Solo travel is all the rave, with tour companies pushing the experience and some offering exclusively solo trips.
According to a Forbes article, a report by Kayak and OpenTable, which ranks the world’s 20 best cities for solo travel, three Canadian cities were listed: Vancouver in second place, Montreal in third, and Toronto in seventh spot.
Dream Big Travel Far’s statistics show that 25% of travellers plan to travel solo in the next six months.
Travel Predictions 2024 from Booking.com said solo travel is booming, with 59% of people looking to venture out alone. Even parents are joining the trend, with 58% planning child-free trips and prioritizing self-growth.
Statistics show that people between 25 and 54 are more likely to take solo trips. Most solo travellers are female, and baby boomers travel solo more than ever.
The number crunchers tapped into data like safety, hotel satisfaction scores and cultural richness in a city’s museums, theatres and concert halls. An online consumer survey followed to determine how welcoming the cities are to solo travellers.
The travel blog Ordinary Traveller suggests that solo travel to Canada to explore culture, nature, and history should be on everyone’s bucket list. Each Canadian city has a unique offering for visitors.
Vancouver combines city life with the great outdoors, offering a unique blend of urban sophistication and natural beauty, including breathtaking landscapes.
Montreal, a city of festivals, food and history, has a high safety rating and moderate costs, making it an excellent choice for solo travellers.
Toronto, North America’s second-largest financial center, is known for its multicultural environment.
The Rise of Solo Travel
Solo travel is becoming increasingly popular for solo travel, especially post-pandemic, and the lure has continued.
The Explorer’s Passage, a tour company, estimates that about 50% of the people who join their trips are on a solo adventure. The company said statistics show that solo travel is thought to be one of the biggest growth sectors in the industry for the last couple of years.
In 2022, a trend survey from American Express Travel found that 48% of respondents said being unable to travel made them anxious and stressed. And 78% said travel was one of the top activities they missed the most. After the pandemic, people ventured out again, many on a solo quest.
There are benefits to traveling alone, such as freedom, self-discovery, and flexibility. The Forbes article said one benefit of solo travel is the freedom for a traveller to explore at their own pace without being obliged to make small talk. These are just a few reasons adventurers do it. Solo travel allows unrestricted planning, the opportunity to meet new people and self-growth.
Get Your Guide website recommends all three cities for solo travelers.
Vancouver: Urban needs nature
Vancouver combines nature’s beauty and urban bliss. Its mountains, beaches, and parks are ideal for solo adventurers. For the outdoors enthusiast, Stanley Park cycling, Grouse Mountain hiking and waterfront strolls are available.
The urban explorer can head to downtown neighbourhoods, Granville Island, and solo-friendly cafes. The city is also known for its environmentally friendly initiatives to make it greener.
The Ordinary Traveller refers to the city as a “coastal metropolis is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in the world, combining rugged west coast nature with glassy modern buildings.” The heart of Vancouver is Stanley Park, a 400-hectare patch of West Coast rainforest with bike paths, viewpoints and the Vancouver Aquarium. Waterways crisscross the city and reflect off the windows of all those glass towers. The city also features neighborhoods lined with trees, shops and restaurants.
Montreal: History and Culture
The tour site Ordinary Traveller describes Montreal as “an urban gem with sections reminiscent of a quaint European city.”
Time Out says booking a walking tour with a professional tour agency lets visitors know Old Montreal. Still, a self-guided tour through the neighbourhoods is also easy in one of the most walkable cities in the world.
The city’s culinary delights have offerings in its famed restaurants. It is almost entirely bilingual, making it easy for travellers to navigate.
It’s an adventure to hike up Mount Royal, visit the Gothic-Revival Notre-Dame Basilica, and walk through the streets of Old Montreal, spending some time in Parc Jean Drapeau.
Montreal is among the most arts-minded cities in North America, reflected in its quirky mix of historic and modern architecture, laid-back parks and public art. Situated mainly on an island in the St Lawrence River, there’s water all around the city and mountains looming beyond it. Its building highlights include the Second Empire-style City Hall, and the modern 1970s look of the Olympic Stadium.
More than 100 years after its inauguration, Théâtre St-Denis will become part of the new Espace St-Denis: a cultural, tourist, technological and gastronomic hub.
Toronto: Cultural diversity hub
Toronto is a metropolitan haven with a rich cultural diversity and multicultural environment, making it a welcoming place for solo travelers.
The city’s top attractions include the CN Tower, the Royal Ontario Museum, and the Distillery District. Solo-friendly experiences include safe neighbourhoods, ease of moving around on public transport and solo-friendly accommodations. Nightlife and dining are ideal for the solo traveller, with diverse food scenes and safe, vibrant nightlife.
This cruise of the Toronto Harbour and Islands offers scenic views of the city’s skyline, a history lesson, and a visual exploration of the Toronto Islands. The CN Tower, Roger Centre, Billy Bishop Airport, and Bird and Wildlife Sanctuary are notable sites and buildings visible from the vessel.
A hop-on-hop-off open-top double-decker bus allows visitors to explore the best of Toronto from all the top historical and contemporary attractions.
The Ordinary Traveller website calls Toronto one of the most multicultural cities in the world, and it won’t leave you short on things to do. Kensington Market, the Art Gallery of Ontario, and Casa Loma are big draws for those into culture. Food lovers will be spoilt for choice in the variety of restaurants.
Vancouver, Montreal, and Toronto stand out for solo travel, with offerings that engage any adventurer. Each city has character and reflects a blend of safety, culture and adventure.
The solo travel trend will continue growing. Its hashtag on Instagram appears in over 9.9 million posts and counting. Social media is changing the travel landscape as it connects would-be lone travellers to others who are travelling solo all around the globe.
