Inspirations

Travelling alone

Travelling alone and following your own instincts without a care in the world: these eight places to stay offer the ideal setting for a solo getaway. For anyone who wants to explore new places on their own or simply do things their own way.

in October 2026

A station to stay awhile

It is a real pleasure not to have to leave this place again straight away: the former railway station near the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena has become a place to arrive and settle in – also, and especially, for those travelling alone.

The heart of the Lermooser guesthouse is its large communal kitchen, where guests can chat or play board games – or simply sit quietly side by side reading a book. Or indeed chop and cook together, which is still one of the best ways to open the door to a good conversation. But the Lermooser also offers plenty of opportunities for spending time on your own – and not just in your room. Idyllic hikes are part of the basic programme here, while there are also cycling tours of varying degrees of difficulty. In winter, it is not only the numerous downhill pistes that beckon, but seemingly endless cross-country ski trails too. And when you pause for a moment by yourself in the forest, all you hear is silence.

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Design creates community

Anyone who comes here almost certainly has a soft spot for 1970s architecture. And it is precisely this design that often builds the first bridge between guests, whether they are travelling alone or in company.

In the early 1970s, architect Othmar Barth created an architectural Gesamtkunstwerk on the northern shore of Lake Kaltern. In the best Mid-century spirit, his Seehotel resembles a ship stranded on the shore. The fundamentals of the interior design are also by the architect, with some pieces designed exclusively for the hotel. Barth combined these with lamps and seating from Italian modernism; in more recent years, further carefully selected pieces have been added. So anyone spending their holidays at Lake Kaltern can happily speculate with fellow guests about exactly what dates from the original construction and what was added later. Because here, that is sometimes surprisingly difficult to tell.

More about Seehotel Ambach

A Holiday House Share, de luxe

Staying at Maison Jalon can easily feel like being part of a holiday house share – without the cleaning rota, of course. The balconies of the four small rooms overlook the pool, guests meet to relax in the shared living room and breakfast is served for everyone at a large table.

Not far from Aix-en-Provence, Maison Jalon has everything it takes to stop its guests from exploring the surrounding area: a private balcony for every room, hammocks and loungers by the pool, a well-stocked library, the option of a Thai massage and a boules court. And getting travellers talking to one another is all part of the experience here. The hosts of this cosmopolitan retreat, Laetitia and Dimitri, are on hand and are masters at breaking the ice – should there happen to be any.

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Always someone to talk to

If you are travelling on your own, it makes sense to look for accommodation where you are likely to meet other solo travellers. At Casa Modesta in the Algarve, the chances are good. The rooms are designed with solo guests in mind too, and it is easy to strike up a conversation over breakfast around the large communal wooden table.

At Casa Modesta, you are only alone if you want to be – perhaps in one of the private patios with a hammock. But as soon as you feel like some company, it is easy to find. There is the large family who run the property, for a start, with someone almost always within sight. So conversation is never far away. Then there are the three communal spaces for guests, the garden and the pool. For those looking to do something together, the family also offers workshops and activities, including guided birdwatching. In the evening, thanks to the dark surroundings, planets, comets and the Milky Way take centre stage: stargazing here is practically a must.

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At home in the heart of the city

It almost feels as though you were staying with friends: right in the heart of Merano, the hosts make sure that no one gets lonely. Themed evenings, tastings and garden dinners beneath lemon and orange trees bring guests and hosts together around one table.

There is never any shortage of topics for conversation around the table at the Ottmanngut – and if the guests run out of ideas, the house itself provides plenty of material. After all, the property was first documented as early as 1290 and has been in the hands of the Kirchlechner family since 1850. Every object in the house comes with a story of its own, not least the small Viennese piano in the living room. It has belonged to the Ottmanngut for 125 years, played a part in more than one love story and accompanied moments both sad and joyful. Whether you are travelling alone or with company, guests are expressly encouraged to sit down and play.

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Counting boats

The Meuse is a kind of motorway for boats – except there is something wonderfully calming about watching all the little sloops and large cruise ships that pass by Het Raadhuys Bed & Breakfast. And what do they bring with them? Plenty of reasons to strike up a conversation with fellow guests.

In the small Dutch town of Kessel, the owners have transformed the former town hall into a bed and breakfast, taking care to create plenty of places where guests can meet and spend time together – whether in the living room with its large dining table, the lounge or the terrace garden. Beneath the trees in the latter is a seating area from which you can watch the busy traffic on the river at any time of day – or night. Anyone who often lies awake at home and hopes to encounter similarly sleepless fellow travellers at night for counting boats together is likely to be disappointed: the beds are far too comfortable for there to be any real chance of that happening.

More about Het Raadhuys

A small world in the big city

Berlin can be overwhelming – especially when you are travelling without someone to share your impressions of this wild city with. At Hotel Wilmina, you are almost certain to find locals or fellow visitors who have something to say about it too.

Behind the classical façade and imposing wooden double doors on Berlin’s Kantstraße lies a world where time seems to move at a different pace than in the rest of Charlottenburg. The former prison was carefully restored and converted into a hotel by the architects Grüntuch Ernst, who also run the ensemble. Its 44 rooms – some retaining the original dimensions of the former cells – are complemented by a library, fireside lounge, spa and gym, as well as a bakery popular with the local neighbourhood and a daytime bar. The Amtsalon also hosts exhibitions and projects focusing on art, architecture and design. Somewhere in this little universe, there is always someone to be found who feels like a chat – after all, that sense of exchange is precisely the spirit of this slightly otherworldly haven amid the bustle of Berlin.

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Sounds good

Travelling alone can be a good choice when you want to work on a project in pleasant surroundings, free from the distractions of everyday life – while still enjoying good company. El Paso on La Palma is just the place for it.

Of course, you can simply come here on holiday. But the former music school can also be seen as a place to work: in 2023, German music producer, journalist and author Tim Renner had it converted into a guesthouse. Word has got around that the Wi-Fi is excellent even by the pool, so people regularly come here not just to stay in the suites or apartment, but to work as well. In good weather, people tend to work outside; should the weather turn a bit unpleasant, the large wooden table in the communal kitchen also makes a good workspace. And, of course, the rooms have desks too. Thanks to Renner’s extensive record collection, there is always the right soundtrack to get you into a productive mood.

More about The El Paso

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Text: Barbara Hallmann

Photos: Simon Lohmann via unsplash.com (cover image); Simon Burko (Lermooser); Helmuth Rier & Luca Meneghel (Seehotel Ambach); Florian Peallat (Maison Jalon); Guilherme da Rosa (Casa Modesta); Rene Riller & Patrick Schwienbacher (Ottmanngut); Nicole Joosten (Het Raadhuys); Patricia Parinejad (Wilmina); Francisco Soares (The El Paso)