10 Best Places to Travel Alone

Traveling with a fun group or a significant other makes for happy memories you can cherish forever. But being on your own is also priceless, especially since the world has a wealth of solo travel destinations offering unique experiences and perspectives.

If you’re figuring out how to travel alone for the first time, you’ve come to the right place. This article lists the benefits of solo travel and the best places to travel alone. Pack your bags and let’s go!

Why Travel Solo: Benefits of Solo Travel

Exploring the world without any companion can be daunting at first. But as you go along, you’ll realize that the benefits are undeniable. Here are some of them:

👍 You Get to Know Yourself Better

best places to travel alone - benefits of solo travel

Rarely do you get to talk to yourself and listen to your own needs. But if you travel alone, you have no choice but to discover new things about yourself.

For instance, you may realize that you’re capable of waking up early. You may find out that you can conquer your fear of heights. You may discover that you’re not actually a picky eater. The list goes on and on.

👍 You Can Travel at Your Own Pace

Your travel, your rules. You’re the only one in charge of making decisions. You don’t have to wait for others, which in turn will save you a lot of time.

And since you’re traveling on your own, you can do what you want without having to consider other people. You won’t have to stress over whether your friend or family member will like your suggestions.

However, one must acknowledge the downsides of being the sole decision-maker. If something goes awry, it’s entirely on you. Nevertheless, you can charge it to experience.

👍 You Can Make New Friends

Traveling groups tend to stick together, thus keeping one from exploring things on their own. But since you’re traveling solo, you have every freedom to meet new faces and talk to locals. Just a word of caution: be careful with who you’re dealing with.

👍 You’ll Develop New Skills

Traveling alone forces you out of your comfort zone. If you’re not the navigator in your friend group, you’ll be compelled to learn how to use Google Maps. If you can’t haggle in your own hometown, you’ll have to negotiate prices at your destination yourself.

All the skills you develop while traveling will be useful in your daily life or future trips.

For Your Solo Holiday: 10 Best Places to Travel Alone

So where should you travel solo? You have a lot of fantastic options, such as the following:

📍 Baguio

Estimated budget: ₱4,000 - ₱6,000 for a three-day, two-night trip

With its perpetually chill weather, beautiful points of interest, and quaint cafés, Baguio City is one of the best places to travel alone.

Getting to this highland city is easy for solo travelers. You can ride a bus from Pasay or Cubao and reach Baguio in around three to four hours. Navigating the city is easy with lots of taxis around.

Want to explore the city’s hustle and bustle? Check out Session Road. If you feel like exercising, you can walk from this location to various gastronomic spots, such as Good Taste and Vizco’s.

For those who are into arts and culture, BenCab Museum and Tam-Awan Village are the places to be. Fashion and style enthusiasts will also have fun thrifting at various ukay-ukay shops in the city.

📍 Batanes

Estimated budget: ₱5,000 - ₱7,000 for a four-day trip (excluding airfare)

Where to travel alone in the Philippines? Wild yet refreshing winds, an abundance of greenery everywhere you look, gorgeous panoramic views of the rolling hills and the sea—all these make Batanes one of the best places for solo travel in the Philippines.

Located in the northernmost part of the Philippines, Batanes is a place where time seems to stop, giving solo travelers moments to wind down and reflect. But that’s not to say there aren’t exciting activities here.

Solo travelers can book a tour to explore Batanes’ main islands. Take in the sea breeze over Marlboro Hills in South Batan. Marvel at the verdant Vayang Rolling Hills in Basco, and visit Ivatan Houses on Sabtang Island. You have a lot of things to do here if you’re a nature lover.

📍 Dumaguete and Siquijor

Estimated budget: ₱8,000 - ₱10,000 for a seven-day trip (excluding airfare)

Solo travelers who want to learn how to scuba-dive and enjoy a slow-paced life should visit Dumaguete. While you’re here, you may want to visit the nearby island of Siquijor.

In Dumaguete, there are various diving schools where you can get certified as a diver. There are also a lot of diving and snorkeling spots, such as Apo Island where you can swim with pawikan.

On the days you’re not swimming, take a stroll along Rizal Boulevard and watch people go about their day. This spot also gives you a relaxing view of the sea.

Other points of interest within and near Dumaguete include Silliman University, Balinsasayaw Twin Lakes, and Manjuyod, where you can spot dolphins.

Spend a night or two on Siquijor Island, also known as the Island of Fire. Just a 50-minute to one-hour ferry away from Dumaguete, Siquijor boasts pristine beaches where solo travelers can catch sunsets and contemplate.

Adventurous solo holidaymakers can go to Cambugahay Falls and Cantabon Cave. You can also roam the island and visit key destinations by renting a tricycle for up to ₱1,500 per day.

📍 El Nido

Estimated budget: ₱11,000 - ₱16,000 for a four-day trip (excluding airfare)

El Nido is one of the best places to travel alone in the Philippines for those who have a profound appreciation for the tropics. It’s also a great place to meet people from different walks of life as it attracts travelers from many places around the globe.

Planning to chill all day in the company of golden sand and turquoise waters? Head over to Nacpan Beach, which is just an hour's drive away from El Nido town proper.

If you’re feeling adventurous, just book a tour that will take you to El Nido’s different islands, beaches, and lagoons. Among the most popular are the Small Lagoon, the Big Lagoon, the Secret Lagoon, Hidden Beach, Secret Beach, and Seven Commandos Beach.

While traveling to your destinations, you get to marvel at limestone cliffs. At the end of your tour, lounge at one of the cafés and restaurants around town.

📍 Cebu

Estimated budget: ₱4,000 - ₱7,000 for a three-day, two-night stay (excluding airfare)

Cebu packs a variety of activities on its island, from canyoneering and beach-hopping to visiting historical sites and exploring different restaurants—which is why it’s one of the best solo travel destinations.

Hike, swim, and jump off cliffs at Kawasan Falls in Badian. Include in your itinerary a day or two in Oslob where you can swim with whale sharks, the biggest non-mammalian animal in the world. Introverts, on the other hand, can enjoy their solitude on Bantayan Island, which boasts unspoiled white sand beaches.

Get your fill of history by visiting Magellan’s Cross and the Basílica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebú, which is the country’s oldest Roman Catholic Church. Come nighttime, head to Tops Lookout where you can marvel at the panoramic view of Cebu City with all its glistening lights.

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📍 Taiwan

Estimated budget: ₱12,000 - ₱16,000 for a five-day, four-night stay (excluding airfare)

Often overshadowed by other East Asian tourism powerhouses, Taiwan is a treasure trove of modernity and beautiful destinations. Among its draws are its reliable transportation system, night markets, natural spots, and good food. It’s also highly safe, making it one of the best places to travel solo.

On your first day in Taipei, visit places where history and culture are preserved. These include the National Palace Museum, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, and Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall.

For some urban adventures, head over to Ximending, a vibrant shopping district reminiscent of Tokyo’s Shibuya; Taipei 101, Taiwan’s tallest skyscraper; and night markets like Shilin Night Market and Raohe Street Night Market.

Get away from Taipei’s hustle and bustle by taking a train to the countryside. In this regard, the old streets of Shifen and Jiufen are your best bets.

Down south, the cities of Taichung and Kaohsiung are great destinations. Taichung is home to two big museums, namely the National Museum of Natural Science and the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts. Kaohsiung, on the other hand, is a harbor city close to nature.

📍 Singapore

Estimated budget: ₱12,000 to ₱15,000 for a five-day, four-night stay (excluding airfare)

Singapore is one of the best places to travel alone for the first time. It’s safe, organized, efficient, and modern. It’s also cosmopolitan, giving you a lot of opportunities to meet people with different cultural backgrounds.

Visit the Marina Bay Sands, the country’s beacon of modernity. This iconic hotel and its surrounding area offer a wide range of activities, such as shopping, dining, and museum excursions.

Not too far from the Marina Bay Sands is Gardens by the Bay. This nature park is home to two massive conservatories: The Cloud Forest and the Flower Dome. The former simulates tropical mountain environments while the latter houses more than 200,000 species of plants.^[1]

Visit Sentosa Island for an assortment of activities, from sunbathing on the beach to exploring Universal Studios. Love shopping? Visit Orchard Road, a boulevard lined with malls, outlets, and boutiques.

Never ever leave Singapore without sampling its cuisine at popular hawker places like Lau Pa Sat, Maxwell Road Hawker Centre, and Newton Food Centre. Try the chicken rice, laksa, chili crab, and char kway teow.

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📍 Japan

Estimated budget: ₱40,000 to ₱60,000 for six to seven days (excluding flights)

Everything you’ve read about Japan’s beauty and modernity is true. The country’s appeal lies in how it seamlessly blends the old and the new. Its safety record also draws in visitors,^[2] especially solo travelers.

There are many places to visit in the Land of the Rising Sun. But experienced travelers usually recommend visiting Kansai Region first since three tourism hotspots are located here. These are the cities of Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara.

Visit Osaka for shopping, food, and modern skyscrapers. Go to Kyoto for nature and cultural sightseeing. Not too far from both cities is Nara, which is famous for its various ancient temples.

If you still have room in your Kansai itinerary, include the laidback city of Kobe. While here, don’t forget to visit one of Mount Rokko’s viewing decks at night and take in the city lights of Kobe and Osaka.

Fly to Tokyo to experience sensory overload like no other. The neon lights of Shinjuku and Shibuya will make you feel like you’re in a cyberpunk movie. For shopping galore, Ginza and Harujuku should be on your list.

Nevertheless, you can always enjoy a quick escape from Tokyo. Popular destinations for this purpose include Lake Kawaguchiko and Hakone. Both places offer a majestic view of Mount Fuji.

📍 South Korea

Estimated budget: ₱16,000 - ₱30,000 for a five-day trip (excluding airfare)

One may think that South Korea is best enjoyed with a like-minded group—you know, the K-drama fans, K-pop aficionados, and oppaholics. But it’s also perfect for solo travelers since the country is safe and offers a lot of activities.

If you’re staying in Seoul, you shouldn’t miss Gyeongbokgung Palace, where you can rent a hanbok and roam the grounds like a Joseon aristocrat. Hop over to Myeongdong for your K-beauty needs and Itaewon for the nightlife.

For foodies, Seoul’s Gwangjang Market is a must-visit. Sample popular dishes in this culinary haven include kalguksu or knife-cut noodles, gimbap, bibimbap, and of course, tteokbokki.

Want your much-needed respite? Jeju Island has a lot of picture-postcard nature spots.

📍 Thailand

Estimated budget: ₱14,000 - ₱16,000 for a four-day trip (excluding airfare)

Thailand is one of the top destinations among Filipino travelers.^[3]With friendly people and relatively affordable prices, the Land of the Free is certainly one of the best places to travel alone.

Bangkok has numerous attractions that will excite every solo traveler. These include The Grand Palace and Wat Pho, the latter housing a massive reclining Buddha statue.

Still in the capital, Bangkok Chinatown is a rendezvous for foodies. If you’re brave and daring enough, taste exotic dishes, such as worms, bugs, and even scorpions. You may also want to explore Bangkok from a different perspective by joining a Chao Phraya River cruise.

Enjoy the nightlife of Pattaya, a seaside city in Eastern Thailand. Phuket, on the other hand, offers relaxation with its white sand beaches, limestone formations, and crystal-clear waters.

Final Thoughts

Get to know yourself better by traveling solo. After all, the best places to travel alone are either a bus or plane ride away.

Such an endeavor comes with many benefits. Aside from meeting new friends, you compel yourself to step out of your comfort zone. You’ll also develop new skills that may come in handy at some point in the future.

Maximize the fun and stay safe by asking other solo travelers for tips and advice. Good luck!

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Credit Card	Travel Benefits
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Sources:

^[1] The Conservatories' Design Presents the Best of Architecture and Engineering
^[2] New Report Names The World’s Safest Countries, Cities (Forbes, 2023)
^[3] Thailand, Japan Fave Pinoy Vacation Spots–GrabAds (BusinessMirror, 2023)

Going Solo: 10 Best Places to Travel Alone, Locally and Abroad

Jay Pagkatotohan