A new global study has revealed the best destinations for solo travellers in 2025, analysing 36 cities across safety, affordability and accessibility.
With solo travel continuing to surge worldwide, and 76% of solo travellers ranking safety as their top priority, the findings highlight where independent explorers can travel with confidence.
The world’s top destination for solo travellers
Hanoi, Vietnam, took first place in the study by Travelbag, ranking as the best solo travel destination globally. The city stood out for its high daytime safety score (82/100), low costs and famously friendly atmosphere.
Travellers can enjoy some of the world’s most affordable city experiences – with beer averaging £0.71 (R16) and public transport around £0.25 (R5.60) per trip.
Two Sri Lankan cities made a strong appearance in the top three:
- Colombo ranks second, praised for extremely low public transport costs (£0.14 / R3.17) and warm weather averaging 29°C.
- Kandy takes third place with high daytime safety (78), affordable travel (£0.12 / R2.71) and peaceful landscapes of temples, lakes and tea plantations — ideal for slower, reflective solo journeys.
Southeast Asia dominates the global rankings
The wider region of Southeast Asia performed exceptionally well, taking most of the top 10 spots. Key highlights include:
- Siem Reap (Cambodia) – strong safety (85) and cultural richness.
- Chiang Mai (Thailand) – one of the safest cities globally, with a daytime safety score of 93.
- Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) – a blend of modern transport, cultural diversity and accessibility.
- Phuket (Thailand) – ideal for island life, water activities and sociable beach culture.
| Rank | City | Country | Safety Score Day (out of 100) | Cost of Beer (£) | Public Transport (one-way ticket) (£) |
| 1 | Hanoi | Vietnam | 82 | £0.71 | £0.25 |
| 2 | Colombo | Sri Lanka | 76 | £1.72 | £0.14 |
| 3 | Kandy | Sri Lanka | 78 | £1.47 | £0.12 |
| 4 | Siem Reap | Cambodia | 85 | £0.74 | £0.74 |
| 5 | Grand Baie/Bay | Mauritius | 85 | £1.65 | £0.79 |
| 6 | Chiang Mai | Thailand | 93 | £1.66 | £0.69 |
| 7 | Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia | 57 | £3.17 | £0.53 |
| 8 | Zanzibar | Tanzania | 67 | £1.51 | £0.24 |
| 9 | Male | Maldives | 55 | £3.53 | £0.49 |
| 10 | Phuket | Thailand | 83 | £1.60 | £1.09 |
Mauritius and Zanzibar stand out in Africa
Two Indian Ocean destinations also made the top 10:
- Grand Baie, Mauritius (Rank 5) – high safety (85) and affordability.
- Zanzibar, Tanzania (Rank 8) – warm climate, cultural depth and low-cost public transport (£0.24 / R5.42 per ride).
Safest solo destinations in the world
When safety is the sole focus, the UAE and Thailand lead the pack:
| Rank | City | Country | Day Safety | Night Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abu Dhabi | UAE | 92 | 87 |
| 2 | Dubai | UAE | 91 | 83 |
| 3 | Chiang Mai | Thailand | 93 | 81 |
| 4 | Muscat | Oman | 89 | 76 |
| 5 | Queenstown | New Zealand | 86 | 74 |
