City in Michigan, United States
Detroit for solo travelers
Is Detroit good for solo travel?
Motown, art, architecture and cheap rents for a major US city, with a revitalised downtown and Midtown. Cars rule, winters are harsh and safety varies sharply by neighborhood.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 4/5 · Very good for solo travel |
|---|---|
| Locals | Friendly |
| English | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Safety | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Solo women | Fine in busy central areas with normal care; use rideshare late and avoid isolated parking structures. |
How to meet people in Detroit
Music venues and record shops in Midtown and Corktown, run clubs, coworking events at Bamboo Detroit, and neighborhood cafés. Locals are proud and chatty.
Good things to do alone
- Tour the Motown Museum at Hitsville U.S.A.
- See Diego Rivera murals at the Detroit Institute of Arts
- Eat at Eastern Market on Saturday morning
- Walk the Detroit RiverWalk and Belle Isle
- See a show at the Fillmore or small jazz clubs
Where to stay in Detroit
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Downtown and Midtown | First visits: museums, restaurants, QLine, Wayne State campus |
| Corktown | Oldest neighborhood: cafés, bars, Michigan Central Station |
| Eastern Market | Food market, murals and weekend crowds |
| Ferndale (suburb) | LGBTQ-friendly, walkable and nightlife-rich, 20 min north |
Solo travel across United States
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| New York City | 5/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Nashville | 5/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Austin | 5/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Las Vegas | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Los Angeles | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Miami | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| San Francisco | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Honolulu | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Washington, D.C. | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Chicago | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Boston | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| New Orleans | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| San Diego | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Seattle | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Miami Beach | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Key West | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Denver | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Philadelphia | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Portland | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Atlanta | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Charleston | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Savannah | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Fort Lauderdale | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Kauai | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Big Island | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Sedona | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Detroit | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Orlando | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Maui | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| San Antonio | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
Quick answers
Is Detroit good for solo travelers?
Very good for solo travel (4/5). Motown, art, architecture and cheap rents for a major US city, with a revitalised downtown and Midtown.
How do you meet people in Detroit?
Music venues and record shops in Midtown and Corktown, run clubs, coworking events at Bamboo Detroit, and neighborhood cafés. Locals are proud and chatty. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in Detroit?
Spoken almost everywhere.
Is Detroit safe for solo female travelers?
Fine in busy central areas with normal care; use rideshare late and avoid isolated parking structures.
More about Detroit
Going to Detroit solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Detroit meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
Ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.