In Berlin, I booked an Airbnb outside the city, and in Vienna, I booked an Airbnb in the heart of the city. I found the latter made it easier to explore on its own.
Airbnb and author’s neighborhood in Germany (L) and Austria (R).
Joey Hadden/Insider
When traveling solo, I think it’s really important to be intentional where you are staying. For my European adventure, I booked a combination of Airbnbs inside and outside the city center to give me a chance to see what life is like in the surrounding area, as well as in the heart of the city.
I found going back and forth from Airbnbs to small villages with my partner later in the trip felt like a little adventure each time, where we could bond about what we had just seen or were on the point of seeing. But traveling alone, these hikes felt more mundane, like wasting time and energy that I could have spent exploring.
In Berlin, I booked a small homestay hotel in Neustrelitz, a small town outside the city. I traveled to and from Berlin by train, which took about an hour and a half for each leg of the trip, as well as a 20 minute walk from Neustrelitz station to my Airbnb. While I was glad I got to experience Neustrelitz, where I spotted occasional backpackers among most of the locals, it made my trip more difficult. While Berlin offered a mix of English and German signs, everything in Neustrelitz seemed to be in German, which I don’t speak.
Inside my Airbnb, all directions and guides were also in German, so I had to use a translator app to figure out how to use the Wi-Fi. I also thought staying away from the city center reduced my days in Berlin, as I had a long drive home each evening.
When I arrived in Vienna I stayed in an Airstream trailer outside a hotel in the heart of the city. I thought it made it much easier to explore Vienna from early morning until evening since I could access my Airbnb anytime to rest. Although I didn’t think my trailer was as quiet as Neustrelitz, I left Vienna feeling like I had a better sense of the city than in Berlin.
Although staying out of town can be an adventure, I recommend first-time solo travelers to stay in the center to make their trip easier.
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