Boston topped charts as one of the loneliest cities in the United States, with over 38% of its residents living alone, placing it 30th in a national ranking. However, this statistic may not fully capture the city’s social landscape. New data suggests that while Bostonians may experience loneliness, they are far from being loners; in fact, Boston ranks as the second-best city in America for “all-by-yourself adventures.”
The study comes from OpenTable and Kayak, who collaboratively assessed data on options for solo adventures—ranging from safety and affordability to travel, local hotels, city excursions and dining options suitable for one. Table for 1 please!
The top 15 cities received an overall “solo travel score,” with Boston ranking second with a 74% solo travel score. Washington D.C. ranked first on the list of U.S. cities with a score of 100%. Boston’s recommended for solo travels interested in museums, sports, and “walking in pahks,” who crave lobster rolls, chowda, and cannoli. Average prices for individual travel were a large part of the assessment, these are typical rates for solo travelers in Boston:
- Round-trip air fare: $329
- Average nightly hotel rate: $350
- Average hotel rating from solo travelers: 7.6
- Average meal cost per person: $59
Boston, unsurprisingly, did have the highest average nightly hotel rate, ranking $20 to over $100 higher than most cities.
Recommended dining spots for solo travelers in Boston include:
- Beacon Hill Books & cafe
- Eataly’s La Pizza & La Pasta
- Little Whale
- Shy Bird
Overall these are the top 15 U.S. cities for solo travel:
- Washington D.C.
- Boston
- Chicago
- Atlanta
- Salt Lake CIty
- Tampa
- Philadelphia
- Seattle
- Los Angeles
- New York
- Denver
- Austin
- San Francisco
- Dallas
- Houston
Over 50% of Americans note they plan solo travels this year, so maybe this is your sign!