Europe offers a world of plenty for solo travelers. Safe, welcoming, and home to a sophisticated rail network that invites you to carve your own path when journeying between the best solo travel destinations in Europe.
With all corners of the continent reachable by train, it’s an overflowing goody bag for independent travelers who love to explore.
Why Europe is Ideal for Solo Travel
At Rail Escape, we specialize in customizing rail tours for solo travelers, booking the trains and hotels you need for a luxurious and unhurried vacation that takes you to the destinations you want to see. Perfect for solo travels that reveal more of Europe at your own pace.
And what a continent to explore by train. Home to 44 countries, including six of the world’s top ten most visited countries, Europe offers an unmatched variety for rail adventures.
France, the world’s busiest tourist destination, is bordered by eight countries connected by high-speed trains. It’s a pattern repeated across the continent. With a web of rail routes probing every corner of the continent, solo travelers can enjoy the rhythms of slow travel while exploring entire regions.
Travel challenges are also limited in Europe. European cities consistently rank high in global safety indexes, and English is widely spoken in tourist areas.
Trains and the Freedom of Solo Travel in Europe
Trains offer peerless flexibility for solo travelers with a taste for exploration.
It’s a greener journey, with trains pumping out far fewer emissions than flying. Not just better for the environment, but better for the soul as you swap grey airports for a snug seat with prime views of unfamiliar landscapes.
With the opportunity to replenish energy levels in first-class comfort, you hop off the train directly into the action. No need to wait for luggage. It travels with you, rather than to the wrong city.
Rail travel in the Schengen Area of 29 borderless countries means you won’t even need to find your passport when crossing most borders.
With trains outpacing flights for frequency, you shape an itinerary that works for you. Flexible and unhurried, you dictate the terms of travel. If you can decide where to go…
Five of the Best Cities for Solo Travel in Europe
A passion for independent exploration has been poured into our carefully selected European rail tours, with travel packages threading together many of the best solo travel destinations in Europe.
Here’s a pick of cities for solo travel in Europe, ideal for pivoting exhilarating multi-stop rail tours around.
Prague: Medieval Charm Meets Modern Vitality
Prague’s fairytale setting and irrepressible energy make it a city par excellence for solo travelers.
An endlessly photogenic and compact Old Town encourages wanderers to follow their feet, from the dazzling architecture around Wenceslas Square to
the emblematic Charles Bridge across the Vltava River.
The City of a Hundred Spires has an incredibly vibrant café and bar culture. With landmarks galore, including Europe’s largest castle.
Boasting good onward rail connections, it’s an absorbing starting point for exploring central Europe.
Our Danube Rail Tour is a fantastic example of a European rail vacation for solo travel, an exhilarating journey that calls at Hungary’s Budapest and Austria’s Vienna before dropping anchor in the Czech capital.
Barcelona: Art, Architecture, and Mediterranean Soul
Gaudí masterpieces and culinary wonders are two pieces of the jigsaw that make Barcelona a sublime destination for solo travel.
Home to a dizzying array of things to see and do, it’s an essential stop on our dazzling Mediterranean Tour through Sunny Spain.
Antoni Gaudí’s vision is stamped all over Barcelona; most notably in the chromatic Park Güell and at the spectacular – and still unfinished – Sagrada Familia Cathedral.
Catalonia’s cultural jewel has the full package for solo travel: fantastic beaches, bars that only sleep when the sun comes up, and endless tapas, the ultimate fuel for solo travelers.
With one of Europe’s slickest high-speed rail networks fanning out across Spain, the Iberian adventure does not need to end there. Head south to cities like Madrid, Valencia, and Sevilla, or go north into France to discover more of the best solo travel destinations in Europe along the French Riviera.
Krakow: Living History in a City Break Favorite
Poland’s second city is frequently ranked Europe’s best city break destination.
The former royal capital is easy to explore and ideal for solo travelers. History is baked into a UNESCO-recognized Old Town that boasts Europe’s largest medieval square. A square lined with cafes, quirky cellar bars, and even quirkier street performers.
In contrast, the lively former Jewish Quarter, Kazimierz, retains its old character but has evolved into a jumble of restaurants and cocktail bars that showcase Krakow’s burgeoning foodie reputation.
Outside the city lie two more UNESCO World Heritage Sites: The incredible carved underground chambers of Wieliczka Salt Mine and the haunting Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial, where the horrors of the Holocaust merit quiet contemplation.
Warsaw, the city that stole Krakow’s crown as capital of Poland, is less than three hours away by train. A key hub for exploring the region or embarking on a multi-country itinerary like our Northern Highlights rail tour, which cruise through the Netherlands, Germany, and into Poland.
London and Paris: A Tale of Two Capitals Connected by Rail
London and Paris star alongside Amsterdam in our Classical Capitals tour, a journey with enduring appeal for first-time solo travel in Europe.
Much has been written about London and Paris. Yet, these grand old capitals remain impossible to stereotype, as they never stay still.
Thanks to the Channel Tunnel, you can fly into either city, then catch a sleek Eurostar train that connects the cities in under 2 hours and 30 minutes.
They pair perfectly for solo escapades through history and culture. Not only have they helped rewrite European history, but they also boast excellent public transport that makes seeing their myriad sights easy.
Who needs travel companions when even just a handful of highlights would light up any vacation: The Eiffel Tower and Tower of London, the Louvre and
the British Museum, Notre Dame and Big Ben. A shortlist that barely scratches the surface of why London and Paris should be on every list of best solo travel destinations in Europe.
Five cities, five of the best solo travel destinations in Europe. Just a taste of the possibilities when customizing vacations with Rail Escape. Vacations built around your dream itinerary, with the fastest trains, seamless connections, and premium hotels so you enjoy every moment, wherever your travel bug takes you.
Beyond the City: Captivating European Regions for Solo Travel
Solo travel in Europe often pivots around big cities. Yet, one of many advantages of European rail travel is the chance to call in at towns big and small. An unhurried and practical way to explore regions that would otherwise be out of reach unless you rent a car.
Tuscany: A Train Ride Through Art and History
Solo travel in Italy’s Tuscany region is a joyride through history peppered with culinary wonders, striking views, and an incomparable artistic heritage.
The jewel in the Tuscan Crown is Florence. This stop on our rousing Best of Italy tour from Venice to Rome has excited wayfarers since aristocrats embarked on the Grand Tour in the 17th century. The birthplace of the Renaissance remains a magnet for art and history fans today.
Beyond Florence, regional trains pass through the inimitable Tuscan landscape of vineyards and cypress groves, weaving together timeworn hilltop
villages with landmarks like the Leaning Tower of Pisa and Piazza del Campo, home to the famous Palio horse races.
Not only is Tuscany home to one of the best solo travel destinations in Europe, but it also boasts some of the continent’s prettiest rail routes. It’s an absorbing region for solo rail adventures, with Rail Escape customizing tours that reveal more of this enduringly captivating part of Italy.
The Alps: Breathtaking Train Rides and Mountain Escapes
The majestic Alps thread through eight European countries. Trains roll along the foothills and even through the peaks, linking elegant cities with alpine resorts for solo rail tours of endless contrasts.
Our balanced Alps Tour paints a picture, threading together four cities in three countries. All contenders for a shortlist of the best solo travel destinations in Europe.
While the peaks dominate the skyline, the horizon is truly the limit when exploring Alpine countries by rail: the charming canals of Annecy in France, the gorgeous lakeside town of Lucerne in Switzerland, and the serene beauty of Lake Garda in the Italian Alps; all singular destinations ideal for intrepid solo travelers.
Alpine explorers can customize train tours across the Alps with Rail Escape.
Top of the agenda for rail travelers and view seekers? Electrifying trips on Switzerland’s panoramic trains that ply some of Europe’s most scenic rail routes.
Two panoramic trains adapted for viewing pleasure feature in our Scenery and Elegance Swiss Train Tour. The Glacier Express links the mountain resorts of Wermatt and St Moritz high above Europe’s skyline. And the Bernina Express, which skips over 196 bridges along a Unesco World Heritage route connecting Switzerland with Italy.
Portugal: Coastal Gems and Heritage Cities
Portugal is a hot ticket for solo travel in Europe. Fringed by windswept Atlantic beaches and alluring Mediterranean resorts, with cities rewarding leisurely exploration, it’s an exhilarating and varied destination for solo travelers.
The north is defined by the Douro River that meanders through vineyards and valleys to Porto. Spread over hills and cobblestone streets, Porto’s bohemian character and 24/7 vibrancy place it firmly amongst the best solo travel destinations in Europe.
Rail travel fans have an extra incentive to explore the north, particularly along the river-hugging Linha do Douro that transports visitors to the vineyards producing the grapes that gave Porto its most famous export.
Heading south takes you to Coimbra, a fascinating stop on our seductive Highlights of Portugal tour, an easygoing rail vacation laden with variety.
Few cities reflect Portugal’s past better than Coimbra. History seeps into the narrow cobblestone streets of this engaging city, exemplified by one of Europe’s oldest universities.
Further south is the capital, Lisbon. The hilly coastal city famous for pasteis de nata tarts and the yellow trams that trundle up and down the hills is one of the most chilled European capitals. Ideal for solo travel.
Cap a solo tour of Portugal with a trip to the Algarve, the Mediterranean strip hosting some of Europe’s favorite tourist resorts.
From sunny Algarve to the Swiss Alps, Rail Escape customizes tours around you. Bringing your dream itinerary to life with the trains and hotels you need for a smooth and relaxed journey, whether your wanderlust takes you.
Culture vs Nature: Trains Let You Decide
Solo travel in Europe presents an enticing choice: immerse yourself in centuries of culture or escape into pristine natural landscapes.
The beauty of using trains for solo travel in Europe? You don’t have to choose.
Every major European city hosts a rail hub with trains fanning out across the country.
Want to hike across glens in the Scottish Highlands? Take the fabled Jacobite Steam train, the Harry Potter train that stops at places like Fort William, gateway to Britain’s tallest mountain, Ben Nevis.
Want to lose yourself in the Black Forest? The Höllentalbahn, aka Hell Valley Railway, is among Germany’s most scenic train rides. At one end is Freiburg im Breisgau, a green city with rail links to more of the best solo travel destinations in Europe.
Planning Tours of the Best Solo Travel Destinations in Europe
Choose any country in Europe, and you’ll find a dizzying choice of rail routes and train services that put you in control of where to go. It’s the practical and relaxed way to visit more of the best solo travel destinations in Europe at your own speed.
Customizing itineraries, Rail Escape ensures you make the most of every moment. With premium hotels in convenient locations, seamless rail connections, and first-class seats on the fastest trains, solo travel in Europe is a breeze.
Our travel planners customize rail tours exclusively for you. Let us know where you’d like to go, and we’ll turn your dream itinerary into a rail vacation where every moment counts.
