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You don’t need to love being alone to travel solo.

You don’t need confidence, fearlessness, or a bold personality. You just need curiosity and a small willingness to try. If the idea of solo travel excites you and terrifies you at the same time, this post is for you.

So you’re thinking about taking a solo trip, even though you don’t really do things alone yet.

I’ve been solo traveling for 9 years and have visited over 10 countries, and I still get nervous before trips. The difference now is that I know how to move with the nerves instead of waiting for them to disappear.

If you’ve ever thought, “I want to travel solo, but I don’t know if I can actually do it,” you’re not alone.

These are 10 questions readers have asked, especially those who want to travel solo but aren’t comfortable being alone yet, and the honest answers I wish I had before my first trip.

1. How do I stop feeling awkward doing things alone in public?

First of all: feeling awkward is completely normal. But it shouldn’t stop you.

The only way to get used to doing things alone is to… do them. That doesn’t mean jumping in headfirst. Baby steps count. Even little progress is still progress.

One thing that really helps: stop wondering what other people are thinking about you. I know, that’s easier said than done. But the truth is, you’re spending way more time in your own head than anyone else is spending thinking about you. Most people are focused on themselves.

Try bringing a “portable social buffer.” It sounds weird, but it works:

A book
A journal or notebook
Your phone (yes, even TikTok)

These give your brain a reason to be there. Instead of thinking “Why am I alone?” your brain switches to “I’m here to do X.”

Another trick: focus outward instead of inward. Notice someone’s shoes. Listen to background conversations. Take in the vibe of the place. What do you like about it? When your attention shifts outward, your brain relaxes and stops auto-judging you.

You don’t have to feel confident to act comfortably. You just have to tolerate a little discomfort and still show up. Confidence comes after the experience—not before.

2. What should I practice doing alone before my first solo trip?

Think of this as training wheels.

You don’t have to book a flight to practice being alone. You can start right at home, in small ways that gently show your brain this is safe.

Start simple.

Go to a coffee shop and sit there. Don’t rush out. Order your coffee or matcha, pick a seat, and just exist for a bit. Scroll TikTok, read a book, people-watch, or even read this blog :-). The goal isn’t to be productive. The goal is to get comfortable being by yourself in public.

If you’re meeting a friend somewhere, arrive 30 minutes early. Find a nearby café or bar and sit alone while you wait. Notice how nothing bad happens. Notice how normal it feels after a few minutes.

Go to the movies alone, especially a matinee. It’s cheaper, less crowded, and you’ll start to notice other solo people sprinkled throughout the theater. You’re not as “out of place” as you think.

Take yourself out for a casual lunch. Bring your phone, a book, or headphones if that makes you feel more at ease. Over time, you won’t even need the distraction.

Go for a walk in a busy area or park by yourself. No destination. No rush. Just getting used to moving through the world alone.

These small, low-stakes activities help your nervous system realize: Oh. I can do this.

Because solo travel isn’t just about getting on a plane. It’s about learning how to feel comfortable in your own company first.

3. How do I know if I’m ready to travel solo?

Honestly? I don’t know if you’re ever truly “ready” for anything.

We like to think there’s a moment where the nerves disappear, and confidence magically shows up. But most of the time, that moment never comes. You just decide to do the thing while still feeling unsure.

Being nervous doesn’t mean you’re not ready. It usually means you’re growing.

Solo travel isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. It doesn’t have to be. But I do believe it’s an experience worth trying at least once if you have the opportunity. Not because it’s glamorous or trendy, but because of what it teaches you about yourself.

Before every trip, even now, nine years later, I still feel a little nervous. I double-check everything. I wonder if I forgot something. I think about all the what-ifs.

And then I arrive.

And I’m fine.

I settle in. I figure it out. I remember that I’ve done this before. The nerves don’t disappear, they just stop being in charge.

What I know for sure is this: I would regret not trying far more than I would regret going and feeling nervous.

It’s okay to be scared when you’re doing something new. Just don’t let fear be the thing that makes the decision for you.

4. What if I feel lonely or overwhelmed while traveling alone?

Feeling lonely or overwhelmed while solo traveling is completely normal. It doesn’t mean you’re failing, and it definitely doesn’t mean you made the wrong decision.

Those feelings can show up at home, too. The difference is that when you’re in a new place, they feel louder because everything around you is unfamiliar.

So instead of trying to avoid those feelings, think about how you already handle them in your everyday life, and use the same tools while you travel.

You may not be able to see a friend in person, but you can call or FaceTime them. You can text someone. You can scroll. You can sit and reset. Use your phone. That’s what it’s there for. Solo travel doesn’t mean cutting yourself off from comfort.

It also helps to figure out what tends to overwhelm you and prepare for those things ahead of time.

Worried about finding food? Look up a few restaurants before you go so you’re not wandering around hungry and stressed.

Unsure what to do with your time? Create a loose plan or save a short list of places you might want to visit.

Anxious about transportation? Research how Uber works there, how the trains run, or what walking routes look like.

You can’t prepare for everything, but preparing for what you can makes everything feel lighter.

And when it does feel like too much, I stop. I sit down. I take a breath.

Then I ask myself: What do I have control over right now? What’s one small thing I can do next?

That mindset helps me not just while traveling, but in everyday life too.

5. How can I feel safer when I’m by myself in a new place?

TThe same safety habits you use at home apply while traveling.

You don’t need to become a different person just because you’re in a new country. The common sense you already have still works.

Don’t share personal information with strangers. Be mindful of open drinks. Don’t accept drinks from people you don’t know. Keep your belongings close and stay aware of your surroundings.

Share your location with someone you trust back home. Send them your itinerary with links, hotel names, and rough timestamps so someone always knows where you’re supposed to be. And try to avoid posting your location in real time on social media; you can always share later.

Most importantly, trust your gut. If something feels off, you don’t have to explain why. You don’t owe anyone an experience that doesn’t feel right to you. This is your trip, not theirs.

When you can, plan to arrive in a new city during the daytime. It’s easier to get your bearings, find your hotel, and feel settled. Research neighborhoods ahead of time so you already know where you’ll feel comfortable staying and walking around.

Solo travel doesn’t require you to be fearless. It just asks you to be aware, prepared, and willing to listen to yourself.

6. Is it weird to eat alone while traveling?

No. If eating alone were weird, solo travelers wouldn’t survive.

Everyone has to eat.

The first solo meal can feel intimidating, but it gets easier faster than you think. Bring a book, a journal, or scroll on your phone if that helps you feel more at ease. Sit at the bar if that feels less awkward than a table. Start with breakfast or lunch if dinner feels like too much at first.

You can even order room service sometimes, and that’s completely okay, too.

And remember: people are not watching you the way you think they are. Most are focused on their own meals, their own conversations, their own lives. To them, you’re just another person enjoying food.

To you, it feels like a big moment. And that’s okay. But it’s not nearly as noticeable as it feels.

7. How do I meet people without forcing myself to be social?

You don’t have to force anything.

Meeting people while solo traveling doesn’t have to feel awkward or unnatural. Some of the easiest connections happen in places where everyone is already sharing an experience.

Walking tours, cooking classes, and group day trips are great for this. Conversations tend to happen on their own because you’re all doing the same thing. It’s fun, low-pressure, and often becomes one of the most memorable parts of the trip.

Some hotels and hostels are also designed to make social interaction easier, whether it’s a shared lounge, a group activity, or just a communal breakfast space.

And here’s the part people don’t say enough: you don’t have to exchange socials. You don’t have to become best friends. You don’t have to keep the conversation going longer than you want to.

One good conversation is enough.

And if all you have the energy for is a smile and a nod, that’s okay too.

8. What if I panic or freeze when something goes wrong?

That’s okay. Take a breath.

When something goes wrong while you’re traveling alone, it can feel bigger than it actually is. There’s no one next to you to immediately say, “It’s fine, we’ll figure it out.” So you have to become that voice for yourself.

Start by asking:

Can this be fixed?
Can it be rescheduled?
What are my options right now?

When I was in the UK, I missed my connecting train back to London from Watford around 1:00 am. It was cold, rainy, and no more direct trains were running.

In that moment, my choices felt very dramatic: cry and sit there until 6 am… or pivot.

So I asked a station worker for help. I waited for a bus. I transferred trains. And I eventually made it back — later than planned, a little tired, but completely fine and still within budget.

That experience didn’t ruin my trip. It built confidence. Problem-solving always does.

You start to realize that most travel mishaps aren’t disasters. They’re just detours.

You can prepare for moments like this by:

Keeping a little emergency money available
Using a reliable eSIM so you always have data
Researching backup routes or transportation options

And remember: asking for help is not a failure. Think about how often people ask for directions in your own city. It’s normal. Most people are willing to help — especially when you’re polite and calm.

Sometimes the moments that feel the most stressful in the moment are the ones that quietly prove to you

9. How do I stop overthinking everything before my trip?

Protect your plans.

Not everyone needs to know the details of your trip — and not everyone will respond with encouragement. Sometimes sharing too early, or with the wrong person, can plant unnecessary fear and doubt.

Be mindful of who you share your plans with. Not everyone deserves access to your dreams while they’re still forming.

**Me not kidnapped at the Tervi Fountain, Rome, Italy**

Watch solo travel vlogs for inspiration if they motivate you — but don’t fall into the trap of comparison. Your trip doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s to be meaningful.

If I had listened to everyone who told me “young girls shouldn’t travel alone” or “you’re going to get kidnapped,” I would’ve never gone anywhere.

A helpful exercise is to journal your fears and ask yourself: Where is this fear coming from? Is this actually mine — or something I was told?

You might be surprised how much of it isn’t yours at all.

10. How do I build confidence when I’ve never really been alone before?

Confidence takes practice. It’s a skill — not a personality trait.

A lot of people think confident travelers were just “born that way.” But confidence usually comes from repetition, not personality.

You don’t wake up one day feeling ready. You build that feeling by doing small things that feel uncomfortable, over and over, until they don’t anymore.

You don’t become confident and then travel solo.

You travel solo — and confidence follows.

Before You Go

Confidence takes practice. It’s a skill, not a personality trait.

A lot of people think confident travelers were simply “born that way.” In reality, confidence usually comes from repetition, not personality.

You don’t wake up one day, suddenly feeling ready. You build that feeling by doing small things that feel uncomfortable, over and over, until they don’t anymore.

You don’t become confident and then travel solo.

You travel solo — and confidence follows.

3 Solo Activities to Practice at Home

1. Spend time alone at a café
Walk to a café, order your drink, and sit there for at least an hour. Journal, read, edit content, or scroll. Notice the initial discomfort, and then notice how it slowly fades. If it starts to feel good, extend your stay.

2. Go to the movies by yourself
Pick a matinee, grab your snacks, and settle in. You’re not supposed to talk during a movie anyway, which makes this one of the easiest solo activities to start with.

3. Plan a solo day in your own city
Create a small itinerary based on your interests. Visit a museum, try a new restaurant, walk through a neighborhood you’ve never explored. Prioritize spending intentional time with yourself, just like you would on a trip.

A Gentle Reality Check

Solo travel isn’t always magical. Some days are boring. Some days feel uncomfortable. That doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong.

It just means you’re human.

You don’t have to be fearless to travel solo. You don’t have to love being alone. And you don’t have to have everything figured out before you go.

You just have to be willing to try once.

Solo travel doesn’t magically make you confident. It shows you that you already have more in you than you realized. Every small moment you handle on your own becomes proof.

If you’re waiting to feel “ready,” this is your sign: readiness comes after you go.

If this post helped you feel even a little more comfortable with the idea of solo travel, I’m really glad you’re here. If you’ve already taken your first solo trip, share how it went in the comments. I’d love to read it. And if you know someone who needs this, send it their way.

You’re more capable than you think.