This is a guest post from the very talented photographer and writer, Megan Thudium from Hello Megan Marie, enjoy!
You have a wanderlust heart and restless feet. After hours of perusing Pinterest and Instagram, you feel inspired to jet to a new country. Congratulations! Traveling is one of the most free feeling and exciting experiences that you can have in your lifetime. As a young solo traveler, I am always looking for new places to explore. If you are feeling the travel itch, check out these five perfect travel locations for the young solo traveler.
Being a solo traveler is thrilling. You have a map in one hand, your suitcase in the other and a jump in your step as you scoot along to your destination. You choose when you want a coffee and how your day will go. You meet amazing people from different cultures from all over the world, when you drink a beer at the hostel bar. Your friend list on Facebook quickly grows, and you find yourself with new couches to sleep on around the world. I personally believe every young person should travel solo as least once in their life. If it is a simple weekend trip in your home country or 6,000 miles to a new country, every travel experience (good or bad) is worth it.
Do I have you excited? Great! The next step is to plan your destination. These are my five perfect travel locations for the young solo traveler.
1 // Austria If you spend time on my blog, you will quickly discover my deep love for Austria. The snow capped mountains, charming people, crystal clear lakes and culture is ideal for the young traveler. A quiet country, Austria sits between Germany, Switzerland, Hungary and Italy. Being small, the cities are fairly quite and safe. Several times, I have walked around Innsbruck late at night, without a soul in sight. Austria is ideal for the outdoor enthusiasts. Here you can spend a week exploring Austria from Innsbruck to Salzburg, Hallstatt and Vienna.
2 // Switzerland If you follow travel news, Switzerland hits the charts every year for the safest and friendliest travel destination. From West to East, this country offers small lake towns and multicultural experiences. As a solo traveler, make Zurich your starting point. I have never felt so safe in a city, and the local hostels offer opportunities to meet amazing people from all over the world.
3 // Slovenia Off the grid, Slovenia is another breathtaking location that I am just itching to return to. Ljubljana is a charming city, with beautiful photography locations. It is also very central, offering day trips to surrounding caves, beautiful lakes and more. Still off the radar, visit this beautiful place as a solo traveler, before it is discovered.
4 // Scotland Rolling bright, green hills and bagpipes, Scotland is the perfect country to disappear into the highlands. The people are kind and the lifestyle slow. My experience consisted of sipping Scotland whisky, taking pictures of Highland cows and searching for the Lochness monster. Scotland is not short of adventures.
5 // New Zealand I saved the best for last, because New Zealand is a country that stole my heart and still has not given it back. From glaciers to caves and beaches, New Zealand has it all. The country offers fantastic outdoor experiences. It is a very international country, with visitors from all over the world. It is also ideal for the solo traveler, because it is a top destination for solo backpackers. When in New Zealand, I met countless other solo travelers, and I came back home with a new best friend.
Being a young solo traveler is exhilarating but also scary. I was terrified on my first solo trip to New Zealand. I didn’t know what to expect, but it turned out to be one of the best experiences in my life. One year later, I still think about the fantastic time that I had abroad. Take these five perfect travel locations for the young solo traveler to heart. Point your feet in the right direction and go. You will come back with amazing stories to tell.
MEET MEGAN Hello! I’m Megan, and I blog at www.hellomeganmarie.com. Hello Megan Marie is the perfect treasure trove of travel tips and inspiration. Read inspiring posts on places to visit and step-by-step guides to help you plan your next trip. Hello Megan Marie will equip and inspire travel dream seekers to jet to a new country. Let’s connect at my website or through Instagram!
Thank you for the opportunity! The post looks fantastic.
I would travel solo to any of these countries in a heartbeat. Austria and Switzerland are beautiful, but unfortunately pretty expensive for a broke backpacker like me. I’m intrigued by Slovenia though! I’ve only ever been to Lake Bled, but would love to spend some time in the mountains!
Thank you for reading Erika! Yes I have heard Austria and Switzerland are expensive!
Good post, your article is really nice, love it!
Thank you for reading!
I feel I absolutely must travel solo at some point! I have been to Ljubljana though, and always tell people it’s perfect for lone travel! It’s so cute, safe and walkable 🙂
Hi Michaela! Safe and walkable – now that’s a plus! 🙂
This is a great post! I love the idea of travelling solo althought it terrifies me! I have so much respect for people who do, especially women! I have met a lot of women who have done this and the stories they have told me about their persinal frowth while travelling is so inspiring.
You can do it Geneva! Experiences like these sometimes take practice. I wasn’t the best at traveling solo the first time, but I have since become an expert. It just takes a little courage. Happy traveling!
Hi Geneva! Yes, those women are brave 🙂