Traveling alone back in the day, before smartphones existed, was often a rather solitary and lonely experience. These days, things are very different, thanks to smartphones and the internet.
While some people who travel the world alone to remote destinations are comfortable with occasional feelings of loneliness — seeing it as an opportunity to connect with their inner selves and foster independence — the majority of solo travelers often find it difficult to cope with the dull moments of their journeys.
They often turn to their smartphones to engage in various digital activities ideas, which helps make solo travel feel less isolating.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the most popular digital joys that solo travelers like to engage in these days on their smartphones while on their adventures. These include everything from playing online games and using various travel apps to reading & researching, and connecting with others.
What are the most popular digital activities for solo travelers in 2025?
The term ‘digital activities’ can refer to many different things that anyone can do online from their smartphone or tablet device. Some digital activities require a stable internet connection, whereas others can be enjoyed offline.
Looking for a quick two-minute distraction? Dive into light-hearted entertainment with online games or your favorite tunes.
If you're up for a challenge, consider learning a new language. It might take months or even years, but it can be a rewarding adventure. There are plenty of digital activities to engage every type of traveler!
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Here are some of the most popular things to do in your spare time online from your smartphone:
Listen to music, watch shows, movies, podcasts, or documentaries, or browse video-sharing platforms like YouTube to watch random videos
Read an eBook
Educate yourself by enrolling in an online course
Play casual games, puzzle games, or any other online games that you might prefer, such as classic table and card games, triple-A blockbuster video games, or arcade games
Take part in online surveys or quizzes
Learn a new online skill, such as coding
Write articles, consider travel blogging, or be more creative and write a novel
Research something that you’re interested in
Connect with others (friends, relatives, colleagues, or new people) via social media platforms or by using various other socially interactive apps
As you can see, there’s no shortage of digital activities that solo travelers can actively engage in. All they need is a decent-working smartphone or tablet device with a stable Wi-Fi connection.
What are the different types of online games, and how do you know which sites are safe?
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These days, you can find countless digital entertainment platforms that can be accessed from various devices, and they all typically have thousands of games to suit all types of players.
For example, if you want to play classic table and card games, like roulette and blackjack, you are spoilt for choice. There are hundreds of legally permitted casino sites (aka iGaming websites or online casinos) — but some of these websites are far better and more secure than others.
Before randomly searching for a site that might not be fully licensed or regulated by a reputable gaming licensing authority, the safest thing is to see what the experts recommend.
You can now find plenty of reputable websites with honest, unbiased, accurate, and insightful reviews for today’s safest iGaming websites, one of which is the official AskGamblers expert reviews.
It provides players with the best recommendations for gaming sites, featuring thousands of computer-generated and live dealer games from various award-winning software providers.
The important thing to remember about sites like this is that online gambling laws vary around the world. So, while you may be able to play on some of these websites in your home country, you might not always be able to access them in certain countries you visit, due to local or international laws that may prohibit you from doing so.
The same goes for movie and TV show streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Paramount+, and Apple TV+. You may only be able to access certain movies and TV shows abroad due to international licensing laws.
For example, you might be able to watch the entire series of Friends on Netflix in the UK. But if you travel somewhere else, like Canada or Australia, and then log in to your Netflix account to continue watching Friends where you left off, you may not be able to.
Some online casinos or sportsbooks that you may have joined back home might be multi-jurisdictional, so you will still be able to log in to your account to play your favorite online slots, table and card games.
However, if the local laws restrict this kind of activity, or your favorite iGaming site isn’t licensed and regulated in the country where you currently stay, then unfortunately, you won’t be able to access the site or its services.
Which other digital activities are great for solo travelers?
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Besides playing games, reading books, learning new languages, watching movies and TV shows, staying in touch with people, or doing any of the other activities mentioned above, there are many different things that you can do.
You can edit some of the pictures or videos you have taken with your smartphone or use a mobile app to find the best local restaurants, events, accommodations, or tours. You can also use apps and websites to learn more about local cultures and activities.
Conclusion
Thanks to the internet and today’s powerful PC and mobile devices, the world has become a much smaller place. Therefore, traveling solo no longer has to be a lonely or solitary experience.
You can now use your smartphone or laptop to stay in touch with others, play games, watch movies, discover new things, and even work while you’re abroad. The options are almost limitless. There’s no reason to feel so lonely the next time you travel anywhere in the world on your own.
Disclaimer:
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