Many of you would like to do things at night when traveling solo but are afraid to go our on your own.
As someone who has traveled solo for over 20 years and to more than 70 countries, I have tried a tested a few things, so here are my suggestions:
Join a tour
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One of the easiest, safest and most fun things to do at night is joining a tour.
You get to enjoy drinks, dinner and / or the nightlife of a destination within the safety of a group and meet new people.
These kinds of tours tend to be full of other solo travelers so they are also a great way to meet people with whom you can maybe team up for the next day.
You can find many food or bar hopping tours on GetYourGuide, or join an evening cooking or cocktail making class.
If you are staying at a hostel, they may also organize similar tours OR know of fun ones they can recommend.
Netflix and Chill with local food
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To be honest, staying in and watching a movie is underrated, especially when traveling solo.
I like to get up early and explore on foot which means that, by the end of the day, I am exhausted and 25,000 down. Nothing says vacation more than easy and chill time watching a movie in bed with a glass of wine.
You can even watch a movie or documentary about the destination which will also help you learn more about the local culture.
You can upgrade the experience with room service or by ordering local take away from one of the many food delivery apps (Make sure that you can get delivery at the place you are staying).
Go to a concert or show
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Many cities have wonderful music and entertainment scenes that are worth checking out.
If youβre in Vienna or Sydney, you should go to the Opera; In New York or London, a musical; In Las Vegas, you may be able to catch your favorite artist; In Cuba, you need to go to one of the salsa bars.
In the summertime, many European cities will have a plethora of open air concerts, festivals and more. Edinburgh is packed in August for the Fringe Festival. Barcelona has several patron saint celebrations in August and September.
Going out alone in a city that you are not familiar with is not necessarily dangerous, you just need to research if there are unsavory areas to avoid.
I would have no issues checking out a local bar, pub or restaurant alone at night in the UAE, Australia, New Zealand, or in most European or Asian cities.
There are many parts of a country that only come alive at night and I refuse to miss out on them because I am a woman.
In the UK or Ireland, you need to enjoy one meal at a local pub. In Asia, you need to check out the night food markets. In Latin America, dancing and music are everywhere in the evenings.
Your hotel concierge or reception team should be able to point out any areas to avoid; complement that advice with local womenβs tips by asking in the group what things to look out for.
Women live and go out at night safely in most places around the world, what they have that you donβt is the learned experience to recognise when something is off.
If you prefer to enjoy the fun of having company, you can post in our Connections group or in Host a Sister and look for a local or for another traveler who may be where you are at the same time and place and with whom you can meet up.
You can make plans to book an evening together, have a meal or even just go check out the night scene.
Pop down to the hotel bar or restaurant
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If you are staying at a hotel, it is likely that there is a bar or restaurant you can book at. These are usually filled with other guests who may also be alone, especially if the hotel is a business one.
Likewise, other hotels also have bars and restaurant full of travelers that you could safely go to. You won't be the odd one out because there are likely other solos too, and you could well be a guest in the eyes of servers or other customers.
I love going to beautiful rooftop bars, many of which tend to be at hotels, and enjoy a drink or meal there.
Final note: You can be dangerous too
I feel compelled to add a final note to this email.
I donβt subscribe to the idea that just because I am a woman alone I canβt go out at night. I can be dangerous too, and itβs important to remember that.
I walk alone at all hours of the day and night in Singapore, Dubai or Barcelona where I've lived for years, and I bet they are as safe as many other cities around the world.
I have enjoyed many night time experiences without feeling or being afraid or in danger. These come to mind:
I found myself pulling my suitcase through the streets of Reykjavik at 2am after being dropped off at the bus stop that was 10min away from my hotel
I had drinks at a local bar and dinner at a different one in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia
I went for an evening walk and dinner in Menorca, Spain
I had dinner at a fine dining place in Bogota, Clombia
I went out to dinner at a fancy restaurant in Havana, Cuba
I went for a walk and dinner in Stockholm, Sweden and met a friend at his home on another evening, taking the metro to and from
I checked out an amusement park at night in Copenhagen, Denmark
I met a friend for dinner in Buenos Aires, and then had a wander around the busy cultural neighbourhood, popping in for a drink at a local bar
I had plenty of dinners and drinks at hotel lobbies and bars around the world
Donβt discard the idea of exploring a city at night because you are a woman alone.
Ask local women, take note of the areas they avoid, the clues they look out for, the situations they would be weary off, get taxis to / from the restaurant if you feel unsafe, join night tours, and go out and enjoy yourself.
Remember how fierce chihuahuas can be, despite being so tiny π
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What do you do in the evenings when traveling solo?
2026 / 2027 Calendar of tours
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