With travel tip videos going viral and the hashtag #solotravel being viewed an astounding 3.3 billion times on TikTok, there’s no denying that social media has ushered in a solo travel revolution.
This has also had a significant impact on search patterns, with searches for “first-time solo travel” growing by 350% in the last month and searches for “is solo travel worth it” and “what solo travel teaches you” rising by 600% and 300% respectively in the previous year.
Based on TikTok popularity, destination rating on Tripadvisor, and most popular attractions, a new study by SIXT identifies the top travel destinations for first-time solo travelers in 2023.
Top First-Time Solo Travel Destinations in America:
| Rank | Solo Destinations | TikTok Views | Top Attraction To Visit In Destination | Trip Advisor Rating |
| 1 | Washington, D.C | 2.2B | Lincoln Memorial | 4.5/5 |
| 2 | Austin, Texas | 1.4B | Texas State Capitol | 4.5/5 |
| 3 | Denver, Colorado | 1B | Denver Botanic Gardens | 4.5/5 |
| 4 | Portland, Oregon | 686.5M | International Rose Test Garden | 4.5/5 |
| 5 | Naples, Florida | 393.9M | Naples Botanical Garden | 4.5/5 |
| 6 | Scottsdale, Arizona | 350.8M | Taliesin West | 4.5/5 |
| 7 | Miami, Florida | 304.6M | Vizcaya Museum and Gardens | 4.5/5 |
| 8 | Seattle, Washington | 269.5M | Chihuly Garden and Glass | 4.5/5 |
| 9 | Nashville, Tennessee | 233.7M | Grand Ole Opry | 4.5/5 |
| 10 | Phoenix, Arizona | 212.5M | Desert Botanical Garden | 4.5/5 |
| 11 | Mobile, Alabama | 205.6M | USS ALABAMA Battleship Memorial Park | 4.5/5 |
| 12 | Boise, Idaho | 172.9M | Boise River Greenbelt | 5/5 |
| 13 | New York, NY | 161.4M | Central Park | 4.5/5 |
| 14 | Moab, Utah | 155.1M | Arches National Park | 5/5 |
| 15 | Salt Lake City, Utah | 119.7M | Temple Square | 4.5/5 |
| 16 | Boulder, Colorado | 91M | Colorado Chautauqua: Park | 4.5/5 |
| 17 | Savannah, Georgia | 88.5M | Savannah Historic District | 5/5 |
| 18 | San Diego, California | 85.3M | USS Midway Museum | 5/5 |
| 19 | Chicago, Illinois | 75.3M | The Art Institute of Chicago | 5/5 |
| 20 | Boston, Massachusetts | 74.3M | Fenway Park | 5/5 |
The most popular destination for first-time solo travelers was Washington, D.C., which received 4.5/5 ratings.
With a staggering 2.2 billion views under the hashtag, Washington, D.C., the nation’s capital, tops our list of most popular solo travel destinations on TikTok. Its many attractions, ranging from incredible parks to national monuments and memorials, have something for every solo traveler.
The second most popular vacation spot for first-time solo travelers in 2023 is Austin, Texas (4.5/5 stars).
With an astounding 1.4 billion views under the hashtag on TikTok, Austin, Texas, ranks second on our list of the most popular destinations for solo travelers in the United States. Austin has a thriving music and nightlife scene. Enjoy the sunshine and the relaxed, pleasant atmosphere of the city.
For first-time solo travelers, Denver, Colorado, ranked the third most popular in 2023 (4.5/5 stars).
Denver, Colorado, is a must-see for any first-time solo traveler, with 1 billion views under the hashtag on TikTok and a thriving beer culture. Denver is the perfect destination for first-time solo travelers, combining urban sophistication with outdoor adventures, whether you want to unwind, get active, or take in street art.