15 Best Singles Holidays
It can be hard out there for a solo traveler. Singles holidays, whether taken on your own or with friends, normally require a few essential elements to be a success. The destination has to be relatively easy to get to and has to offer a lot of things to do. Sometimes, you want to go out and meet people, and many cities and neighborhoods offer endless places to do that.
Many hotels cater to single travelers and plan group outings, meals, and other activities to bring people together. Good hotels for solo holidays also offer lively social spaces, where you mix and mingle with other guests.
Some solo travelers want to stay on their own and seek a safe experience where they can venture out, night or day, and explore a destination. They want hostels or hotels that provide smaller rooms, and restaurants that welcome solo diners.
Some single vacationers may prefer the lively atmosphere of an all-inclusive Caribbean singles resort. Others may like an activity-filled visit to a boutique hotel that caters to solo travelers, like The Mistral on the Greek island of Crete.
For ideas on other great places to visit as a solo traveler, see our list of the best singles holidays.
Formentera, Spain
One of the best trips for singles is a getaway to Formentera. The smallest of the Spanish Balearic Islands is a much quieter, more laid-back destination than its neighbor Ibiza. A visit here makes for a great solo holiday and allows you to relax, enjoy the outdoors, and partake in a bit of nightlife if that's your thing. If you want to experience Ibiza's extreme nightlife, just hop on the ferry.
Access to Formentera is easy via the ferry from Ibiza. The trip takes about 25 minutes, and a ferry leaves about every 30 minutes. Ferries run all year long, but there are later departures in summertime, so you can spend the evening in Ibiza, then return back to Formentera.
Es Pujols is a good area for single travelers. There are many accommodation options (from budget to not-so-budget) here, along with a lot of restaurants. There's a cool boardwalk and beach where it's easy to make new friends. You can rent a bicycle and get to many other places on the island as it's very flat.
Crete, Greece
Visitors to this idyllic Greek island have a hotel option only available to single travelers. The Mistral is unique in that, as the hotel promotes, it's a "family-excluding hotel run by a family that treats its single guests like family."
The singles resort only welcomes solo travelers and has a range of activities and amenities geared just to them. Each night, guests are treated to a four-course communal meal, highlighted with fresh, local products. The meal helps bring people together and creates a community atmosphere for the individual travelers.
The Mistral is a three-minute walk from the beach, in the historic town of Maleme, which is on the northwest coast of the island. It's a short bus ride from Chania, Crete's second largest city, and the hotel makes all the travel arrangements for its guests in advance. The majority of the 33 rooms have views of the sea, and the singles resort's reasonably remote location means you can also keep to yourself and have a nice quiet getaway. There are sun terraces, two swimming pools, and a large outdoor Jacuzzi tub.
- Read More: Top Tourist Attractions on Crete
Limoux, France
La Maison Blanche is a friendly bed and breakfast in the southern French city of Limoux, which goes out of its way to cater to solo travelers. With five rooms accommodating up to 30 guests, it always offers a personal, intimate experience. The dog-friendly guesthouse was created in a three-story townhouse first built in 1805 yet recently renovated to a modern luxury standard.
The owners really focus on English-speaking guests yet offer an immersive French experience, so you can learn some language while vacationing. They have all kinds of activities and group trips to encourage the guests to get to know each other. Trips include excursions to local restaurants, weekly food markets, and specialty shops, hikes, bike rides, and other outdoor stuff like kayaking. Beyond welcoming guests, the owners can help with practical info like how to move to France, how to work in France, and other logistic details. The townhouse has a large courtyard in the rear, and the owners frequently hold potluck dinners, where each guest brings their favorite dish to a communal meal.
Limoux is an excellent home base to explore southern France and nearby Spain. You don't even need a car, as the local train service is excellent. The small city is in the middle part of France's southern border with Spain in the ancient Languedoc region.
Brooklyn, New York
The neighboring borough to Manhattan, Brooklyn is now the cool, hip area of New York City, and it's a great destination for singles vacations. Between the art, the food, the culture, and the nightlife, there's a lot of things to see and do in Brooklyn. Plus, if you ever get bored, hop on the subway and head to Manhattan for some sightseeing.
Brooklyn may be crowded, but it's also the kind of place where a single traveler can just blend in. Take a walk through Brooklyn Bridge Park or have some java in a coffee shop, you'll be surprised how introspective you can be even when surrounded by people.
For the best views of the Manhattan skyline, make time for a walk across the Manhattan Bridge. Yes, the Manhattan Bridge, not the Brooklyn Bridge, offers the best views of the city. The walking path is much more narrow, but the skyline views of Midtown and Downtown are spectacular. The path starts at the Flatbush Avenue Extension in downtown Brooklyn and ends at Bowery and Canal Street in Chinatown. The bridge is the origin of the name of one of Brooklyn's coolest neighborhoods, DUMBO, which stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, which passes over the area.
Waikiki, Hawaii
Waikiki is the popular resort area on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. It's filled with a wide variety of accommodation options, from budget to luxury. Solo travelers should look at some of the hotel and condo properties a few blocks from the beach for the best value. Most offer ocean views, and many feature suite-sized units with kitchens or kitchenettes.
It's a good trip for singles because the immediate area is just packed with things to do. It's also easy to get to, easy to get around, and has an excellent tourist infrastructure. The area makes it easy for single travelers, as many hotels and resorts offer almost-all and all-inclusive packages, with everything from transportation to activities and meals included.
There are tourist attractions like the Honolulu Zoo and the Waikiki Aquarium, which can be fun places to meet people or to just explore on your own. Kuhio Avenue is filled with cafés, restaurants, and music venues, while Kalakaua Avenue has all the shopping, including malls.
Jamaica
With its many all-inclusive, adults-only resorts, Jamaica is a great destination for single travelers looking to make new friends. For those seeking a large, all-inclusive, adults-only resort with endless activities, dining options, and entertainment, Hedonism II is a great vacation destination.
Known for its unabashed decadence, the 22-acre resort is right at the northern end of the popular Seven Mile Beach in Negril. There are almost 300 rooms in groups of two-story buildings. The resort hosts nightly themed gatherings, as well as an extensive program of activities designed to help guests meet other guests. There are also live shows and musical performances along with a dance club.
The rooms and suites are modern but nothing fancy. Suites get you more space and large terraces overlooking either the jungle or the ocean. There are four different restaurants and two grills serving food 20 hours a day.
Aside from the social scene, the resort sits on a beautiful stretch of private beach, and your stay includes the usual array of complimentary (non-powered) water and beach sports. You can play tennis, volleyball, and basketball, or take a kayak out on the ocean. Certified SCUBA divers can even dive for free. Some of the beach areas and other amenities are clothing-optional.
- Read More: Top Tourist Attractions in Jamaica
Hong Kong
This Asian metropolis welcomes solo travelers because so many of its residents are ex-pats. If you go out for the evening in areas like Lan Kwai Fong or Wanchai, you might think you were out in London or NYC. You can also wander through the street markets during the day or evening to do a little shopping. If your budget allows, Hong Kong offers some extreme luxury shopping as well. Pacific Place Mall is a good place to find all the big designer shops and also has a range of excellent dining options.
There are lots of places to visit and meet people, and it's a very safe city to go out alone. Even restaurants cater to single travelers, as Michelin star-ranked places like L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon offer counter seating, perfect for those dining alone.
The area outside Hong Kong, easily reached by ferry, train, or bus is a whole different world-a green world. You'll find fun beach areas and miles of hiking trails and parks to explore, and these outdoor areas are also very safe for solo travelers.
It's also a great destination for single travelers because it's so easy to get to. The city is served by many airlines offering direct service. Once you're there, it's easy to get around. A high-speed train whisks you from the airport to Central or Kowloon in about 30 minutes, and the subway, the MTR system, makes it easy to get around the city.
- Read More: Top Tourist Attractions in Hong Kong
Sydney, Australia
With a laid-back, open-minded attitude towards life, Sydney makes for an excellent solo holiday destination. Filled with history, friendly people, and a lot of things to see and do, it's also a very safe place for travelers on their own.
Sydney is an ideal place to visit for singles holidays because there are many direct flights from countries all around the world. For single holidaymakers on a budget, the city does have a good selection of hostels.
The Darling Harbour area is the best place to stay for single travelers. It's a large, newly developed harbor front area starting in Chinatown. There are vast pedestrian and recreation areas filled with things to see, do, and eat, along with a lot of hotels. There are also many links to Sydney's excellent public transit system, so you can get out and explore other parts of the city.
Vancouver, Canada
Canada's western metropolis provides solo travelers culture, outdoor adventures, entertainment, and food on a world-class level, with the safety and friendliness Canada is known for.
Get yourself a 24-hour pass for the city's Mobi by Shaw Go public bikeshare system and take a ride. Single travelers can take advantage of their CAN$15 a day plan, which gives you unlimited, 30-minute rides during a 24-hour period. It's perfect for exploring many different areas of the city, while limiting the riding time between each to 30 minutes.
Stanley Park is a huge green space that makes up the northwestern half of the downtown Vancouver peninsula. Surrounded by water on three sides, you'll get some great views of the Vancouver skyline and be able to meet other people, as this is where the city comes to exercise. The park includes English Bay Beach, which, in the summertime, is where locals come to lay out and enjoy the sunshine.
When it's time for some food and retail therapy, head downtown to Robson Street. There are hundreds of shops and lots of places to eat, people watch, and just hang out.
- Read More: Top Tourist Attractions in Vancouver
Cusco, Peru
The ancient Incan capital city is high in the Andes mountains of Peru and constantly filled with travelers. Mainly known as the jumping-off point (it's where the train line starts) to Machu Picchu, the city itself is a great place to visit for a solo holiday.
Aside from all the solo visitors, Cusco is home to many ex-pats who work in the travel and tourism industry, so it's easy to meet English speakers. For some excellent, inexpensive accommodations, try the San Blas arts district. Food is also very cheap here, as is local travel by bus or taxi if you want to explore the area outside Cusco.
Aside from Cusco, visitors can easily explore Machu Picchu, one of the world's top heritage sites, and Peru's nearby Sacred Valley all via the train line. Be sure to make a stop in Ollantaytambo and climb the incredible ruins here. Wander through the small town with its intact Inca street plan, houses, and drainage system to see what life was like here 600 years ago.
- Read More: Top Tourist Attractions in Cusco
Marrakech, Morocco
If you're seeking a truly exotic, seriously interesting, and endlessly fascinating singles holiday destination, Marrakech, Morocco always delivers. The North African city, a popular destination for many European low-cost airlines, offers something for every sense.
Find a guide and get lost in the ancient souks as you challenge the shopkeepers to get the lowest price on that souvenir. Have a fresh-squeezed orange juice and some lamb tagine for lunch as you explore the ancient walled city, called the medina. As the sun sets, join what seems like the whole city as they gather in the medina's ancient Djemaa el Fnaa square for the nightly human circus. Wander from the snake charmer to the circle of Gnawan musicians to the amateur boxers and then sit down at one of the pop-up restaurants in the center of the square for dinner.
Set on almost 30 acres, the Fellah Hotel is located in a desert oasis at the base of the Atlas Mountains, just outside Marrakech. There are 10 villas and 62 unique rooms of various sizes (including suites and junior suites), each showcasing a modern, Berber style. The hotel has a communal spirit and caters to solo travelers with a lot of available activities. There are cooking classes, language classes, daily group yoga sessions, and things like that.
The Fellah even has its own farm, where you can pick your own eggs, milk a goat, or even groom a donkey. The resort has several pools, including a beautiful sand-bottom, saltwater swimming pool with its own little beach. It's a popular area to meet and hang out with your fellow guests.
- Read More: Top Tourist Attractions in Marrakesh
Turks & Caicos
This laid-back Caribbean island is where you'll find miles and miles of powdery white-sand beaches and warm, crystal-clear turquoise water. It's a great place for solo travelers to relax and explore and also a great destination for single travelers who want to meet people. There are a lot of things to do: you can play golf, do an eco-tour by bike or kayak, or go horseback or ATV riding.
There are a lot of accommodations to choose from, some of which are right on Grace Bay Beach, considered one of the best beaches in the Caribbean.
Palm Springs, California
This desert resort, about a two-hour drive from Los Angeles, is great weekend getaway destination for single travelers. The weather is usually perfect, as the city sees about 350 days of rain-free sunshine each year. There's a thriving foodie and cultural scene, a compact neighborhood of dance clubs (Arenas Road) and, of course, a vast desert landscape to explore.
Palm Springs is also known for its popularity with single LGBTQ+ travelers and hosts several large Pride events each year, highlighted with the annual White Party in late April and Pride Week in early November.
Film buffs will want to visit in January, when the city hosts its world-class Palm Springs International Film Festival. Palm Springs is home to the largest collection of intact mid-century modern buildings in the world and celebrates the design movement each February during Modernism Week.
Read More: Top Tourist Attractions in Palm Springs, CA
U.S. Virgin Islands
This Caribbean resort destination is an "unincorporated and organized territory" of the United States. That means single travelers from the US don't even need a passport to visit. Most visitors head to one of the three main islands: St. John, St. Croix, or St. Thomas, but there are about 50 smaller, mostly uninhabited islands in the archipelago.
Single travelers will appreciate the variety of available accommodations, from furnished condos to resorts, as well as small boutique hotels. It's also a popular destination for solo travelers, as there are so many things to do in the US Virgin Islands.
The islands have a long history, both ancient and colonial. You can see Stone Age petroglyphs in Virgin Islands National Park (on St. John) or trace the islands' sugar trade enslavement history at the Estate Whim Museum and Great House plantation on St. Croix.
There's a lot to do outside: You can explore the islands' many parks on foot, by mountain bike or on horseback. Aside from all the fun you can have on and above the water, the islands are also a world-class dive spot. Each island offers a different dive environment. You can dive coral reefs off St. John, explore wreck sites off St. Thomas, and even try night diving on St. Croix.
Mexico City, Mexico
Mexico's capital city is only a three-hour-flight from most of the Southern US. Once here, you will find a vast, cosmopolitan metropolis. CDMX as it's known, is the perfect singles vacation destination because of the endless things to do, see, and eat.
Start your adventures at the core of the ancient and modern city, the Zocalo plaza. Built on top of a large Mayan temple, it's now home to the main Metropolitan Cathedral and is one of the world's great places to people watch. Visit the Templo Mayor Museum, and you can walk through part of that ancient temple as part of the museum is the temple ruins. The Zocalo is part of the Centro Historico, literally the historic center of the city. You'll find wide, pedestrian-only streets lined with shops and restaurants.
The huge city is a city of neighborhoods, and it's fun to spend an afternoon just wandering around one. Polanco, with its tree-lined streets and sidewalk cafés, feels more like Paris. Neighborhoods like Condesa or Roma are young and hip, with trendy restaurants and designer stores. When you're ready to let off some steam and spend a night on the dance floor, head to the legendary Zona Rosa entertainment area.
Map of Singles Holidays
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The Runners-Up for Best Singles Vacation Destinations: Las Vegas is always a popular place for single travelers, particularly from spring until fall when the resort pools are open. This is a city that is fun day and night. In the Caribbean, Cabarete in the Dominican Republic has a young singles scene, many of whom are here to kiteboard on Kite Beach or surf by day, and socialize at the beachfront restaurants by night.
