SOLO TRAVEL IN IRELAND- 7 REASONS

When I decided to do a solo trip to Ireland it had been 11 years since I last travelled alone. I was itching to do it again!

I hadn’t done much research about travelling alone in Ireland, but instinctually felt that Ireland would be the perfect place for a solo trip.

For one, I’d never heard anything bad about Ireland from other travellers. They always gush about how beautiful it is. And rightfully so!

But beauty alone doesn’t make a destination a good choice for solo travel. When I’m choosing a destination for a solo trip I’m primarily considering two things: Will I feel safe? Can I be confident navigating it alone?

Solo Travel in Ireland- Is Ireland A Good Place to Travel Alone?

Of course, there’s no guarantee that what I encountered while travelling solo in Ireland will be the same as your experience. I can only hope that it would be though, since my solo trip to Ireland was such a positive adventure.

7 Reasons Ireland is a Great Place for Solo Travel

Here are 7 reasons why I think Ireland is a wonderful destination for solo travellers!

No Language Barrier

Travelling alone in Ireland was easy as an English speaker because there was no language barrier. However, I will admit that the accent tripped me up a few times!

Although Irish is the official language, it’s only spoken on a daily basis in pockets of the Gaeltacht regions. Even then, it’s extremely rare for someone to not also be fluent in English.

Most street signs in the Republic of Ireland are bilingual, but some in the rural areas of the Gaeltacht are in Irish only. Since I was using a GPS for driving directions, this wasn’t an issue.

The Locals are Friendly and Easy to Talk To

I’ve always heard that the Irish are a friendly bunch. Sure it’s a bit of a generalization, but my experience travelling solo in Ireland proved it to be true on more occasions than not.

It was easy to start up a conversation with a stranger, even as an introvert, because the locals were always up for a chat. On many occasions, asking a simple question would turn into a half hour discussion. Yes, the Irish sure do like to talk!

It was this friendly disposition and penchant for conversation that made Ireland a great place to travel solo. Even though I was alone in Ireland for two weeks, I never once felt lonely.

Other Travellers are Friendly Too!

As you are travelling alone in Ireland, you started to wonder if the Irish’s reputation for being friendly attracted travelers who were sociable as well.

Just like the locals, most travelers you meet are also approachable and receptive to conversation.

It’s definitely not a case of opposites attract in Ireland. You are convinced that places with friendly, easy-going people in turn attract friendly, easy-going travelers.

Bed and Breakfasts- A Home Away From Home

Ireland is the land of B&Bs and guesthouses. Finding a cozy room that felt like a home away from home wasn’t difficult.

Affordable Accommodations and Single Rooms

Accommodations can be the most expensive part of a trip, especially when you’re travelling alone and have no one to split the costs with. The good thing about solo travel in Ireland is that single rooms in B&Bs are easy to find. Why pay for 2 beds when you only need one?

Being able to book a single room rather than a twin was a great way to cut down on expenses. You never paid more than $100 CAD/night, with most of your rooms being around $70.

It Doesn’t Feel Weird to Eat Alone

It sometimes feels awkward to eat in a restaurant by yourself, but in Ireland it didn’t feel strange at all.

The good thing about solo travel in Ireland is that the pubs serve delicious food so if you really don’t like eating alone, you can always go sit at the bar where you’ll surely find plenty of people to talk to.

Ireland is Safe

In general, Ireland is a very safe country to visit.

There's no reason to avoid going here, especially if you follow basic travel safety rules, which should minimize the risk of something going wrong.

In fact, Ireland is among the safest countries not just in Europe but also in the world and that's fantastic news, as there is so much to see and do in Ireland.

Final Thoughts About Solo Travel in Ireland

Ireland was a perfect destination to embark on a solo road trip. The usual things that can make solo travel stressful- not speaking the language, safety concerns, and unhelpful locals- were not a factor in Ireland.

In fact, it was the people that made Ireland such a pleasure to visit. Sure there’s stunning scenery, delicious food, and an interesting history, but knowing that people are welcoming you, looking out for you, and genuinely wanting to get to know you, that takes a good trip and makes it great.