I feel like being single in your 30’s is becoming more and more common nowadays. Solo travel is also rising in popularity because of this and because people stop waiting around for people to join them on vacations. This list of best vacation spots for singles in their 30’s is for all my single travelers who are looking for destinations for their solo vacation. This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Find out more here.
Everyone has a different travel style. Some people prefer beautiful beaches and all inclusive resorts, some prefer outdoor activities that allow you to step outside your comfort zone, while others prefer exploring new cities that are popular solo travel destinations. I tend to fit more into this last category, but I also like the occasional beach vacation or adventure trip.
I am not a party girl, so I don’t know what’s the most popular party destination with vibrant nightlife. But I can share with you top destinations where you can learn about local culture, try unique experiences, and sample new foods.
There are two great ways to travel as a single person in your 30’s: solo trips and group trips for like-minded travelers. So far, all trips I took in my 30’s have been solo trips, but in October I’m going on my first group trip designed specifically for solo travelers in their 30’s. I’m really excited about it since it’s a trip that’s been high on my bucket list for so long: a Kenya safari trip!
Are you looking for help with planning your trip? Check out these helpful resources:
- Flights
- Accommodation for all budgets
- Rental cars
- Europe train tickets
- Europe bus tickets
- Activities, tours, and day trips
Best solo trip destinations
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
I visited Amsterdam for the first time in February 2024 and it became one of my favorite cities in Europe. It’s the perfect place for a solo trip! The Dutch people were so friendly, and they made me feel so welcome there. Everyone speaks English and they don’t expect you to speak any Dutch. This is so great for tourists!
The city is gorgeous! It has so many canals, and those traditional canal houses are so beautiful. I could have spent a month just strolling by the canals and I would have been happy. The city also has so many attractions, museums, and activities, you will never get bored in Amsterdam.
The public transportation is top notch. Amsterdam is a walkable city (like all cities in Europe), but it also has great metro, tram, and bus systems. They are very easy to use even for tourists.
The food is very good and there are a lot of local delicacies to try like fries, poffertjes, stroopwaffels, and bitterballen.
Since the Netherlands is a pretty small country, you can also take a day trip from Amsterdam while you’re there. Rotterdam, the Hague, and Delft are all great options.
You’ll have a great time in Amsterdam. I do think it is one of the best cities for solo female travelers.
Paris, France
Paris is always a good idea. It was my first solo trip destination, so it will always be a special place for me. I had the best time here and as soon as I got home, I started booking more solo trips. It’s where this solo travel journey started for me.
Paris is a beautiful city. The architecture is so aesthetically pleasing, the Seine cutting through the city is so breathtaking, and the famous landmarks like the Eiffel Tower are even more impressive in real life.
And don’t even get me started on the food! Everything I ate in Paris was so delicious. Croissants, crepes, pate, cheese, and all local dishes are to die for. French cuisine is one of my favorites.
Paris is probably one of the most popular cities in the world. There are so many things to explore in the French capital city. You will need a few days to barely scratch the surface. If you like cities and all they have to offer, then Paris is one of the best destinations out there.
Madrid, Spain
Madrid is one of my favorite cities in the world. I fell in love with it from day one. I really connected with this city.
Madrid is a popular destination and for good reason. It’s so beautiful and there are so many things to explore. You should visit Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol and the Royal Palace.
Eat your bodyweight in churros con chocolate and tapas. Then walk off those calories in El Retiro Park. You can also do some shopping on Gran Vía. And you must catch a flamenco show when you’re in town.
If you like museums, Madrid has the Prado Museum, the Reina Sofia Museum where you can see Picasso’s Guernica, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum.
This is just a teaser in terms of what you can do Madrid. Visiting Madrid was one of my best experiences ever! I highly recommend it as a solo trip destination.
Dublin, Ireland
Dublin is a very charming city that has a cool, old vibe. Most buildings in the city center are centuries old, made of brick, and only a few stories tall. If people were dressed in those clothes from 1700’s and there were carriages drawn by horses on the streets, I would feel like I traveled back in time.
While Dublin is a smaller European capital city, it still offers plenty of things to do.
Dublin’s pub culture is elite. Getting drinks and food in a pub is a must. Learning about how they make Guinness and Jameson whiskey are also great activities in the Irish capital.
Trinity College Library is one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. Dublin Castle, St Patrick’s Cathedral, and Christ Church Cathedral are all very old building that have a rich history.
The talking statues of Dublin are also worth checking out. As well as Kilmainham Gaol, a former prison where a lot of Irish revolutionaries were imprisoned and executed.
The most unique experience I’ve had in Dublin was a silver ring forging workshop. The ring I made is one of my favorite souvenirs from my trips.
London, United Kingdom
London was my second solo trip after Paris. It’s a city I learned about in my English classes at school in Romania and I’ve always wanted to visit. It’s a large city and its hustle and bustle reminded me of my beloved New York City.
I think it’s a great destination for a first solo trip since everyone speaks English and you have so many things to explore.
You will probably need multiple trips to London to see everything. Big Ben, London Eye, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus are all London classics that you need to see on your first trip.
The change of the guards at Buckingham Palace is an awesome experience, but I highly recommend you join a tour so you can actually see the guards marching instead of just sitting in front of the Buckingham gates and missing all the action.
Walking on Tower Bridge and exploring the Tower of London are some other great activities. Plus, there are so many parks, museums, and churches to explore. London is a vibe for sure!
Milan, Italy
Milan is a special city for me because it was the first place I’ve visited in Italy.
It’s a very vibrant city that combines a lot of history with modern architecture. The city has a lot of energy as it’s one of Italy’s business centers and there’s lots of people running around during the day and lots of people partying at night. It’s also a paradise for everyone who loves fashion as so many designer brands are headquartered there: Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Prada, Valentino, just to name a few. There are so many great things to do in Milan!
I feel like Milan is a bit less popular compared to other Italian cities like Florence, Venice or Cinque Terre. But I had a great time in Milan as a solo traveler.
There are plenty of things to do in Milan. Visiting the Duomo di Milano (and its rooftop) and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, right next to it is a must. Catching a show at La Scala Opera House or even just visiting will make you feel like royalty.
You also need to experience the modern side of Milan by exploring Piazza Gae Aulenti and Bosco Verticale.
And of course, seeing Da Vinci’s Last Supper in person will be an unforgettable experience.
Florence, Italy
Florence is the city of art. There’s so much beauty and history clustered in that town! Florence houses many masterpieces of Renaissance art such as Michelangelo’s David sculpture or Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus. Plus, the architecture is stunning, and the Duomo is a masterpiece in itself. Thus, Florence is a very popular destination for people across the world.
I saw so many posts about it on Instagram and it looked so dreamy, so I needed to visit. While the city is indeed very beautiful, there were so many tourists that it took away from the experience for me. I visited in late September, and I thought crowds would be smaller then, but I was wrong. So my biggest piece of advice is to go during the off season months if you want the city to yourself.
For any art afficionado seeing David’s Statue at the Accademia Gallery and seeing the many Renaissance works of art at Uffizi Gallery at Pitti Palace is a must. You’ll also have to check out the Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, and Piazza della Signoria.
You’ll find the best views of Florence at Piazzale Michelangelo. And a stroll by the river will also give you incredible views of Ponte Vecchio.
Try the famous Tuscan schiacciata sandwiches at All’antico Vinaio or Pino’s Sandwiches. And make sure to order a glass of wine from a wine window.
Venice, Italy
The feeling I got when I stepped out of the train station and I saw Venice for the first time was that this place is not real. It looks like it’s a city from a fairytale. I had to pinch myself a few times to make sure I’m not dreaming. The entirety of Venice is so beautiful. Seriously, you won’t find a single ugly street here.
Venice is smaller, but it is such a gorgeous destination. You can go to Piazza San Marco and have a coffee at Caffè Florian, the oldest coffeehouse in Italy. Get lost on its little streets and cross as many of its 400 bridges as possible. Go buy a book and take an Instagram worthy picture at Libreria Acqua Alta. Go on a gondola ride. And eat as much gelato as you can. Venice is a dream!
Athens, Greece
Athens is a great city. It is such a wonderful mix of history, street art, little streets, and modern neighborhoods. It’s a great choice for a solo adventure, especially if you want to learn more about the Greek ancient history. And eat all the souvlaki! If you have more time than just a few days you can also visit some of the Greek Islands.
Athens is a very popular destination, visited annually by over 6 million people. It has such a rich cultural heritage and it offers so many historic sites, as well as hidden gems, for you to explore.
Going to the Acropolis, Ancient Agora, and Panathenaic Stadium is a must. Exploring multiple neighborhoods like Plaka, Monastiraki, Psiri, and Pangrati is a great way to become familiar with the different vibes of Athens. And seeing the view of Athens from Lycabettus Hill is spectacular.
If you like cafes with out-of-this-world decorations, then stop by Little Kook. If you want to see the modern side of Athens you should check out the Stavros Niarchos cultural center.
Seeing the change of guards in Syntagma Square is such a great activity. It’s a combination of military tradition and art. Plus, it’s free.
There are so many things to do in Athens! It’s a fantastic and very beautiful city. If you’re not pressed for time you should also visit the Greek Islands.
Oradea, Romania
Oradea is a small city in Romania and it’s an Eastern Europe hidden gem. It also happens to be my hometown. The best way so start your visit to Oradea is with a stroll on Republicii Avenue or Calea Republicii, Oradea’s main avenue. It’s a long street with lots of colorful Art Nouveau buildings, shops, and cafes. It’s a popular hangout spot for locals and tourists alike.
At the end of Republicii Avenue you’ll find Union Square, or Piața Unirii. Is the largest central square we have, and our city hall is also located here. Also in Unirii Square you’ll find The Black Eagle Palace, one of the most spectacular secession style buildings in Romania, and the Moon Church, a church with a unique mechanism in Europe, located on the church tower, that shows the phases of the moon.
You can climb the city hall tower or the Ciuperca Hill to get a panoramic view of the city. And you can also take a walk by the Crișul Repede River for some incredible views. If you like beautiful architecture then you should stop by the Baroque Palace, the sister palace to Belvedere in Vienna. If you want to learn more about our history stop by the Oradea Fortress and Țării Crișurilor Museum.
Near Oradea you can find Băile Felix, a thermal water resort that also has a waterlily lake. Oradea is a cute, beautiful, small town and I’m sure you’ll be charmed by it if you visit.
Best group trip destinations for solo travelers
Group trips are so great for meeting new people, making new friends, and exploring popular destinations with like-minded solo travelers. Finding a group tour and tour guide to match your travel style is crucial. I’m really grateful I found an amazing tour company that organizes small group trips for solo travelers. And I’m excited to introduce you to them: Indy Escapes.
Indy Escapes was founded by Lucas almost 10 years ago. He is an Australian traveler who already visited 120 countries and plans to see every single country. He still runs these group trips himself because he enjoys sharing some of his favorite destinations (Maldives, Kenya, Bali, Uganda, Croatia, Turkey) with new people every year.
Lucas reached out to me on Instagram. I had no idea what to expect, but we chatted on the phone for over an hour and we quickly realized we share the same passion for traveling the world and helping people along the way. If you talk to him (or just watch his Instagram stories) you can tell how much he loves traveling and running these group trips.
So I decided to join him on a Kenya safari trip in October. I cannot put into words how excited I am about it! This trip has been high on my bucket list for a long time, but I didn’t want to go solo for safety reasons. And now because of Lucas and Indy Escapes my dream will become reality in a few months. I plan on going on every single trip organized by Indy Escapes in the future.
Kenya
This is such a dream of a trip and I am so excited to go to Kenya in October! Besides spotting the Big 5 on multiple game drives, the trip also includes hiking the Menengai Volcano Crater, visiting a local Maasai Village, biking in Hell’s Gate National Park, exploring Lake Navaisha by boat to see hippos, and volunteering with the Ruben Center and Edmund Rice Centre Nairobi.
And the activity I’m most excited about is a sunrise hot air balloon ride over the Maasai Mara. This is the trip of a lifetime and I have to occasionally pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming and I am actually going there in October. There are a few spots still available for this trip, so you can join as well.
Uganda
Another bucket list trip for me besides a safari, is a gorilla trekking trip to Uganda. This is another destination I wouldn’t dare to go solo to, but I would do it with a group.
Indy Escapes put together an awesome trip to Uganda and Rwanda. Besides a day of gorilla trekking in the mountains of Uganda, visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial honoring the the victims of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, exploring the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and visiting a visit a local pigmy village are also part of the itinerary.
This is most likely going to be my second trip with Lucas and the Indy Escapes crew after the Kenya trip.
Maldives
The Maldives have the best beaches and most clear waters in the world. No wonder it’s a bucket list destination for so many people. Now you might be thinking of Maldives as a honeymoon destination, but I’m here to tell you that it can be the perfect destination for solo travelers. You don’t have to wait to get married to go on a trip here.
This group trip is packed with cool activities. Swimming with whale sharks, having lunch on a sand bank, swimming with manta rays, scuba diving, taking a day trip to a 5 star resort with overwater bungalows to take pictures and explore, parasailing, kayaking, paddle boarding. I can’t wait to go on this trip and get outside my comfort zone. Drowning is one of my phobias, but I want to face my fears and be able to say I swam with sharks. It’s too cool of an opportunity to pass it up.
Turkey
I feel like when people say Turkey they think of Istanbul and Cappadocia. I am guilty of that too since I have been to Istanbul and I plan on visiting Cappadocia too. They are both great solo trip destinations. It turns out that you can also sail the majestic Turkish coastline. Such a great summer trip!
The trip put together by Indy Escapes starts at Fethiye and takes you to Tarzan Bay, St Nicholas Island, Kas, Kekova, Gokkaya Bay, and Firnaz Bay. To be honest, these are locations I didn’t even know about and I wouldn’t have thought of exploring. I guess my bucket list just got a bit longer. Can’t wait to explore these less popular spots in Turkey!
Bali
Bali is a super popular destination nowadays. I think travel influencers played a big role in making this destination so popular. Even though it’s so popular, I wouldn’t feel safe exploring the different beaches and towns all by myself. I would love to do it with fellow travelers instead.
Indy Escapes to the rescue! They put together an awesome Bali retreat to be able to do yoga, train, and explore Ubud, Canggu, and Nusa Penida, I love to train at the gym, I used to be an amateur powerlifter and I even competed a few times. I recently also started to do more stretching and incorporate yoga into my routine since I’m in my 30’s and I want to avoid injuries. Being able to do this in Bali would be so amazing.
Croatia
Croatia is a beautiful country full of beach towns. It’s a great place for a sailing trip. Indy Escapes put together a sailing trip in Croatia that starts at Split and takes you to Bol, Hvar, Mljet, Dubrovnik, Korcula, and Makarska.
Besides exploring these towns, there are plenty of swim stops along the way, as well as experiencing the local nightlife entertainment and having cocktails on the roof of the sailing boat. It’s a great to explore a lot of what Croatia has to offer in a week.