I spent a week alone in Europe and learned 9 lessons about solo travel

I thought I knew what I was in for. I thought I had it all figured out.

So I was pretty used to traveling alone by October 2022, when I went backpacking through Europe. I took a two-week train trip through Germany, Austria, Italy, and Switzerland. I spent the first half of the trip by myself, and a friend joined me for the second half.

That first week alone in Europe made me realize that I'm still learning about the art of solo travel.

When planning my trip, I learned that some countries are safer for solo travelers — particularly females.

When I travel alone, nothing is more important to me than safety. In my research ahead of my trip, I found that some countries are generally safer than others for solo travelers.

When I visited Austria, I stayed in the heart of Vienna, which allowed me to explore the city streets into the night. In my experience, people kept to themselves, and I didn't doubt my safety while exploring after dark.

If you're traveling solo, researching your destination beforehand is a must, but your safety is never guaranteed. So stay aware of your surroundings along the way, and use your best judgment throughout your trip.

Taking public transit immediately made each destination feel less intimidating.

I live in New York, where I take the subway pretty much everywhere. Still, I was nervous about using public transit in foreign countries where I didn't speak the primary language or have a good sense of where things were.

I may have felt uneasy stepping into the underground world of Berlin's subway system, but it was no different from my home city. The platform looked the same, with signage identifying the coming trains.

When I was riddled with self-doubt about navigating these cities, taking public transit gave me a real sense of competence as I stood among local commuters.

On solo trips, being intentional about where you stay is important. For this trip, I booked a combination of Airbnbs inside and outside the cities to give me a chance to see what life is like in the heart of the metropolis and the surrounding areas.