5 Ways to Celebrate Your Birthday While Solo Traveling
We’ve all read about the countless perks of solo traveling:
You don’t have to operate according to anyone else’s schedule.
You get to think about your own needs.
You get more in touch with your thoughts and emotions.
But whether you’re new to solo traveling or are a veteran solo traveler, celebrating important events like your birthday don’t necessarily get any easier when you’re alone. So if you’re feeling lost or confused as to how to make the day special on your own, don’t worry. There are plenty of options for how to celebrate your birthday alone that will make it one you won’t forget!
Keep reading to discover 5 ways you can celebrate your birthday while solo traveling.
Read more: First time solo traveling? Check out my ultimate guide to traveling alone for the first time
1. Take yourself out
Ever taken yourself out for a nice meal? Before my first birthday solo traveling, wondering how to celebrate your birthday alone, I hadn’t!
So my first tip for how to celebrate your birthday while solo traveling is to look up a delicious restaurant on Google or TripAdvisor. Take yourself out for a nice dinner, maybe paired with a glass of wine or a beer.
Asking for a table for one is a strange but empowering experience! But even treating yourself to a nice cup of coffee can feel special, and will remind you that you are strong and independent.
2. Use Couchsurfing
When I was feeling lonely and didn’t know how to celebrate my birthday alone, I read about others who had met up on Couchsurfing.
Though I had my doubts, I joined the site the day before my birthday and posted that I was in the area solo traveling and would love to get together with others to celebrate.
To my surprise, countless people messaged me wanting to get together, and I ended up on a pub crawl with an Irishman, some Albanians, a few Americans, and a Canadian!
I was touched by the generosity of strangers who wanted to make my day special, despite meeting me just hours before.
3. Go on a pub crawl
Wondering how to celebrate your birthday alone? This idea is my personal favorite way to celebrate your birthday while solo traveling. Almost every metropolitan city in the world has pub crawls. Try to find one online, on Facebook, or ask around at hostels. Then treat yourself for a night out on the town with others to celebrate – you might be surprised by who you end up meeting!
Related: Going on a pub crawl in Europe? Check out my top recommended Europe pub crawls below!
4. Cook yourself a traditional dish
If you’re a foodie or you love to cook but would rather celebrate your birthday while solo traveling in, why not try your hand at a traditional dish from the place you’re visiting? Look up recipes online, head to the grocery store, and get your cook on!
Read more: Looking for a traditional dish while solo traveling in Copenhagen? Check out my list of the 8 best restaurants in Copenhagen to eat like a local
5. Treat yourself to a weekend getaway
As we get older, we inevitably learn that we can’t always celebrate our special day on the actual day we were born. So one awesome way to celebrate your birthday while solo traveling is to book a ticket for a weekend getaway. This is especially great if you’ve been itching to get away from wherever you’re staying. You can book a weekend tour to a nearby destination you’ve been dreaming about or buy the cheapest flight you can find! And if your birthday is actually on the weekend, that’s a bonus! Your options are endless.
[…] if you’re based in a city for an extended period of time, Couchsurfing can be your best friend. I used Couchsurfing for the first time to find people to celebrate my birthday with me while solo tr… I hung out with many of them again and again throughout my time there. Post a topic on your […]