What to Do When You’re Lonely on the Road (That Isn’t Just “Join a Coworking Space”)
Feeling lonely while traveling solo is more common than you think. It doesn't mean you made the wrong choice, and there's no magic cure... just habits to help you work around it as it comes up.
Solo travel isn’t all scenic selfies and peering wistfully off at mountaintops. Sometimes, it’s you, a bowl of instant noodles, and a creeping sense of what am I doing with my life?
Loneliness on the road can catch you off guard, especially when taking off on your own was a conscious choice.
A lot of people our age are coupled up or settled down, and the rest seem young enough to be your kids. You probably sleep with earplugs, have opinions about proper footwear, and carry an anti-inflammatory in your daypack. But that doesn’t mean you don’t crave connection.
Feeling lonely doesn’t mean you’ve made the wrong choice. It just means you’re human.
Here are a few things that have helped me when that feeling creeps in. Maybe they'll help you, too.
1. Say yes to small, silly things.
When I land in a new city, I often book a hostel for the first couple of nights even if I’m planning to stay somewhere else longer-term. It’s a simple strategy, but it works: you meet a few people, get tips on what’s happening around town, and ease out of the “just arrived” fog.
Last night, I joined trivia at the hostel. We had a few good laughs over our terrible knowledge of flags and monuments, then six strangers from Germany, France, the US, and Canada had a lovely dinner out in Edinburgh (complete with a sugar-stamped Guinness! Who knew that was a thing?)
Was it deep, soul-baring connection? Nope. But it was light. And that was just what I needed.
These quick, low-stakes interactions don’t have to be everything, but they often lead to something. A dinner invite. A day trip. A reminder that you’re not as alone as you feel.
2. Get out of your head and into your body.
Loneliness thrives in stillness. It marinates in overthinking. It loops around familiar doubts and sinks its claws in deeper the longer you sit with it.
So move. Walk aimlessly. Take a dance class even if you’ve got two left feet. Rent a bike and cruise through the backstreets. Hike the local trail, even if it’s just to see what’s on the other side of the hill.
You’re never going to escape your thoughts, so practice giving them somewhere else to go.
Motion creates momentum, not just physically but emotionally. It connects you to your surroundings, and helps shake loose that spiral of “What am I doing here?” so it becomes, “Okay… this is actually kind of cool.”
When your body is engaged, your mind gets a break, and sometimes that’s exactly what loneliness needs.
3. Be the one who invites.
This one’s hard, especially if you’re introverted or socially exhausted. But someone has to go first.
Ask the person next to you if they want to grab lunch. Start a conversation with the barista. Post in a local Facebook or WhatsApp group that you’re new in town and looking for dinner buddies. (Yes, really.)
It feels awkward, sure. But you’d be surprised how often people are just waiting for someone else to break the ice. And don’t be offended if you don’t get a response or someone says no. Not every invitation will land. That’s a “them” thing, not a “you” thing. Try again.
Those moments of shared laughter, conversation, or even quiet company with a kindred spirit are worth the risk of an awkward hello.
4. Connect with yourself.
Sometimes, loneliness is a signal. Not just that you’re craving connection with others, but that you’ve drifted from yourself.
Travel can mess with your sense of direction. New place, new routine, new everything, and no familiar rhythm to fall back on. So yeah, it’s easy to feel untethered.
Sometimes that space you’ve created can feel uncomfortable.
Journal. Meditate. Sit by the water and just be. Reconnect with your “why.” That spark that made you book the ticket, pack the bag, and take the leap in the first place.
You made a bold choice to do something different with your life. That version of you—the one who booked the ticket and walked away from the expected path—is still in there.
You don’t need to “find yourself.” Just give yourself a second to catch up.
5. Don’t just scroll. Show up.
Good friendships don’t just happen. They take effort, especially on the road.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking we’re “keeping in touch” because we’ve liked someone’s latest post or replied to their story with a fire emoji. But that’s not real connection.
Even people who aren’t nomads tend to prioritize the friendships that are easy… coworkers, neighbours, school parents. And while there’s nothing wrong with convenience, the reality is that the best relationships often aren’t the easiest.
I have a friend who’s completely off social media by choice. And yet, we’ve managed to hang out in four different countries in the last 18 months. Another lives in Brazil, so we still make time for regular video calls, even with the time difference.
I met each of these people while traveling. Neither of them lives “just around the corner.” But they’ve become some of my closest friends, and that didn’t happen by accident.
When you meet someone on the road who just gets you, don’t just add them on Instagram and move on. Hang on to them. Send the message. Make the call. Keep in touch, and see where your paths may cross.
Good friendships and lifelong connections don’t come from the algorithm. They take effort.
There are no hacks for curing loneliness… just helpful habits.
Loneliness isn’t something you fix once and for all; it’s something you learn to cope with and move through. There’s no perfect fix, but there are things that help: sharing a meal, moving your body, checking in with yourself, and putting real effort into the relationships that matter.
And no, you don’t have to become an extrovert or a networking ninja. You just have to stop waiting for connection to happen by accident.
✌🏻 Miranda
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Great ideas for life in general Miranda! I'm in Granada wish you were.