Me time: the best destinations for a relaxing solo date on the beach

Have you heard of a solo date? This concept is all about self-care, treating yourself and spending time in your own company. Just like any other date, it can take all sorts of forms, such as a scenic walk somewhere beautiful - and in this list, we have ranked the best places in Europe for a solo stroll along the beach. 

Including plenty of factors that would make up an ideal solo beach date, from the country’s safety index to total km of coastline, we at Wizz Air have put together a list of the top 20 destinations. We also counted how many posts on Instagram used hashtags related to solo travel in these countries. If you like the look of one of these places in particular, you could always whisk yourself away and turn that solo date into a solo break!

Simply go on the page for our Fare Finder tool and enter your starting point and destination to see the best priced tickets we have.

 

Best countries for a solo beach date

So, let’s take a look at the top ten best countries for a solo beach date!

 

Finland

Top of our list of countries where you can enjoy a solo date by the coast is Finland. Single-person households make up 45% of all Finnish households, and this country’s culture is known for its love of peace and quiet, and privacy. Not surprising as it is the third most sparsely populated country in all of Europe! 

With 314000 km of coastline, there are endless beaches to explore, whether on the mainland or on the many islands of the southern archipelago. There are also plenty of lively, multicultural cities and towns to explore.

Finland has been named the happiest country in the world for six years running by the World Happiness Report. 

 

Norway

Norway has 100,915 km of coastline when you include its islands - you might be surprised to hear that in the summer it’s often warm enough to swim in the sea here, between 15 and 22 degrees. The coast of Norway is an amazing place for nature lovers, as you can see whales, seals and puffins.

Like its neighbour Finland, Norway is consistently ranked as one of the happiest countries in the world by the World Happiness Report.

 

UK

The UK has some beautiful beaches - the picture above shows a sunny stretch of coastline in Cornwall, one of the country’s most popular destinations. But along 31,368 km of coast, there are plenty of places to choose from. From the Welsh towns of Llandudno and Anglesey to all the way up in Scotland’s Shetland Isles, you’re spoiled for choice in the UK. 

The United Kingdom also scored very highly for solo travel related hashtags, with 163 posts on Instagram using tags such as ‘#UKSoloTrip’ which was used 50 times.

 

Greece

One of the factors we used for creating our ranking was cm per year of precipitation, and Greece has around half the amount the UK does, at 65.2cm compared to 122cm! So for a superbly sunny beach day with azure waters and a sky to match, Greece is a great choice.

The coastline of Greece is 13,676 km long, and so it has plenty of gorgeous beaches both on the mainland and the islands.

The country was tagged 103 times on Instagram with hashtags related to solo travel, such as ‘#GreeceSoloTravel’ which was used 95 times. 

 

Italy 

Greece and its neighbour Italy share some similarities - Italy’s also well known for its ancient wonders and its beautiful Mediterranean climate.

Italy was tagged a staggering 1031 times on Instagram, by far the most of any of the countries in our list. The most popular hashtag was ‘#ItalySoloTravel’ which was used 509 times. It’s clear that this country’s picturesque scenery has captured many people’s hearts.

The coastline is 7900 km long and some of the most beloved beaches can be found in regions like Puglia, Sardinia and Tuscany.

 

Spain

Spain is next, where one of the most well known beach destinations is no doubt Barcelona, combining exciting city culture with gorgeous sandy beaches. 

The whole of the country has 8000 km of coastline - other seaside destinations in Spain include Málaga, the famous party town of Ibiza, and glamorous Marbella on the Costa del Sol.

Spain is another country with comparatively low rainfall, with only 63.6 cm of precipitation per year.

 

Denmark

Denmark has stunning countryside. With 7300 km of coastline, there are plenty of beaches where you can swim in the summer, with some of the most popular to be found on the west of the Jutland peninsula. You can also explore the beautiful forests and fjords.

It’s a country well known for its high standard of living. It has a low crime rate and people often travel around by bike or by public transport, which is affordable and easy to use in Denmark.

Denmark also has a high percentage of the population who are not married, at 64%, making it a singles-friendly destination.

 

France

Next up, France - while the French Riviera certainly is very famous for its beaches, such as those found in Nice and Cannes, look further afield to find some other wonderful spots along the 5500 km coastline. For example_, Brittany and Biarritz have great beaches for surfing!

Almost half the population are single, at 41.7%, and you will find plenty to do as a solo traveller in France. Of course the local cuisine is a big draw for many who come to France, as are the beautiful and cultural cities.

 

Iceland

Along the country’s 4970 kilometre coastline, the beaches in Iceland are probably not warm enough to sunbathe on for hours, but they promise stunning views and fresh sea air.

Iceland was one of the most popular destinations on Instagram with a huge 228 posts that were tagged with the solo travel related hashtags we searched for. 5 posts were tagged ‘#IcelandSoloAdventure’ which doesn’t sound like many but this was one of the more rare hashtags - and Iceland certainly is an adventure.

It’s also the country with the lowest crime index on our list.

 

Estonia

Estonia has a high percentage of single people and people living alone, making it an ideal destination for some me-time. 

Estonia is also home to gorgeous countryside where you can enjoy a peaceful nature walk. With 3794 km of coastline, there are lots of lovely beaches for sunbathing and swimming.

Tallinn, the pretty capital of Estonia, is a fairly small city and quite easy to navigate. Only a short journey from the city centre, you can find Pirita Beach.

 

Germany

Our next destination in the ranking is Germany. It’s a peaceful country that also has a high percentage of single people, meaning that solo travellers won’t feel out of place exploring the cities, towns and countryside. 

It has 3700 miles of coastline, and some of the most popular beaches are those found on quiet islands such as Hiddensee or Juist, where no cars are allowed - ultimate tranquillity!

 

Ireland

Ireland is another country that is very popular on Instagram with solo travellers - we found 172 posts, with the most commonly used hashtag being ‘#SoloTravelIreland’ which was used 151 times.

The Republic of Ireland has a coastline of 3172 km, with incredible cliffs 600 metres tall in County Donegal. But as well as dramatic scenery, in Ireland you will also find beaches like Curracloe Beach in County Wexford, which is both ideal for sunbathing and swimming, and right next to a beautiful nature reserve. Alternatively, head to Sligo for surfing!

 

Sweden

Sweden has a coastline 3218 km long, so there are plenty of beach destinations, stretching from the north in Swedish Lapland down to the southernmost region of Skåne. In the summer, people flock to the beach even in the north, to enjoy the long summer evenings and a swim in the sea, warmed by the sun.

This Scandinavian country has a high percentage of the population who are single, and lots of people live alone. This is one reason why it’s a great place to travel by yourself, as it’s not unusual to spend time by yourself here.

 

Portugal 

The high quality of life in Portugal is well known. The coastline is 1794 km long, and there is a wide variety of beaches, with the Costa da Caparica offering 26 km of soft sand and clear water alone! For warmer water, try the Algarve on the south coast.

If you visit the Portuguese island of Madeira, you should definitely go to the city of Funchal. By day, you can walk through the city and see the palace, the cathedral and the many other beautiful buildings that line the centuries-old streets - you can also enjoy the natural scenery, hiking in the hills or swimming in the ocean.

 

Croatia

Croatia is our next country in our list of the best destinations for a solo date. On the Adriatic coast, this beautiful country is home to perfect beaches - Croatia has 1777.3 km of coastline. There are 8 national parks - if you visit Krka National Park, you can even swim at the foot of a waterfall and feel like you’re in a Herbal Essences advert!

There are also plenty of towns and cities where you can soak up the culture. Split is a great destination for any history lovers, as it is full of amazingly well-preserved Roman architecture. A perfect solo date could be: picking up breakfast from a street food stall at Pazar, the city’s open air green market, followed by a walking tour of the Roman buildings, before dinner at a waterfront restaurant, looking out over the sea.

 

Poland

Next up, Poland is a very underrated beach destination with 1032 km of coastline. You can visit the beach resort of Sopot for a stroll along the longest pier in Europe and dinner in a trendy restaurant. Or, you could go to Utska, near the Słowiński National Park, with a busy eastern side with bars and cafes or a quieter western side.

Poland also has a comparatively low amount of rainfall every year, with 60 cm of precipitation.

 

Latvia

Latvia’s coast runs for 498 km along the Baltic Sea, with a mixture of different beaches - long stretches of white sand, rocky promontories and even beaches right next to pine forests. Latvia consistently ranks well on the Global Environmental Index and is somewhere that is well known for looking after its natural ecosystems.

The country also has a high percentage of singletons, and on a trip to the capital of Riga you’ll be sure to find plenty of other people exploring the city and its culture by themselves.

 

Netherlands

Next up in our list, the Netherlands is another great destination. It has a high percentage of single people, and the locals are friendly and welcoming. The untranslatable word ‘gezellig’ captures something of the country’s friendly atmosphere - an important concept for the Dutch, it means a specific feeling of cosiness and togetherness.

The coastline is 451 km long, and the province with the most coastline is Zeeland, where you can find plenty of lovely seaside towns. As the Netherlands is quite a small country, it’s easy to get around. Why not take a leaf out of the locals’ book and rent a bike for your solo date?

 

Albania

Albania is a seriously underrated destination for a beach trip! It has 450 km of coastline, with the most popular stretch of coast for sunseekers being the Albanian Riviera, in the country’s south west. Travellers will also find that a trip to Albania’s beautiful turquoise sea does not set them back very far, as it is a very affordable country to visit.

The local people are known for being very hospitable, so solo travellers who choose to socialise on their trip are likely to meet some friendly locals!

 

Lithuania

Finally in our top 20, it’s Lithuania. This is another country whose beaches are still something of a secret to many travellers! The coastline is 262 km when you take into account the Curonian Lagoon coastline - only counting the Baltic Sea, it is 90 km. The busiest beach resort in Lithuania is Palanga, with gorgeous white sand beaches as well as lots of lively city culture - and spas if you want to treat yourself!

About half the population here are single at 50.5%, and the rainfall is only 65.6 cm a year on average.

 

Love yourself! Try a solo beach date

A solo date is a great way to relax and unwind, and enjoy the freedom to go wherever you like and do whatever you want. It can also lead to self-discovery - you might realise you love it more than you thought you would. But don’t feel like you have to spend the whole day alone - part of the pleasure of the solo date is that it opens up opportunities to meet new people, especially if you are travelling. Whether you’re strolling along the beach, taking a water sports class, or grabbing dinner later on, you’re sure to find the opportunity to meet some locals or fellow travellers. You might make new connections, or you might prefer to enjoy some peace and quiet, but you will almost definitely build your confidence. 

So, remember if you are curious about how much it would set you back to set off for a solo date, you can look it up on the Wizz Air Fare Finder! You might find it’s much more affordable than you expected a holiday to be.

 

Methodology 

We looked at countries with the highest safety index and lowest crime index on Numbeo, then combined that data with what percentage of the population is single. We wanted to find countries that combined a high level of personal safety with a singles-friendly culture.

Each country’s official statistics have been used to find the total number of ‘single’ people, which in nearly every case is the total numbers of never married, widowed and divorced people added together. Iceland counts those in committed relationships separately and this group has not been counted as ‘single’. The percentage of unmarried people has been worked out for each country using this data. 

The data on different countries’ crime index and safety index was sourced from Numbeo. 

We also included how many times each country’s name appeared in Instagram hashtags such as ‘#(Country)SoloTravel’, ‘#(Country)SoloTrip’, ‘#(Country)SoloAdventure’ and ‘#SoloTravel(Country)’. We then also compared each country’s average yearly precipitation and the length of its coastline. 

All these factors were added together, and the crime index was deducted, to create the final score.