How to have fun traveling alone

Having to fend for yourself in a new place and learn to enjoy your own company makes us rethink many things, understand what is and isn't a priority, and even learn what we really like or dislike, what we want or don't want, what is essentially ours or what we've been conditioned to think. What truly entertains you?

After I started traveling alone and writing about traveling alone, I realized more and more how important it is to know how to enjoy our own company and have fun without needing anyone else – whether traveling or not.

There's a quote, said from a mother to her daughter in the series Girl Boss, that really got me thinking: "In life, the only person who can make you happy is yourself." And from that, I started using the hashtag #SouMinhaMelhorCompanhia in some posts, to talk about moments when we can feel good and complete even without anyone to be with us.

It's something we need to practice daily, as part of our self-discovery process. Because we've always been accustomed to thinking that we can only have fun with others, right? And so it's almost natural that, even when traveling alone, there's this focus on meeting people.

Many even say that being alone makes it easier to make friends, which may even be true to some extent. When we travel with someone, we tend to become more reserved with that person(s). And when we're alone, we end up opening up more. But there's no rule; it won't always happen, and there's nothing wrong with that. No one needs to feel bad about not being the cool person who knows people from all over the world. You just need to learn to enjoy the best company there is: your own! I even published a text on my blog, Mariana Viaja, titled "How to make friends while traveling alone – or how to survive without it."

One thing I do a lot is ask at the hotel (or even beforehand, by searching online) about local agencies that offer city tours, day trips to nearby cities, and walking tours. This way, I'm not alone on the tours, which is also a safer option. These group tours are great for striking up conversations with other tourists, asking where they're from, what they think of the trip, if they've been to other places, asking for recommendations. Since they're also traveling, there's always something to talk about.

At night, if you're going out for a snack or dinner, my advice is to not be intimidated by being alone at a restaurant table (or try to hide it by using your phone). I know it's not easy; it was perhaps the part that took me the longest to master. If you don't feel comfortable, try a mall, as there are always lots of people in the food court.

And I always like to pack something to distract myself if I don't have anyone to talk to. It could be a book, a playlist, a notepad—anything that helps distract me.

That's how I went to many places. I met many people. I felt like meeting so many more. I tried many foods. I took many photos. I wrote many texts. I had fun. I didn't have fun. I cried in secret sometimes. And even in public. I learned.

This is the main advice: learn. Learn to be with yourself, learn from each experience. We often project our fun onto others and think it will only be good if there are more people around, but life can always surprise us!