Solo beach holidays: 8 sunny places to go it alone

At dusk half of Chania strolls along the Venetian harbour, past the lighthouse and the tavernas with their tables right down by the water. You have been swimming all day, and now you sit with a glass of white wine and a plate of grilled octopus. Alone, and very content about it.

A solo beach holiday is all about choosing the right place. You want a beach where it is safe to swim, somewhere to go in the evening and a hotel where you are not the only guest without children. We have picked eight beach destinations across Europe, Asia and Mexico, with one hotel in each. Our main guide to the best places to travel solo has plenty more.

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In short

The best solo beach holidays combine safe beaches, lively evenings and hotels with calm around the pool. We recommend eight destinations, from Lagos to Tulum. Our first choice is Tenerife: winter sun, short flights from UK airports and an adults-only hotel in the fishing village of La Caleta.

First choice: See rooms at Royal Hideaway Corales Beach on Tenerife (Paid link)

How we chose the beaches

Each place has a beach with lifeguards or calm water in season, restaurants and bars within walking distance and a short transfer from the airport. Every hotel is rated 8.8 or above by guests on Hotels.com, backed by a solid number of reviews.

Lagos: cliffs and late-night bars

Lagos is the liveliest town on the Algarve, with an old centre inside its walls and bars that stay open late. The cliffs at Ponta da Piedade shelter small coves where you can swim out of the wind. The Atlantic is colder and wavier than the Mediterranean, so swim where there are lifeguards.

Cascade Wellness Resort

Cascade sits on the clifftops at Ponta da Piedade, with large gardens and a generous spa. Days by the pools are peaceful, and the old town is a short taxi ride away at night. Ideal if you want calm by day and a bit of life after dark.

Book your stay: See rooms at Cascade Wellness Resort (Paid link)

Mallorca: city and beach in Palma

Palma is Mallorca for anyone who wants a city and a beach on the same trip. The old town around La Seu cathedral is full of tapas and wine bars, and the seafront cycle path runs all the way to the beaches east of the city.

Hotel Can Cera

Can Cera occupies an old palace in Palma's old town, with a courtyard and a small restaurant. There are only a few rooms and it is quiet at night. The beach is not on the doorstep, so expect a bus or bike ride. Ideal if you want to eat well and swim by day.

Book your stay: See rooms at Hotel Can Cera (Paid link)

Chania: the harbour at night

Chania was the capital of Crete until 1971, and its old town is a tangle of narrow lanes and Venetian houses around the harbour. The best beaches lie just outside town, with buses running west along the coast.

Domes Noruz Chania

Domes Noruz sits right on the beach at Agioi Apostoloi, a fifteen-minute drive west of Chania old town, and welcomes adults only. The pools lie between the garden and the sea. Ideal if you want quiet days by the water and evenings on the harbour.

Book your stay: See rooms at Domes Noruz Chania (Paid link)

Tenerife: winter sun in La Caleta

Tenerife has sunshine right through winter and short flights from across the UK. The south coast gets the most sunny days, and La Caleta is a quieter fishing village between the big resorts, with seafood restaurants along the water.

Royal Hideaway Corales Beach

Corales Beach is in La Caleta, beside a small cove for swimming, and welcomes adults only. It has two restaurants with Michelin stars. Ideal if you want silence by the pool and a dinner worth dressing up for.

Book your stay: See rooms at Royal Hideaway Corales Beach (Paid link)

Malta: clear water from the rocks

Malta has little sand but wonderfully clear water, and many people swim from rocks and ladders along the promenade in Sliema and St Julian's. English is an official language, which makes travelling alone easy. A boat to the Blue Lagoon on Comino takes you to the islands' best-known swimming spot.

The Phoenicia Malta

The Phoenicia stands just outside the walls of Valletta, and its garden pool looks over Marsamxett harbour. You can walk into the capital in five minutes. For the beach you will need a boat or bus. Ideal if you want to mix swimming with history and good restaurants.

Book your stay: See rooms at The Phoenicia Malta (Paid link)

Koh Samui: quieter than Phuket

Koh Samui is calmer than Phuket, and Lamai is calmer than Chaweng. Flights from Bangkok take about an hour. The best time to go is January to August, with the rainy season arriving in October and November.

Silavadee Pool Spa Resort

Silavadee sits on the rocks at Lamai, and many villas have a private pool looking out to sea. The spa is down by the water. Ideal if you want peace and privacy with Lamai's restaurants a short ride away.

Book your stay: See rooms at Silavadee Pool Spa Resort (Paid link)

Seminyak: sunset with company

Seminyak is Bali's sociable beach strip, with beach clubs where people gather every evening to watch the sun go down. Currents can be strong, so swim between the flags. The best time to go is April to October.

Katamama

Katamama is built from more than a million handmade Balinese bricks and stands next door to the Potato Head beach club. The suites are calm, while the beach scene is a few minutes away. Ideal if you want company at sunset and quiet at night.

Book your stay: See rooms at Katamama (Paid link)

Tulum: ruins above the sea

In Tulum the Mayan ruins stand on a cliff above the Caribbean, and the beach south of them is lined with small hotels and restaurants. It is easy to cycle between town and beach. In summer sargassum seaweed can wash up along the coast, so winter and spring are the safer bet.

Our Habitas Tulum

Habitas Tulum welcomes adults only and sits between the jungle and the beach, with rooms of wood and natural materials. The hotel is built around community, with morning yoga and evening gatherings, so meeting other guests comes easily. Ideal if you want company by the sea and calm in the jungle.

Book your stay: See rooms at Our Habitas Tulum (Paid link)

Frequently asked questions about solo beach holidays

Where can I go for a solo beach holiday in winter?

Tenerife is the easiest choice for a solo beach holiday in winter, with sunshine and short flights from the UK all season. If you want to go further, Koh Samui and Tulum are excellent in January and February. Malta is mild in winter, but the sea is too cold for most people until May.

What is an adults-only hotel?

An adults-only hotel accepts only adult guests, usually from 16 or 18. That means quieter pools, calmer restaurants and no families during the school holidays. Royal Hideaway Corales Beach on Tenerife and Domes Noruz in Chania are examples. Check the age limit with the hotel before you book.

Is it safe to swim alone?

Swimming alone is safe on beaches with lifeguards and calm water, as long as you take a few simple precautions. Swim where the flags say it is allowed, stay within your depth if you are unsure, and never swim after drinking. Let the hotel know where you are going, and leave valuables in the safe.

Which beach destinations are the most sociable?

Seminyak, Lagos and Chania are the most sociable beach destinations in this guide. In Seminyak people gather at the beach clubs for sunset, and Lagos has bars in the old town until late. In Chania the whole town strolls the harbour in the evening.

When is it cheapest to go?

Beach holidays are usually cheapest outside the school holidays and peak season, such as May, June and September in the Mediterranean. On Tenerife, November and January are often better value than Christmas and February half-term. In Asia and Mexico the rainy season brings lower prices but less settled weather.

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