The Joy of Solo Travel
There’s a certain magic in standing alone in a place where no one knows your name.
The unfamiliar streets, the quiet mornings in cafés with a book and no agenda, the long, meandering walks led only by curiosity - it all becomes a dance between freedom and discovery. Travelling solo is not just about seeing the world; it’s about seeing yourself more clearly within it.
I’ve always believed that art begins with observation, with being present, really present, in a moment. And what better way to sharpen your sense of presence than to step outside your comfort zone, alone?
I’ll never forget the day I climbed the 406 steps of the tower of St Mary’s Church in Gdańsk. I hadn’t planned on doing it. It was my first ever solo trip abroad. The tower loomed above the city like a watchful guardian, and something in me - curiosity, perhaps, or stubbornness - decided I should see the view from the top. But as I began the climb up the narrow, winding stone staircase, panic crept in. I’ve always been a little claustrophobic, and the tight space, with no room to turn back, made my chest tighten. I could hear the voices of others ahead of me, or were they behind? I couldn’t tell.
Every step tested me. My breath was shallow, my mind loud. But I kept going, one careful step at a time until, finally, I reached the top. And what I saw took that breath away. The city unfurled beneath me in pale pastels colours and gold, rising up through the snow that lined the streets. I stood there, proud, steady, and a little awestruck - not just by the view, but by myself.
That’s the gift of travelling solo. It reveals strength you didn’t know you had. It puts you in situations where you have to show up for yourself…and you do.
When you travel solo, the world opens up differently. You're not distracted by conversation or compromise. You're free to linger in museums for hours, sip on a cocktail in a sun-dappled square, or take spontaneous detours through winding alleyways. You notice the way the light falls on a building, the rhythm of local life, the unspoken poetry of ordinary scenes. You become the artist and the muse.
And somewhere between the silence and the serendipity, you find a version of yourself that feels more alive than ever before. You realise solitude doesn’t mean loneliness, it means space. Space to think, to dream, to create.
So if you’ve ever felt the pull to go… just go… on your own, let this be your sign. You don’t need a perfect plan or a partner in crime. You just need the courage to take the first step. Whether it’s a weekend in the countryside or a month in a city that stirs your soul, go where your heart wants to wander.
Travel solo. Climb the towers. Face the fears. Fall in love with places. Fall in love with yourself.
After all, the greatest art often begins with a journey.
