Solo travel statistics 2026: key takeaways
Key numbers from Hostelworld's 2025 State of Solo Travel survey of 3,334 solo travelers: 71% are actively looking to meet people. 66% of respondents are aged 18-30 and 60% are women. 58% say meeting new people is one of the best parts of traveling solo. 41% cite safety as a concern (55% of women vs 18% of men), 33% worry about budget and 28% about loneliness. 63% of first-time solo travelers plan to travel solo again. Hostelworld surveys its own audience, so the sample skews young and social.
Who travels solo? Age, gender and habits
Solo travel spans generations, but survey samples differ, so always check who was asked. The figures below come from Hostelworld's 2025 survey, whose respondents are mostly hostel-goers and skew young.
- 66% of surveyed solo travelers were aged 18-30, including 39% aged 18-24 (Hostelworld, 2025).
- 60% of survey participants identified as women (Hostelworld, 2025).
- Thailand, Spain and Italy were among the leading solo-travel destinations in Hostelworld's 2025 booking data, with strong growth across Southeast Asia (Hostelworld, 2025).
- 63% of first-time solo travelers said they planned to travel solo again (Hostelworld, 2025).
Destinations, spending and trip length: what the data says
Reliable global averages for solo-trip spending and length are hard to find, so this section combines destination data from Hostelworld with country-specific survey data from Italy. Treat the Italian figures as a national snapshot, not a global average.
- Sri Lanka recorded a 50% year-on-year increase in solo-traveler bookings (Hostelworld, 2025).
- In a 2024 survey of Italian travelers, 29% said they were willing to spend more than 1,000 euros on a solo holiday (Booking.com/SWG, 2024; Italy).
- 41% of Italian respondents considered one week the ideal length for a solo holiday (Booking.com/SWG, 2024; Italy).
- 44% of solo travelers say suggested activities or events where they can meet other solo travelers would improve their experience (Hilton, 2025).
Safety and main concerns of solo travelers
Safety is the top worry for many people considering a solo trip, especially women. Concerns often outweigh the actual risks, but they strongly shape destination choice.
- 41% of solo travelers surveyed said safety was a concern, rising to 55% among women compared with 18% among men (Hostelworld, 2025).
- 28% carefully read hostel reviews, 25% avoid walking alone late at night, 23% share their plans or location, and 18% choose same-sex dorms or hostels with safety features (Hostelworld, 2025).
- Beyond safety, 33% cited budget concerns, 28% loneliness, 28% getting sick and 24% difficulty meeting people (Hostelworld, 2025).
Loneliness and the desire to meet people
Many solo travelers enjoy the freedom but also want company at some point in the trip. This is the gap SociaTrip is built for.
- 71% of solo travelers said they were actively looking to meet people, and 58% said meeting new people was one of the best aspects of solo travel (Hostelworld, 2025).
- 28% of solo travelers said loneliness was a concern during solo travel (Hostelworld, 2025).
- 21% of UK respondents to Opodo's global survey said meeting new people was a motivation for traveling solo (Opodo, 2026).
Solo travel trends for 2026-2027
Two signals stand out. In Opodo's 2026 global survey of 9,000 travelers, 32% of UK respondents said freedom was their main reason for traveling solo, and among those aged 25-34 the share reached 47%, up from 35% in a comparable 2023 survey (Opodo, 2026). Hilton's 2027 Trends research found that 31% of travelers have gone solo specifically to meet friends or family at their destination, pointing to a shift toward independent travel combined with social connection (Hilton/Morning Consult, 2026).
Methodology and sources
Sources: Hostelworld, State of Solo Travel 2025; Booking.com/SWG, 2024 (Italy); Hilton, 2025 and 2027 Trends (Morning Consult); Opodo, 2026. Survey samples, countries and definitions of solo travel differ, so numbers from different sources are not directly comparable. This page does not use SociaTrip internal data.
- See the SociaTrip travelers mapWant to see real-time traveler activity? The SociaTrip map shows who is exploring near you right now.
FAQ and conclusion
What do solo travelers want most? According to Hostelworld's 2025 survey, 71% are actively looking to meet people, and 66% of respondents are aged 18-30. Is solo travel safe? For most travelers it is, with preparation and common-sense precautions. Ready to plan your own trip? Explore our list of the best solo travel destinations for 2026.