If you are planning to travel solo, there is one continent where one can discover more about themselves and the world around. It is none other than Europe where one can just venture out and embark on a solo vacation. Europe and its cities offer plenty of possibilities for solo travelers. European cities are the most beautiful and safe too. People are friendly, and the cities boast of a great tourist infrastructure.  One can enjoy their solo journey and come back with a great memorable experience.

It is a good idea to look for a cheap car hire that offers not just a variety of pick-up and drop-off options but great rates so as to make your travel easier and cheaper. Go for car hire discounts after comparing car hire rates and depending on your preference. Look for a car that is fully equipped with the latest safety features and amenities so that you can enjoy your solo trip.

Here are the leading European cities that can be easily navigated alone. Pick any of them as they are a great place to start.

1. Amsterdam
   Amsterdam is a great city to experience solo and enjoy a hassle free holiday. You can rent a car or a bicycle to enjoy the local scenery. Netherlands is bike friendly, and everyone speaks English. People are warm and helpful.
2. Copenhagen
   Copenhagen is a famous Danish city that is very bike friendly. One can stay, eat, and drink around the city and explore some of the best cocktail bars.
   
   There are lots of spots to explore in and around the city and plenty of free museums in Copenhagen to visit.
3. Berlin
   Berlin is just perfect for the solo travelers and is incredibly fun. Solo travelers like it as it is one of the cheaper capital cities that also offers a vibrant nightlife scene.

   

   One can enjoy good company and great food all the time!

4. London
   London is one of the easiest cities to explore. This is one city where you can just jump into solo vacations here, even if you are a female.

   

   It is very simple and easy to travel the city. One can get to know other locals and travelers or wander around to see plenty of museums and historical sights.

5. Paris
   Paris has always been a favorite city across the world.

   

   The captivating European city might be a bit of a challenge for solo travelers because of the language barrier. However, it is hard for the solo travelers to resist the captivating allure of the city that can’t be found elsewhere.

6. Stockholm
   The Swedish capital with pedestrian-only roads, countless bridges and numerous islands is found to be dominated by solo travelers. There is a lot to see and do here in the city with most artistic subway stations and so much to see on its pedestrian-only roads.
7. Dublin
   One can feel the jolly Irish spirit the minute they step in Dublin. This is one of the safest cities that make you feel like you are at home. No wonder it is a big hit with the solo travelers.
8. Barcelona
   Barcelona has every element that every holidaymaker is looking for. This is a perfect city for a solo travel, who love exploring its sunny skies, enjoy the vibrant culture, and get to taste the excellent food.
9. Helsinki
   When it comes to Finland, it is hard to find such an incredible country and destination. Helsinki and Lapland are like a winter wonderland for the solo travelers. Look forward to a great solo adventure while in Finland.
10. Vienna
    If you love traveling solo and enjoy the freedom of being alone, then head straight for Vienna, the City of Music.

    

    It is time to get lost on the grounds of Schönbrunn Palace or book a show at an opera house.

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In this map I marked remains of Berlin Wall in the city and memorials. Please contact me if I missed something.

View Berlin Wall remnants in a larger map

You should plan full day if you want to visit all sites, museums and memorials on the route.

Start from the East Side, where East Side Gallery is located. Take a train or S-Bahn to Ostbahnhof station and you’ll find the wall a 100 meters from the station exit. It is longest continuous section of the wall stretches about 1 kilometer (0.6 mile) long. Some wall paintings are the same I saw during my first visit, but some of them are new, so you can find something new even if you visited this part of the wall before.

At the end of this section cross Oberbaum Bridge and after short walk you’ll reach Schlesisches Tor U-Bahn station. Take a train to Kochstraße station (change from U1 to U6 line at Hallesches station). This is where you’ll find Checkpoint Charlie, Wall Museum –The Museum Haus am Checkpoint Charlie (€12.50) and until end of 2013 you can visit Asisi Panorama (€10), which shows daily life in the Berlin divided by wall.

Take a short walk (~300 meters / 1000 ft) West on Zimmerstraße and you’ll reach about 200 meters of wall still standing. On other side of wall Topography of Terror museum is located. During Second World War Secret State Police Office was located on these grounds and you can visit different exhibitions with history of this place. Admission is free.

Take another S1 or S2 train at Potsdamer Platz to Nordbahnhof station. You can find some photos and history of the station, which was called “ghost station” during Wall period as none of trains were stopping there and was passed by Western trains traveling from one end of West Berlin to the other. Outside the station there is Berlin Wall Memorial with names who were killed during attempts to escape from East into West side of Berlin.

There is another small remains of the wall near Liesenstraße and Gartenstraße junction about one kilometer (0.6 miles) North  from Nordbahnhof station, but I didn’t visit that part and just took a look on Google Street view

Please share this post if you’ll find these directions helpful.

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It is still free of charge to visit Reichstag building, but rules were changed and you can’t go whenever you want. Most important thing – you need to book your visit in advance.  You can do it online or there is a kiosk just across the street (security will show it for you). You can do booking a year in advance, though I am not sure anybody planning such visits so in advance Keep in mind some days the dome can be closed for cleaning and maintenance work and don’t don’t trust information on their website which states:

Closures

The rooftop terrace and the dome are closed all day on 24 December and from 16.00 hrs onwards on 31 December. In addition, the dome will be closed to visitors from 12 to 16 March, from 9 to 13 July, from 23 to 27 July and from 8 to 12 October to allow cleaning and maintenance work to be carried out. The roof terrace can still be visited when the dome is closed.

But the dome is closed for cleaning right now – from 4 to 8 March, and I wasn’t able to visit dome today, though the view from roof terrace also very nice and it is worth a visit even if the dome is not accessible.

One more important thing – don’t forget to bring a valid identity card or passport or equivalent form of photo identification with at the day of you visit as it will be checked at security point.

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If ever a place deserved the ‘city of contrasts’ epithet, it has to be Berlin. Classical architecture mingles happily with ultra-modernist creations, while avant garde artists rub shoulders with opera stars. Though careless visitors can find the city costly, those who plan their trip to the German capital can make their money last.

Reichstag

The Reichstag building was constructed in 1894 to house the Reichstag – the parliament of the German Empire. The building fell into disrepair during World War Two, after which it was restored. Its most striking feature is now the glass dome at its apex, which provides visitors with a 360-degree view of the surrounding Berlin cityscape.

Brandenburg Gate

 A must-visit for anyone who is studying the German language in Berlin, the Brandenburg Gate is situated just west of the city centre and has become a symbol of German unity. The neoclassical triumphal arch is one of Germany’s most iconic landmarks and has acted as the stage for many significant events over the past two centuries.

Berlin Wall

Built in 1961 to separate West Berlin and East Berlin, the Berlin Wall served to stop East Germans fleeing to democratic West Germany during the post-World War Two period. The wall was removed in 1989, save for a one-mile stretch on Mühlenstraße in the suburb of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg.

Visitors are able to see first-hand the barrier that served to divide a city and ultimately create its unique modern dynamic.

Tiergarten

Originally a hunting ground in the 18th century, the Tiergarten is Berlin’s largest park and a place to unwind during the summer. For those hoping to learn a language, the gardens are a great to meet new people and practise a little German.

Potsdamer Platz

Built in 1995, Potsdamer Platz is a collection of modernist architecture housing everything from shopping centres to cinemas.

Walking tour

For those that like guided tours but resent paying for them, New Berlin offers a free daily three-and-a-half hour tour of the capital. The expert-led tours depart from outside of the Dunkin’ Donuts by the Zoologisher Garten and in front of the Starbucks by the Brandenburg Gate.

Museum Island

Museum Island is situated on the river Spree in the Mitte district of the city and is home to five internationally significant museums, as well as being a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Holocaust memorial

The Memorial to the Murdered Jews in Europe is a five-acre site filled with 2,700 tomb-like slabs of concrete arranged in a grid. Designed as a tribute to the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, the memorial was created by architect Peter Eisenman.

Visitors can find more information about the holocaust at the information centre situated beneath the memorial.

Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church

The Protestant Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church was originally built in the 1890s, but was badly damaged during bombing in 1943. The tower has been preserved as a war memorial.

Hackescher Markt

Art lovers will enjoy the plethora of galleries and street art around Hackescher Markt – a square in the central Mitte locality of the city.

Berlin is a fascinating city for a short break, and also an excellent environment for learning to speak the German language. For more information about German courses, visit the ESL website.

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Auckland, New Zealand

Sydney, Australia

Taipei, Taiwan

Hong Kong

Singapoure

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Moscow, Russia

Berlin, Germany

London, UK

Toronto, Canada

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