Should You Think of Travel as a Hobby?
Before I get into what solo travel hobbies go best with travel, I thought I’d talk about whether or not solo travel should be considered a hobby, and why it matters to think about how you view travel before setting out on your own.
Viewing Travel As a Hobby
I’ve noticed that many people (especially first-time solo travelers) fall into this category. They tend to view travel as the “main event.” They view it as the only goal when thinking about travel.
I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with that, but when you treat travel as your main goal for traveling, The big question that eventually comes around is: What do you do when you get to your destination?
Of course, most people will have a list of things to see and do, but that list usually ends up consisting of tourist attractions and lines of people armed with selfie sticks.
Again, there’s nothing wrong with that experience (some tourist attractions are actually worth a selfie).
You might even make the argument that experiencing life in another place is enough to make solo travel your main goal.
Those are all valid reasons for wanting to travel solo, but I think it’s a missed opportunity if you decide to travel just for travels sake.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I think a big part of the allure that comes from travel is the unexpected nature that comes from the experience itself.
Obviously, you can’t plan for those types of situations, but if you approach travel in a more thoughtful or creative way, You can make those experiences that much more interesting.
That’s why hobbies and different approaches can set up your travels in a way where you will find yourself having more experiences that are unique to you personally. Making your travels feel more meaningful.
It would also increase the number of experiences you would have just based on the fact that you would be doing more than just sightseeing.
Combining Hobbies and Different Approaches With Solo Travel
A simple way of going about this is by thinking about your current hobbies and interests and finding a way to meld those activities into your travel experience.
If you think you don’t have any current hobbies that could be combined with travel, It might be time to pick up a new hobby with travel as the main theme.
So, what types of hobbies go well with travel? In the list below, I’ll list some hobbies that you can try yourself and how you can use those hobbies to approach travel in different ways.
*Note*
** I strongly urge whoever reads this to read the post in its entirety if you want the most helpful/interesting information. **
Contents:
1. Creative Hobbies
One of the most popular hobbies to take up are creative hobbies. I honestly think almost any type of creative hobby can benefit from travel.
The experiences you have while traveling can really spark that creative fire in you. Here are some creative hobbies to try and a couple of ways you can blend them into your travels:
Blogging/Creating Websites
You’ve probably considered this yourself, but creating your own blog or website is a great hobby to combine with travel.
As you can tell, this is the hobby that I chose as my go-to travel hobby. I’ve found that it’s a great way to brainstorm ideas and helps you think deeply about whatever you choose to blog about.
No matter what you decide to blog about, coming up with content and what to share with people can really change your perspective on how you approach your chosen subject matter.
Not only that, but blogging and website creation can be combined with almost any other hobby on this list, or any other list for that matter.
Just writing in general and coming up with topics can give you motivation to explore ideas and places you might have otherwise overlooked. It’s also a really good way to organize your thoughts.
Being able to see your thoughts displayed in front of you through blogging helps you put ideas together while also identifying gaps in your own thinking.
If you decide to make a blog or website, just remember that it can be about anything.
Of course, you would probably want to try your hand at travel blogging, but again, you can combine blogging with any other hobby.
Even travel blogging can be combined with another hobby. You can be a travel blogging sailor or a travel blogging nightlife enthusiast. The possibilities are endless.
To me, blogging is the perfect way to add more to another hobby while also adding more perspective to your own travels.
Art Appreciation
This isn’t a creative hobby in the traditional sense, but if you’re someone who loves learning about art and finds the creative process fascinating. This is the type of hobby that could easily turn into a passion.
Maybe you like artistic pieces that have an underlying meaning, or maybe you find pieces of art from the past that make you wonder about that specific period of history.
Even if you find art just mildly interesting, traveling to see the various types of artistic styles in the world can give you a greater appreciation of your surroundings. Everything from how cities are built to the chaotic beauty that comes from nature.
Learning about art also gives you insight into the culture of a specific place. A lot of artists base their creations on their experiences or views on a specific subject.
When you take that into consideration, it can say a lot about a person and the environment they’re from. This can give you a deeper appreciation for the experiences you have while traveling.
Digital Art
Digital art is perfect for traveling just because it’s something you can do anywhere as long as you have a laptop with an internet connection (having an internet connection isn’t always necessary).
Combined with travel; you can easily draw inspiration from anything you experience. You could even combine this with the previous hobbies on this list.
Here’s an example of some digital art hobbies that go well with travel:
- Digital Illustration/Painting
- Digital sculpting (sort of like sculpting an object from digital clay)
- Architectural visualization (making realistic 3D models of an architectural design)
- Concept art (animation, film, comics, etc.)
- Pixel Art
- Motion Graphics
- Abstract Digital Art
- Augmented reality (creating models or artwork that interact with the real world)
- Fantasy and Sci-Fi Art
- Digital Calligraphy/Lettering (creating original stylized digital lettering)
We live in an increasingly technological reality, so it makes sense to find ways to connect our experiences in real life with those of the digital world.
Using the places you visit and the experiences you have can easily make travel a constant source of inspiration.
With the added benefit of convenience, digital-based hobbies are perfect for someone who loves to travel.
Photography/Videography
Photography and videography are some of the most popular hobbies among travelers around the world.
Many travelers take up this hobby, but how many travelers actually dive into the world of photography and videography?
It’s easy to take a picture of you knocking over the Leaning Tower of Pisa, but what are some other ways you can use these hobbies to make your travels more exciting and eventful?
A good first step is to think about the various types of photography and videography.
Photography:
- Portrait photography – (taking photos of individuals with an emphasis on portraying their expressions and emotions) could be a good way to get to know people.
- Landscape photography – (this is likely the most popular type of photography) Trying to find picturesque landscapes can give you motivation to explore areas you might not have thought about exploring.
- Macro photography – (close-up photos of different objects) These types of photos highlight the finer details of an object. Which can make for some very interesting photos.
- Architectural photography – (good for people who have a passion for design)
- Street photography – (Taking photos of city life or daily life of a specific place)
- Fashion Photography – (If you’re into fashion, travel can expose you to all kinds of different fashion styles.)
- Wildlife photography – (Photos of animals in there natural habitat) may be the most adventurous type of photography. Taking photos of wildlife would definitely keep you on your toes while giving you endless motivation for adventure.
- Food Photography – (Exploring different cuisines is always fun; you can even take cooking classes)
- Documentary Photography – (Focused on culture, social issues, history etc.)
- Sports Photography – (photographing highlights from various sports around the world or photos of athletes from different cultures)
- Underwater Photography – (Taking photos of underwater life is almost like taking photos of another world)
- Still Life Photography – (Taking photos of inanimate objects arranged in an artistic way)
- Fine Art Photography – (Photos that serve as self-expression, often using abstract themes or concepts)
- Drone photography – (Great for taking photos of entire cities and landscapes)
- Night Photography – (Visiting places at different times of the day can provide unique photos and a different type of atmosphere)
Videography:
- Vlogging – (probably the most popular type of videomaking among travelers)
- Event videography – (taking videos of festivals and other events) This can be a good intro to vlogging.
- Music Video Production – (Learn about storytelling, visual effects, and music synchronization)
- Documentary Filmmaking
- Fashion Videography
- Sports Videography
- Food Videography
- Educational videos – (travel tutorials, video guides, historical guides)
- Drone Videos
- Time Lapse Videos
- Film Production – (You can use the techniques from film production to create more entertaining videos, or come up with an idea for a short film about a solo traveler)
- Automotive Videography – (making videos showing off custom-built cars or videos of you driving or riding around a foreign city) (Maybe even videos of you racing through streets around the world.)
As you can tell, many of the things you can capture in a photo can also be used as ideas for a compelling video.
Photography and videography just go hand in hand. Even if you only focus on one, you will most likely end up dabbling in the other.
You might even choose to do both to create something unique that uses aspects of both photography and videography.
Traditional Creative Hobbies
Maybe you’re the type of person who prefers the physical feel of pencil on paper or the flow of brush strokes on an empty canvas.
You can always opt to do it the old-fashioned way and practice the less technological forms of the hobbies above.
Besides maybe drawing and painting, the only issue you would have with the more traditional hobbies is that you might find it difficult to do these types of hobbies while constantly traveling.
Although, this could give you motivation to take in-person classes, which would also help by giving you more chances to meet new people.
So, If you decide to go the more traditional route when choosing a creative hobby, you should definitely think about the pros and cons of what that might entail.
Taking up a more “technology” focused creative hobby may be good if you like convenience and alone time, but on the other hand a more traditional creative hobby would be more physically involved and could potentially be a good way to meet other people.
2. Physical/Adventurous Hobbies
Maybe you’re looking for a more hands-on experience. You want to do activities that get your heart pumping and your body moving.
If being active is more your style, here are some physical activities that can make your travels more exciting:
Martial Arts
Imagine traveling to different countries just to practice the various types of martial arts used around the world.
You might even try to combine this with one of the creative hobbies above.
This would give you motivation to attend classes and competitions that would teach you more about the culture while also meeting others who might be into the same things.
Learning martial arts can also serve as a good way to stay physically fit. As a solo traveler, staying healthy isn’t just good for you. It’s essential if you plan on frequently traveling on your own.
Practicing martial arts would also teach you how to handle yourself in an altercation (if you ever find yourself in that situation). Hopefully it doesn’t come to that, but it never hurts to be prepared.
Also, just learning about martial arts and the philosophies behind them can provide a lot of insight. Learning discipline and control are only a few of the basic principles you’ll learn.
Martial arts are deeply influenced by the cultures that they originate from. Practicing martial arts can reveal aspects about certain cultures that you might find interesting.
Urban Exploration (Urbex)
If you’re looking for something a bit more adventurous, you can try exploring abandoned areas. These places can range from large building complexes to entire towns.
Exploring abandoned places is almost like going back in time. Walking through abandoned buildings gives you a sense of what life must have been like during that time.
You’ll see things like buildings, signs, and roads that were designed in a way that you just don’t see anymore.
You might find all sorts of items, from abandoned vehicles to old photos and other items that haven’t existed in years.
It’s almost like finding clues about the lives of the people who were there—like a puzzle with missing pieces you’ll never find. It gives off a sense of solemn wonder which feels a bit melancholic.
I know how that sounds, and it doesn’t seem like the most positive of experiences, but exploring abandoned locations makes you think about life in general and how much the world can change (or stay the same).
Experiencing moments like that can be really thought provoking, almost surreal, when thinking about the different lives that made a place what it once was.
The Excitement of Discovery
Exploring these types of places also gives you that feeling of excitement you get when discovering something new or exploring a place that’s off-limits.
It’s hard to put into words, but exploring these types of places just gives you a feeling like your on some sort of adventure mixed with a bit of mystery.
Why was this place abandoned? Where did all the people go? What would I find while exploring?
Some places may even be off-limits, and depending on the type of person you are, this might just add to that feeling of excitement while also adding more to the mystery.
The only thing I would say, is that you should always consider your personal safety and the consequences of potentially breaking laws that might land you into trouble.
But if urban exploration still sounds like something that you would be into, you should definitely understand the risks that come with Urbex.
Urban exploration (Urbex) is for people who really seek out that sense of adventure that comes from traveling. Someone who would enjoy this type of activity is someone who really wants to emphasize the “adventure” part of solo travel.
Hostel/Hotel/Airbnb Hopping
This isn’t exactly a hobby, but more of a different approach to travel. I actually did this because I wasn’t sure if I wanted to stay at a hotel or a hostel/Airbnb.
Just to give you a better idea of how this approach could benefit your travels.
I decided to plan a solo trip to Lisbon, Portugal, and was having a hard time deciding on what would be best.
The plan was to stay at a hostel for a couple nights, since it was something I had never experienced at the time. Then stay at an Airbnb in a more local neighborhood, and then switch over to your more standard tourist hotel.
This proved to be a really eventful experience. I immediately made friends with some of the other guests in both the hostel and the Airbnb.
I eventually ended up traveling with them around the city and the rest of the country.
I also learned more about Portugal and other parts of Europe through conversations with the many people I met while staying in various different places.
I’m leaving out a lot of other details, but this was all within my first week of staying in Lisbon.
Doing this allowed me to explore the city and meet people in a way that just wouldn’t have been possible if I had decided to only stay in one location.
The most important part about this was that it all felt more natural as opposed to just going out and hopefully meeting people I connected with.
Now, just to be clear, I’m not saying this is a guaranteed way to meet people and have a good time, but it’s something that anyone can do to allow for more of those types of situations to happen.
If you’re new to solo travel, you should definitely give this approach a try. Taking chances like this is a big part of the solo travel experience.
Biking
Combining both exercise and an alternative way to get around. Riding a bike to explore a city gives you a different feeling than driving or walking.
If you decide to travel by car, you will have to worry about things like parking, gas, traffic, and all of the other responsibilities that come with driving (even more so if you’re driving in a rental).
Of course, it depends on where you’re going and what you want to do, but if you’re a solo traveler looking to explore a city on your own, biking is a good way to do exactly that.
It’s faster than walking, but it still offers a similar experience, and it offers more freedom to explore than driving your car in traffic would.
You might even decide to take riding a bike a step further and look into the various types of biking hobbies that others enjoy.
Biking Hobbies:
- Bike-packing – (think backpacking, but with a bike)
- BMX
- Urban cycling – (explore a city on bike)
- Mountain Biking
- Downhill mountain Biking
- Freeride Biking – (mountain biking with an emphasis on stunts and jumps)
- Group Rides
- Touring – (long distance cycling; think multi-day biking trips)
- Off-Road Biking
- Cyclocross – (bike racing involving different types of terrain)
- Fat biking – (riding bikes with oversized tires on terrain like sand or snow)
Even if you decide not to participate in these types of hobbies, riding a bike just to explore is still an experience that gives off a different feeling.
That feeling of gliding down a street on a bike while the wind rushes around you—it feels oddly satisfying. Especially if you don’t normally ride bikes or haven’t rode a bike in a while.
Night Walks
I’ve found that taking walks at night is actually more peaceful and quiet than taking walks in the day.
If you’re the type of solo traveler who finds comfort in a quiet atmosphere, taking walks at night is perfect if you want to be active but still maintain the peace and quiet of staying indoors.
Exploring at night can also give certain places a completely different atmosphere. When exploring at night you might experience a whole different side to a place that might surprise you (for better or worse).
Not to mention the people you meet could be part of a completely different crowd than the people you meet in the day. This is a good way to shake things up if your travels start to feel a little dull.
The only negatives associated with indulging in the night life is the risk that comes with that type of lifestyle, but just like anything else there are pros that come with the cons.
An Overlooked Skill
Even though exploring at night tends to be a bit more dangerous than adventuring in the day, Exploring at night lets you practice a skill that many first-time solo travelers either lack or need to improve.
What skill is that you might ask?
It’s the world renowned skill of being “street smart”. I’ve noticed too many travelers who are either completely clueless or severely lack any competence in navigating situations that call for this sort of finesse.
This is a skill that many travelers tend to overlook. Which is understandable depending on where and how you were raised or what your life was like before deciding to hop on the solo travel bandwagon.
But it’s still something that I think every traveler (even more so for solo travelers) should understand or at least put more effort into being aware about.
Yes, doing this would mean taking on more risk in your travels, but if you’ve already decided to travel solo then you’ve already decided to take on a huge risk just based off that decision.
Not only that, but taking a risk is what makes travel a great way to learn about life. You can’t expect to gain anything without taking a couple risks every now and then.
Skating/Snowboarding/Surfing Etc.
These types of hobbies are great for solo travelers due to the fact that they really only require yourself and the board of your choice.
Hobbies like these are also highly popular sports around the world. If you start feeling a little lonely practicing on your own, you could join communities dedicated to any of these board sports.
I think the only negative associated with board sports is the somewhat difficult learning curve required to really enjoy these types of hobbies.
Which might turn some people off, but I like to think of it as a challenge worth overcoming. Especially if you want to participate in a sport where you can enjoy your own company while also having the option of being part of a highly active community.
Learning these hobbies would also give you a strong sense of satisfaction if you’re able to overcome the learning curve associated with riding a board.
3. Relaxing Hobbies
If you decide to solo travel frequently, you’ll find that it can eventually get draining both physically and mentally.
It’s good to have another hobby that you can relax with while shutting your mind off from travel.
Even if you don’t solo travel as much, it’s good to have a hobby you can do on your own or when downtime presents itself while traveling.
The list below shows hobbies you can do almost anywhere while giving yourself a break from the hectic nature of travel.
Read More
So this one seems like an easy, no-brainer option, but there are still a lot of people who don’t really like reading on their down time.
Especially people who tend to be very active (of course, I’m not speaking about everyone).
If you’re one of these people who has yet to take up the tried and true art of literature, travel could be a great place to start.
One of the best ways to do this while traveling is to buy a Kindle (or similar device) and start looking up books on subjects that hold your interest.
Although this hobby is very popular among people all over the world, I still think there are many people out there who don’t read enough.
If you decide to travel solo, this could be a hobby that could not only benefit your mental health but also help you relax and wind down from a long day of travel.
Audio Books/Podcasts
Maybe you’re more of a listener, or maybe you don’t want to be distracted by a tablet or book in your hand.
I’ve had moments like that myself. If you find yourself in similar situations (as most of us do), listening to audiobooks could be a great way to learn about something while still being partially aware of your surroundings.
Podcasts, on the other hand, seem to be more for entertainment purposes (at least in my experience). I’m sure there are podcasts that lean more towards learning, but I tend to listen to them for things like comedy or opinions or speculation about different subjects.
I tend to do a mix of traditional reading and audio books and podcasts. I find that traditional reading is more enjoyable in a quiet space alone, while audio books and podcasts are good for airports, planes, or other busy waiting areas where you might need to be more alert.
Videogames
With the rise in popularity of portable gaming consoles like the Nintendo Switch or ROG Ally, getting into gaming is a good way to relax and kill some time while alone or sitting through a long commute while traveling.
You might even decide to purchase a controller attachment for your smart phone if you aren’t willing to purchase a handheld PC console, but if you do see yourself as a gaming enthusiast, I highly recommend investing in a handheld gaming PC like the ROG Ally.
A Use Other Than Gaming?
If you do have the strong desire to travel but also love gaming, PC handhelds are perfect for your solo travels. Not only are they specifically made for playing high-quality PC games, but they can also be used like a normal PC or laptop.
Handheld PC consoles like the ROG Ally are exactly what the name implies: a handheld PC.
You can surf the internet, run a blog, watch shows, listen to music, and pretty much anything you can do with a normal computer or laptop, you can do on a PC handheld.
If you also own a computer or laptop that might be a little dated, there’s a good chance a PC handheld is actually more powerful than your old laptop while also being much more portable and cheaper than buying a brand new laptop!
If you picture yourself as a solo traveling gaming enthusiast, then it just makes sense to invest in a handheld PC gaming console for your travels.
Have a Good Conversation
Not really a hobby in the traditional sense, and admittedly, this one is more of a challenge to accomplish than the other hobbies on this list (depending on your personality),
But if you’re able to strike up conversations with random people and consider yourself a social butterfly, it can feel good to just have a genuine conversation with another person.
You never know; being friendly with the right person can lead to a surprisingly enjoyable experience down the road. Even if it doesn’t pan out in that way, it feels good to relax and have a good conversation with someone.
But How Do I Go about Doing This?
So where do you go to meet people who are willing to have these conversations?
I’d say the easiest way to find places like this is through the other hobbies mentioned above, but I’ve had a lot of success at places like local bars, hostels, and even with Uber drivers during Uber rides!
The thing that people who struggle with this don’t seem to realize is that it isn’t really about finding a place to do this, but more about your approach and finding the right moment to have that conversation while also having a non-judgmental, friendly demeanor.
There’s a lot to unpack concerning this topic, but basically, it’s all around a good way to relax when you’re able to befriend someone just by striking up a conversation with them.
It’s an oddly satisfying feeling of happiness when you meet someone and share a connection with them. Even if it isn’t the deepest connection, it still feels good and makes you feel good about yourself.
When I travel to a new place, I always try to keep track of how many genuine conversations I can have with the people I meet. Of course, there are good and bad days, but the good days are more than enough to balance out the bad.
Cards, Puzzles, Word, and Board Games
These are great for passing the time, and they are also great for people who like the satisfaction of solving a puzzle or need a more mentally stimulating way to spend their down time.
The best part about these types of hobbies is that they most likely have an app version that you can download to your smartphone for even more convenience.
Also, playing these types of games is known to be good for brain health, keeping your mind sharp by increasing things like memory and all sorts of other benefits associated with mental cognition.
Writing
Another great way to relax from an extensive travel experience. Writing can be great for self-expression, which in turn helps with stress and mental well-being.
You can make a blog (which I prefer, as you can tell), start a journal, or even go into creative writing with things like poetry, short stories, and even music.
The world of the written word is endless, limited only by how far your imagination can go.
Other Hobbies?
There are tons of other hobbies out there, each with their own different subgenres. The hobbies above are just some of the ones that I’ve either tried myself or ones that I think would go great with a solo travel lifestyle.
Try combining the hobbies above (or other hobbies that aren’t listed here) to make a more unique hobby. Or you can substitute some of the hobbies from other categories into another.
Maybe a physical or adventurous hobby is more of a relaxing hobby for you personally. Or you can combine a creative hobby with a physical hobby to make it more interesting.
My goal with this post was to make new solo travelers think about how they can make their travels more enjoyable and interesting by thinking about what hobbies they can do while traveling and how hobbies can be just as important as travel itself.
Hobbies can give you ideas on how to approach travel in more inventive ways, which would help newbie solo travelers make the experiences they have all the more meaningful.
If you want to read more on solo travel tips visit the main site at Traks&Paks.com.
