Solo traveling isn’t just limited to exploring new destinations and experiencing foreign cultures alone. It can also involve activities that people often limit to sharing with others, such as dining or partying alone. But this blog post is about a totally different experience – it’s about going to a music festival alone and making the best out of it.
Recently, I’ve been to Afro Nation in Portugal, a music festival I’ve had on my travel bucket list for a while. It was also my first time ever attending a music festival on my own. That’s why I’d like to share my experience, as well as the main takeaways and my tips with you so you’d benefit from them if you’re hoping to do the same thing one day.
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FAQs About Going to a Music Festival Alone
Is it normal to go to a music festival alone?
Yes, going to a music festival alone is actually completely normal! At first, I thought it would be normal for me because I’m a solo traveler and I’m kind of used to such experiences. However, at Afro Nation, I met so many people who were also going alone, and even some who were traveling alone for the first time too.
Is it safe to go to a music festival by yourself?
Solo travel poses a risk to personal safety, and that would also apply to going to a music festival alone. However, that risk remains existent even if you’re traveling with other people. That’s why it’s important to not worry much, to be able to enjoy your time, as long as you’re taking the right safety precautions.
How to enjoy a music festival alone?
Like I always say, traveling alone does not necessarily mean you’ll be bored. You can definitely enjoy a solo trip. After all, you’d be attending live performances by your favorite artists – how can you not enjoy that? Even if you’re an introvert, going to a music festival alone can still be an incredibly thrilling experience. And if you’re a social butterfly, then guess what… You will most likely make friends at the festival too.
How do you make friends at a festival alone?
Going to a music festival alone doesn’t mean you’ll be lonely. Believe it or not, making friends at a music festival is one of the easiest settings to make friends while solo traveling, in general, even if you’re not an extrovert. Simply because you’ll be in a place where there are literally thousands of people who share with you common interests. That means your chances of clicking are pretty high, and you even have a ton of conversation starters to break the ice.
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15 Tips for Going to a Music Festival Alone
The main 3 concerns you might have about going to a music festival alone are probably making friends, personal safety, and enjoying your time despite going solo. That’s why the following tips will directly, and indirectly, help you overcome these concerns.
#1 Stay in a hostel
Staying in a hostel is one of the best solo travel tips, in general, as it doesn’t just allow you to save money on accommodation, but also helps you make friends while traveling alone. And when you’re going to a music festival, I bet you’ll find other travelers going to the same festival in all the hostels in the area. For instance, when I went to Afro Nation 2023 in Portimao, every single other dorm mate of mine was also going to the festival. And guess what… They were all solo travelers too.
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#2 Opt for camping if it’s an option
If the festival has a campground and offers camping as an option, definitely go for it. Camping has several benefits – you’ll meet a lot of people and really bond; you won’t have to worry about the commuting struggle; and it’s a very fun experience on its own.
#3 Take part in activities
Most festivals usually hold side activities for entertainment besides stage performances. These could include things like yoga sessions, dance-offs, contests, and more. This is also a great way to meet people and make new friends.
#4 Join online communities
Every big event has an online presence, and the bigger the music festival, the more significant that presence will be. Be it on Facebook, Instagram, or even Reddit, hop on threads and you never know – you might make friends before even going to the festival. You’ll also get access to helpful information beforehand.
#5 Bring a festival totem
A festival totem is an attention-grabbing object that’s used as a beacon in such big events with sizable crowds. Its main purpose is to help friends find each other, especially since cell coverage is usually very poor at music festivals. So, when you make friends and decide to stick together but get separated for whatever reason, you can find each other again.
Another reason I love the totem idea is that the more creative and crafty you get, the more attention-grabbing it will be. Hence, this is another way to meet people as it’s a great conversation starter. Just make sure you’re considerate of other people when deciding what your totem is going to be. In other words, try to avoid anything that would block someone’s view or pose a safety hazard like poles. A totem doesn’t have to be a cardboard sign – it can also be as simple as your country’s flag, an extravagant accessory, or even a statement t-shirt.
#6 Share rides
When you meet other festival-goers at the hostel (and you will), try to share rides to and from the festival venue. Solo travel can be more costly because you don’t get to split expenses such as transportation, so commuting to the venue and back to the hostel with other travelers will save you a lot of money because the surge is usually higher around the time of such big events.
#7 Pick a meeting point
If you make new friends at the festival, make sure to pick a meeting point that you could go back to if you lose each other. This will come in handy the most if you get separated and need to regroup to go back to your hostel together. Cell coverage will most probably be unreliable, so this will be a real lifesaver.
#8 Be open to meeting new people
Wanting to make friends as a solo traveler isn’t enough – you need to be open to the idea. It’s all about the mindset! If you don’t seem friendly and inviting to others, they will definitely hesitate to approach you.
#9 Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself
On the other hand, you don’t have to wait for others to approach you – you can approach them instead. Don’t be shy and go strike up a conversation with someone. What’s the worse that could happen? You will most probably find a million ways to start a conversation – here are a few ideas:
- “Where are you from?”
- “Which artist/headliner are you most excited to see perform?”
- “How are you liking (insert destination) so far?”
- “I really like your outfit/totem/certain accessory.”
- Use someone’s flag as an excuse to greet the person if they’re from the same country as yours or speak the same language.
#10 Download an eSIM
Your trip will most likely be festival-focused, meaning that you’ll only be spending a few days in the destination where the event is held. That being said, it doesn’t make sense to buy a local sim card and go through that hassle. Instead, download an eSIM – it’s more practical, convenient, and still budget-friendly. I personally use Airalo – just download the app, purchase an eSIM, and follow the instructions to activate it. Just make sure your smartphone is eSIM-compatible first. Another eSIM I recommend would be Jetpac.
#11 Watch your drink
Spiking is, unfortunately, very common at music festivals. That’s why it’s very important to always keep an eye on your drink and not hand it to random strangers, especially if you’re a solo female traveler. Sometimes, unfortunately, going to a music festival alone means that you have to be extra cautious.
#12 Bring a power bank
This is probably the most essential item you should be carrying besides your phone and money. It’s inevitable that you will be using your phone a lot to shoot videos of your favorite performances and document your memories. And at the end of a long day, your battery might die. You want to prevent that from happening to be able to go back to your accommodation safely. Hence, the power bank!
#13 Bring both cash and cards
Stay on the safe side and carry both cash and cards for different reasons. For starters, it’s good to have a backup. So, in case you run out of cash, you’d have your card(s), and if your card doesn’t work for any reason, you’d have cash on you.
#14 Don’t carry too much
Speaking of things you’ll be bringing along, try not to carry too many items on you. You don’t want to lose any valuables, and you also want to be able to move freely. A fanny pack or a small cross bag with your essentials is more than enough!
#15 Take Breaks
A music festival is not a concert – you won’t get a good spot and that’s it for the rest of the day. Aside from the fact that you might need to go to the toilet, or go grab something to eat or drink, you need to move and change your place. You won’t necessarily want to see all the performances, and that’s the best time to take a break because you should! You’ll be standing and dancing all day long and you’ll need to rest to have enough stamina to power through.
I guess now that going to a music festival alone seems more doable, waiting for your friends is no longer an excuse. Drop a comment below and tell me which music festival(s) you have on your travel bucket list.
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Travel (solo or not) isn’t always rainbows and butterflies – things might go down south sometimes. You might fall ill or lose your luggage, and that’s when you’ll thank me for having your back covered with travel insurance.
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You might also like:
- Full Guide to the Hottest Afrobeats Music Festival, Afro Nation
- Having Anxiety About Traveling Alone? Here’s How to Overcome It
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Nadine is an Egyptian curly-head who decided to quit the norm because it just doesn’t suit her. She ditched her 9-5 as a magazine editor to pursue her dream of becoming a full-time digital nomad and to inspire aspiring travelers to embark on their own solo adventures.
I’ve traveled a couple of times completely alone but have never been to a music festival or any other kind
of festival alone. But just as I met so many people while traveling, I’m sure it’s easy to meet new friends at
a music festival! And yes I agree, staying in a hostel helps! 🙂
Actually meeting people at a festival was one of the easiest ways I met people on a trip. Probably because of shared interests and that everyone is super excited and having fun!
Great tips Nadine! I go to music festivals alone often (as a music journalist) and it can definitely be a fun
experience if you make it so – looks like you definitely made the best of yours :)!
Woww! Music journalist.. that sounds like a lot of fun!
These are some great tips! Especially having a meeting point! Can’t tell you how many times I’ve been
separated from my group at a music festival.
The meeting point sure helped a lot!