Solo city breaks: the best European cities for solo travellers
If you’re in need of a holiday and looking for something a bit different, a city break is a great choice. For those looking to venture abroad, Europe offers a variety of exciting destinations that are quick (if you’re travelling from the UK) and easy to navigate for a weekend getaway. If you’ve only got a few days to spare, solo city breaks are ideal, as they offer plenty to see and do in a manageable area.
We’ve put together seven under-the-radar city breaks for solo travellers, helping you to make the most of your short time away. Travelling solo doesn’t mean that you have to spend your time alone, so we’ve also included tips on where and how to mingle with the locals to experience authentic culture on your European city break.
1. Helsinki
What to do
While Flashpackers are highly intrepid adventurers, sometimes it can be just as fun to explore an easily navigable, compact city. Helsinki offers this, along with friendly locals, an innovative art scene and impressive food culture, including such delicacies as Baltic herring and almond tortes. The helpful locals also make it an easy choice if you’re looking for a solo city break. And with so much to do you won’t have time to feel alone.
For some of the most spectacular views across the city, try Ateljee Bar. To get your bearings swiftly, join a private tour such as Happy Helsinki Walking Tour. To unwind in summer, catch the ferry 10 minutes to Pihlajasaari Island, where you’ll find beaches, nature trails and saunas to rent. Or, if you’d prefer to meet others, join an evening run with the Relaxed Running Meetup to burn off all that local cuisine.
Where to stay
It’s boutique hotels galore in Helsinki, so say hello (or hei) to quirky courtyards, pretty balconies and elegant terraces. Hotel Kämp provides old school glamour, Hotel Lilla Roberts channels Nordic chic, and for something a little more vibrant, try the art rooms at Klaus K Hotel. If it’s your first time experiencing solo travel, find simple tip to navigate it in our beginner’s guide to travelling alone.
2. Palma
What to do
The capital of Mallorca, the largest of Spain’s Balearic Islands, offers one of the best solo city breaks for sunset cocktails, great gin bars and awesome architecture. And, Palma is also known for its love of el tardeo, meaning afternoon, which sees locals heading out early afternoon and retiring early evening. One of the best spots to experience it for yourself is in and around the centuries-old market in the old fishing barrio of Santa Catalina.
After an early night, you’ll have plenty of energy for the sights and sounds of Palma, too. Hotspots include La Seu, Palma’s impressive cathedral and the Almudaina Palace right next door. For active solo travellers seeking to meet new people, there’s the Mallorca Hiking and Outdoor Group, while Girl Gone International have regular social events with friendly local expats on the island.
With so many outdoor activities on offer, a trip to Palma can be taken year-round thanks to the weather. For the perfect shoulder season month, this part of Spain is ideal for solo travel in October.
Where to stay
There are loads of stylish and unusual accommodation options in Palma that make the ideal city break for solo travellers. Surrounded by trendy shops and bars, Palma Suites Hotel Residence is a stylish home from home. Boutique adults-only hotel Can Cera can be found within a 17th-century palace. And the stunning rooftop views from Petite Palace Hotel Tres’ terrace can be enjoyed from its stylishly designed pool area.
3. Krakow
What to do
As Poland’s cultural capital, Krakow is home to enough trendy bars and coffee shops that you could spend your entire visit with a glass or brimming mug glued to your lips. Whether it’s a dark and atmospheric hangout like Antycafe, or Café Fińska where it’s so hipster you pay with creative contribution rather than cash, Krakow is cool and underrated for anyone travelling alone and looking to bond with others.
It’s also a grand old city positively creaking with history, making it a great break for solo travellers looking to delve a little deeper: Wawel Castle, Rynek Główny (Europe’s largest market square) and St. Mary’s Basilica are both must-sees.
Where to stay
Stay close to the vibrant Old Town where you’ll find copious amounts of restaurants, bars and shops. Formerly a cathedral chapel, Hotel Copernicus can be found on Krakow’s oldest street (although the swimming pool in its medieval cellar is definitely a new touch), offering a unique place to relax and recharge for days of exploring. Try Hotel Wentzl for centuries-old history or the Balthazar Design Hotel for quirky elegant interiors.
4. Tallinn
What to do
Sitting pretty on the Baltic Sea, the turrets and spires of this Estonian capital create an enchanting cityscape. With fairytale-style architecture standing alongside modern glass museums, Tallinn is a striking blend of old and new, making it one of the best European city breaks for solo travellers looking for a mix of attractions.
Whether you’re snapping a photo of the 18th-century Kadriorg Palace, getting the historic scoop on a walking tour of the Tallinn Walls or just chilling on one of the public beaches, there’s enough to excite the senses for a glorious weekend.
Where to stay
For a room with a view, Hotel Telegraaf is located in the picturesque Old Town and offers five-star luxury complete with roll-top baths and its own sauna. Merchants’ House Hotel is an enthralling warren of passageways, hand painted fresco moulds and wooden balconies. For cute courtyards and a quirky décor, Hotel Schlossle is a stylish getaway.
5. Antwerp
What to do
The best view of this fashionable city can be seen on a Marnix Bike Tour. Guided by clued-up locals who know the best spots off the pedalled track, it gives you an authentic insight into Belgium’s second city. Whether by bike or on foot, it’s always worth stopping off at one of the myriad museums, such as the Plantin-Moretus.
Fuel up beforehand in the shabby chic Otark Breakfast Club. Or, if you’re looking for something sweet, the many chocolatiers gracing the streets of Antwerp, such as Cho Fleur, offering innovative flavours that are (almost) too good to eat.
Where to stay
The best solo city breaks in Europe come with a generous helping of history, and Antwerp is bursting at the seams with renovated mansions, Art Deco buildings and centuries-old hotels. Located right in the heart of the historic centre, Hotel ’t Sandt is a spacious and elegant place to unwind. With stylish black walls and rainforest showers, Hotel Les Nuits is for those wanting modern glamour. Or, for something a little different, stay at August Hotel, a former Augustinian convent that focuses on mind, body and soul.
6. Oslo
What to do
A little pricier than other cities, Oslo is a cosmopolitan hub of spacious parks, designer shops and harbour-side attractions. Travellers looking for a solo city break in Europe are often attracted to its compact size, hospitable locals and easy transport network.
Major sites include the Oslo Opera House, the Holmenkollen Ski Jump and the Munch Museum. Once you’ve soaked up the historic culture, you can enjoy the vibrant café and bar scene or a local outdoor adventure group to explore the natural delights beyond the capital.
Where to stay
Situated at the bottom of Oslo’s trendy Grünerløkka district in Oslo, Anker hotel has slick contemporary interiors and is surrounded by parks and close to the river. Saga Hotel Oslo is a swish boutique hotel with its own sushi restaurant. For an eco-friendly hotel complete with organic breakfast, try Oslo Guldsmeden.
7. Dublin
What to do
Well-known as being one of the friendliest cities in the world, Dublin is a great European city breaks for solo travellers. While its cosy pubs, the madness of Temple Bar and abundance of Guinness certainly live up to the hype, Dublin is so much more than its clichés. Georgian townhouses, beautiful churches and world-renowned museums proudly exhibiting Irish history are all waiting to be explored, including the Chester Beatty Museum which is home to the oldest surviving copies of all 4 Gospels. For solo travellers, you can find out “what’s the craic?” just by chatting to locals.
Obviously, the pubs are well worth a visit too. The Dawson Lounge is the smallest pub in Dublin, while the Brazen Club is the city’s oldest. So, whether you’re more James Joyce or Jameson Distillery (or a bit of both), there’s somewhere friendly and unique for you to whet your whistle in Dublin.
Where to stay
For a super-stylish place to stay, the marble bathrooms and boutique furnishings of Dylan Hotel are an obvious choice. Brooks Hotel has its own exclusive cinema and private whiskey tasting, while the Merrion Hotel is a luxurious and centrally located, making it ideal to walk home to after one too many.
If any of these solo city breaks take your fancy…
Join Flash Pack today and get ready to enjoy some of the best European city breaks for solo travellers. Sharing your trip with other solo explorers helps to open up an exciting world of experiences that you wouldn’t have otherwise had, and makes sure you’ve got plenty of great company along the way.
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Images: Flash Pack and Unsplash
