Travelling alone has never felt more indulgent. These are the hotels that make a table for one feel like the best seat in the house, and Booking.com’s Black Friday rates are live now.
There was a time when travelling alone came with an apology. A single supplement, a table by the kitchen door, a sense that you were somehow incomplete. Those days are fading fast. Solo travel has become one of the defining trends of the past few years, and more and more people are choosing to go alone, not because they have to, but because they want to.
The appeal is obvious once you try it. You eat when you are hungry, wake when you are rested, and spend an entire afternoon in a museum or a spa without anyone asking when you are leaving. You talk to strangers. You notice more. And you come home feeling like the best version of yourself.
The right hotel makes all the difference. The ten below have been chosen because they make solo guests feel welcome and looked after: intimate in scale, central in location, with restaurants where eating alone is a pleasure, and spaces that invite you to linger. And with Booking.com’s Black Friday sale live now, it is the perfect moment to book a trip that is entirely your own.
1. Gleneagles Townhouse, Edinburgh
Set in a former bank on St Andrew Square, Gleneagles Townhouse brings the warmth of the famous Perthshire estate to the heart of Edinburgh. The rooms are beautifully designed, with rich fabrics and Scottish touches, and the atmosphere is relaxed and sociable.
The Spence restaurant, set beneath a dramatic domed ceiling in the old banking hall, is a lovely place to eat alone, with friendly staff and a lively buzz. Edinburgh is a wonderful city to explore on foot, from the castle and the Royal Mile to the galleries and the hidden closes of the Old Town. Climb Arthur’s Seat for the view, and come back to a long bath.
Best for: a city break with a warm Scottish welcome.
2. The Gainsborough Bath Spa, Bath
The Gainsborough Bath Spa is the only hotel in the UK with access to natural thermal waters, drawn from the same springs the Romans bathed in two thousand years ago. The Spa Village is the hotel’s heart, with thermal pools, a sauna, a steam room and a menu of treatments.
For a solo traveller, this is bliss. Spend the morning in the thermal pools, the afternoon exploring Bath’s Georgian streets, the Roman Baths and the independent shops, and the evening with a book and dinner in the hotel. Bath is compact and easy to explore alone, and it is just over an hour from London by train.
Best for: a restorative weekend of warm water and Georgian elegance.
3. Bairro Alto Hotel, Lisbon
Lisbon is one of the best cities in Europe for solo travel. It is friendly, affordable, walkable and full of life. Bairro Alto Hotel sits on Praça Luís de Camões, at the meeting point of the Bairro Alto and Chiado districts, and it is perfectly placed for exploring.
The hotel is intimate and stylish, with Portuguese design touches and a rooftop terrace that looks out across the rooftops to the Tagus. Spend your days riding the trams, exploring the Alfama, visiting the museums in Belém and eating pastéis de nata. In the evening, the terrace is a lovely place to watch the sunset. For more Lisbon inspiration, read our review of the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon.
Best for: sunshine, culture and good food.
4. Le Pavillon de la Reine, Paris
Hidden behind an ivy-covered facade on the Place des Vosges, Le Pavillon de la Reine is one of the most romantic hotels in Paris. But it is equally lovely for a solo traveller. It is quiet and intimate, with a courtyard garden, a small spa and rooms full of character.
The Marais is one of the best neighbourhoods in Paris to explore alone. Wander the lanes, browse the boutiques and galleries, visit the Musée Picasso and the Musée Carnavalet, and stop for coffee in a café. In the evening, the Place des Vosges is beautiful under the lamps. Paris is a city that rewards wandering, and there is no better way to do it than alone.
Best for: a Parisian escape with a sense of secrecy.
5. Portrait Firenze, Florence
Owned by the Ferragamo family’s Lungarno Collection, Portrait Firenze sits on the banks of the Arno, right beside the Ponte Vecchio. The suites are spacious and elegant, with views over the river, and the service is exceptional.
Florence is a city made for solo exploring. Spend your days in the Uffizi, the Accademia and the churches, climb to the top of the Duomo, and cross the river to the Oltrarno for artisan workshops and quiet piazzas. The hotel’s staff are on hand to help with bookings and recommendations, which makes everything easier.
Best for: art lovers who want a little luxury.
6. Ett Hem, Stockholm
Ett Hem means “a home” in Swedish, and that is exactly how it feels. Set in a 1910 Arts and Crafts townhouse in a quiet residential neighbourhood, it was designed by Ilse Crawford to feel like a private home, with libraries, sitting rooms and a kitchen where guests are welcome to wander in.
There are just a handful of rooms, and the atmosphere is warm and relaxed. It is the kind of place where you might find yourself chatting to the chef or curled up with a book by the fire. Stockholm itself is beautiful, spread across islands, with excellent museums, design shops and cafés.
Best for: introverts who want to feel at home.
7. Pulitzer Amsterdam, Amsterdam
Pulitzer Amsterdam is spread across 25 interconnected canal houses on the Prinsengracht and the Keizersgracht, and staying here feels like being let in on a secret. The rooms are full of character, with quirky design touches, and there is a lovely garden at the heart of the hotel.
Amsterdam is a great city for solo travel. Rent a bike, explore the canals, visit the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House, and spend an afternoon browsing the Nine Streets. The hotel’s location in the canal belt is perfect for walking.
Best for: canal-side charm and easy exploring.
8. Can Ferrereta, Mallorca
In the pretty town of Santanyí in the south-east of Mallorca, Can Ferrereta is a seventeenth-century manor house that has been transformed into a beautiful, art-filled hotel. There is a spa, a pool and a garden, and the atmosphere is calm and restorative.
Santanyí is a lovely town, with a weekly market and plenty of cafés. The beaches of the south-east coast are among the best on the island, and the Mondragó Natural Park is perfect for walking. It is a great place for a solo break of sun, swimming and reading.
Best for: a slow, sunny escape.
9. Six Senses Rome, Rome
Six Senses Rome is set in a historic palazzo on Via del Corso, just steps from the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain. The spa is inspired by the Roman baths, with a sequence of warm and cool rooms, and it is a perfect retreat after a day of sightseeing.
Rome is wonderful to explore alone, with something extraordinary around every corner. Visit the Colosseum, the Forum and the Vatican, wander through Trastevere, and eat as much pasta and gelato as you like. The hotel’s wellness focus makes it a great choice for a solo traveller looking to recharge.
Best for: a Roman holiday with wellness built in.
10. Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech
Set among olive groves and gardens on the edge of Marrakech, with views of the Atlas Mountains, Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech is a serene retreat. Many of the villas have their own private pools and gardens, and the spa is one of the best in the city.
For a solo traveller, the hotel offers the perfect balance of excitement and calm. Spend a morning exploring the souks and the medina, then return to the peace of the gardens. The hotel can arrange guides and transport, which makes the city easier to navigate. If you want to explore more of the city’s hidden gems, our guide to the most beautiful riads in Marrakech is a good place to start.
Best for: winter sun with complete privacy.
Why solo travel works so well in winter
Winter is an underrated season for travelling alone. Cities are quieter, museums are calmer, and there is a cosiness to a hotel lounge on a cold evening that makes reading by the fire feel like an event. Prices are often lower too, especially in the weeks after the festive season, when hotels are keen to fill rooms.
There is also something about the shorter days that suits a solo trip. You fill the light hours with walking and exploring, then retreat early to a long bath, a good dinner and an early night. It is a rhythm that leaves you rested rather than exhausted, which is exactly what most of us need in January and February.
If you are new to travelling alone, start with a short city break of two or three nights somewhere easy to navigate, such as Bath, Edinburgh or Amsterdam. Once you have tasted the freedom, you will want to go further.
Tips for travelling solo in style
Choose a central location. Being able to walk everywhere makes solo travel easier and safer, and it means you can head back to the hotel for a rest whenever you like.
Book a good table. Eating alone can feel daunting at first, but the right restaurant makes it a pleasure. Sit at the counter of a restaurant with an open kitchen, where you can watch the chefs and chat to the staff, or book a window table and bring a book.
Ask the concierge. Hotel staff are a goldmine of information, and they can help with everything from restaurant bookings to guided tours. Many hotels also offer experiences designed for solo travellers, from walking tours to cookery classes.
Treat yourself. Solo travel is the perfect excuse for a little indulgence, whether that is a spa treatment, a room upgrade or a special dinner. There is no one to compromise with, so you can have exactly what you want.
How to find the best solo deals
Single supplements are still a feature of some travel, but booking a hotel room for one person often comes with no penalty at all. Many hotels price by room rather than by person, so a solo traveller pays the same as a couple. During the Black Friday sale, it is worth checking your preferred dates across a few weeks to find the best rate.
Look for flexible cancellation, as it gives you the freedom to change your plans. And consider travelling in the shoulder season, when prices are lower and cities are quieter. For more solo inspiration, see our edit of the best solo ski trips in Europe.
A word on safety
Travelling alone is safe and rewarding, but a few simple habits help. Share your itinerary with someone at home, keep a copy of your hotel’s address on your phone and on paper, and arrive in daylight if you can, especially on the first night. Ask the concierge which neighbourhoods are best for an evening stroll, and trust your instincts. Choosing a well-run, centrally located hotel, like the ones on this list, takes care of much of the rest.
The verdict
For pure relaxation, The Gainsborough in Bath and Can Ferrereta in Mallorca are the ones. For culture, it is Florence or Paris. For a home from home, Ett Hem in Stockholm is unbeatable. And for winter sun, Mandarin Oriental in Marrakech is a dream.
Go alone at least once. Pick the city, pick the hotel, and lock in the rate before the sale closes.
