Where would you go on holiday alone?

[Holidaytime2024]

I have 7 days when my children are on holiday with their Dad. I want to go away. This will be in early June. I have between £600-£2000 to spend on flights and accomodation but would prefer to not be at the top end if possible. I'm in my 40s and not into nightlife but not massively into art galleries, museums etc either.

Essentials:
Warm or hot weather.
Beautiful buildings and/or beautiful scenery.
A safe place, not rife with pickpockets.

Would like:
Things to see and do e.g. cathedrals, maybe a beach, nice places to eat, maybe a castle or palace, maybe a pool, maybe a zoo.
A place where lots of people speak English as I'm travelling by myself.
A nice hotel.

I hate:
Barren landscapes
The Canary Islands (sorry if you love them).
Complex public transport, I'd rather an easy to walk/navigate place

Thanks for any ideas. I initially thought Rome but it's super expensive for the week I can go and pickpocketing seems high. I thought maybe Valencia but I haven't looked into that one much yet. I have been to Seville and loved it so maybe would like Valencia. I've considered Portugal but don't know where.

Cyprus. All inclusive in Paphos.

I've been to menorca, turkey, Greece and Italy alone.

Even before getting to the end of your OP I was thinking Valencia would be perfect. Málaga is an excellent shout too.

I second Lisbon as well, shortish flights as well

Do not go to Morocco alone!! Very unwise!

Malta. It really is lovely, safe, lots to see.

Don't worry, I wasn't planning to. Morocco has never appealed.

Another vote for Madeira.
Adults only hotel.
Clean streets and eateries , lovely people, everyone speaks English. No pickpockets, very safe, easy transport system.
We love it and have spoken to lots of ladies travelling solo.

This gives a good idea of Malaga https://handluggageonly.co.uk/10-very-best-things-to-do-in-malaga/

I’ve been 4/5 times for the day (FIL lived nearby). It definitely feels safe.

I would either go to Palma, Mallorca, which is a lovely walking city with lots of history and a cathedral and also has lovely beaches nearby. Maybe two nights in Palma and 4 or so nights somewhere else on the island for beautiful beaches. Or like others have said Malaga city and spend a couple of days around the city in the tapas bars and then head down to somewhere like Fuengirola and Mijas Pueblo to get some of that chilled beach/cute village vibe. Could also combine Malaga with a couple of nights in Sevilla which is one of the most beautiful places in the world. All of the cities are very relaxed laid back cities that you can wander around and just soak up the atmosphere, especially during June before peak season. The weather will be perfect.

As I was reading your post I thought about Valencia. I'm going there next month and it totally fits the bill

Fair point, I've just been lucky on yoga retreats in Essaouira - but yeah perhaps not so safe in many areas.

How about small seaside town Panormos in Crete? Very safe, nice beach and can easily get bus to sites and other towns. Or Cefalu in Sicily? Close to Palermo for the airport, nice beaches, amazing food and you can get bus/train to other places if you get bored.

Frigliana, Andalucia is beautiful. Lots of hiking, tapas bars and definitely not brits abroad. You could day trip to Granada from there too.

I would choose a Greek island. I was only reading today that Syros has been voted one of the best places to holiday solo. We did have a week booked there but Covid scuppered that but we're hoping to return. It's a flight to Athens and then ferry to the island. Guess you could do a night or two in Athens too.

Malaga. It's NOT a place for youngsters who are only there to club (though you do get hen/stag groups in the town centre) - you go down the coast for that (or somewhere else entirely!)

Malaga is a proper Spanish city, ie somewhere where people live and work and aren't dependent on tourism. Getting there is easy (planes from everywhere in the UK!), public transport is cheap and good once you're there, the actual centre of the town is easy to get around as it's reasonably compact but the suburbs spread for miles along the sandy bay. Other cities such as Cordoba, Seville, Granada, Cadiz are easy day trips away by train or bus. Throw in the cathedral and churches, loads of galleries, a roman amphitheatre, a moorish alcazar, botanical gardens, and a really vibrant coastline with bars, fish restaurants etc just to the east (El Palo etc) and I think it'll tick your boxes.

I've spent lots of time there on my own and never felt unsafe.

Or Antibes, in the south of France? I think it's a train from Nice airport?

Good to know. I was obviously stereotyping and completely wrong. Thank you so much.

Love Portugal and have travelled solo there, I visit the Algarve but want to try Lisbon and Porto.

I’ve also done this which was amazing and great value for money!

https://www.huckfinncroatia.com/trips/adventure-sailing-dubrovnik-hvar/

God Spain is just stunning isn't it

It will be starting to heat up early June, but Dubai and Abu Dhabi could be a good shout. Lots to see and do, simple public transport, very safe as a lone woman, great hotels etc.

I've been to Dubai and was harassed by men/sellers constantly

Palma... Majorca

Lisbon has all those. Amazing place

Vietnam

Dubrovnik or you could do a 7 night boat trip of all the Croatian islands. Stunning.

Malaga is a good shout though. I'd find a week in Lisbon/Cascais too long.