…From an Introvert Traveling Alone

More tips and tricks!

I’ve been an American living in Germany for almost 8 months now. While here, I’ve had the opportunity to see many of Europe’s fantastic cities. While Alex has some excellent ideas (I cannot tell you how many selfies I have taken in Europe in front of random bits of scenery.), I’d thought I’d flesh that out with my experiences as a woman and a introvert.

How to talk to strangers when you’d rather not talk to anyone at all

Traveling alone, in the abstract, generally sounds pretty good to introverts. That is until you get to the piece of advice in every travel blog: “Talk to as many locals as you can! It’s the only way to truly experience culture!” That line generally makes me break out in a cold sweat. I hate talking to strangers in my home country with no language barrier and years of social conditioning for what’s appropriate and what’s not. Talking to random strangers in Europe? Yeah, that’s not going to happen.

Here’s how I see it: if you’re introverted, and terrified of social interaction and/or just not a big fan of social interaction, stay at hostels (Alex mentioned this too, I know, but here’s the introvert’s guide). I have met a ton of cool people, from all over the world, in hostels, and the majority of them were staying in the same 8 person dorm as me. The fact that only so many people can stay in the same room makes this ideal for introverts. No large awkward groups. Better yet, all you have to do sometimes is say hello, and let the other person take over the conversation. If worse comes to worse, ask for travel tips. There’s generally someone around with wisdom about cheap flights and good beer, and you can interact with other people with a purpose, which makes it feel much less awkward.

Also, everywhere you go, get at least one phrase in the native language under your belt. (I am very sad to say that I failed at this in Hungary and Denmark, but prosím means “please” in Czech.) Being polite and trying to speak the language, even if you have to switch to English afterwards, will often encourage locals to ask where’re you from, how you’re enjoying your travels, etc. The most outgoing of these will start the conversation for you, which is fantastic.

But at no point should you feel bad for preferring your own company

The advantage of traveling alone is that, other than the Deutsche Bahn’s inclination for strikes every two weeks, you are only dependent on your own whims and desires. As an introvert, you may find that you’d rather not talk to people in the vast majority of places you go. It’s okay. You do not have to talk to people to experience a foreign culture. That is just one of the many ways. Observation is just as important. Instead of talking to locals, try finding places where locals live. Wander through their grocery stores and note what people buy when they’re permanently attached to a location instead of just passing through. A restaurant in Schwabian Germany (in the SE) will probably serve you a fancy cut of pork and Sauerkraut, but it is infinently more telling of how Germans eat that my local Penny Markt has a mini-bakery inside as well as a full bakery attached, like a Subway in a Walmart, except way, way better. Germans eat fresh bread nearly every day, and I only know that because I’ve been feeding myself out of a German grocery store for 8 months.

The biggest advantage to eating like a local: it’s much cheaper. Brötchen for 0,35€ a piece? I can handle that.

The morale of the story: even if you don’t talk to people, you’re not going to miss out on the benefits of traveling through the world if you stay observant and dig a bit. Sure, you won’t have those crazy stories that your extrovert friends have, but you don’t have to live life collecting stories. This trip is for you, not for impressing people with your escapades when you get back in the states.

Wandering without being lost and other safety tips

As you travel more, you will find yourself lost in a strange city after dark at least once. You’ll make it. But here are some important ways to stay safe anyway:

Do not dress like you have money. Dumb tourist flashing cash is the surest way to get yourself robbed in Europe. Practical clothes, inconspicuous clothes are a must, especially if you’re a woman. No, I am not trying to cramp your style. This is a safety technique because there are still many dumb and mean people in the world. Besides, you’re traveling ALONE. There is no one to impress! No one cares! It’s so nice as vacation to really not care about your appearance.
Do not conspicuously display expensive electronics or jewelry. Leave them at home unless necessary for traveling. Seriously, pick-pocketing is the biggest crime issue in many places in Europe. Corollary: make sure your computer/credit cards are protected against electronic theft. The internet has plenty of tips on this.
Buy a scarf. Seriously, the vast majority of places in northern Europe seem to wear scarves year round. If people think you’re German, they tend to leave you alone. Disclaimer: this may just have been a fluke for me.
Make sure you have many ways to contact people in case of emergency. THIS IS ESSENTIAL WHEN TRAVELING ALONE. Carry important numbers, like your family, doctor, and embassy numbers, on a card on your person. Wallets do not count. If not for your mental well being, do it for your mother’s.
Practice your New York face. (What?) The New York face, or city people face, is that face all the extras in every movie about New York seem to have. It looks slightly bored and not-welcoming, like you’ve just gotten off work and want to make your commute home with the least amount of effort possible. If you feel unsafe, make it seem like you’re supposed to be there, and ignore everybody except for police officers. Works like a charm. I was asked for directions in 5 different cities, solely because I looked like I knew what I was doing. (People in Germany asked me for directions in German, which means they assumed I was German. Small victories!)
Do your research on hostels. Most of them are safe and clean, so that’s not as big of an issue as where they’re located sometimes. Make sure you always know how to get to your accommodations, even if you’re not a big planner, and you’re meeting someone at the train station. Always knowing that you have a safe place to sleep is the biggest comfort when traveling alone.

Travel for you, record things for you, and don’t worry how it will look on Instagram

In the end, traveling alone is supposed to be your chance to experience the world, so do it how you want to. Even if you don’t throw yourself wide-open to the world, just getting out of your comfort zone a little bit grows you. You don’t have to go partying with a group of strangers you met in a town square until 5 in the morning. Sure, that’s going to be a fantastic story when you get back home, but this isn’t about showing others how cool your life is, it’s about exploring the world and yourself, free from outside constraints.

See what you want to see, do what you want to do, and record what you want to. Plan things! Don’t plan things! Seriously, it’s your decision.

Have fun, and see you on the journey.