10 Best European Cities for Solo Travel After a Breakup

Those looking to heal their broken hearts after a breakup are turning to solo travel trips, or heartbreak holidays – the latest trend seeing a surge in interest. 

After a breakup, many of us want to escape our city or hometown and travel to a new destination for some relaxation, healing and fun. But which destinations are the best places to visit if you want to heal a broken heart? 

Well, the team at Iglu Cruise has revealed the best heartbreak destinations in Europe for a solo trip. To do this, the team researched the following for every capital city in Europe (44 in total):

• Safety (Wellbeing Score)
• Number of Museums & Cultural Activities (Culture Score)
• Number of Spas & Wellness Facilities (Wellness Score)
• Number of Tourist Attractions (Fun Score)

The cities were scored from 1 to 10  points (10 being the best) for each criterion, with a total possible final score of 40 points. Here are the results:

Data: Iglu Cruise

1. Prague, Czech Republic 

Prague, Czech Republic, is the number one destination for a solo trip to recover from heartbreak. 

Prague scored higher than all the other cities for safety, with a rating of 7.5. Prague also has the second-most museums and cultural activities, after Berlin. This includes the Lobkowicz Palace, the oldest and largest art collection in the Czech Republic, which showcases over 700 years of Czech and European history. 

Prague also had the second-highest number of tourist attractions, after Rome, with 4,759. Highlights of a trip to the Czech capital include visiting Prague Castle, the biggest castle in Europe, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, which contains over 700 rooms. Charles Bridge is another iconic tourist attraction in Prague. This lively bridge, filled with musicians, painters, and vendors, connects the Old Town with the Lesser Town. 

2. Berlin, Germany

Berlin, Germany, ranked as the second-best heartbreak destination, joint with Rome. 

For those planning a cultural trip, Berlin has the highest number of museums and cultural activities of any other European capital, with 605. Some of the most famous museums in the capital include the Pergamon Museum, an impressive reconstruction of ancient architecture, and the Neues Museum, home to Egyptian and classical artefacts. 

While Berlin ranked eighth overall for safety, the German capital scored highly for the number of spas, with 426. One of the most popular is Vabali Spa, which offers more than 20,000 square meters of relaxation, including 10 saunas, three steam baths and four swimming pools. 

Berlin also scored highly for the total number of tourist attractions, with 4,686. A highlight is the Berlin TV tower, which offers panoramic views of the city, 200 metres above ground level. The Sphere restaurant, located inside, also offers freshly prepared international dishes and Berlin specialities.

3. Rome, Italy

In joint second place is Rome, Italy. Rome is the top city overall for the number of spas and wellness facilities, with 511 total, making the Italian capital the perfect destination if you’re looking to relax and unwind. One highlight is the Trilussa Palace Hotel, which is open 24 hours a day, with three themed wellness areas in total: Moon, Maya and Domus Spa. 

Rome also ranked first for the number of tourist attractions in the city, with 8,098. This includes activities such as pasta-making classes, food and wine tours, opera concerts and private sightseeing tours.

In terms of museums and cultural activities, Rome has a rich history dating back almost 3,000 years. Those visiting can explore a variety of museums and landmarks of cultural significance, including the iconic Colosseum, Trevi Fountain and Galleria Borghese, Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant’Angelo and Musei Capitolini. 

4. Madrid, Spain 

Madrid, Spain, is the fourth-best city to visit to recover from a heartbreak. 

The Spanish capital ranks third for the number of spas and wellness, with 375. One of the highest-rated, awarded five stars by TripAdvisor, is the Lush Spa Madrid, located in the city centre near Puerta del Sol. This offers several treatments using Lush products based on fresh ingredients, such as butters and oils to calm, smooth and relax the body.

Madrid has 245 museums and cultural activities in total. Among these include the Prado Museum, a world-renowned venue which showcases one of the largest art collections in the world, and is best known for its diverse assortment of works by Velázquez, Goya and El Greco. 

You’ll also find 4,681 tourist attractions in Madrid. Highlights include Retiro Park, a peaceful urban park centred around a huge lake, a perfect place to unwind, and Mercado San Miguel. This wholesale food market comprises traditional tapas bars, seafood stalls, artisan bakeries, quality butchers, and an array of booths selling other fresh ingredients.

5. Amsterdam, Netherlands 

Amsterdam is the third-safest city on the list, scoring a 7.3, and overall was ranked the fifth-best city to visit after a breakup. 

There is plenty on offer in the Dutch capital, including 4,026 tourist attractions. A visit to The Jordaan District, a charming neighbourhood in Amsterdam’s Greenwich Village, with narrow alleys, canals lined with 17th-century houses, speciality shops, cafes and designer boutiques, is a must-do.

On top of that, Amsterdam is another city with a rich history, and is home to 326 museums and cultural activities. These include the Anne Frank House, Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum, the national museum of the Netherlands dedicated to Dutch arts and history. 

6. Lisbon, Portugal

In sixth place is Lisbon, Portugal. 

Lisbon has a safety rating of 6.8 and is home to 258 spas and wellness facilities. Among these is EcoMassage Lisbon, which offers 20-minute massage sessions or special treatments of up to 1 hour, making it a great choice for those looking for a quick treatment while they explore the beautiful Portuguese capital. 

You’ll find 4,520 tourist attractions in the city, including the highly-commended Oceanário de Lisboa, a world-renowned public aquarium featuring over 15,000 marine creatures from 500 species. Not only is this one of the largest aquariums in Europe, but also one of the most-visited attractions in Portugal.  It has also been awarded the “Best Aquarium in the World” three times by TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice.  

For those looking for some culture, visitors can explore the Calouste Gulbenkian Art Museum, home to more than six thousand pieces, including Egyptian Art, Greco-Roman Art, Islamic Arts, Painting, Sculpture and European Decorative Arts.

7. Vienna, Austria 

The next heartbreak destination on the list is Vienna, Austria, often known as the City of Music. 

Vienna ranked as one of the safest cities on the list, scoring 7.4 out of 10. There are 2,690 tourist attractions in the city, including the Vienna State Opera House, where guests can travel back to the 18th century to watch a performance from the Vienna Mozart Orchestra as they perform Mozart’s famous works while dressed in period costumes.

The Austrian capital is also home to a number of museums and cultural institutions. These include the Belvedere Museum, one of Europe’s most stunning Baroque landmarks and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Kunsthistorisches Museum, which features major works by Dürer, Raphael, Titian and Velázquez, as well as the world’s largest collection of Bruegel paintings. 

For those looking to relax, Vienna is home to 137 spas, many of which are thermal, known for their stress-reducing effects and healing properties. 

8. Budapest, Hungary 

Budapest, Hungary, is the eighth best destination to visit to heal from heartbreak. 

Famous for its stunning architecture, rich history, and vibrant nightlife, Budapest has a lot to offer. The city is home to 253 spas and wellness facilities because of its abundance of mineral-rich thermal springs, its historical Ottoman bath culture, and the city’s long-standing development of its spas for tourism and healing since the 1930s. The warm, mineral-filled waters, which have curative properties, have attracted visitors for centuries, particularly the Széchenyi Baths and Pool, which opened in 1913. 

Iconic landmarks to visit in the Hungarian capital include the Hungarian Parliament Building, a neo-Gothic structure and proud city landmark on the banks of the Danube, and the Central Market Hall, one of the largest indoor markets in Budapest, which boasts beautiful neo-Gothic architecture. Budapest is also home to 190 museums and cultural activities. 

9. Warsaw, Poland

Warsaw, Poland, ranked in ninth place. 

After Prague, Warsaw was the second safest city on the list, with a safety score of 7.4 out of 10. Although the city ranked the lowest for both the number of museums and cultural activities and the number of tourist attractions, there’s still plenty to see. 

Highlights of a trip to Warsaw include a visit to the city’s Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a historic district featuring cobblestone streets, and meticulously reconstructed medieval and baroque buildings, centred around the Old Town Market Square and Castle Square. Key attractions include the Royal Castle, St. John’s Archcathedral, the Barbican fortifications, Sigismund’s Column, and the Warsaw Mermaid Statue. 

You’ll also find 237 spas in Warsaw, offering a range of experiences from traditional Balinese massages and saunas to large indoor and outdoor thermal pools.

10. Brussels, Belgium

Finally, Brussels, Belgium, rounds off the list as the tenth best city in Europe to recover from heartbreak. 

Brussels is widely recognised for its grand architecture, including the Grand Place and the Atomium, as well as its food scene, particularly its Belgian chocolates, waffles, and beers. It’s also known as the “capital of Europe” due to its role as the headquarters of the European Union. 

There are 2,031 tourist attractions in the city, which is considerably lower than the other cities on the list. However, Brussels is also a lot smaller than many other European capitals, at only 63 square miles, making transportation around the city easier. Things to do in Brussels include a visit to the Grand Place, considered one of the most beautiful medieval squares in Europe and the centre of the city, with many historic buildings dating from the 17th century. 

Brussels is also home to 286 museums and cultural activities and 128 spas. 

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