Solo Travelers: Tips to Public Transportation

Tips to Prepare for Your Solo Traveling Adventure

Solo traveling is the perfect opportunity to reconnect with yourself while discovering new cultures, wildlife and landscapes. However, traveling alone can be nerve-wracking, especially if it’s your first time. Follow these solo travel tips when planning your trip before you go to ensure you have a safe and memorable experience:

• Research destinations carefully: To prepare for your solo journey, take time to research different destinations around the world to assess both the attractions you’re interested in seeing and the safety and public transportation infrastructure.
• Plan your transportation: If you’re going overseas or a long distance, book your flights well in advance to get favorable prices and seats. Additionally, look into your location’s public transportation options, such as metros, buses and ride-sharing availability, to ensure you can navigate from place to place with ease.
• Stay connected: Contact your phone provider to set up an international phone plan or get an international SIM card. This way, you can share your itinerary with loved ones and stay connected throughout your travels to ensure your safety.
• Pack light: Pack versatile clothing that you can easily layer to save room in your luggage and prepare for varying weather patterns and activities. Consider investing in an anti-theft bag or money belt to securely store cash, cards and essential travel documents.
• Stay flexible: Plan an itinerary that hits all of the major attractions you want to see, but make sure to leave some extra room to rest, recharge and enjoy spontaneous adventures. This way, you can stay energized and explore off-the-beaten-path attractions that make for unforgettable memories.

Cities with the Best and Worst Public Transportation​

Public transportation systems can vary significantly across different regions in terms of efficiency, coverage, affordability and reliability. Below are some of the best and worst public transportation networks around the world to be aware of when solo traveling.

Public Transportation in the US and Canada

Several metropolises in the U.S. and Canada are known for their public transportation networks, whether good or bad. To start, some of the best include:

• New York City: Perhaps one of the most famous public transportation networks in the world is the New York City subway, which operates 24/7 and has extensive coverage across all five boroughs. Along with the subway, the NYC transit network includes buses, ferries and commuter rails.
• Toronto, Canada: The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) offers subways, buses and streetcars to navigate the city and neighboring suburbs. It is also known for its safety and cleanliness.

While these are some of the best public transit networks in the U.S. and Canada, there are several in the U.S. and Canada that aren’t as reliable, including:

• Los Angeles, California: While the bus and rail system is improving, LA’s public transportation network continues to struggle with poor coverage and infrequent service, causing a heavy reliance on cars.
• Edmonton, Canada: The light rail system in Edmonton is known for its frequent service delays, with the city struggling to keep up with its growing population.

Public Transportation in Europe

European cities are known for their extensive public transit networks that make it easy for residents and tourists to navigate their cities. Here are some of the best public transportation networks in Europe:

• Paris, France: The Paris metro is one of the densest in the world, making it highly accessible and easy to navigate to popular attractions like the Louvre, Eiffel Tower and beyond.
• London, England: The London Underground, also known as the “Tube,” is a comprehensive metro network that’s supported by an extensive bus and light rail network.

While London and Paris are included in some of the top, some of the worst European public transit networks include:

• Naples, Italy: Public transportation in Naples is known for its delays, overcrowding and maintenance issues, which create an inconsistent travel experience.
• Athens, Greece: While the metro is decent, Athens’ bus and tram networks are unreliable, and heavy traffic can cause delays.

Public Transportation in Latin America

Some of the top public transportation systems in Latin America include:

• Mexico City, Mexico: Extremely affordable and easy to navigate, Mexico’s capital has reliable public transportation, but it can get crowded during peak rush hour.
• Santiago, Chile: Santiago’s metro system is known for its cleanliness and efficiency, and while its bus system is also clean and reliable, heavy congestion and traffic can cause delays.

Some public transportation systems to avoid in Latin America include:

• São Paulo, Brazil: Unfortunately, São Paulo’s metro and bus system lacks extensive coverage and is criticized for being overcrowded and of low quality.
• Lima, Peru: Lima’s public transportation network is complex, making it difficult to navigate, forcing heavy reliance on unregulated and chaotic bus routes.

Public Transportation in Asia and Africa

Public transportation networks in Asia and Africa that are known for their quality include:

• Tokyo, Japan: What makes Japan so famous for travelers is perhaps its extremely efficient, clean, and safe public transit network. In Tokyo, you can find punctual, efficient and clean metros, along with a high-speed rail that connects most of the country.
• Seoul, South Korea: With free Wi-Fi, heated seats and an easy-to-navigate system, Seoul’s public transportation system is perhaps the most advanced in the world.
• Cape Town, South Africa: The MyCiTi public transportation system is known for being reliable and safe, making it easy for travelers and residents to get from place to place.

Some of the worst public transportation systems in Asia and Africa include:

• Cairo, Egypt: The metro in Cairo only has a few reliable options but is severely overcrowded and lacks expansion to many urban areas.
• Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: While extremely affordable, public transit in Ho Chi Minh can be overcrowded and complicated to navigate.

Public Transportation in Australia and the Pacific

The best public transportation in Australia and the Pacific include:

• Sydney: With a well-developed train, ferry and bus network, Sydney has reliable and safe options for navigating the city, allowing you to see everything from the Sydney Opera House to the Sydney Harbour Bridge with ease. However, it can be expensive.
• Auckland, New Zealand: While still not perfect, Auckland’s public transit system is improving with better rail and bus services.

Some of the worst include:

• Perth, Australia: There are limited public transportation options in Perth to choose from, resulting in a heavy reliance on cars.
• Brisbane, Australia: While the TransLink go card makes it easy to travel on the bus, ferry and rail systems, it’s known for being infrequent and unreliable, especially to suburbs.

Best Places to Solo Travel

Wondering where the best places to solo travel are in the world? To start, consider the ones with the best public transportation networks, which make it fast and easy to navigate between attractions at a low cost. Some recommendations include:

• Japan
• Portugal
• Iceland
• New Zealand
• Thailand
• Canada
• The Netherlands
• South Korea

Learning Adventures for Solo Travelers

At Road Scholar, you can trust our experts to guide you on your next adventure. When solo traveling with a group, you can explore on your own terms while having the ability to socialize and interact with others when preferred. Browse our collections today to find an experiential learning program that speaks to you.