ☐ Rideshare Apps (with tracking) > random taxis
- ☐ Join group activities to meet people naturally (cooking classes, city tours, etc.)
- ☐ Check in with someone back home regularly (..but not too much! This time is about you, stay off the phone!)
Experience Enhancers
- ☐ Leave a little space in your itinerary for spontaneity
- ☐ Allow for slow mornings
- ☐ Date yourself
- ☐ Journal your experience
- ☐ Wander with intention
Listen friend…
Your Solo Travel Era Is Here!
Your solo travel journey doesn’t need permission.
It doesn’t need perfect timing.
It just needs you.
2026 is the year to:
- Choose joy
- Choose rest
- Choose exploration
- Choose yourself
If you’ve been waiting for a sign… this is it.
Take the trip.
Start small.
Start someplace tourist-friendly.
Start with curiosity.
Start with guidance.
Just start.
