I've traveled to over 100 countries on my own. I'd recommend these 5 destinations to first-time solo travelers.

My first international trip was to Thailand, and though I’ve made my fair share of travel mistakes, this was, undoubtedly, the right choice.

In my opinion, Thailand is one of the best solo-travel destinations. Ten years after my initial visit — where I visited my first Southeast Asian night market, met people in hostels who accompanied me to pubs and drag shows, and ate a crab curry that still lives in my head rent-free — I went back to Thailand, and can confirm that it’s still true.

What makes Thailand stand out is that there’s really something for everyone. Bangkok has some of the world’s best street food, but you’ll also have no problem finding Michelin-starred meals. Backpacker culture is abundant, with plenty of hostels to choose from, but five-star hotels are easy to find, too.

If islands are more your speed, try Koh Samui or Koh Phi Phi, which offer serene landscapes with world-class diving along white sandy coasts.

If your goal is to truly get away from it all, might I suggest a New Zealand road trip?

As a New Yorker who seldom finds herself behind a wheel, my time driving through New Zealand was as much of a reward as it was a challenge. By the end of my week cruising through the South Island, I — a city girl through and through — felt a deep appreciation for van life.

New Zealand is exceptionally beautiful and peaceful. Hiking spots like Roys Peak offer views that beat out even the prettiest of postcards. Lakes like Pukaki are so blue you’d think they have a filter on them.

Also, despite being alone and sleeping in a van each night, I never felt bothered or unsafe. There’s a reason everyone who has been to New Zealand swears it’s the prettiest place on the planet — after over 100 countries, I still believe that to be true.

One of the biggest myths about travel is that you have to wait for a romantic partner to visit honeymoon destinations. Let me debunk that for you and encourage you to visit Italy, party of one.

I highly recommend romanticizing your life on a gondola ride in Venice, where, yes, people will likely stare at you for being alone, but this won’t stop you from having a great time. (Take it from someone who’s done this twice.)

If you’re hungry to meet people, a food tour through Rome’s Trastevere neighborhood is a delicious way to meet others, and a winery tour in the Tuscan countryside is just as fun.

I’ve been to Italy more than anywhere else in the world, and it’s a destination I continue to return to as a solo traveler.

Just because I’ve been solo traveling for a decade doesn’t mean there’s not plenty left for me to explore, as proven by my recent trip to Uzbekistan. Before I started traveling, I probably couldn’t have pointed to Uzbekistan on a map, but now, I’d recommend it to any and all solo travelers.

One of the biggest pros was that, while traveling alone, I rarely felt like I was on my own. From walking tours to dining at local restaurants, I connected with other women traveling solo.

The country as a whole, but specifically Samarkand, felt calm and peaceful — and also rich in culture and Silk Road history. I had a great time in Tashkent visiting historic landmarks like Chorsu Bazaar and Hotel Uzbekistan, and found it easy to get around on public transit.

One of the most nuanced questions I’m asked about solo travel is, “Is that safe?” Safety is subjective, so what’s a safe experience for me might be entirely different for someone else.

That being said, a lot of stats indicate that Iceland is widely considered a safe place to travel. It was even ranked the most peaceful country in the 2026 Global Peace Index, based on criteria like ongoing conflicts, societal safety and security, and militarization.

While there, I took a day trip out of Reykjavik to see the “Golden Circle,” and almost everyone else on my tour was a solo female traveler. In Reykjavik, I noticed a plethora of queer spaces, including the National Museum of Iceland, home to “A Rainbow Thread,” a guide to the country’s queer history.

It doesn’t hurt that Iceland is a geographically stunning destination. Here, you can see geysers, active volcanoes, waterfalls, and — depending on when you visit — the northern lights.

The only con about a solo trip to Iceland is that, as safe as it is, I found it equally expensive, with even shared hostel dorms generally starting around $50 a night.