While abroad, many students venture out of their host city for weekends or breaks. I myself got to visit 9 countries in total while studying abroad! For the majority of these trips, I went with a friend or two. Going with friends makes trips fun, sociable, and adds a layer of safety. However, one of my favorite trips I went on while abroad was a solo trip, and after that experience, I would recommend a solo trip to anyone.
Austria was one of my biggest bucket-list destinations for my semester in Europe. When it came down to planning, I ran into an issue: none of my friends were free on the weekend I wanted to go. Despite being a little nervous, I went ahead and booked my plane tickets and hostel stays.
View of Vienna from St. Stephen’s Cathedral Tower
After arriving late Friday night, I spent half a day in Vienna. I visited the stunning Kunsthistorisches Museum, climbed up the 343 winding steps at St. Stephen’s Cathedral, and visited the impressive Belvedere Palace. I loved my time in Vienna and hope to go back: half a day was not enough time! I then took the train to Salzburg, a cozy city known best for the Sound of Music and being Mozart’s birthplace. On Sunday, I went on the Sound of Music tour: a sing-along bus tour of Salzburg and the surrounding towns that visits filming locations from the film. I spent the rest of the day exploring the city, then took the train back to Vienna, and got an early flight back to Paris the next morning.
Belvedere Palace, Vienna
While I was initially a little worried about traveling alone, I was completely fine on my trip. I never felt unsafe (granted, Austria consistently ranks among the safest countries in the world), and I had a fantastic time! I found travelling solo to be very peaceful and freeing. I could do whatever excursions I wanted and go to whatever restaurant I wanted without having to weigh others’ input. I also think I gained a lot of confidence in myself while traveling solo.
View of Salzburg from Nonnberg Abbey
All in all, I had a great experience on my solo trip to Austria. Austria was one of the most beautiful and interesting places I’ve ever been, and I would highly recommend it to anyone. I also would recommend a solo trip to anyone studying abroad. It can be a little nerve-wracking at first, but it’s a great experience that I think everyone should have.
Written by: Evangeline, Spring 2026 Paris student from Baylor University
