Region in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
Dordogne for solo travelers
Is Dordogne good for solo travel?
Castles, prehistoric caves and river villages, best with a car from Sarlat-la-Canéda or Périgueux. Slow, affordable and popular with British expats; public transport is limited and winter is quiet.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 3/5 · Good, with some effort |
|---|---|
| Locals | Friendly |
| English | Common in tourist areas |
| Safety | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Solo women | Very comfortable for solo women, though rural isolation means planning transport back after dinner. |
How to meet people in Dordogne
Markets in Sarlat, canoe trips and guided cave tours, walking and cycling clubs, gîte and farm stays with shared meals, and expat groups.
Good things to do alone
- Canoe the Dordogne from Vitrac to Beynac
- Visit Lascaux IV
- Walk the Beynac castle road
- Shop Saturday market in Sarlat
- Taste walnut and truffle products
Where to stay in Dordogne
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Sarlat-la-Canéda old town | Medieval center with markets and easy access to caves and castles |
| Périgueux | Regional capital with trains and cheaper rents |
| Les Eyzies / Vézère valley | Caves and prehistory; quiet stays with a car |
Solo travel across France
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| Paris | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Nice | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Provence | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| French Riviera | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Lyon | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Marseille | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Bordeaux | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Strasbourg | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Chamonix | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Annecy | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Corsica | 4/5 | Limited |
| Aix-en-Provence | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Toulouse | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Loire Valley | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Normandy | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Montpellier | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Avignon | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Biarritz | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Colmar | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Antibes | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Nantes | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Lille | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Brittany | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Cannes | 3/5 | Widely spoken |
| Saint-Tropez | 3/5 | Widely spoken |
| Carcassonne | 3/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Dordogne | 3/5 | Common in tourist areas |
Quick answers
Is Dordogne good for solo travelers?
Good, with some effort (3/5). Castles, prehistoric caves and river villages, best with a car from Sarlat-la-Canéda or Périgueux.
How do you meet people in Dordogne?
Markets in Sarlat, canoe trips and guided cave tours, walking and cycling clubs, gîte and farm stays with shared meals, and expat groups. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in Dordogne?
Common in tourist areas.
Is Dordogne safe for solo female travelers?
Very comfortable for solo women, though rural isolation means planning transport back after dinner.
More about Dordogne
Going to Dordogne solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Dordogne 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.