Ranked: The Top Summer Solo Travel Destinations For Luxury Travelers, According To A Study

When contemplating a solo adventure this summer, some concerns take precedence over others. Safety rises to the top of the list. In the world’s most-visited cities, it’s often easy for malicious actors to spot a mark in an unfamiliar city — particularly when visiting a foreign continent where it’s hard for tourists to blend into any neighborhood. There’s power in groups that solo travelers simply lack, potentially raising their vulnerability to theft and other crimes.

Consider walkability, too. Our sense of adventure grows with the ability to wander at your own pace, and carve your own path at a moment’s notice. But pedestrian-oriented infrastructure isn’t ubiquitous among the world’s great cities. Even where it is, the most walkable neighborhood in a city might not be its best — or the easiest for a tourist to blend in with a group.

According to an analysis of more than 300 destinations by Ubuy, the list of the world’s best cities for solo travelers considers both safety and walkability alongside a robust list of things to do this summer. For luxury travelers, one destination rises to the top of the list: Hong Kong. Asia’s second-most expensive city in which to live is also its best to visit, if you’re looking for a safe, walkable, and fun city to visit while traveling solo.

The average cost of a one-day hotel stay in Hong Kong is $142, according to Ubuy, with plenty of options for scaling up. Ubuy calculates that dining in inexpensive restaurants costs around $8.80, but here too it isn’t hard to splurge for a good meal. Meanwhile, it’s the most walkable city among the world’s 10 best destinations for solo travelers, and its safety score ranks only behind five others.

When visiting Hong Kong, don’t miss these summer events:

• I.M. Pei: Life Is Architecture exhibit: The architect behind Hong Kong’s Bank of China Tower, among other globally recognizable projects, Pei died in 2019; this is the first major retrospective of his life’s work. It features more than 300 objects, many of them exhibited for the first time. Running through Jan. 2025 at the M+ West Gallery
• Inaugural Chinese Culture Festival: The world’s oldest living civilization is celebrated through traditional musical performances and dances, as well as multi-arts programs, films, exhibitions, lectures, artist talks and master classes. Check out the “Fragrance of Time” exhibit, running through Oct. 16 and celebrating China’s long history of scents.

• A Man Beyond the Ordinary: Bruce Lee: The Hong Kong Heritage Museum celebrates one of its most famous native sons (Lee was born in San Francisco to parents from Hong Kong) with a showcase of nearly 400 items of memorabilia and photos, in addition to interactive displays featuring the acclaimed martial artist.

Hong Kong is among the world’s best cities for luxury lodging, featuring familiar brands scattered throughout a centralized downtown, with walkability a major plus at most properties. The world’s first Mandarin Oriental opened here in 1963 and still maintains a high standard for its loyal clientele.

Here’s a quick look at the rest of Ubuy’s top cities for solo travel this summer:

Munich, Germany: Site of the Euro 2024 semifinals in July and the annual Oktoberfest from Sept. 21-Oct. 6, Munich is also hosting Adele’s only European concert stop this summer, with 10 open-air performances scheduled for August.

Helsinki, Finland: Finland’s capital city is among the most sustainable major cities in the world — green spaces, fresh air, park space — and home to some of the best downtown architecture in Europe. The Eero Järnefelt exhibit at the Ateneum Art Museum through Aug. 25 celebrates one of the country’s most celebrated native painters.

Tallinn, Estonia: Estonia’s capital city is separated from Helsinki by the Gulf of Finland, and beckons to visitors with a lust for historic European flavor. Much of downtown is a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site, featuring Old Town Days and Medieval Days that attract Estonians and visitors to the Town Hall Square.

Luxembourg, Luxembourg: Featuring an ideal blend of European historical wonders and modern conveniences, Luxembourg’s 24 districts form a cosmopolitan landscape unlike any other. Check out the “Summer in the City” program — a whistle-stop tour of high and low cultural attractions that runs through Sept. 16.