Travelling solo in Europe? These are the best rated cities for value, safety and experience

Dreaming of a trip where you can explore at your own pace, meet new people and keep costs under control? A new ranking has named Prague, Krakow and Istanbul as Europe’s three best cities for solo travellers, offering plenty of inspiration for anyone fancying an adventure alone.

Radical Storage’s Solo Travel Index assessed 48 of Europe’s most visited cities against 11 factors, including daily costs, safety, hostels, restaurants and experiences. Each factor received a score from one to 10, and those scores were averaged to create an overall rating out of 10.

Prague takes the crown

Prague claimed first place with a score of 7.75 out of 10. A mid-range day in the Czech capital — covering accommodation, food, local transport and entertainment — costs an average of €134.33, and the best news is the city also has the eighth-highest safety score among the destinations studied.

Solo visitors will find nearly 30 hostels, with an average guest rating of 8.7 out of 10. For anyone seeking history, walkable streets and easy opportunities to meet people without an excessive bill, Prague’s first-place finish is easy to understand.

Krakow delivers excellent value

Krakow came second with a score of 7.64, making it one of the strongest choices for budget-conscious travellers. It is the second-cheapest city in the ranking, with an average daily spend of €86.67, and it also ranks 10th for safety, with a score of 75 out of 100. Poland’s former royal capital combines affordable accommodation, a compact historic centre and a buzzy cafe and restaurant scene.

Istanbul offers cheap dorm beds

Istanbul took third place with a score of 7.49, helped by the cheapest hostel dorm beds in the study, at around €16 per night. Turkey’s largest city also offers more than 10,000 restaurants, giving solo visitors an enormous choice of places to eat and explore local flavours.

Istanbul’s vibrant neighbourhoods, markets, historic sites and food culture make it appealing for travellers who enjoy discovering a destination through everyday life. Its strong ranking suggests solo travel does not have to mean choosing between adventure and affordability.

Europe’s top 10 for solo travellers

1. Prague, Czechia – 7.75
2. Krakow, Poland – 7.64
3. Istanbul, Türkiye – 7.49
4. Lisbon, Portugal – 7.38
5. Gdansk, Poland – 7.03
6. Berlin, Germany – 6.92
7. Porto, Portugal – 6.88
8. Seville, Spain – 6.85
9. Barcelona, Spain – 6.77
10. Riga, Latvia – 6.74

Spain features twice in the top 10, with Seville in eighth place and Barcelona in ninth. Portugal also performs strongly, with Lisbon fourth and Porto seventh, then Gdansk, Berlin and Riga complete the list.

For readers living in Andalucia, Seville’s inclusion will come as little surprise. Its welcoming atmosphere, walkable centre and wealth of cultural experiences make it a natural choice for a solo break away.

Where solo travellers pay the most

At the other end of the ranking, Zürich was named Europe’s least suitable city for solo travellers, with the lowest overall score of 4.42 out of 10. Accommodation there averages €168.13 per day — the highest in the study. It also has the second-highest food costs and third-highest transport costs.

Reykjavik and Venice follow in second and third place respectively, with high prices again weighing heavily on travellers who cannot share accommodation costs. Radical Storage calculates that a day in the bottom 10 cities costs an average of €252, compared with €153 in the top 10.

What this means for your next trip

For anyone hesitating about travelling alone, the new rankings give you a solid starting point for your search. Look for destinations that combine safety, sociable accommodation and reasonable daily spending.

Whether you are planning a spontaneous city break or a longer journey of self-discovery, these results show solo travel in Europe can be both empowering and affordable, provided you choose your destination wisely.