I’ve visited over 40 countries, but didn’t love my solo trip to Spain. Next time, I’d do 3 things differently.

Despite visiting over 40 countries, I’ve rarely traveled by myself.

Usually, I can find friends or family to tag along with me, whether I’m backpacking through Portugal or road-tripping in Chile. Yet after loving my first solo trip to Australia, I wanted to plan another — this time, to Spain.

I spent a week traveling alone through Spain’s Catalonia region, visiting everywhere from Barcelona’s Arc de Triomf to Girona’s Catedral de Santa Maria.

The sights were incredible, but I didn’t have as much fun as I expected. I felt lonely exploring the cities, and the country’s dining culture felt difficult to navigate as a solo traveler.

In the end, a few small changes could’ve improved my experience. Here are three things I’d do differently on my next solo trip.

Next time I’m traveling alone, I’ll sign up for tours to meet other travelers.

On my first solo trip to Australia, I joined a group scuba-diving tour on the Great Barrier Reef. I met dozens of other travelers on the boat, which helped curb any feelings of loneliness.

In Spain, I didn’t book any group activities, and ultimately regretted my decision.

I still enjoyed walking around the cities myself, but missed mingling with other travelers doing the same. After a few days alone, I longed to share the experience with someone else.

Now, I know that planning a structured activity here and there keeps my social battery charged when traveling alone.

I also plan to bring a book or activity to cafés and restaurants.

Throughout my week of solo traveling, I felt the most lonely when eating meals by myself.

Spain’s dining culture is exceptionally social, and I felt out of place as a solo traveler at restaurants. The country is famous for its bite-sized delights, like tapas and pintxos, but these are best shared and enjoyed in the company of others.

I stuck to quick, casual restaurants instead of lengthy sit-down meals. Without anyone to talk to, though, I feel like I spent most meals scrolling on my phone.

Next time, I’ll bring my Kindle or a sketchbook to help pass the time when dining solo.

I’d switch up the way I spent my days solo traveling, too.

Before my trip, I read travel guides, watched YouTube videos, and browsed TikToks for recommendations about how to spend my time in Spain.

More often than not, these resources touted certain attractions and restaurants as the “best” way to experience the country.

What I learned after my week in Spain, though, was that I should tailor my experience to my own personal travel style. Just because something is considered the “best” thing to do doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a great suggestion for every type of traveler.

In Barcelona, for instance, many guides and travelers suggested walking around places like Park Güell and La Boqueria market. These sites were fascinating, but I wish I’d planned something more active, such as cycling around the coastline.

Next time, I’ll plan my days to better suit my interests, even if it means “missing out” on a top attraction.

Though solo travel has a learning curve, it can be fun.

Traveling alone can be intimidating and nerve-racking, but it can also be rewarding.

During my trip, I felt proud of myself for taking the leap to explore on my own, even when it meant powering through occasional bouts of loneliness.

I still prefer traveling with friends or family, but I’m building the confidence I need to go places by myself when I can’t find someone to tag along.

Plus, I learned a lot during my time in Spain about what I can do to make my next solo travel experience even better.

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