This Asian city has just been named the world's best solo travel destination

Are you a ‘MeMooner’? That’s the term coined by Hilton in its 2025 Hilton Trends Report for a rising class of travellers – solo travellers. This trend picked up in 2024 and shows no signs of abating this year, with more than half of millennials and Gen Zs expected to ditch their friends and fly solo often in 2025.

If you’re part of the crew, then you’re likely on the lookout for good solo travel destinations. One good place to look at for inspiration is TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best Destinations, which has a category dedicated to the top solo travel spots in the world. Out of 8 million listings on its platform, 25 cities received top marks from its community as great places to visit all on your own.

Top of the list is a city right here in Asia: Seoul, South Korea. According to TripAdvisor, the Korean capital topped the list for its “fascinating mix of old and new”. This glittering city has UNESCO World Heritage Site-listed palace complexes, sprawling food markets like Gwangjang Market, the largest shipping container mall in the world, and slick, modern nightclubs (or noraebangs, if singing karaoke is more your jam) to occupy you from day to night.

It also wins points for having “one of the world’s best subway systems”. Having travelled solo to Seoul before, we can attest to the ease of getting around on its incredibly well-mapped subway, with Owl Buses that run after midnight. Even a day trip out of Seoul (to an idyllic camping site in Tae-an) was a breeze thanks to its efficient regional bus services.

Our tip for travelling Seoul solo: learn basic Korean phrases so you can greet locals, order food at a restaurant, or ask for directions. Korean restaurants also tend to cater to large groups, so portions are not always suitable for solo travellers. Either book accommodations with a microwave (so you can takeaway leftovers and reheat) or seek out eateries in Seoul’s many underground malls – these cater better to solo diners.

If there was ever any doubt that Asia’s great for solo travel, then get this: another five Asian cities are in TripAdvisor’s top ten list. At No. 2 sits Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, a mountain-ringed city with ancient temples, traditional architecture, and a burgeoning arts scene. Other cities calling out for you to book that solo trip to? We have Bangkok, Thailand (No. 4), Osaka (No. 5) and Kyoto (No. 7) of Japan, and Chiang Mai, Thailand (No. 8).