A Little Advice… On Spending Christmas Alone as a Solo Traveler

Last updated on August 2, 2025 by Shannon

Murmur the world “Christmas” and you likely imagine a toasty log cabin with a flickering fire. You’re sipping a steaming cup of hot chocolate while snow blankets the cabin in an earthly quiet.

Perhaps there’s even a twinkling Christmas tree tucked into the corner and carols tinkling from the radio.

That’s the Hollywood Christmas and one that I’ve long imagined everyone else experiences every December. But as a native Floridian, that’s not life as we know it. By late December, some years the weather still cranks out breezes in the mid 80s.

How I Spent My First Solo Christmas While Traveling

And so it wasn’t so strange for me to spend Christmas in the Land Down Under, where the balmy breeze reminded me of the only Christmases I have ever known. I ended my yearlong solo trip around the world just last month, but the memories of that year will never leave me.

This time a year ago, I was fresh-faced optimistic about my trip, and I was happy to sun myself on a boat in the middle of the ocean, all in the name of a good time.

That said, it is a bit weird to leave your home culture during the holidays.  Christmas traditions in Australia are less commercialized than Christmases back home. On the one hand, that’s lovely.

On the other hand, without the decorations and Christmas carols blaring from the radio, it felt more like a casual summer festivity than the huge tradition we’ve embraced in the U.S.

In the lead up to Christmas, I realized that I would like company during the holidays. When I planned my round the world trip, I considered that I would face the holiday solo. At first, one of my best friends had planned to fly over and join me for a month of diving and holidays and birthday fun. She bailed on me the first week of December, however.

I’d be lying if I wasn’t heartbroken.

But, I regrouped. Holidays and special occasions are a rough time to be alone out there in the world. This proves true for anyone who travels, but also those people who might have just moved to a new city and don’t yet have friends. Or those without family nearby.

In my case, my birthday falls three days after Christmas. Then New Year’s Eve arrives. I knew the dangers of spending all of that time alone. Solo travel can already be lonely at times, and so I took stock of the situation. Australia is the land of many backpackers, and I decided to book myself on a group sailboat trip on the Whitsunday Islands.

And I learned an important lesson about the holidays, which echoes so much of traveling. Instead of focusing on how Christmas was different from those of years past, I learned and experienced traditions from dozens of other cultures. Unlike the many Christmases of my childhood that all blend together, my memories from my Australian backpacker Christmas are unique to that year alone.

Instead of waking up at dawn to cook a feast with my grandma, I woke at sunrise and pulled on a stinger suit so I could snorkel in the first light of day. My boat turned out to have a party vibe (not sure there’s anything else possible in Australia as the backpackers love to party), and I spent the holiday with a dozen backpackers from all over this planet of ours.

It’s a tradition here make sand snowmen in your swimsuit. Sadly, the pure silica on the beaches in the Whitsundays didn’t lend itself to sandmen decked out in wide-brimmed sun hats and sunglasses.

If it was possible, I totally would have joined with the Aussie tradition and made up an epic sandman. I suppose, however, that I shouldn’t boo-hoo about the purest, whitest sand in the world, it wasn’t that much of a hardship! :-)

When I decided to tackle that year of solo travel, at the outset I knew that I’d face obstacles in unlikely places. I don’t love the holidays like some people. My family bickers and my mum is always sad about my brother’s passing.

But it’s also the only thing I’ve ever known for the holidays. I attended an “orphan’s Christmas” my first year in Los Angeles and it was fun and weird, but ultimately it was comfortable because I was in my home culture.

When I left, I wasn’t sure what it feel like to be half a world away from my family. Christmas day was nearly over for me by the time they were sitting down to family dinner. And so, I learned that I like to be home for the holidays. I also like all the weird and wacky travel gifts my family comes up with over the years.

It was delightful to experience Christmas on the water with other backpackers, but it there is something to be said for embracing your traditions and showing up. My family missed me last year.

My nieces and nephews had grown so big. This year, as I reflect back from the comfort of my childhood home, I am happy to be home for the holidays.

Update: In the decade that followed this first solo Christmas in Australia, I have spent dozens of holidays and birthdays either totally solo, or with other travelers in some far flung corner of the globe.

Six Solo Travel Ideas for Christmas

If you’re on the road and facing a holiday alone—Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving—here are a handful of ideas for forming new holiday memories that help beat the loneliness of being alone while your family back home is gathering.

Book a group tour.

This was clearly my choice, and it has panned out well over the years. I’ve done this several times on a handful of holidays during my more than 15 years of solo travel. There are so many fun activities all over the world, so you could even treat yourself by booking something that you might not usually splurge on doing.

My tours are often multi-day, but at least book a day tour to keep yourself busy and engaged—I use a site like GetYourGuide to find food tours or beer crawls or historical tours—there are range of cool, niche ones that will keep your mind busy and engaged with your new friends on the tour.

Or go with a company like G Adventures or Intrepid Travel, which offer multi-day tours of various lengths. Both companies offer a great tour in general, but even more, their tour leaders always go the extra mile and will make a holiday special for everyone on a group tour during Christmas.

When looking for tours, many will not be marketed as a holiday tour, but rather the dates of the tour take place over the holiday—so you’re looking for a three-day tour that leaves on the 24th, for example.

If you want to take a similar trip to my time on the Whitsunday Islands. Here are some options:

• 2-day/2-night sailing departing on Dec 24
• 2-day/2-night sailing departing on Dec 25
• 2-day/2-night sailing arriving on Dec 25 (these ones arriving on Christmas are not always holiday themed—email and ask!)

And Viator has a 3-day one that either arrives or departs on the 25th.

Stay at a busy hostel.

Hostels the world over are filled with other travelers in your same situation. I’ve never been in a hostel that doesn’t organize a party for Christmas. If you’re celebrating a purely American holiday, then you might need to get creative and ask around the hostel to see if any others want to make a potluck Thanksgiving or some such.

I’ve done this to great success!You get the fun of sampling a range of dishes that travelers of different nationalities consider as “comfort food.” I usually putter around Booking.com for my destination and read the reviews until I find a hotel or hostel that sounds like it has an interactive and homey vibe.

Contact local expats.

Find a Facebook group or an expat blogger and reach out to them! They will have a bead on any celebrations in town, and they just might be organizing their own open event. When I lived in Chiang Mai for a year, other expats alerted me to a Thanksgiving dinner being served at one of the expat restaurants—complete with turkey and cranberry sauce (which my niece loved).

Plan a spa day or “treat yourself” day.

Consider a day of pampering or fun. In some parts of the world, Christmas Day is business-as-usual, and you can book yourself into a spa day.

I’ve gone this route in Southeast Asia before, and it’s always lovely to treat myself. You could also partake in your favorite activities. Even back home, I will sometimes head to the movie theatre on Christmas as it feels like a fun indulgence to see the latest blockbuster.

Discover the local traditions.

If you’re in a part of the world that celebrates the holiday, dive into their festivities. Even similar cultures often have wildly different traditions. Use your trip as an extension of your travels and get curious about the local holiday customs and traditions.

Do something cool, unique, or from your bucket list.

My niece traveled with me during the holidays one year and I wanted to make it a memorable one. We were in Thailand, which celebrates the holiday a bit, but I knew she would miss home.

Instead of trying to duplicate home traditions, I signed us up for a Christmas Day 10K run. We joined several local expats and created a fun, full day out of it. After the run, we all ate a massive pancake breakfast and generally enjoyed the uniqueness of our day.

Where to Spend a Solo Travel Christmas

Cities and towns around the world put on their most sparkling garb for Christmas, as a solo traveler, there are numerous cultures to explore and traditions to witness.

If you dream of sipping from a glass of mulled wine with views of the alps, or singing Christmas carols with new friends at a hostel in Australia use these ideas to plan your own solo trip.

European Destinations for a Solo Christmas

1. Prague, Czech Republic: Prague Castle cloaked in snow during Christmas and the city’s cobblestone streets are particularly fairy-tale-esque while adorned with Christmas lights.
2. Tallinn, Estonia: The city’s Christmas market dates back to 1441 and it’s a up-and-coming tourism destination in general—meaning you can get great prices on hotels while still having all of the fun festivities.
3. Vienna, Austria: Steep yourself in classical music history and bundle up for a wander of the city’s signature Christkindlmarkt.
4. Reykjavik, Iceland: Chasing the Northern Lights with new friends on a group tour is a memorable option. Plus there’s that fascinating Icelandic Yuletide lore to enjoy while sipping hot chocolate and waiting for those elusive lights.
5. Copenhagen, Denmark: I adore Copenhagen and have been there twice over Christmas—both times solo. Head to Tivoli Gardens for its Christmas market, and then dive into Danish holiday treats like æbleskiver.
6. Malaga, Spain: Join the masses of holiday-ing Brits in the south of Spain. While it’s not bathing suit weather over Christmas, it’s usually sunny and significantly warmer, so you can hike, walk, and drink with new friends.

Asian Destinations for a Solo Christmas

6. Tokyo, Japan: There’s never a bad time to visit Tokyo, which is lit with vibrant lights all year long, but the Christmas illuminations take it to the next level. You certainly won’t feel alone if you vacation solo here, where the hostels and guesthouses are filled with cheer-seekers.
7. Goa, India: Stick to a warm option and you can celebrate your solo Christmas with Portuguese zest and fervor. There are some cathedrals in town for those seeking religion, and shared beach bonfires for all.
8. Hanoi, Vietnam: While Christmas is a secondary experience here, there is still a festive atmosphere. I spent Christmas 2017 in Hanoi and met lots of new friends, explored St. Joseph’s Cathedral, and enjoyed the festive Hoan Kiem Lake.

North American Destinations for a Solo Christmas

10. New York, USA: The city that never sleeps doesn’t rest during Christmas either. NYC is my solo Christmas fallback because you can’t feel alone in this city unless you want to—if you want anonymity, that’s a breeze. But if you want friends, stay at a hostel and you’ll have plenty of new friends keen to ice skate around the iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. Head to Union Square for a Christmas market, take in the lavish window displays along Fifth Avenue, and do a DIY hot chocolate tour to find which borough has the most Yuletide spirit in the Big Apple.
11. Quebec City, Canada: The Old World charm in this part of French Canadian oozes festivity around Christmas time. The snow, lights, and culture are enough to tick the list on most traveler’s solo Christmas bucket list.
12. Tulum, Mexico: If you want a truly warm Christmas with a New Age vibe, head to this idyllic spot at Christmas. I’ve found myself drawn to the Riviera Maya many times over the years because it has a huge expat scene—you’ll never be lonely or bored for the holidays.
13. San Francisco, USA: This city puts on a good show for the holidays, with dazzling Christmas displays. Add in the fact that you can rent an e-bike and zoom around to the various notable spots, and it’s a fun way to spend a solo Christmas, especially for those who have not yet visited SF.

South American Destinations for a Solo Christmas

14. Medellín, Colombia: The city’s renowned Festival of Lights is a big draw—if you can tap into some of the local expat meetups in town, you’ll have a good mix of traditional Latin American Christmas, with that extra bit of comfort from home.
15. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Christmas coincides with summer in this lively city, which is enough to draw me there. A memorable aspect is the city’s floating Christmas tree at Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon.

African Destinations for a Solo Christmas

16. Cape Town, South Africa: Celebrate a sunny Christmas on pristine beaches—you’ll only want to leave so you can do wine-tastings at the local vineyards. If you visit before Christmas, you can nail a fun jumping shot on Table Mountain and send it to friends and family so they know you’re having a good solo trip.
17. Marrakech, Morocco: Explore the souks and indulge in the local culture. Then join a multi-day tour either into the desert, or head onward to the country’s many charming cities.

Destinations in Oceania for a Solo Christmas

18. Sydney, Australia: The city itself has a lot on offer in various parts, or head to Bondi Beach and find the other solo travelers celebrating an ‘Orphans Christmas’—some years see hundreds come out for the event.
19. Queenstown, New Zealand: Ideal for adventure junkies, you can go bungee jumping on Christmas Day!

Off-the-Beaten Path Travel Ideas for the Holidays

20. Svalbard, Norway: Find icy solitude in this polar destination—let me know if you spot Santa before he heads out on his rounds.
21. Trans-Siberian Railway, Russia: If you just want an escape where you can enjoy friendship, culture, and plenty of downtime, plan a weeklong journey across Russia’s frozen landscapes.
22. Aysén Region, Chile: This remote area is ideal for solo travelers interested in hiking and eco-travel. If you’re not much for the festive side of Christmas, this type of solo trip is a good option.
23. Rovaniemi, Finland: The ‘official’ home of Santa Claus; go on a husky safari or an eco-friendly electric snowmobile trip.
24. Bhutan: I love that this Himalayan kingdom values Gross National Happiness over GDP—it would be a truly unconventional solo Christmas destination.
25. Faroe Islands: Really feeling like getting away? This isolated North Atlantic archipelago offers rugged landscapes and a unique local culture.

Unconventional Solo Travel Choices

26. Antarctica: Go on an expedition cruise for a once-in-a-lifetime Christmas among penguins. You’ll make great new friendships with the others on your cruise.
27. Mongolian Gobi Desert: Spend Christmas in a yurt under a sky full of stars.
28. Icelandic Countryside: Book a sustainable eco-lodge and soak in geothermal hot springs.
29. Cook Islands: Immerse yourself in Polynesian culture and take part in ocean conservation activities.
30. Volunteer in Nepal: Spend Christmas giving back by helping in local communities or wildlife conservation efforts.

Thematic Destinations for a Creative Solo Travel Christmas

31. Literary Pilgrimage in England: Visit places that inspired classic Christmas tales like Dickens’ London. In London, find a Dickensian world in the opulent Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park and the intimate carol performances in Trafalgar Square. It’s festive and pretty—and everyone speaks English, which is a bonus for those embarking on their first solo adventure.
32. Christmas Markets River Cruise: Do some research and book a river cruise through the best European cities offering seasonal Christmas markets.
33. Scuba Dive in Indonesia: Head straight to a coral-rich region like Raja Ampat and spend your Christmas with the fish.
34. Skiing in the Swiss Alps: Solo-friendly ski resorts and chalets make an effort to connect solo travelers at evening happy hours and festive holiday events.
35. Camino de Santiago, Spain: Consider walking the Camino during Christmas—while some mountainous areas are no passable, there are many caminos to explore and some hostels stay open to offer a unique communal experience to pilgrims.