Summary

The author recounts their unexpected but rewarding solo trip to Lisbon, the "City of Light," where they experienced the city's architecture, culture, and hospitality, and made a new friend.

Abstract

The article narrates the author's serendipitous solo journey to Lisbon after a friend's cancellation led to a decision to explore alone. The city, known for its historical architecture, sunny climate, and vibrant streets, welcomed the author with both challenges, like a temporary power outage, and delightful experiences, such as walking its hilly terrain, enjoying local cuisine, and visiting the ocean. The author highlights the city's resilience, showcased by its reconstruction after the 1755 earthquake and the contrast between its modern yellow trams and the ancient Moorish castle. A walking tour led to a meaningful connection with another solo traveler, emphasizing the social aspects of solo travel. The trip concluded with a sense of accomplishment and the anticipation of future solo adventures, with Lisbon holding a special place in the author's heart.

Opinions

The author expresses initial apprehension about solo travel but ultimately finds the experience enriching.
Lisbon's blend of historical and modern elements is seen as particularly charming and photogenic.
Walking extensively around the city's seven hills is considered worthwhile for the stunning views encountered.
The author values the human connections made during the trip, especially meeting another solo traveler.
The article suggests that solo travel allows for personal growth and the opportunity to embrace new experiences.
Lisbon's recovery from the 1755 earthquake is admired, reflecting the city's enduring spirit.
The author recommends Lisbon as a travel destination and encourages others to explore solo travel.

Solo Traveling In the City of Light

The joy of exploring Lisbon by myself

My first ‘solo’ trip happened by accident.

My friend was supposed to visit me in London for a week in February 2017, and we decided to book a fun weekend trip to Lisbon to escape the dreary UK winter. We booked our flights and made a list of everything we wanted to explore in the ‘City of Light.’

Two weeks before the trip, my friend canceled and left me with a choice: set off on my first proper solo adventure or bail on the journey altogether. As you may have guessed, I chose the former and decided to explore Lisbon alone that weekend.

Lisbon is known for its historical architecture and sunny disposition

Thanks to its yellow trams and constant sunlight (compared to London anyway), it has become a popular destination within Europe during the colder months. I knew very little about Lisbon when I first arrived late at night — even the City of Light had gone a bit dark.

My Airbnb host seemed kind and showed me how things worked in his flat, only for the electricity to go off five minutes after he drove away. Luckily, he directed me to the fuse box on the phone, and my moment of panic was short-lived, but it was a wary start to the weekend.

However, when I woke up the following day with sunlight streaming into the flat, I felt very ready to jump out and explore the city. I’m not sure how many steps I clocked up, but it felt like I walked for hours and hours, only stopping to grab a coffee in a tiny cafe tucked away in one of Lisbon’s many stunning alleyways.

Lisbon sits on top of 7 hills, which meant I was out of breath consistently, but I did get to experience the most beautiful views I’ve ever seen, making it 100% worth it.

I also went to the ocean and dipped my toes in the water (17°C in February is a dream after all), drank some wine while reading a good Nick Hornby novel, and treated myself to a delicious lunch with my book for company.

Nowadays, Lisbon is high on many travel lists. Its gorgeous red roofs, sea views, and Moorish architecture make for a great Instagram feed.

Lisbon’s true beauty lies in its story and generous hospitality

Much of the city was destroyed in an earthquake in 1755 and rebuilt in the late 18th century; however, the 12th-century Moorish castle still dominates the skyline, creating a stunning contrast. For hours, I sat at my lunch table, taking all of this in and people-watching in this incredible city.

In the evening, I signed up for a walking tour to see the city sights in a slightly more organized fashion and interact with other humans (apparently, I could barely make it 24 hours before feeling the need for human company).

The walking tour guide was amiable and knowledgeable about her hometown, and the rest of the group was a diverse bunch — we had a few couples, two other solo travelers, and three groups of friends.

Almost instantly, the other female solo traveler and I connected. She was in Lisbon for the weekend as well and was solo vacationing in Europe from South Korea. We spent a lot of the walking tour chatting and helping each other get non-selfie photos occasionally. Once the walk wrapped up, we even had dinner together, and I was thrilled to make a new friend. We ended the night at a yummy gelato spot before parting ways to continue our solo adventures.

Solo travel has highs and lows, but I enjoyed a weekend of mostly my own company and a stunning city as my only companion.

Once we can all safely travel again, I’m hoping to try longer solo stints in different spots and see how that goes, but that weekend in Lisbon will always be extra special.

Obrigado Lisboa!

Some useful links:

You can watch my Lisbon travel video here.
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