How to Travel Alone in Europe

Be aware of your surroundings to stay safe during solo travel. (Photo: Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Getty Images )

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While it's fun to travel with a group of friends or loved ones, solo travel has its own set of joys -- and annoyances. If you're planning a trip to Europe and want to travel on your own, you'll be traveling to a stable region that is relatively safe. Expect your transportation, lodging and food needs to be met in a similar way as they would be in the United States -- with a few cultural twists thrown in. But much like you would in any unfamiliar place in your home country, it's important to take some precautions.

Step 1

Register with the U.S. Department of State's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. The service allows U.S. residents to get alerts about any dangers that arise while you're visiting the countries of Europe or anywhere else. Staying informed is just one way to protect yourself and remain safe no matter where you go. Registering can also help U.S. officials find you if there's an emergency or a disaster. On top of that, check out the Department of State's country-specific information on each place you'll be visiting, to get to know a little about the countries, their customs and any possible dangers. Some places have higher numbers of thefts or other problems, which you'll want to know about.

Step 2

Give your family or friends an itinerary of where you'll be on certain days, and set up a mechanism to check in periodically. This might be a quick email sent each evening, or a daily check-in on Facebook -- whatever it is, it ensures that someone will be missing you if something goes awry. Provide that trusted person with your flight itineraries, hotel reservations and other reservations, such as train or bus reservations to give them as much information as possible about where you'll be.

Step 3

Keep your passport, a credit card and some cash with you at all times. While Europe is relatively safe overall, pickpockets and thieves do exist everywhere, especially in bigger cities such as Paris, Rome, London and Barcelona. No matter where you're staying, don't leave the documents you need to get out of the country in your hotel or hostel room. If you need to leave amounts of cash or other important stuff behind while you tour around for the day, put it in the hotel or hostel safe.

Step 4

Sign up for group tours or planned events so that you'll be able to meet other people with whom you can do other activities. Take the big red bus in London, go on a tour of the Paris underground, or arrange for scuba lessons in the south of France. Another option for meeting people is staying hostels, which abound in European cities. Since Europe can be really pricey, it's a good way to save some money and gives you a chance to mingle with other travelers. Another option popular in Europe is the pension or gasthaus, which operates much like a B B in the U.S. and gives you a chance to get to know the owners and their families. If you do meet people with whom you want to spend more time, continue to be cautious. Don't let relative strangers into your private room; meet them in a common area and don't go into their rooms or apartments alone.

Arrange your travel so that you arrive and depart during daylight hours. Public transport is much more commonplace in Europe than it is in the U.S. and will take you nearly anywhere on the continent -- though the red-eye trip might be a lot cheaper than one that leaves at a more decent hour. Avoid taking those red-eyes unless they depart and arrive when it's daytime, so that you won't have to walk through strange streets or hail a cab in the middle of the night.

Try to blend in. While it might be painfully obvious that you're not from around there, try to minimize it by wearing what the locals wear. If you're the only tourist wearing shorts in a room full of fancy slacks, it might make you more of a target for thieves or scammers. In general, Europeans dress a little more formally than Americans, favoring slacks over jeans and leather shoes over sneakers. Pack according to local customs, or pick up a few key items when you arrive.