Would you go on a European city break alone?

[SunshineOverStress]

Posting here for traffic sorry!

Would you go on a European city break alone? If so, where would you go?

Would you go to a bar etc in the evening on your own?

I feel like I would love to do this but I'm worried about being bored or feeling lonely etc and would be out my comfort zone!

Yup - have done quite a lot - especially autumn/spring, as it means the places are less crowded - so really popular places are easier to get into and less full of ginormous tour groups. I do find the later evenings a bit of a problem, as I don't enjoy hanging out in bars - but that's more to do with my age now than anything else (50-something). I therefore try and ensure that I'm staying somewhere I don't mind going back to in the evening, and buy a bottle of wine. I generally enjoy my own company, so don't mind pottering around all day by myself, but I also share various experiences/excitements with my sister in particular via WhatsApp.

All I'd advise is that you exercise the same level of caution you would in any major city - I'd be careful with my handbag and mobile phone in London late at night, so I'd be the same in Barcelona or Rome!

I've done for work and for trips either end and sandwiched between work. I enjoy it as much as traveling with a partner, but in different ways. I go more or less where I please including restaurants and bars, but always with the same eye for safety as anywhere else.

Yes,would do it and have done it. Absolutely fine to eat in a restaurant alone. No one cares.

OP, honestly it really is no major undertaking to go on any kind of holiday alone and a city break is a good way to start.

Im just back from two weeks in Italy and Switzerland and I went back to Zurich for about the third time. I love it and highly recommend it.

As for bars and restaurants? I happily go to both and someone being seems very normal to the staff.

Yes. I’ve not been completely alone but when my husband has been at a conference so on my own much of the time. Never had a problem or had people looking sideways
I potter around happily rather than necessarily doing tours.
Best places have been where there is easy walking and good transport Reykjavik, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Paris, Gothenburg, Valencia and Verona. All really safe with plenty to see.

Maybe take a laptop if you're feeling shy so you can pretend you're working

No no no! Be relaxed in your own skin rather than faking working for the benefit of a bunch of people you don't know and who don't care.

Plan your itinerary so you've plenty to do during the day but give yourself permission to abandon the plan if you decide you fancy wandering around aimlessly Then freshen up for an evening sitting outside (weather permitting) for some mumsnetting on your phone people watching. Most European cities have a relaxed night time cafe culture, not go out and get pissed and be an arse like many cities in GB.

@BobbyBlueCat But then I equally roll my eyes at the ones (and yes, there are a few on here) that make MASSIVE big deals out if it if they do go. Like they're all brave and doing something out of the ordinary

Get you being all nonchalant like you're the only one who knows how to do it the right way

I do it frequently. My work means I travel alone a lot. Cities are different, many lone females go out by themelves I actually quite enjoy it.

Prague, Kraków, Milan, Florence, Venice, Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga
I often go away on my own, shop, sightsee, eat and drink
I try and stay very central then I can walk everywhere and go back to my apartment whenever I want

Yes! I do this all the time. Please go - I travel a lot on my own for work and also chose to go on mini-breaks alone and I can't think of anywhere in Europe I wouldn't go by myself. Eating alone isn't a problem either but I do always have a book on the go and if you're really not confident about it you can always eat back at your hotel. I don't tend to go to bars on my own but during the summer will usually have a couple of glasses of wine somewhere with outside seating and people watch. The last couple of trips I've done during the winter months I've gone to the cinema in the evening (you can check if stuff is subtitled before going). If I'm going to a bigger more touristy cities I'll usually book some stuff on line before I go (art exhibitions etc). I also have a never ending list of places to go next.

I almost always go away on my own, because I'm single. I did go away with a friend once but wouldn't do it again.

Last year I went to Basel for a few nights before I went to a conference in Vienna, and went to Venice when it flooded. I love Venice for a relaxed trip, you can just wander and wander and see where the streets take you.

Have done it a few times before kids, mostly cos was easy to tack onto a work trip and DH is often away for months so I get bored. I find it a weird blend of liberating and lonely. I love being able to do whatever I feel like, and spend as long as I want to in museums, but I miss having someone to chat to.

Did Oslo (bit bleak at first, but met a girl at museum doing same thing and spent the day with her), New York (fab), Dubai (uncomfortable as hotel staff kept assuming I was a hooker), Washington (awesome), Athens (fab), Catania (fun, spent day with random Aussies). Basically Western Europe or US is fun. I would never do eg Egypt or Morocco without a male companion.

I wouldn’t go to a bar alone tho as would get chatted up by some weirdo and wouldn’t enjoy that, esp as not single.

Best way to travel. Push yourself, you won’t regret it!