Solo Traveler Celebrates New Year in Lisbon

Chelsia Durkee spent New Year's Eve 2024 in Lisbon, Portugal, on a solo trip focused on connection and new experiences. After arriving on December 7 to avoid holiday price spikes, she used the Girl Gone International Facebook group to find companionship.

She joined a dinner with eight strangers from various countries before celebrating at Praça do Comércio. The experience led to lasting friendships and a shift in her approach to New Year's resolutions, prioritizing joy over rigid goals.

After spending two months traveling solo through London, Berlin, Amsterdam, Rome, Florence, and Prague earlier in 2024, Durkee returned home to San Francisco. However, her wanderlust quickly returned as she missed the walkable cities, slower lifestyle, and fresh food available in Europe.

She decided to spend mid-December to mid-January abroad. After researching the best cities for solo travelers, she selected Lisbon as her month-long home base. To avoid the holiday rush and inevitable price increases, she departed San Francisco on December 7 and planned to return approximately one week after New Year's Day.

The first two weeks of her trip included exploring local bookstores, navigating alleyways, and experiencing the vibrant art scene. She visited Livraria Bertrand and hiked to her local market. Because she arrived before peak tourist season, she experienced Christmas markets and festivities alongside locals rather than tourists.

As December 31 approached, Durkee began craving companionship. She logged onto Facebook and searched for the Girl Gone International Lisbon group. This online community for women traveling solo provided resources she had used previously, though this was her first time using a Facebook group specifically to find friends.

She discovered numerous posts from other solo travelers seeking New Year's companions. One post specifically caught her attention: a woman announcing she was "getting the girls together for a New Year's celebration" with a link to a WhatsApp group. The organizer's profile photo featured a dog, which Durkee took as a positive sign.

This connection led to a dinner with eight strangers at a table featuring steak and Douro Valley wine. The group represented diverse backgrounds, including travelers from the Netherlands, Serbia, and South Africa. They bonded quickly over shared travel interests and the night's energy. Additional travelers from the Facebook group joined them after dinner.

The group navigated their way to Praça do Comércio, the main square in Lisbon. The square was packed "like sardines," requiring the group to hold hands to avoid losing each other. One member held up a sign to help stragglers locate the group.

Amid the crowds, upbeat dance music, and cries of "Feliz Ano Novo," Durkee witnessed what she described as the most spectacular fireworks display of her life. She experienced a surge of gratitude while hugging and cheering with friends she had met only hours before.

Following the celebration, Durkee maintained contact with two solo travelers and one local for the remainder of her trip. They met multiple times to explore restaurants, visit parks, and take a day trip to see castles in Sintra.

The experience fundamentally changed Durkee's approach to the new year. In previous years, she felt pressure to set specific resolutions such as becoming fit, working harder, or changing her behavior. Instead, she focused on what actually brings her joy: adventure, global community, and authenticity.

The short-lived but intense connections allowed for rapid vulnerability and openness. Durkee noted the irony that leaving her country helped her realize she is never truly alone. She believes starting the year in a new country with new friends softened her approach to achieving goals.

While she plans to spend the next New Year's Eve locally with friends and family, Durkee stated she would happily celebrate again with strangers in a foreign country. She remains excited to continue bridging the gap between stranger and friend wherever she finds herself in the world.