When you think about travel, are you picturing exploring new countries and cultures with friends and family? That’s the ideal travel experience for a lot of people but there’s a lot of great reasons to travel alone as well. Solo travel can be incredibly daunting because you don’t have anybody else there to help you out if things go wrong. But there are so many benefits that outweigh your fears about traveling alone. It forces you to get outside of your comfort zone and try something new, without anybody else to back you up. It’s a great confidence builder for people that struggle with their self-esteem because it shows you what you’re capable of. For some people, the joy of solo travel is simply having the chance to do exactly what you want to do without having to worry about other people. If you want to go to a country that none of your friends or family are interested in or they have a different idea of what the perfect travel experience is, going alone might be a more rewarding experience.

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But even though solo travel can be a great thing, it can still be quite dangerous depending on where you go. There are a few things that you can do to keep yourself safe when you travel. First off, you need to have a rough itinerary for your trip that you should give to a friend or family member. That way, if something does happen to you, they’ll have a good idea of your recent movements. It’s also important to protect your money and passport etc. so split it up and keep it in different bags so if one gets stolen or lost, you don’t lose everything. You should also use a travel wallet that straps to your body so you can’t get pickpocketed easily. Researching your chosen country beforehand is important too. There are a lot of scams directed at travelers, particularly people that are alone. If you do a little research you’ll be aware of what those scams are and the different danger areas that you can avoid etc.

All of that stuff is important but your choice of destination is perhaps the most important thing, especially if you’re traveling alone for the first time. With that in mind, here is a list of some of the best and safest countries for traveling solo.

Rome

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Rome is a great city that has so many amazing things for you to do and you can enjoy most of those things on your own. The people there are very welcoming so you’ll be fine if you get lost and you need to ask for directions. Part of the joy of visiting Rome is just walking around and seeing the amazing architecture in the city. If you’re a history lover, this is the place for you because you can immerse yourself in the rich history of the Roman Empire and visit some amazing sites like Pantheon, the Colosseum and the Forum. There are plenty of great places to stay while you’re there but the prices can be a little high if you go for hotels that are near the city centre. You might be better off renting an apartment from Airbnb because you can get a more central location for your money.

Italy is, of course, famous for its great food and quaint cafes with some of the best coffee in the world. There are plenty of laid back places to eat and drink where you won’t feel out of place on your own.

Singapore

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Singapore is one of the most interesting cities in the world because it blends traditional Asian culture with a modern metropolis, so whatever you’re looking for, you’ll probably find it in Singapore. It’s a very safe city so it’s ideal for solo travelers as well. You can easily find a great room for rent in Singapore that won’t cost you too much but the flights can be quite expensive and the cost of living over there is fairly high so it might be an expensive trip. However, there are are a lot of great things you can do that won’t cost that much so you could do it economically if you really want to. There are some amazing temples and shrines around the city that give you a great insight into the cultural heritage of this unique city. But if you don’t really go for that, take a wander around and admire some of the awe inspiring modern skyscrapers that make up the impressive skyline.

If you want some retail therapy, Singapore is the ideal place to do it. It’s famed around the world for its great shopping districts where you’ll find the biggest fashion brands in the world. If you’re not bothered about shopping and you want something a little more relaxed so you can take a break from the hustle and bustle of the big city, there’s even a man made beach there.

All of that stuff is great but one of the most amazing things about visiting Singapore is the food. It’s a multicultural city that has people from all over Asia living there. That means there is a huge mixture of cuisines there so you’ll get to sample a cross section of authentic food from around the continent as well as some great modern fusion dishes.

Reykjavik

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Reykjavik in Iceland has been rated as one of the safest cities in the entire world so if you’re traveling alone and you’re a bit apprehensive about it, it’s the ideal city. But the safety of the place isn’t the only reason that you should go there because it’s got so much to offer. It’s a very unique city so you’ll have to deal with a bit of culture shock but once you get used to it, you’ll absolutely love it. It’s the natural features that bring people to Iceland and you won’t find anything else like it in the world. It’s one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights (just check what time of year is best to go because they’re not always visible.) The Blue Lagoon is another great natural feature that you should visit while you’re there. It’s a beautiful geothermal spa where you can relax in the hot springs.

There are also some great museums like the National and Saga museums that chart the interesting history of the country’s Vikings. There are some beautiful art galleries in the city as well, housing collections of traditional and modern works from around the globe.

The food in Reykjavik is delicious and sometimes unexpected as well. You’re probably expecting the traditional, hearty food like the amazing lamb soup but you probably didn’t think that hot dogs are Iceland’s favorite food. There are some great hot dog stands dotted around so make sure that you try one while you’re out there. Reykjavik is one of those cities where you can have an amazing time just wandering around and taking it all in. You’ll get breathtaking views of the harbor and the mountains to the north and the cute colorful houses look amazing in the snow.

Traveling on your own can be incredibly scary the first time you do it. When you first land, you’ll probably feel like you’ve been thrown in at the deep end but after a day or two when you get yourself acquainted, you’ll start to enjoy the freedom of traveling alone. When you get back from your trip, you’ll feel a great sense of achievement.