7 Best Solo Travel Destinations for Spring

With eye-popping landscapes, camper-friendly national parks, and plenty of ‘grammable vistas, Utah has something for every type of solo traveler. On the 124-mile Route 12, you’ll see some of the best the region has to offer, from the twisted limestone “hoodoo” towers at Bryce Canyon National Park to the nearly two million acres of Crayola-bright cliffs at Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, where many dinosaur fossils have been discovered. Nearby Zion National Park, the most popular of Utah’s five national parks, is another must-see—especially if you’re a hiker. Conquer Angel’s Landing, the park’s most challenging trail which rises 1,500-feet above the Virgin River, or skip the hike and hit the highway in the direction of Red Mountain Resort, a destination spa set amid black lava rock and mesquite-covered gardens.

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There’s a big backpacker scene in this small, charming town in southwestern Guatemala. Travelers from all over the world come to experience the town’s legendary all-week markets, where hundreds of indigenous peoples trade or worship at the town's 16th-century church. Shop the goods—dried fish, fresh fruits, colorful woven shirts, and handmade quilts are in abundance– then sample some of the country’s best espresso at Crossroad Café in neighboring Panajachel. Your home base is the Laguna Lodge Eco-Resort & Nature Reserve, which is accessible only by boat and sits on the serene, inky waters of Lake Aitlán. Spend your days lolling in the hammock on your private balcony, tucking into healthy, organic fare at the hotel’s vegetarian restaurant, on wandering the well-maintained trails in the Tzantizotz Nature Reserve.

Melbourne is a city in constant evolution, thanks largely to waves of European and Asian immigration throughout its history. That global flavor is what helped the metropolis earn the reputation of being Australia’s cultural capital—and put the city on the map for solo travelers. Set aside time to walk around High Street, one of the city’s most vibrant creative hubs, where you’ll find specialty stores like Retro Active, a midcentury modern home décor store, and Licorice Pie Records, which houses an impressive collection of rare vinyl records. After, get a taste of Australia’s legendary café culture at Industry Beans, a hip Fitzroy spot that pours a means ristretto, then it’s time to skip town and take in some of Australia’s most jaw-dropping coastal scenery—think sheer ocean cliffs, untouched surf beaches, and cloudless blue skies—on The Great Ocean Road, just an hour’s drive from downtown Melbourne.

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Every traveler dreams of a solo trek across Europe, but the reality is a trip overseas gets pricey— no matter how economical you are about it. For a comparable cultural immersion at a fraction of the price, consider a solo jaunt to Montreal, where you’ll find world-class restaurants, a red-hot nightlife, and myriad examples of beautiful, Old World architecture. Taste craft brews and rub shoulders with locals at Pub Le Sainte-Elisabeth, a European-style drinking hole with a giant (and we mean giant) vine-covered outdoor terrace, or make friends poolside at Bota Bota, a floating Scandinavian spa docked on the St. Lawrence River. La Habanera is a cool new Cuban restaurant with insta-worthy décor, inventive bites (think: cod tempura and mango tacos and plantain cups filled with artichoke and kumquat crema), a convenient location minutes from your stately digs at Le Place d'Armes Hotel and Suites.

Sultry Cartagena is known for its romance, but you don’t have to be traveling as a pair to fall for its charms. You’ll feel right at home at the design forward Hotel Casa San Agustin, a 30-room stay with traditional lime-washed stucco walls, bougainvillea, and a central address in the heart of town. Once you’re settled in, hit the streets, lingering at colorful fruit stands and shopping for hand-woven goods on the street corners. Don’t miss a traditional Colombian lunch at La Mulata, which serves up local favorites like grilled shrimp with rice and carne asada with patacones (savory fried plantains), or Café Havana, a swinging spot with nightly live music and salsa dancing. For a fun day trip, head inland to see the Lost City, a sacred archaeological site hidden in the jungles of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

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One is (generally) the loneliest number—but not in Paris, where you’ll have chic cafes, hip boutiques, grand hotels, and new museums to keep you entertained. Set in the ever happening 9th arrondissement, Hotel Panache is a playful boutique hideaway from famed hotelier Adrien Gloaguen. It’s also a great jumping-off point for discovering the city; the famed Grands Boulevards is mere steps from your doorstep. Alternatively, jump on the metro and head east to Le Grand Musée du Parfum, an immersive new perfume museum with immersive exhibits dedicated to exploring all things scent. After learning about the history of fragrance and picking up a custom-made fragrance in the museum’s store, stroll along the Seine, stopping to caffeinate and fill up on buttery pastries at the stylish new Holiday Café. Dinner is at Chez la Vielle, a warm and inviting bistro featuring all the comfort-driven classics (duck terrine, beef stew, you’d expect from a restaurant whose bones date back to the 16th century.

Vietnam’s bustling metropolis has a population of close to eight million people (and almost just as many motorbikes), but the city is extremely safe and welcoming to solo travelers. Get in step with city life at the Ben Thanh Market, where you can nosh on wok-friend noodles and barbecued fish or pick up a few souvenirs for your friends back home, or get a history lesson on the Vietnam War from their perspective at the War Remnants Museum. After a long day on your feet, cozy up to your digs at Hôtel Des Arts Saigon, a glamorous, French colonial-inspired boutique hotel with a lavish spa, a rooftop pool and bar, and resplendent interiors with high-backed chairs, luxurious fabrics, and gold trimmings. Finish your Vietnam vacation by spending two or three nights on idyllic Phu Quoc Island, in the Gulf of Thailand, just 50 kilometers from the mainland. Days here are meant to be lazy: tan, swim, drink, repeat.