Aug. 19, 2026 • 10 min read Jump to section Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Copy URL Email The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. I've been lucky enough to experience all kinds of trips over the years, from a multigenerational holiday in Germany to an outdoorsy honeymoon in Madagascar . But until recently, I had never really taken a big solo trip.
Sure, I've done my fair share of solo travel around the U.S. — but most of my trips are to visit loved ones or attend work events, so I'm not really alone. The last and only time I flew internationally by myself was when I studied abroad in Ireland over a decade ago, and even then, I had no shortage of fellow students to pal around with.
I decided it was time to see what solo travel is all about, so I booked a weeklong trip to Lisbon , party of one. Here's what I learned, why I would absolutely do it again — and what I might do differently next time.
The first thing I noticed about solo travel is that the travel part is more demanding. You are 100% responsible for getting yourself to your destination — that includes keeping tabs on your flight status, reading signs (sometimes in foreign languages), navigating public transportation and more.
In other words, you must be constantly "on." You can't risk dozing off at your gate; you can't even go to the restroom without squeezing your luggage into the stall with you. And you might be surprised how scary it is walking up to a Portuguese metro ticket machine for the first time, especially after a long, sleepless transatlantic flight.
I'm used to divvying up these responsibilities when I travel with my husband, but on my solo trip to Lisbon, they all fell to me. As a result, I felt more drained by the time I reached my first Lisbon hotel — but I also felt empowered.
Traveling solo wasn't as difficult as I had imagined, and once I realized this, I began to see the possibilities.
Once I arrived at my destination, a new concern began to sink in. I'm a fairly introverted person, and I don't have much of a track record of chatting with strangers. I worried I would feel awkward while dining alone or self-conscious about taking selfies near Lisbon landmarks.
But I forced myself to do it anyway. (For science, of course.)
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While navigating airports and metro stations was more draining as a solo traveler, I found everything else more relaxing. Rather than feeling awkward, dining alone felt calm and mindful. Sightseeing was less exhausting, too. Without companions to converse with, I was able to be more present and really soak in every new experience.
Plus, when I did meet other people, it was actually easier for me to talk to them one-on-one. Without my (mu…