6 of the best solo trips by train
Kirsten Frank
Travelling solo by train is a simple and rewarding way to experience the world at your own leisure. There’s a thrill in calling the shots and deciding how you want to spend your days. You can take your time sketching paintings in an art gallery. Pause for an unplanned coffee in a local bar. Step off the train in a town that caught your eye and hop back on later (without any need for consensus).
On top of which, Europe makes solo slow travel journeys easy. Trains are frequent and can take you anywhere. Cities are built for wandering. Dining alone is normal, especially at market counters and local cafés. Whether you want to hike at your own pace to Queen’s View in the Highlands, join a pintxos crawl in San Sebastián, or browse Berlin’s museums headphones in, these six trips are packed with solo-friendly stops that make it simple to maximise your time.
For more exclusive insights into slow travel journeys, overland travel inspiration and insider tips, subscribe to our newsletter.
Mark Hazleton
Highland Escape: Pitlochry and Inverness
Scotland is one of the safest countries in Europe for solo travellers, with a friendly culture that’s welcoming to travellers. Public transport is reliable, and long-distance buses or trains run daily between major cities and small towns.
This trip starts in Pitlochry, where you can stretch your legs on a quiet 90-minute walk to Linn of Tummel, a peaceful spot where the Garry and Tummel rivers meet, forming pools and waterfalls. If you’re up for a challenge, the steep climb to Queen’s View rewards you with a panoramic glimpse of Loch Tummel and Schiehallion in the distance (its Gaelic name meaning the 'Fairy Hill of the Caledonians').
In Inverness, join a walking tour with Walk Inverness or Caths Inverness Tours for solo-friendly, small-group stories about Highland history. For a casual daytime bite, head to Birch Coffee on High Street. It’s a light-filled space with great single-origin coffee, vegetarian options, and a mix of solo-friendly tables and counters. While the Kitchen Brasserie is perfect for an evening meal, overlooking the River Ness and welcoming solo diners with castle views and local seafood.
Kamilla Isalieva
Quiet Corners of Belgium: Ghent and Bruges
Belgium is compact, well-connected and easy to navigate by train. English is widely spoken, especially in Flanders. For solo travellers, that means low barriers and smooth logistics - ideal for an escape to Ghent and Bruges.
Both cities are highly walkable, and the canals make for natural wayfinders. While in Ghent, you can sip a Belgian beer (or two) at Aba-Jour, an art-deco brasserie by the River Lys, or duck into the STAM city museum to understand how Ghent evolved from medieval powerhouse to modern creative hub. For solo meals, De Graslei is lined with places where outdoor tables are normal for one. Or try a cone of friets from Frituur Jozef, then find a bench near the Korenlei to eat like a local.
In Bruges, join a Legends Free Walking Tour for a crash course in local folklore. The Gruuthusemuseum with more than 600 exhibits, from tapestries to Gothic stained glass, and wooden sculptures to historical lace, is worth a couple of hours. As is the Groeningemuseum’s collection of Flemish Primitives. For something atmospheric, sit at the bar in Café Vlissinghe, Bruges’ oldest pub (dating to 1515), and order a local tripel beer with cheese and mustard.
Isabel Thearle
Basque Country flavours: Bordeaux, Bilbao and San Sebastián
The Basque region is ideal for solo travellers who want to mix coastal cities with food and art. San Sebastián and Bilbao are connected by efficient coaches (and slower regional trains), while Bordeaux and Paris are linked by the TGV, making each leg of the journey easy. This trip starts and ends in Bordeaux, with stops in Bilbao and San Sebastián in between.
The French city of Bordeaux is made for wandering alone. The public tram system is simple to navigate and covers most of the city centre. Climb the Tour Pey-Berland for views over the rooftops, then head to Halles de Bacalan, a modern food hall opposite the Cité du Vin, a permanent exhibition about the world of wine. Follow it up with a glass of biodynamic beaujolais on the terrace at Au Bon Jaja.
From Bordeaux, head south to Spain, where your first stop is Bilbao. It’s a compact city where walking is the best way to get around. Stroll along the Nervión River to the Guggenheim and take your time wandering the halls of art. The Zubizuri footbridge connects both sides of the city and leads into the Casco Viejo, where pintxos bars welcome solo diners to the counter. Order a glass of local txakoli wine and a few bites at El Globo or Gure Toki. Both are places where solo dining, standing up, elbow-to-elbow is standard.
Start your day in San Sebastián with a walk up Monte Urgull, an easy hike from the seafront with panoramic views over La Concha Bay. Pack a picnic of Idiazabal cheese, olives and a crusty roll from Mercado de la Bretxa, then enjoy it with a sea view. In the evening, join a small-group guided pintxos tour with Mimo Bite The Experience or Devour Tours to discover the best bars in the Old Town and sample bite-sized dishes without needing to book a table or make your own plans.
Museums and modernism: Cologne, Berlin, Dresden and Paris
Germany consistently ranks high on solo travel indexes thanks to its expansive train network, high safety ratings and English-speaking infrastructure. The ICE train system connects cities like Cologne, Berlin and Dresden in under two to three hours.
Cologne is known for the Ludwig Museum, which houses one of Europe’s best pop-art collections. Solo travellers can rent a bike and cycle along the Rhine promenade, or stop at Café Rico near Agnesviertel for a quiet coffee, or stein of Kölsch, among locals.
Berlin has endless options for solo days. Visit the DDR Museum for a tactile look at life in East Germany. Join a walking tour by Original Berlin Walks, especially the Berlin Wall tour which draws small groups. When it’s time to eat, head to Markthalle Neun in Kreuzberg where you can graze on local and international dishes at communal benches.
Meanwhile, Dresden’s Altstadt is surprisingly compact and easy to navigate. Don’t miss the restored Frauenkirche or the Zwinger Palace’s sculpture galleries. In the Neustadt, Lila Soße is a solo-friendly spot for modern, seasonal takes on classic German dishes.
Paris rounds off the trip, and although it's famous for couples, it's one of the best cities to explore alone. Book a slot at the Musée de l'Orangerie or walk the Coulée Verte, a 4.7 km elevated park built on top of abandoned railway infrastructure in the 12th arrondissement. Eating alone here? Completely normal. Try Crêperie Brocéliande in Montmartre, where solo tables are common.
Louis Sproul
To Turin, slowly: Chambéry, Turin & Paris
This trip to Italy is for solo foodies who travel by taste. Travelling from Paris to Chambéry by TGV Lyria is fast and scenic, while Turin is just a few hours further by train.
Chambéry is quiet, walkable and filled with Savoyard flavours. The covered market, Halle Sainte-Claire, is a good place to sample Beaufort cheese and saucisson. For a solo lunch, order a tartiflette at Café Chabert and watch the world go by from the terrace. The Musée des Beaux-Arts is easy to explore alone.
In Turin, food is the main event. Visit Mercato di Porta Palazzo, Europe’s largest open-air market, and follow it with lunch at Mercatino delle Erbe. Try fresh agnolotti del plin and grab a seat by the window to people-watch as you eat. Consider joining a guided tour at Eataly Lingotto or a cooking class with Cooking with Rosanna, geared toward solo guests and small groups.
Finish the trip in Paris, where covered passages like Passage des Panoramas offer the chance to explore vintage shops and tiny wine bars in solitude.
Elizabeth Waymire
South Downs wanders: Arundel
The South Downs offer solo travellers the chance to disconnect without being too far from civilisation. Trains from London to Arundel take under two hours, and the area is known for well-marked trails and gentle countryside.
Start with a walk around Swanbourne Lake, where the loop trail is under two miles and easy to follow solo. The Arundel Castle Gardens are another good pick. It’s scenic, manageable and safe to wander. Forest-bathing in Arundel Park is also popular, and the paths are clearly signed. While, public footpaths connect villages across the Downs, and the South Downs Way can be tackled in small sections. Bring OS Maps or use the AllTrails app for confidence on the routes.
Stop for lunch at The Parsons Table, a solo-friendly spot where booking a single seat is easy. For something casual, try Motte & Bailey Café for breakfast, coffee, lunches & cream teas. In the evenings, settle into the cosy corner of The Kings Arms – a traditional English pub where solo guests don’t stand out.
Check out our favourite slow travel trips for solo travellers.
Read more about the art of slow travel, why we love taking the local train, and six of the most scenic train trips in Europe.
