Prague, Kraków and Istanbul have emerged as Europe’s top three cities for solo travellers in a new ranking that compares travel costs, accommodation prices and safety across 48 of the continent’s most visited urban destinations.
The ranking, published by luggage storage company Radical Storage through its Solo Travel Index, examines how suitable European cities are for people travelling alone. It considers factors that can have a direct impact on the experience and budget of a solo visitor, including daily travel expenses, hostel availability and perceived safety.
For people planning their first independent trip, choosing a destination involves more than deciding which city looks appealing. Accommodation can take up a larger share of the budget when there is nobody to split the cost with, while affordable public transport, accessible hostels and a sense of personal safety can influence how comfortable a destination feels.
Radical Storage assessed 48 of Europe’s most visited cities using 11 different factors. These included average daily spending per person, accommodation costs, food and transport expenses, the number of available hostels and safety scores from Numbeo. Each factor received a score between one and 10, based on how each city compared with the others. The scores were then averaged to produce the final ranking.
Prague took first place, supported by a combination of manageable travel expenses and a relatively strong safety score. According to the study, a mid-range visitor can expect to spend approximately EUR 134.33 per day on accommodation, food, transport and entertainment. The Czech capital also recorded the eighth-highest safety score among the cities included in the assessment.
Kraków in Poland secured second place and was the second-cheapest destination in the ranking. The city has become an attractive option for visitors interested in European history, architecture, restaurants and cultural attractions without the higher costs associated with some of the continent’s major tourist centres.
Istanbul ranked third, largely benefiting from its affordable hostel accommodation. The Turkish city recorded the lowest prices for hostel dormitory beds among all 48 destinations examined, making it a notable option for travellers looking to keep accommodation expenses down.
Poland performed particularly well, with both Kraków and Gdansk appearing among the top five. Gdansk secured fifth place, adding another Polish destination to the list of cities considered suitable for independent travellers.
Portugal also had two cities in the top 10. Lisbon ranked fourth, while Porto came seventh. Spain recorded the same number of entries, with Seville taking eighth place and Barcelona finishing ninth. Berlin in Germany occupied sixth position, while Latvia’s capital, Riga, completed the top 10 in tenth place.
The full top 10 ranking places Prague first, followed by Kraków, Istanbul, Lisbon, Gdansk, Berlin, Porto, Seville, Barcelona and Riga.
However, the results also show how expensive accommodation and everyday travel can affect the experience of visiting a city alone. Zürich in Switzerland ranked as the least suitable European city for solo travellers in the study, mainly because of its high cost of living for visitors.
Accommodation in Zürich averaged EUR 168.13 per day, the highest figure recorded in the assessment. The city also had the second-highest food costs and third-highest transport expenses, making it a particularly expensive choice for people travelling without companions to share expenses.
Reykjavík in Iceland came second from the bottom, followed by Venice in Italy. Both destinations were affected by their relatively high travel costs. For solo visitors, accommodation prices can be especially challenging because the full cost of a hotel room or private apartment is usually paid by one person rather than divided among a group.
Other cities in the bottom 10 were Aarhus in Denmark, Cologne in Germany, Geneva in Switzerland, Frankfurt in Germany, Nice and Marseille in France, and Dublin in Ireland.
Radical Storage’s findings highlight a considerable difference in the cost of visiting the highest-ranked and lowest-ranked destinations. According to the study, a day in one of the 10 lowest-ranked cities costs an average of EUR 252, compared with EUR 153 among the top 10. That represents a difference of almost EUR 100 per day.
The ranking offers a useful starting point for people choosing where to travel alone, particularly those working with a limited budget. However, the results should be considered alongside individual travel preferences. A city’s overall score cannot fully reflect neighbourhood safety, personal comfort, transport accessibility or the type of experience a visitor wants.
For anyone planning a solo European holiday, Prague, Kraków and Istanbul stand out in this assessment as destinations worth considering, particularly when balancing accommodation costs with the wider expenses of travelling independently.
