Solo city breaks - where to go

[Fandangofarago]

I’ve just unintentionally been on a solo city break (friend I was due to go with broke her leg the day before departure) and I loved it! I’ve never done it before but I absolutely loved having my own agenda & timetable. It’s made me want to do more. Where would people recommend for a solo break for a woman in her fifties who likes good food, museums, galleries, theatre, art etc? Not Barcelona, Madrid, Rome or Amsterdam (already been).

Florence or Paris, if you haven't already been?

I visited the following on my own: Krakow, Riga and Vilnius. Enjoyed them all particularly Vilnius.

I was in Copenhagen recently and loved it. It felt very safe and low crime (it seemed normal to leave stuff outside overnight (unlocked bikes/ restaurant items) and it wouldn’t get nicked.

I would probably go to Prague if you've not been, but Lisbon, Porto, Vienna, Stockholm, Munich (on the list not been), Budapest and many other European cities are also fab.

I had a lovely time by myself in Avignon last year.

Paris.

Don't laugh but Manchester.

Verona, possibly with a day trip to Venice.

Buenos Aires - maybe a little bit far.

Copenhagen, Seville, Nice

I'm off to Muscat in February!! Looking at Finland and Holland for future trips.

Krakow, Bruges, Prague, Palma or Edinburgh for me

Bordeaux, Oslo and Stockholm.

Bordeaux is so pretty.

Krakow. It's tiny, feels like a medieval walled city, salt mines and auschwitz.

Also look at sleeper trains between cities (booking a 2berth for solo use) - we did 3 days in Budapest then a sleeper to Krakow for 3 days.

This.

Met up with a friend there so had a day by myself.

Vienna is in my plans.

Have loved Venice and Bruges.

close to home: Edinburgh, York, Belfast

Prague, Budapest, Berlin, Krakow, Dubrovnik.

Lisbon!

Anywhere in the nordic countries is going to be fine. Seville is lovely. Really most cities in Europe will be fine if you don't go round flashing cash/expensive jewellery or stay in the dodgy areas that every city has. I'd start by looking at where I can get a cheap flight to and research from there.

Oslo has some fantastic museums and art galleries and is just such a lovely city.

Siracusa (Sicily), Glasgow, Avignon, Strasbourg are all wonderful places for a solo visit.

I second Vilnius and Florence. Both very different but amazing.

Seville
Granada
Krakow
Oslo
Stavanger
Berlin
Cologne
Lucerne
Strasbourg

Marseille- has an edgy image but lots of interest and history and beauty, but tread up on it first to know which parts to avoid and pin down good eating places
https://www.theinfatuation.com/marseille/guides/best-restaurants-marseille

I spent a month in Paris on my own last summer (volunteering at the Olympics/Paralympics, but obv had other time off) and had a lovely time by myself, I much more enjoy art galleries on my own

I don't know if this would interest you, but I did it on my own and had a great time. I was 64 at the time so no spring chicken!

Flew into Treviso, took bus outside arrivals to Padua where I stayed for five days. Fabulous little city that has a wonderful atmosphere. The University is old.... and for an art lover it has the fabulous Scrovegni Chapel with the frescoes by Giotto, an amazing sight. I lit a candle in the basilica of St. Anthony, I owed him as I keep losing things and he finds them lol! There's a tram system but I just walked and walked and hopped on the tram when I got tired.

I took the train from Padua to Venice for the day. Took the 7.30 am and back later in the evening. Doddle of a journey, only half an hour. The sight of the Grand Canal coming out of the train station is something magical. I'd been before but still. Walked all day around Venice. It was enough for me.

Took train to Ravenna. Another art lovers haven, to see the mosaics at the Basilica San Vitale. Another wander around and a great lunch out. Fab place.

Lastly took the train (again!) to Bologna. Oh my word, that was one mad place, and there's lots to see and do, it's a foodie paradise with lots more too.

Just a flavour of what can be done alone. And BTW that was my FIRST trip solo. I haven't stopped since!