Solo travelling is an art of soaking in the beauty of the world in all its glory. As a solo traveller, you are free of any burden of expectations or responsibilities that comes with travelling with a partner.
Travelling solo requires courage and add to that the uncertainties of hitchhiking which makes it even more adventurous and a religious experience. For all the flexibility that solo travelling offers, it comes with its perils like- safety concerns, loneliness and homesickness to list some.
Considering these things in mind, here are the 10 best countries for an amazing solo hitchhiking experience which are amongst the safest (especially for solo female travellers), cheapest and with breathtakingly stunning landscapes in the world.
So, let’s explore these amazing countries.
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Here are the 10 Best Countries for an Amazing Solo Hitchhiking Experience
Table of Contents
New Zealand
New Zealand consistently ranks as one of the easiest and safest countries to hitchhike (even for women). New Zealand apart from its scenic landscapes offers a wide variety of adventure sports for travel enthusiasts making it an ideal destination to travel.
Another thing that makes New Zealand a hitchhiking paradise is the accessibility of tourist info centres which can be found in every town and cities.
People are super-friendly and super-kind to tourists and the time to hitch a ride is amongst the lowest in the world. If you are thinking about taking your first step into hitchhiking, then New Zealand is the place to begin with.
Safety, ease of hitching ride, accessible tourist info centres, friendly people and stunning landscapes are the reason why New Zealand also features on our list of 10 best hitchhiking friendly countries you must visit.
Suggested read: 11 Safety Tips for an Amazing Hitchhiking Experience
Ireland
Ireland is every hitchhiker’s dream to travel at least once in their lifetime. This beautiful island country in the North Atlantic is home to some of the kindest strangers on earth.
The kindness of the people in Ireland trumps even its natural beauty. The typical time to get a ride is under 5 min, thanks to the kindness of Irish people and most of the drivers are always open for an interesting chat.
Safety and affordability of travelling isn’t much of an issue here, as most strangers will invite you to their homes for breakfast or dinner and even offer you a place to rest for a night.
Cuba
Despite all the negative stuff that you hear about in the news about Cuba, on the contrary, it is one of the most hitchhiker friendly countries in the world. In fact, due to the lack of a proper public transportation infrastructure, hitchhiking is more or less encouraged in Cuba.
The common way to hitch a ride is to stand at Punto Amarillo (Yellow points), designated spots where government buses (or even trucks or cars) will give you a ride for .25 pesos (5 cents). If you can talk to Cuban folks in some Spanish, then they are more than happy to give you a free ride.
Getting a ride for free is rare in Cuba, as most drivers expect some money for the ride. This is due to the present economic conditions but it’s still way cheaper compared to travelling in other countries.
Thailand
Thailand consistently features on the top destinations in the world for solo travelling. Thanks to its scenic beaches, exotic landscapes and helpful people, Thailand has grown in popularity as a haven for digital nomads.
From Bangkok’s nightlife to Koh Samui’s serene beaches, Thailand has got something for every kind of traveller. The time to hitch a ride varies between 10-20min depending on your location and traffic. Some drivers will also offer you food and invite you to their homes.
Camping in Thailand is relatively easy and the best way to explore Thai culture is by spending a night in the beautiful temples and monasteries.
Netherlands
The Land of the Dutch people is amongst one of the most free-spirited, safest and easiest countries to hitchhike. Hitchhiking is legal throughout the country except for some highways.
The best thing about hitchhiking in Netherlands is you can easily get around with English. People are always helpful and kind towards tourists.
The average time to get a ride is around 10 min and one can hitch a ride faster by standing at designated spots called ‘Liftershaltes’. Most people usually stop by to offer a ride or either help you out in some way.
So, if you are thinking about starting your hitchhiking journey, then Netherlands with its laid back culture, kind people and beautiful landscapes is a great option to start with.
Germany
Zee Germans are pretty cool about picking up random strangers on the road. Thanks to the super-efficient Autobahn road network, hitching long distances has become easier than ever. Now you can explore much of the country within no time.
Hitching a ride is easy. You can comfortably hitch a ride near gas stations, on-ramps or roads leading towards highways. Most people pull their cars over to offer you a ride or ask what are you up to?
The efficient road network, low crime rate, Gothic castles, cultural festivals and not to forget the German beer make Germany a worthwhile destination for an amazing solo hitchhiking experience.
Israel
Israel’s ever-present border tensions with its neighbours makes you wonder should it be on this list? For all the conflicts surrounding the Israelian borders, it is one of the safest countries for solo travelling.
Thousands of people, especially the Jews visit every year to the holy Jewish shrines and synagogues. Hitchhiking is very common throughout Israel and people often don’t mind offering rides to strangers.
Hitching rides is easy, especially if you stand at designated spots called ‘Trempiyadas’ which you can find across every intersection or a bus stop. The average time to get a ride is between 10-15 min and most people will stop the car to help you out in some way or the other.
Romania
Romania is the hidden gem of Europe. If you want to experience the real beauty of Central European countryside and lifestyle, then Romania is the country to start with.
With its mesmerising scenic landscapes and lush green countryside, Romania is home to the Dracula castle and some of the most beautiful roads in the world. So, hitchhiking in Romania isn’t just fun but also a religious experience for your soul.
Hitchhiking in Romania is surprisingly safe and the government has made it legal not to charge hitchhikers for a ride. The average time to get a ride is around 5-10 min and most Romanians are kind enough to offer you a ride or invite you to their homes.
Georgia
Another country on this list that is not talked much about in travelling circles is the beautiful country of Georgia. Georgia is home to some of the most scenic landscapes, ancient monasteries, sweet wine and one of the kindest souls on earth.
Hitchhiking in Georgia is super-fun and easy. It is surprising how fast one can hitch a ride in less than 5 min of average time. The Georgians are kind towards tourists and make sure you leave with some fond memories of your time in Georgia.
The Georgians are great at hospitality and most Georgians will kindly open their doors for you to relax and rejuvenate for a night.
Belgium
The land of waffles, beer, spaghetti and the best chocolate in the world is also one of the safest and easiest countries to hitchhike.
Hitchhiking as a way of travelling has again gained momentum in recent years due to encouragement from the government to control road traffic. So, it not just foreigners but also some locals who hitchhike from one place to another.
Thanks to Belgium’s dense road network, hitching a ride has become easier than ever. Most gas stations and internet cafes are open 24/7 so approaching people at late hours isn’t an issue.
Belgium is divided into three parts i.e the Dutch-speaking North, the French-speaking South and the German-speaking East. So, if you can speak any of these three languages then you are going to have a jolly good time in Belgium.
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Solo travelling is fun and nerve-racking experience. Although, most people don’t prefer to travel solo due to concerns of safety and comfort, it has got its own perks nonetheless. Personally, travelling solo is one of the things I have on my bucket list not just for the exhilarating experience it offers but also for a boost of confidence you get when you travel solo for the first time.
Have you guys traveled solo or hitchhiked alone in a country? If you have we would love to add precious tips to this post that would help hitchhikers around the world in planning their solo travels. Please let us know in the comment section.
