Disclosure: Advertising and affiliate services, including Amazon Associates, help the cost of running my blog. Clicking ads or making purchases through affiliate links may, at no additional cost to you, earn me a small commission. I appreciate your support.
Traveling is a lot of fun. You get to see new places, experience new cultures and meet new people. I don’t know about you, but that last one is sometimes a bit difficult for me. As a bit of an introvert I generally shy away from others, instead opting for my own company much of the time. I love the benefits of traveling solo but there are times when it can be lonely. Even a reclusive introvert needs some human contact and conversation some time. That’s why I want to share with you some of the best ways to make friends while traveling – from someone who’s done them all.
Solo travel vs. group travel
If I don’t want to be lonely, why not join a group travel experience? Simply put, I need my own time and space when I want it. I don’t like being on a strict itinerary, or put in impossibly awkward social situations that typically come with group travel. Tours, meals, free time, all with the same people. That’s a bit much for me. So I much prefer solo travel with a side of socialization. Hmm, maybe that’ll be my first book: Solo travel with a side of socialization. You heard it here first.
Social interaction while traveling
I know I’m at the point where I need some company when I linger on my conversations with shop staff or restaurant servers longer than I should. They only came to drop off the food and now I see them edging away, trying to get back to work. Or when it suddenly registers that in 3 days I’ve uttered only a dozen words and silently wonder if maybe I’ve lost the ability to speak. As I sing to myself walking down the street, ignoring the side-eye glances of the people who don’t realize I’m checking for laryngitis, I vow to make the next trip different. To include some social interaction into my itinerary.
That’s right, I plan making friends. Welcome to Introvert 101 (that’s the second book, by the way). Of course I’m exaggerating a bit, but it still has to be said that making friends for some isn’t as easy as it is for others. So for everyone nodding along to this last paragraph thinking “she really gets me”, fear not! I’m sharing some great ways to make friends while traveling.
How to make friends while traveling
I’m just going to start off by saying that if you want to meet people while traveling, you’re going to need to put yourself out there every now and again. People aren’t going to always come to you, so get ready to start up a conversation once in a while. But striking up a conversation is only good if you can meet people to befriend. Here are some of my top ways to make friends while traveling. Some work more for longer term travel, but many work for long or short trips.
Staying in hostels
Instead of hunkering down in a hotel room by yourself, why not book a hostel stay. There will be lots of like-minded travelers to mingle with. Even if you prefer a private room there are typically common areas in hostels. A restaurant, cafe or bar; a movie room or a common room or kitchen. I’ve met some great people in hostels that I’ve chatted to for an evening, gone out to dinner with or planned a day trip together. That’s how I ended up crossing the border to Tijuana from San Diego one random Tuesday in February just to bring back my weight in tequila.
Join a meet up group
As much as Facebook sometimes sucks, it does have some good local listings for meet up groups and community events. Maybe your city has a page dedicated to this type of group too. If you’re international, check out local ex-pat groups. They’re a great way to meet people and will often organize fun activities like comedy nights, pub nights or local walks. I’ve met more than a few people through these types of groups.
Go for a drink in a bar or cafe
Just because you’re traveling solo doesn’t mean you can’t go out for a drink. But be strategic with where you sit. Instead of holing up in a booth at the back, sit at the bar or counter. You can strike up conversation with the person behind the bar to put you at ease, and maybe there will be another solo traveler who is doing the same thing.
Join a local club
Instead of a general meet up group, why not pinpoint a club around an interest you have. It could be a book club or a local hiking club. But a club like this is a fun way to make friends while traveling who have similar interests to you. Play a sport? I’m sure your local community center or sports teams will welcome new players.
Sign up for a tour
This is hands down one of my favorite ways to make friends while traveling. Because you’ve already got one thing in common with all the people there – interest in whatever the tour is about. That’s a great conversation starter and I’ll bet you that you won’t be the only solo traveler in the tour group. Try to book a tour earlier in your stay. That way if you make a friend you’ve got someone to catch up with later in your trip.
Attend an event you’re interested in
Just like the tour, you’ve already got a common interest with the people here. It could be a sporting event or a concert, maybe even a lecture or open mic night. All great opportunities to get talking with whoever is sat near you, and not miss out on something you want to do. When I moved to Vancouver I decided to go to a concert alone rather than miss it. Making friends with the girls sat next to me, I had a great time rocking out for an evening with them. The concert, for those wondering, was Bon Jovi. Yes, I’m really this cool, but I stand by my choice!
Get a job
No, I’m not trying to sound like your Mom. But work is the easiest way to make friends while traveling. Long shifts mean you’re bound to have some downtime. That’s a great time to get to know your coworkers. Or during lunch or in the break room sit with someone different each day and get to know people that way. If you’re not from the country you’re working in then everyone will at least always be interested in your accent. Take it from a Brit living in Canada.
Volunteer somewhere
Working not an option? Maybe your visa won’t allow it. How about volunteering instead? It doesn’t need to be a lifelong commitment. You could volunteer at an animal shelter (people who love dogs can’t be bad, right?), a local attraction or even a one off event. You get to meet people and do a good thing. Check local sites for volunteer opportunities and upcoming events.
Attend a local church
If you’re a church-going person then do some research into a local church in your new neighborhood. As well as attending church for worship purposes, there are often community events held at churches where you can meet other people.
Start swiping the apps
You might be surprised with who you find on a dating app. Even if you fail to click with the person on a romantic level, you might end up being friends. Better yet, there are friend versions of some of the more popular apps out there. Bumble BFF or Friender could be a great place to find new people locally to hang out with. Search for friends in your area with similar interests or hobbies who are looking to meet up for friendship.
If you’ve enjoyed this post leave a comment or share using the social media buttons below. What are some of your best ways to make friends while traveling? Were there are any new ideas here you might try on your next trip?
Great tips Emma!
I used to always find it easier to make friends in hostels vs hotels when I travelled solo. I guess people who stay in hostels are more open to it, where as most people in hotels don’t want to mix outside their own group.
I agree about booking a tour, especially if it is something more niche (like a foodie tour…or a hiking meet up) to find other people interested in similar things.
Aaaand then sometimes you just can’t plan it. You start chatting randomly and make a new friend…
So many great tips, I always do bar and cafes meet ups and also tours too, great ideas!
I love these tips. I can totally empathize with you when you said you find yourself thinking how little you’ve spoken. I remember on my first solo trip thinking to myself that I hadn’t touched another human in X amount of days (I quickly booked a massage shortly after that realization)! Thanks for sharing!
I love this post and all the tips – I traveled solo all over the world for business, and the local people really love to meet us too. So eating at smaller local restaurants has always been my favorite way to meet local people. Also, joining a local tour is awesome and I have met people from all over the world.
Great tips. I honestly had no idea they had friend finding apps now-a-days but it makes sense. Thanks for sharing.
These are great tips! I travel solo a lot and I usually stay in hostels to meet people. I love the vibe there and people are usually really chill
Love these tips! I’m an introvert too but I love meeting people when I solo travel. My favorite is meeting people in hostels because it feels so effortless! I met my boyfriend at a hostel in Thailand, and am still in touch with a lot of other people I met in hostels around the world 🙂
Great tips! 🙂 I would add one more thing. And that is Couchsurfing.
Great post! I love your tips & will definitely be reading the books ;). I had never considered it before but since being in lockdown & living alone in the UK, I have found I will strike up a conversation with anyone & everyone. All opportunities are taken to engage someone when I’m buying a coffee, or paying at the supermarket. Clearly, I miss those chances to meet others travelling. And I wholeheartedly believe that you meet so many more people when travelling alone. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for sharing these ideas! Each time when I take some trip I meet nice people from around the world. 🙂
Great tips, Emma! I’m an introverted solo traveler, and although I immensely enjoy the solitude, sometimes I still force myself out of my comfort zone to meet people. So I’d either stay in hostels or Couchsurf, join tours or events, and connect with other travelers online.
These are such great tips for solo travellers! It wouldn’t have occurred to me to attend a local church to meet people but that’s such a great way to meet the local community! Volunteering and joining a local club are great ideas too. Thanks for sharing these tips!
I kind of can’t believe I never thought of using apps to find friends when traveling! I will have to start trying this. But yes, hostels are a great place to meet people.
Thanks for the tips! I find it hard trying to convince my friends to travel the world with me, so I definitely need to start making friends on my adventures!
I’m always afraid of not meeting people when I travel but always manage to. I do group tours and stay in hostels and I’ve met some amazing people I know will be friends for a long time.
100% agree with these tips! Best part of it is that you can choose to be solo when you want, and make friends for a night, a trip, or a lifetime!
Great tips for solo travelers. We as family travelers also take and love tours.
These are great tips! As an avid solo traveler who has met many lifelong friends through a lot of the ways you outlined, I love this post!!
I love to travel alone because it’s easier to meet people! I definitely love your ideas and I have experimented a few of them. I would also add using social media like joining facebook groups for solo travelers or put a message in Instagram stories 🙂
I love traveling solo, but I do like meeting people once in awhile. As a fellow introvert I agree that it can be challenging. Great tips! I have tried going to local churches when I have moved to new places in the US, but have never tried that one abroad. I will have to give that a try, sounds like a good way to meet friendly locals!
Great tips! It’s so important to meet people while travelling so you make more connections. I always use BumbleBFF and Meetups when I’m abroad.
Travelling solo is something I have yet to experience. Thanks for the tips! I am now motivated to try out travelling by myself soon 🙂
These are great tips. I enjoy the vibe of a hostel even as an older traveler. I’ve also had some incredible conversations with people who run B & B’s. Unlike hotels, meeting their guests is part of their way of doing business. I learn so much from them.
A tour is wonderful as well.
Some really useful tips here. I love traveling solo but even as an introvert it’s good to be able to connect with other people. I chuckled at the suggestion that you’d possibly forgotten the ability to talk having uttered so few words in a day – there have been times where I’ve probably pondered the same.
Great tips! Definitely agree that going on a tour is one of my favourite ways. Like you said, you’re already doing an activity of interest and there’s lots to bond about when you’re seeing/experiencing the same stuff. Plus, if no potential friends pop up, you can still enjoy the tour solo!
I love traveling solo it really forces you to start making it on your own but I think it makes it easier to meet people especially in a place like a hostel. It truly makes the travel experience a whole new thing!
Great tips being shared. I think the easiest is to go on a tour. It seems the most natural, and safest way to meet like minded people. Having not stayed in hostels for many, many years- I think that’s another natural way to meet people too.