The Best European Cities for Solo Travellers

Reasons to move abroad vary from person to person, and if you move abroad alone, your priorities will differ to someone in a relationship or with a family.

Whilst others are out looking for the best school districts, you’ll most likely be looking for cities with the best expat communities or those which are renowned for being friendly and safe.

Your destination city will make all the difference to how the rest of your stay plans out. Which is why it’s so important to make an informed decision.

If you have the means, it’s highly recommended to visit wherever you’re seriously considering moving – although, this isn’t always possible.

In the meantime, with a lot of internet research and chatting to anyone you know who may have visited, you should get a solid idea of your new home before visiting.

Here are our top European cities for solo travellers:

Vienna, Austria

Full of beautiful architecture and limitless coffee shops, Vienna should be the destination of choice for any expat who dreams of lazy Sundays on European plazas, drinking cappuccinos and surrounded by buildings which are hundreds of years old.

The Viennese are extremely friendly, there’s a great expat community and, on the border of not just one or two – but seven countries, (Italy, Germany, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Switzerland), you will have plenty of opportunities to explore the rest of Europe.

Lyon, France

Those who believe Paris is the be-all-and-end-all of France, are very much mistaken. France has a number of beautiful, vibrant cities, but the one which comes out on top in our opinion, is Lyon.

Don’t let the size of Lyon put you off, it’s very bike and pedestrian-friendly, so you will rarely need your car within the city. The city isn’t too far from the Italian/Swiss border and is perfectly situated for a quick ski-break to the mountains. As is the way of France, expect bakeries on every corner and a 35-hour working week, ideal.

Bruges, Belgium

If your European dream resembles cobblestone streets, fairytale-esque buildings, and picture-perfect buildings along canals, welcome to Bruges.

The Belgians are a notoriously friendly bunch, and are extremely proud of their country and heritage. Bruges offers a more laid-back expat lifestyle but is the perfect place to meet locals and other expats alike, as people are very friendly. If you’re stuck for directions or inspiration, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a local who isn’t willing to give you some guidance.

Stockholm, Sweden

Scandinavia is renowned across the world for its progressive reputation on equality and tolerance, which makes it an extremely safe area of Europe for expats. However, Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, has our hearts.

The main drawback of Stockholm (or any Scandinavian country), is that the language is notoriously difficult. If you can’t be persuaded by the laidback aesthetic Swedish life, perhaps the proximity to the Northern Lights will persuade you. A quick trip to the North of the country will provide you with one of the most incredible experiences of your life.

Dublin, Ireland

Ranked as Number 12 in the Global Peace Index, Ireland is one of the safest countries to visit in the world – and where else to live but the nation’s capital, Dublin.

With thousands of expats each year, it’s impossible to walk the streets of the city without hearing a different accent or language. From Temple Bar, notorious for its pubs and clubs, to the beautiful squares, with buildings covered in Ivy, there’s something for everyone, and you’re bound to have the time of your life.

Looking at moving to Europe? If moving across the pond is on your horizon, it’s important to find a reliable international mover with no-hidden-costs to take you through the paces of emigrating.