When I started planning my solo travels for 2015, I wanted places that felt both safe and surprising — destinations where I could wander without a rigid itinerary, where the food scene was worth a detour, and where I could connect with locals without feeling like a spectacle. After a year of solo journeys through India and Tuscany (the latter taught me how much a quiet morning picking chestnuts can reset your perspective), I narrowed down five places that stood out for their balance of beauty, affordability, and solo-friendly infrastructure. Here are the destinations I booked for 2015 — and why I think they’ll suit any woman traveling alone.
1. Lisbon, Portugal — The City of Light and Fado
Lisbon hit my radar in late 2014 when a friend returned raving about the pastéis de nata and the way the light spills over the Tagus River. What makes it ideal for solo travel is the walkability: the city is hilly but compact, and the famous Tram 28 connects the historic neighbourhoods without costing more than a coffee. I spent mornings in Alfama, listening to fado singers rehearsing in tiny courtyards, and afternoons in the LX Factory, a converted industrial complex packed with bookshops and pop-up galleries. The Portuguese are genuinely warm to solo diners — I never felt awkward eating alone at a tasca with a glass of vinho verde. And the budget? Lisbon is still remarkably affordable compared to other Western European capitals. If you're watching your euros, my how-to on travelling solo on a shoestring might be useful — I applied the same principles here and stretched a week on very little.
2. Kyoto, Japan — Temples, Tea, and Train Rhythms
Kyoto had been on my list for years, but I hesitated because of the language barrier and the cost. In 2015, the weak yen changed the equation. What I loved most was the rhythm of the city: mornings at a temple garden before the crowds, a bento box lunch on a park bench, then an afternoon train ride to a bamboo grove or a quiet shrine in the hills. The Japan Rail Pass made day trips effortless, and the ryokan I chose had a communal onsen where I met two other solo travellers over green tea. For a solo woman, Kyoto feels extraordinarily safe — I walked home at midnight from a tiny izakaya and felt completely at ease. The key is to book a guesthouse with a common kitchen or a lounge; that's where the real conversations happen.
3. Costa Rica — Pura Vida and Pacific Sunsets
If you need a dose of nature and a break from city noise, Costa Rica delivers without the crowds of more commercialised beach destinations. I chose the Nicoya Peninsula, specifically the village of Montezuma, because it has a strong solo-traveller community without being a party hub. Mornings started with yoga on a cliff overlooking the ocean, followed by a hike to a waterfall where I swam alone. The local bus system is reliable and cheap, and the sodas (small family-run eateries) serve gallo pinto and fresh fish for a few dollars. I appreciated that many hotels offer single rooms without a supplement — a rare find. Costa Rica’s “pura vida” philosophy makes it easy to strike up conversations with both locals and other travellers; I ended up joining a sunrise turtle-watch walk with a group of women I met at breakfast.
4. Iceland — The Land of Fire and Ice (and Solitude)
Iceland was my splurge destination for 2015, and it was worth every krona. The Ring Road is the classic solo road trip, but I opted for a bus pass and day tours from Reykjavík to keep logistics simple. What surprised me was how easy it is to meet people: the Golden Circle and the South Coast tours are filled with other solo travellers, and the geothermal pools (like the Secret Lagoon) are social hubs where conversations start naturally. I also loved the silence of the highlands — standing alone at a waterfall with no one else in sight felt like a reset button for my mind. For practical tips: pack layers, rent a SIM card at the airport, and book your accommodation early because the guesthouses fill up fast. And if you're nervous about driving solo, the Reykjavík excursions are a stress-free alternative. I used a “still day” before my trip to prepare mentally — a practice I now recommend to anyone heading into intense landscapes.
5. Ljubljana, Slovenia — The Underrated Gem of Central Europe
Slovenia was the wild card in my 2015 lineup, and it turned out to be the most delightful surprise. Ljubljana is tiny — you can walk the entire centre in an hour — but it packs charm: a castle on a hill, a river lined with outdoor cafés, and a covered market where farmers sell wild mushrooms and honey. The bus to Lake Bled takes an hour, and the train to the Adriatic coast (Piran) is equally easy. What makes Slovenia perfect for a solo traveller is the lack of tourist hordes; I never felt rushed or pushed. Locals are curious and helpful — a woman at the market insisted I try her homemade štruklji and then drew a map to a hiking trail. The cost is low: a dorm bed in a hostel costs less than €15, and a full meal with wine can be under €10. If you're coming from a longer trip in Western Europe, Slovenia feels like a secret that's still yours to discover.
Each of these destinations taught me something different about travelling alone: Lisbon showed me that a city can feel like a conversation, Kyoto that solitude can be a form of luxury, Costa Rica that nature heals faster than any plan, Iceland that silence is a teacher, and Ljubljana that the best places are often the ones you least expect. For 2015, I booked my flights with a simple rule: choose a place that makes you curious, not comfortable. That curiosity will carry you through the awkward moments — and it will also lead you to the ones you'll remember forever.
