Prague And Vienna: Here’s Why Solo-travel Is The Best
5 MIN READ
From the old, lovely streets of Prague to the stunning architecture Vienna—cover these two historic cities with one of nKoto remote’s very own. Learn about the beauty and exciting experience of a solo female travel right here.
I recently embarked on a solo, week long trip to Prague and Vienna—very unlike me, I know. To give you context, here’s me in a hundred or so odd words:
Hong Kong born-and-raised—and by that, I mean growing up with the sticky humidity and Sunday dim sum brunch with family. I live in between two cities and have been to school in three, and I’m currently writing this from a foreign city.
This trip, however, was truly a solo venture. Whatever I wanted to see, do, eat that was all on me. So, while I’ve had my fair share of trying new things in new environments, the feeling travelling alone (and also the idea of being just another tourist in another big tourist group) scares me just a tiny bit. I had to work for a few hours of the trip, but whatever, as a college student and intern for this lovely company, I’ll always always have to work.
Day 1 in Prague started dining alone at Pasta Fresca. A hidden gem on a busy street, it was genuinely some of the best pasta I’ve ever had. I’d google translated the four most basic phrases to know—hello, yes (which oddly is ano), no, thank you—and the waiter thought I was good enough. So, somehow, I had an entire conversation in Czech even with my knowledge of four whole words.
The next day, I found myself at a walking tour (which I cannot recommend enough). I met some of the loveliest people on this tour—a girl who was from my hometown and another who was from the city I go to school in. I made awesome friends, laughed at my tour guide’s horrible jokes (courtesy of Karel at Sandeman), and later, I even found myself at my very first techno rave (I’ve made it in life).
Even in Vienna, I didn’t let my fear of being alone stop me from exploring such a beautiful city. On the train, I met the loveliest man whose favourite book was also my favourite and told me about his life in Serbia. In my hostel, I befriended a Scottish woman whom I watched the Euros with. I went to the Mozart concert alone and even said “für ein” at a michelin starred restaurant. The point is, when you travel alone, you’re forced to meet new people, to figure things out on your own, and to spend time with yourself and just yourself. I asked myself if I was living the life I envisioned at the ripe age of 20. If I was where I wanted to be emotionally or if I felt fulfilled. Not just transiently fulfilled, but genuinely fulfilled?
I’ve always travelled here and there but never long enough or immersed enough to ever experience an authentic city experience or to make lasting connections. So, as your twenty-something fellow solo female traveller, go out and explore the world. No, I didn’t feel unsafe, and no, I didn’t plummet into an existential crisis trying to answer my self-imposed questions. If anything, traveling alone gave me sense of empowerment. Yeah, I figured out how to take the Prague metro to go to a rave, and yeah I ate schnitzel alone at a fancy restaurant full of people. I really felt like I could do anything. So, whether your next solo travel destination is Prague or Vienna or is a big European summer, let yourself be immersed in a new environment and don’t be afraid to say hello to your neighbour on the train. It’s worth it.
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