Solo Traveler ()

Going solo is the perfect way to take a quick trip focused on personal interests. Keeping costs low can be hard, and summer is peak season in Europe. Here are some frugal travel tips and four cities perfect for a budget solo getaway.

Book now with discount airlines for off-season travel; direct flights are cheapest. Make it a goal to use a small backpack that fits under the seat; this avoids extra charges for overhead space and checked bags. Try to find lodging near the sightseeing so it’s easy to walk or take public transportation. Taxis are budget killers. Hostels nowadays are a combination of basic private rooms and dorm-style accommodation. A hotel or hostel that includes breakfast can also mean a great cost savings. Restaurant prices can be daunting; try going out for lunch as costs are lower at midday. Grab picnic foods at a local grocery store for dinner and bring a refillable water bottle.

For more budget travel tips, check out our Solo Adventures: Budget travel guide

ALICANTE

Travelers looking for sun and sand, a bit of history and scenic streets to wander will love Alicante. Find accommodations in the city center as close to the waterfront esplanade and El Postiguet Beach as your budget allows. Most hostels are conveniently located near the Mercat Central d’Alicant; the perfect place to grab unique foods and beach picnic items.

Wander the palm-studded town past cute plazas. Pop into the gothic Basilica of Saint Mary whose unique shape was built from the ruins of a 14th century mosque. Dally along the waterfront esplanade with its pretty shops and outdoor cafes where simply ordering a coffee and sitting for an hour is acceptable.

Hike up to the cliff-top Castillo de la Santa Barbara via the barrio neighborhood on its western flank. The castle, which gives Alicante its unique skyline, was built in the 9th century when Spain was part of Moorish al-Andalus. It is free to visit and offers incredible views.

To get to Alicante, fly Ryanair from Hahn, Karlsruhe, Memmingen or Nuremburg; Condor from Frankfurt and Munich; and Eurowings from Stuttgart. The C6 bus runs frequently from Alicante airport to downtown and takes 25 minutes. 

RIGA

Riga is a city for lovers of artistic architecture and Baltic culture. This capital city sits near the mouth of the Daugava River at the Baltic sea and features a UNESCO-listed old town and art nouveau architecture.

Stay in the old town to have maximum time exploring the cobbled streets and unique sculptures like the Cat House and The Ghost. See the magnificent Riga Cathedral and the medieval House of the Black Heads guildhall. The Central market, housed in repurposed zeppelin hangars, is the place to get cheap street food or picnic items. Wander across the river to a variety of riverside parks and beaches perfect for a nosh while people watching. Or head the opposite direction and take a canal boat tour.

If dipping a toe in the cold Baltic Sea sounds exhilarating, then take one of the frequent blue line trains from the main Riga station to Bulduru where the pine tree lined expanse of sand extends as far as the eye can see.

There are flights to Riga on Air Baltic from Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Munich, and on Ryanair from Memmingen. The #22 bus from the airport to downtown Riga runs every 20 minutes; buy a ticket from the vending machine at the bus stop just outside the terminal.

LONDON

London is notoriously expensive, but there are so many free museums, cheap flights and hostel stays that it can be affordable. Food is expensive, however. Visit grocery stores, food courts or sandwich shops and splurge once on lunch at a pub.

Stay in the area around the University of London for budget hostels. It is walkable to the British Museum to spot world-famous archaeological finds, the British Library to see the Magna Carta, or Platform 9¾ at Kings Cross (all free).

Big-name sites in London are pricey, but it is free to walk by and take pictures. Bus line 15 is especially convenient as a budget ‘city tour’ to take in Trafalgar Square, Saint Paul’s Cathedral, and the Tower of London. From the Tower Hill bus stop, it’s a pleasant walk to the Thames waterfront area for iconic bridge pictures. Another option is bus line 26, which begins a bit further east, taking in Westminster Abbey and Big Ben before continuing through Trafalgar and ending at Saint Paul’s. Oyster cards – available from vending machines – are good for travel on all buses and subways. 

If the weather is nice, a walk from Buckingham Palace to Kensington Palace is roughly two miles past Georgian architecture and through Hyde Park. Alternatively, a day out in Mudchute park via the Docklands Light Rail gives a glimpse of rural Britain and its iconic sheep herds. The nearby free Museum of London Docklands offers a fascinating interactive history of London’s shipping port.

Fly into London’s Stansted airport on Ryanair via Memmingen, Hahn, Karlsruhe or Nuremberg. Eurowings flies to Heathrow from Stuttgart, and Easy Jet flies to Gatwick from Munich. All London airports have express train access to London; book ahead for the best rates. 

CLUJ-NAPOCA

Cluj, as its nicknamed, is unique on this list as a starting point for car-touring the dramatic Transylvanian countryside. Entrance fees are cheaper in Romania, as are car rentals when booked ahead. In Cluj there are Roman, Orthodox and Greek cathedrals plus the ruins of Roman Napoca viewable under glass in Union Square. Get a picture-perfect view of the city from atop the hill at Cetățuia Park.

Driving out of town, visit the Romulus Vuia Ethnographic Park to learn about traditional Transylvanian life. South of Cluj is the massive Salina Turda salt mine museum and health complex. Nearby is the Cheile Turzii Gorge, formed from Jurassic limestone and perfect for a hike past soaring cliffs and bat caves.

Drive southeast through rural Transylvanian villages past goats and horse carts to the town of Sighișoara. The hilltop fortified old town is the spooky birthplace of Vlad the Impaler (Vlad Dracula), and is ideal for an overnight stay. Nearby are the fortified churches of Biertan and Viscri; relics from Transylvania’s protestant Saxon immigrants of the 1400s and their defense against the Ottoman empire.

An extended trip could also include Vlad Dracula’s infamous castle in Bran and a night in the lovely walled old town of Brașov. Or loop west to picture-perfect Corvin Castle where the notoriously cruel leader was supposedly imprisoned and went mad.

Fly into Cluj-Napoca on Wizz Air from Hahn or Memmingen. Take trolley 5 from the airport terminal into downtown.