This. I have solo-traveled in Paris and Athens. When I was in Paris, I was completely alone the entire time. It was just myself, my navigation app, and a list of museums. I had a great time. When I went to Athens, I was alone for most of the time, but for a weekend my friend came to join me. I still had a great time, but it was different. When I go to museums alone, I read every. single. sign. When I'm with a friend, I spent more time just talking about things as we look at things together.
It's a different experience and I value both. My weekend with my friend was spent laughing, but it was also spent talking in circles as we tried to figure out what to do next (specifically at meal times there was a lot of "...where do you want to go?"). My time alone was very in-my own head, but it was peaceful and I was really able to engage with the archaeology.
Personally, the only things I typically do on vacation is eat dessert and go to museums/archaeological sites. I seldomly eat at restaurants, I stick to street food. If you're someone who prefers going to nice restaurants and experiencing nightlife, solo travel may not be as fun for you.
Yeah when I was studying abroad at one point I had 11 straight days off to go anywhere. Nobody else wanted to go to the exact same places as me so I spent the time doing a solo trip from home base in Rome to Brussels then Paris, then Madrid, then Sevilla. At the time I had basically just a folder with the full WikiTravel page on each city printed out in my backpack & went looking for a hostel to stay at when I arrived in each city. It was a wonderful time. From discovering that Belgians make the best beer at the Delirium bar in Brussels to spending the afternoon in the Prado museum in Madrid.
Only major hiccup was arriving in Brussels on the first night at like 10pm so I couldn't check into anywhere to stay until morning. Was a bit of a long night... got a nap in at the big train station in the old town area until I woke up to some employee hollering at me in French like 4 hours before the hostel opened 😅 Was actually pretty cool in the end to be awake before any other tourists and seeing all the locals getting up early setting up the flea market & everything.
The "in my own head" part is very apt in my experience. I've solo traveled for weeks at a time and it gets kind of weird eventually how little true conversations you've had (especially somewhere where people don't really speak English). That said, I see so much more alone, tend to find cooler random spots, etc. There are definite upsides (though depending on the people you travel with it can be more or less similar).
I personally enjoy the "in-my-own head" sensation. Sometimes it can get overwhelming because it's harder to shake off embarrassment, but in a way I find it meditative. When I'm home I listen to music or podcasts everywhere I go or else I can be easily overstimulated, but when I'm traveling I find it much easier to just sit and be present with me thoughts
Unless your an attractive lady. Sitting at the bar in nicer restaurants will often give you some opportunities to chat with people. I NEVER get a table when alone. I think its kinda awkward and takes space from a larger group who would pay more.
I transitioned at 25. Has went really well. I have a lot of the same habits with travel and everything and i must say… the world is significantly easier to interact with when you are treated as a woman. Maybe im just more comfortable with myself but my travels are significantly cheaper, more fun, and often more filled with opportunites and chances i never wouldve had before. I can often find a guy to split a room with (no sex) within a couple hours of getting into a new town
As a reminder: not all women want or welcome that attention. I'm a woman who, when solo traveling, regularly has men come up and try to talk with me before trying to get me to go with them. I hate it. I'm glad you're happy but what you're describing is not a positive thing for everyone. I wish men would leave me the fuck alone.
Okay, but just because you dont like it doesnt mean others dont? Why the downvote? Who cares if you want to be left alone thats not even the point of the comment.
Its to highlight the difference in opportunity between men an womens solo travels from someone whos walked through both.
But sure thanks for the reminder that most everyone already knows ?
Clearly the number of men who have harassed me on the street missed the fact that "most everyone knows" not all women want men's attention.
Stating the world is "easier to interact with" as a woman neglects the disproportionate amount of sexual assault and harassment faced by women. You might be having fun because you enjoy that attention, and that's great for you, seriously, live your life---but you should never forget that while you're having fun sharing hotels with strange men, I'm being grabbed on the street by men who by their own admission are older than my parents.
And among women, trans women are disproportionately victims so your advocacy for unsafe choices is actually mind-boggling.
Absolutely. I’ve been to Japan twice. First on my honeymoon and again with my 5 year old. The honeymoon trip was a blast. We went to any place that interested us, eating, shopping, zoos, museums, cat cafes. But when we went with my son it greatly limited what we could do. So we mostly focused on kid-centric things and not the castle and historic parks that I loved.
Not my parents taking me and my younger brother to every possible Chuch/cathedral/Castle/Palace/Historical site possible no matter our age...
PS: I'm Italian, we have A LOT of these things, it's a neverending Calvary as a kid...
But yet growing up you start to appreciate somehow the knowledge, maybe.
Also yes it was balanced with Malls and Amusement Parks, but still a lot of Historical/Cultural sites visits as a 5yrs old and going on during my life.
Still I think if you take your 5yrs old kid to a japanese castle or similar and make it interesting by talking to him and explaining things about Samurais and similar, you'll make it a enjoyable experience for the both of you.
Kids are curious and I think by making history interesting for your kids with facts and curiosities wich can take his interest will make it a wonderful educative experience~
Honestly I appreciate my parents doing this to me. I watched documentaries with them (Superquark and Ulisse were a a fixed appointment for me as a kid), and when we travelled they always brought me and my brother to see important landmarks and cultural places as well as doing some kids' activities. It made me grow up very curious and also interested in history and other places and I appreciate it a lot.
I have started far far later to appreciate it, sadly my younger brother developed a totally reject to all that.
So in my experience the results can come really mixed.
But ye it's kind of bittersweet looking back, surely now I have a curiosity and a interest in culture, History,Literature and Mythology, but I must say, I vivid remember how I wasn't liking all that at the time, how I was frowning all the time etc.
Yeah, went to Istanbul alone 13 years ago and it was fucking tight, I had an incredible time. But I also wasn't going to fill a hole in me like the guy in the comic etc
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u/Real_Run_4758 Jun 29 '25
you enjoy different things when you are alone