How to Meet People in a New City

Digital nomads often ask how to make friends in a new city. The simple answer is to expose yourself to meet new people. So where are the best places to find potential new friends? This guide explores different ways you can meet new people and make friends along the way. It will be focusing on the first step in the friendship formula.

The Friendship Formula

Meet new people
Invite these people to do things together
Build rapport and spend more time together

Now let’s explore good places to meet potential new friends.

Where to Meet New People

Hostels

Hostels are the easiest place to meet new people and making friends super easily. You can meet laidback working professionals if you stay at higher-end hostels. The atmosphere is warm and friendly, making it an excellent place to practice approaching strangers and starting conversations.

Approaching in Hostels

The best people to approach are solo travelers as they are thrilled to meet new people. All you have to do is come up with an idea and invite someone to tag along.

It can be as simple as walking up to someone and saying “Hey I’m going to explore some breakfast options down the road, wanna join?”. Or you can ask if they are doing anything fun today and see if you can join. You’ll be surprised how many people will happily team up and explore places together just by asking. If they had other plans, you’ve now made it easier to talk to them at a later time by asking how their day went.

The Hostelworld app is a backup option to chat with other guests and arrange activities if you arrive during quiet hours.

Use Social Spaces

Look for hostels with communal amenities and social activities. Hang out in areas like swimming pools, bars, rooftops, game areas with pool tables or darts, kitchen, and lounge areas. Then start introducing yourself to people or see if you can join in an activity.

Notice boards are good places to see what activities are happening. You’ll usually find events you can join such as trivia, game nights, karaoke, barbecues, happy hours, pub crawls, communal dinners, and group outings.

Staying in Hostels

Hostels are great launchpads to tap into the social scene if you have just arrived in a new city. Premium hostels are the best choice for those who want a good balance of sleep, work, and socializing without the chaotic party atmosphere.

You have a few options. You can book the first few nights to make new friends and then move somewhere more private. Or you could sleep somewhere else and visit the hostel lounge and bar areas in your free time. Or just check in the lively hostels on the weekend.

In any case, it’s worth the peace of mind to pay extra for a private room for noise and safety reasons. However, small dorms with less than 4 beds are a good compromise if you want to increase your chances of making friends with your roommates.

Airbnb, Guesthouses & Homestays

Airbnb offers a good way to make friends with your host or other guests if it is set up more like a guesthouse or homestay. They are best suited for digital nomads who want privacy to get work done while not feeling isolated. These lodgings are configured to provide private rooms within a larger property. Just use the “room” filter instead of searching for whole properties. Look for properties with common areas to socialize with the host or other guests. Read reviews from other guests if they had favorable experiences with meeting other guests.

Guest houses are usually family-run businesses where you stay in a private room within a larger property. They’re a more laid-back version of a hostel, often offering amenities like breakfast and chill spaces to hang out and mingle with fellow guests. You’ll also enjoy more peace, security, and privacy for focus work. Guest houses are a good option for digital nomads seeking a balanced work and social lifestyle.

Homestays give you a chance to stay with a local family and experience an authentic cultural exchange. Guests often find themselves chatting with the host, possibly even getting to know their family and friends. Some hosts go the extra mile by offering local meals and sharing valuable insights. Your host is a key insider and can link you up with people in the community.

Accommodation Resources

Hostelworld, Airbnb, Booking.com, Agoda are good options for finding hostels, guesthouses or homestays. Look for places with included breakfast or meals as those times are good to introduce yourself to other guests and get to know each other.

Homestay is another Airbnb alternative that has a couchsurfing vibe. The platform helps you connect and stay with hosts and experience life with a local.

Coliving Spaces

Coliving spaces are a perfect fit for digital nomads who want a place to live, work, and make genuine friends. It is a housing arrangement for people with similar interests who team up to share living spaces and resources, creating a laid-back community vibe. It’s like living in a shared rental but with more social activities and a flexible lease. You’ll have the chance to meet remote workers who prefer longer stays, allowing you to build lasting friendships.

Coliving organizers throw lots of social events so you can easily hang out and make some real connections. Game nights, potluck dinners, and workshops are just a few of the many activities you can join. You will have no problem making introductions and meeting potential friends at these events. All you have to do is show up, say hi, and participate in the social activities.

WORKSPACES

Coworking Spaces

Navigating The Workspace

Coworking spaces are the stomping ground for digital nomads and where you’ll meet plenty of like-minded professionals. Get friendly with the staff and see if they can give you introductions to other coworkers.

Common areas such as the kitchen, outdoor patios, or lounges are great zones to spark a conversation. This is your chance to ask for lunch recommendations or say hi while you’re getting water or coffee. Carry around some tasty snacks you can share to break the ice.

Coworking Events

You’ll meet many people by joining the networking events and workshops such as skill-sharing sessions. Make yourself known by hosting one yourself. Also keep an eye out for organized social activities like group lunches, games and sports sessions, or happy hours to meet your coworkers in a casual setting.

Building Rapport

Build trust by understanding your coworkers’ work and offering feedback. Share helpful resources, and suggest grabbing coffee or lunch to learn more about their hobbies and interests.

Cafe’s

Making friends in cafes is as simple as sitting near other people. Look for communal tables or shared bar tables and sit around the hotspots. You can break the ice by complimenting on a meal or asking for food recommendations.

Don’t forget the staff. Ask what they like to do around the area. Do they know any cool spots to check out or know of any events coming up? Hospitality workers meet a lot of people and can be dialed in with hidden events or parties.

Some cafes have community noticeboard areas where you can find out about upcoming events. Look for bulletin boards, posters, or flyers for local grassroots events that might be hidden from social media.

EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

Retreats

Retreats are purposeful breaks designed for people working on personal growth goals along with like-minded people. These gatherings usually have group activities to help you meet people easily and come out as a better person by the end of it. Choose a retreat that is closely aligned with your goals and values, and you’ll have no problem naturally building a tight-knit group of friends.

Retreats offer a warm and friendly atmosphere, allowing guests to open up and be themselves. The supportive nature of these groups provides powerful bonding experiences as you face challenges and celebrate successes together. These shared experiences lay the foundation for building genuine, lasting friendships. Chances are that you’ll make friends for life in these settings.

Tours

Tours are one of the simplest ways to make new friends easily. All you have to do is just show up and introduce yourself to others. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to greet each other during bus rides, sightseeing, or rest breaks.

If you want to meet a lot of people, join multiple short tours since you’ll be meeting a new group of people for each tour. You’ll likely meet other digital nomads as well since they fit in well around flexible work schedules. However extended tours provide more memorable experiences giving you time to make close friends.

Tour Resources

Airbnb experiences – Tours created by locals giving you an insider’s peek of local life and a chance to mingle with other guests.

Showaround – Connect with locals who act as a tour guide. They can be a good connection if you’re new to town and want to build your social network.

Getyourguide – Tour aggregator listing numerous tour companies. Tour companies generally have higher capacity limits which gives you more opportunities to meet new people.

ToursByLocals – Helps you find local independent tour guides who host small groups.

Extended Group Tours:

Contiki, TopDeck, GAdventures, and Intrepid.

These tour companies provide turnkey travel experiences and relieve you from the burden of travel planning. You get to explore multiple destinations with groups of 10-30 people over a longer period, generally between 7-30+ days.

Industry Events, Tradeshows, and Conferences

Make friends with professionals in your field by going to industry events. LinkedIn Events, Eventbrite, industry pages, and associations help you find upcoming event info.

Before the event, engage in the event’s social media pages and create open-invitations for lunch or post-event social mixers.

During the event, chat with vendors or staff and look for places where people are mingling. Anywhere there’s food, drinks, samplers, games or demonstrations are good opportunities to meet people. Look for informal group chats where you can introduce yourself and say “Do you mind if join in?”. Ask other attendees if they found anything interesting so far or if they’re anticipating anything. Let them know about other events you’re hosting.

Popular Conferences

Here are some of the many events popular with digital nomads:

Web Summit – Europe’s biggest tech industry conference. Best for those who want to connect and grow their network with anyone involved in web and tech.

Freedom X Fest – An outdoor festival good for networking with a variety of entrepreneurs, digital nomads, and creatives.

DNX Festival – A massive event for entrepreneurs and remote workers who seek a holistic work/life lifestyle.

Nomad Cruise – A conference held on a cruise ship as you travel the world. A fun and engaging way to meet with a mixed audience of remote workers and entrepreneurs.

Dynamite Circle Events – Global events for digital nomads building online businesses.

Hackathons

Hackathons are fun events where diverse talents collaborate to hatch business ideas or work on real world problems swiftly. You’ll gain new connections, valuable experiences, and potentially prizes or business opportunities. They also provide excellent networking opportunities to expand your social and professional circles across various industries.

Hackathon Resources

Search online using the keywords: [city] + [hackathon]

Or use Hackathon, HackerEarth, Eventbrite, Allevents.in, LinkedIn or Facebook Events

HackGlobal – A Global Hackathon Series, where 9 cities across 5 continents compete with each other to a grand final.

Major League Hacking – A list of 2024 global hackathons

HackMIT – A weekend hackathon for teams to work on hardware or software projects in Tech, Education, Entertainment, and Social Good.

HackZurich – The largest and most prestigious hackathon in Europe.

HackerX – The largest invite-only developer community in over 150+ cities.

Devfolio – A list of hackathons mainly in India

Volunteering

Charity work and volunteering attract people who are open to making friends. You’ll meet many interesting people from all walks of life by pairing up with other volunteers.

Work exchanges like HelpX and Workaway are some ways to volunteer with other travelers. Alternatively look for events like fun runs, raffles, auctions, concerts, sporting events, business events, or gala’s. The bigger the event, the earlier you need to apply. Contact event organizers to see if they have any volunteer opportunities.

Find volunteer opportunities by searching online using keywords like:

[Interest] OR [City] + [Volunteer], [Volunteering], [Fundraiser] or [Charity]

Music Festivals

The best way to make friends at music festivals is to volunteer at the event or join existing group camps via social media. If those options aren’t available, assemble your own crew by posting on event pages. If that’s a miss, look for shuttle bus options or hitch a rideshare on the event’s social media pages.

Once you arrive, seek a friendly-looking campsite, introduce yourself and ask if you can camp next to them. Chances are you’ll make friends with your neighbors quickly. And if you’re at a day event, look for others flying solo. Hang out in food and rest areas and share some food or drinks. Ask how people’s days are going or which artist to check out and see if you can team up to see acts together. Positive vibes go a long way at these events.

CULTURAL SPACES

Museums, Galleries and Exhibitions

Cultural attractions are easy ways to meet people because there are icebreakers everywhere. They are especially useful for people who struggle with holding a conversation since everything around you is a good talking piece.

Art galleries are popular places to take photos which makes it easy for you to help others take photos. You can naturally introduce yourself to anyone if you suggest that something would make a great shot for their travel memories.

Museums and galleries usually have guided walking tours so take advantage of them and join a group. If there aren’t any tours running, just walk around a popular exhibit. The beauty of art is that it’s open to interpretation. You can ask people about their opinions or perspectives on an exhibit. What captures their attention? What do they think is the message behind it? Maybe you can share an interesting fact.

If you play your cards right you’ll get into a conversation as you explore further together around the venue. If you connect well, exchange details and let them know of any plans they could join.

Tourist Attractions

Tourist attractions are bustling hubs to meet a lot of new people. You could stay in one spot and meet new people all day, especially travel buddies. Plus there are so many things around you to easily break the ice.

Meeting People Enroute

Browse the “Things to Do” section on TripAdvisor. Then, pick an attraction and invite some people to join you. Or ask around for ideas, tips, and recommendations. The best places to ask around are venues where other travelers hang out, such as hostel lounges, bars, or other popular tourist sites. You could also create an open-invite event on social media.

Take public transit to go there and chat with people en route to your destination. Ditch the phone, and ask for directions. If taking a taxi, chat with people while you’re waiting for a ride. See if anyone is heading your direction and open to a rideshare.

Meeting People While You’re Sightseeing

Chat with people next to you while you’re waiting in lines. Express awe in what’s around you. Ask for a photo taken of you and return the favor. Or approach people in photogenic scenes and suggest taking a photo of them. Just use whatever is around you as a talking point.

Public Spaces, Parks, Gardens, and Nature Reserves

Most major cities have plazas, parks, or public squares ideal for gatherings and activities. Walk around and look for group activities such as people playing games, working out, sports, slacklining, drum circles, or anything social that catches your eye. Ask a bystander something about the group activity. See if you can try it out or join in. Most people would be happy to invite you to a sports game or other social activities if you show sincere interest.

SHOPS

Markets

Markets are a melting pot of social activity and are great places to warm up socially and meet new people. Chat with the market vendors and find out what hidden gems are there in the local area. Mingle with other shoppers by making compliments on their finds or sharing your discoveries. You could hit it off and offer to show them other hidden gems in the market. When it’s time for a food break, sit at a communal table for even more opportunities to meet new people.

Bookstores and Libraries

Bookstores or libraries are underrated places to meet like-minded people. Just hang out in the sections that interest you and you will soon come across people who share your passions. Alternatively, join a book club if you will be staying in town for a while.

Starting a chat is a breeze. Wander to a book section that catches your eye and ask about the books someone’s into or for recommendations on the topic. Your shared interests will naturally lead the talk to related topics.

Let them know you have other recommended books or videos you’d like to share and exchange details. Share relevant media and keep them in the loop on any future events you’re going to.

Shops and Shopping Malls

Looking to turn shopping into a social affair? Play the shopping guru. If you see someone lost in a decision, send a friendly suggestion their way. Share your experiences and swap stories about what’s worked and what’s been a disaster. Mutual frustrations are an irresistible way to spark a conversation!

Then get chatting about favorite shopping hideouts and good places for a caffeine hit. Who knows? Maybe you’ll make a new shopping buddy.

If all else fails, ask someone for help with gift ideas or shop recommendations. You can always rely on the “I’m not from around here” line to help you find hidden gems and get a conversation going. See if they can show you their favorite spots around town.

Vintage Shopping

Vintage stores are particularly great for serendipitous exchanges with other shoppers. Make compliments on quirky finds or share your cool discoveries. Play with props and ask around for photos. Use these hilarious videos for inspiration.

ENTERTAINMENT

Bars and Restaurants

Bars have always been the road warrior’s choice for meeting people before the digital age, and that ain’t changing any time soon.

Find a long bar table, grab a seat, and chat with the bartender to hear some fascinating stories and insider tips. They might reveal local secrets or introduce you to others.

If you spot someone alone, chances are they’re open to socializing. Order some drinks or snacks to share and introduce yourself. See if they want to play a round of pool or throw some darts. Trivia nights are also easy ways to meet people in these venues.

Entertainment Resorts, Theme Parks, and Amusement Parks

Entertainment spaces are more than just thrills, they’re buzzing social hubs prime for making potential new friends.

Share your plans, stir up excitement, and see who wants to join in the fun. Otherwise, hop onto a shuttle bus or take public transit as a crafty way to mingle with other passengers. On arrival, embrace the lines to socialize and find out what other fun activities you can do later.

Beyond the rides, hang out at food courts, bars, and rest areas where shared seating is built for impromptu chats. And don’t overlook park tours, they are easy ways to meet new people. As the day winds down, split a ride back or team up with your newfound buddies and go out for dinner or drinks.

Live Shows

Live shows, whether music concerts, comedy gigs, or theater are great ways to meet like-minded people or host gatherings.

Arrive early, grab a drink, and mingle at the bar. Keep an eye out for people wearing fan gear. With one compliment you can instantly make friends with them and they can yak on for hours.

Share your excitement for the headliner and ask around if there are any first-timers. Does anyone have the lowdown on other acts or after-parties? Spread the word on any post-show events or craft your own and invite people along.

Protip: Don’t miss out on an improv show. They pack great value and are hilarious. Ask the performers about joining some classes. It is money well spent to boost your confidence and social skills.

Churches

Regardless of your beliefs on religion, these venues offer opportunities to mingle with the local community. Churches generally have welcome lounges to introduce yourself and connect with other people. Some churches also have active social events such as sports, business networking, potlucks, barbecues, or game nights. The church community is friendly, welcoming, and an easy place to build a social network.

Sports and Fitness Groups

Playing team sports is a major win for your health and friendships.

If you’re on a short stay, look for casual sports games through Facebook, Meetup, or local fitness centers. Public sports grounds offer even easier ways to jump into a game on the spot, like basketball, volleyball, ultimate frisbee, or soccer. You can also check out outdoor fitness groups like calisthenics and bodyweight training for a friendly vibe.

Joining a gym or fitness studio with weightlifting, martial arts, or yoga sessions is always a smart move. They are easy places to meet positive people and start a conversation. Water fountains, spas, and saunas are the best spots for bouncing ideas on techniques and nutrition.

Local Classes, Courses, and Workshops

Classes and workshops are smart ways to build skills and make new friends. You get to work on things that you enjoy alongside people who share the same interests. Most importantly, classes offer regularity and familiarity which is the glue for building solid friendships.

The following classes are especially useful for boosting your social game:

Improv Classes

These workshops are like social boot camps, packed with fun games that boost your confidence and social skills. They teach you how to fully be present in the moment and get out of your comfort zone while making new friends along the way. If you take one recommendation from this whole guide it would be signing up for an improv class.

Dance Classes

Dancing is your backstage pass to building a social circle from scratch. These classes are super interactive and a fantastic way to meet a ton of new people. Try out different dance styles until you find one that clicks with you. There is a slight learning curve but once you nail it, you’ve got a global passport to make friends everywhere, even without speaking the language.

Cooking Classes

Cooking classes let you get a taste of the local culture and bond over food. The kitchen is where friendships sizzle through exchanging tips, lending a hand, and taste testing together. Enjoy creating great memories together while you celebrate wins and turn blunders into shared jokes. It’s a recipe for making good friends.

Language Exchanges, Classes, and Courses

If you’re interested in leveling up your social life abroad, there’s no better way than to speak like a local.

Language Exchanges

Language exchanges are fantastic ways to meet new people by practicing languages with native speakers. They are free events and are perfect for digital nomads who are in town in a shorter time frame.

BlaBla and Mundo Lingo are both popular language exchange networks with lively events where you can practice languages and meet new friends. If there isn’t a language exchange in your location, you can create your own by posting an event on your preferred social media app.

Language Classes

Language classes are a must for any serious digital nomad looking to take their social lifestyle to the next level. Double up your social circle by bonding with your classmates while you pick up a new language to make new friends abroad.

You can choose between a language school, a language immersion program, or a language retreat. They all offer a structured classroom to bond with other students while some offer extra social activities.

All you have to do is share notes, set up study groups, and practice speaking with your classmates. That’s how you build friends that last beyond the classroom.

Dog Walking and Dog Parks

Dogs are your best friend for making new buddies. Dog owners are usually settled down in a community, making them great for local friendships. Make friends with them by volunteering as a dog sitter or at a dog shelter where you get to match rescue dogs to a new family. Not traveling with a dog? No problem. Just hit up the popular dog trails or stroll into a dog café and let those furry icebreakers work their charm and connect you to their owners. Use the “aww, so cute” card or ask what breed it is to get the conversation started.

Meeting People with Apps

Apps can help you find social events and connect with others, using these universal techniques across different platforms.

Finding Local Interest Groups

The best way to hunt for local interest groups is to search the following keywords in your platform of choice:

[Location] + [Interest]

Other keywords you can pair with

[Location]

[Expats], [Digital Nomads], [Freelancers], [Bloggers], [Backpackers], [Travelers], [Solo Travel], [Travel Buddies], [International], [New to [city]], [Speed Friending], [Couchsurfing], [Networking], [Meet New People], [Friends], [Language Exchange], [Intercambio], [Mastermind], [Social], [Events]

Finding Travel Buddies

You can find travel buddies online by reaching out on your social media accounts and announcing you’ll be solo traveling to a particular region and looking for a travel buddy. Include #travelbuddy #travelmate #travelpartner to expand your reach.

Event Finder Apps

Meetup

Meetup is a handy app for anyone new in town looking to break into the social scene. Your success will vary with different towns and groups, so keep trying new meetups if you haven’t had much luck yet.

Start by joining groups that genuinely interest you. Or take a chance and explore novel groups. The best way to attract like-minded friends is by hosting your own meetup. You’ll be amazed at who shares your passion. Look for physically active events and avoid anything with fixed seating so you’re not stuck in one place talking to the same people.

The platform doesn’t always fetch all upcoming events. To see more events, switch between the app and desktop modes and try different filters such as All Upcoming Events, Suggested Events, and using a Custom date range. Sometimes you have to join a group so that it shows up on your calendar timeline.

Eventbrite

Eventbrite is a useful app to help you meet new people while exploring what things to do in town. It’s a mix of personal interests, entertainment, and professional events. Just choose your location and go to any upcoming events you find interesting.

There is a slight bias to professional and paid events which is a good thing if you want to mingle with people who value building relationships. Workshops and classes particularly provide better opportunities to make deeper friendships.

Facebook Events

Facebook Events is a good platform to find out about local events where you can meet people. Use it to scope out event ideas and find out what’s going on in town. Find a few interesting events and then share and send invitations to local contacts.

Online Communities

Internations

The Internations community is a popular platform used by digital nomads to mingle with locals and expats alike. It offers social gatherings, cultural exchange events, and activities in most major cities worldwide. You can attend monthly events as a free member or get access to more events as a paid member.

The network generally attracts a professional and mature audience, however, each location has a unique atmosphere that may be more relaxed or festive.

If you are completely new to town and would like to hang out with global-minded people who have some roots planted in the city, then this community provides a great starting point for building your social circle.

WhatsApp and Telegram Groups

WhatsApp and Telegram Groups can be a good source for finding expat community events. Finding them requires some detective work by asking around in person or online for suggested groups. Search on other platforms in Facebook Groups or Reddit and ask for recommended local WhatsApp or Telegram groups to join.

Resources

CoCo hub – A telegram digital nomad community with various topics on remote work, coliving, and meetups.

https://nomeo.io/ – A WhatsApp and Telegram directory to find digital nomad chat groups mainly in Southeast Asia.

Facebook Groups

Facebook Groups is a targeted way to meet like-minded people who share similar interests. It helps you find community events that you won’t find on Meetup or Facebook Events, but it takes some effort to browse each group’s upcoming events.

Search Keywords

Search [location] and see if anything interesting pops up.

Then search your [location] + [interests]

Examples: Rio De Janeiro Volleyball, Bali surfing, Sydney Latin dancing

Hobby groups are generally more welcoming to newcomers than generic social events. If you can blend in, you can try your luck joining cultural communities such as Latinos in [city], Greeks in [city], etc. Another cool community to join is YesFam or Yes Theory. It’s a global community where you can easily make friends with adventurous people encouraging each other to try new things and push comfort zones.

Reddit can be a useful option for meeting up with people in cities. You will mainly find social events in more populated city subreddits. Just search for meetups or events in the region subreddit. Sometimes there will be a separate subreddit from the main city subreddit eg. /r/berlinsocialclub

You could also make a post saying you’re new to town and would like to meet others, have lunch, or discover new places together.

Nomadlist

Nomadlist is an all-around great resource for digital nomads to discover cities that are tailored to select preferences. Their paid membership also provides access to their online community where you can chat with all kinds of remote workers. You can also attend their meetups which are casual events hosted by members and typically held in a cafe, bar, park, or sometimes the host’s home.

Tripadvisor Forums

Tripadvisor forums is a welcoming community of passionate travelers. Browse the destinations you want to explore and create a post asking for some help with planning your trip or itinerary. Make an introduction and share your travel plans. Say that you are traveling solo and would like to make new friends on your trip. You’ll find that some locals are willing to go out of their way and show you a good time. You might even get a personal invite to a homestay.

Dating Apps

Believe it or not, Tinder is a good way to make friends … with benefits. It’s also not a bad place to find mutual friends either. Sometimes the romantic spark isn’t there but you still could be good travel mates who could introduce each other to each other’s social circle. Who knows, maybe you’ll develop some chemistry that an initial impression might miss.

Just set your profile to seeking travel buddies or looking for friends only. Bumble users can use the BFF mode. Don’t be surprised if your matches are looking for something more.

Social media is best used as a tool to arrange meetups and send out invites to events you’re hosting. Use any of the following strategies for Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Reddit, or Tiktok.

Social Media Circle Building

Join and engage in any local community, page, or group that interests you.
1. Search using keywords such as [location] + [nomad], [expat], or [interests]
2. Share engaging posts, give likes, and add to discussions.
3. Mention that you are new in town and looking to meet people for coffee.
4. Request a connection with anyone who clicks with you.
Organize an open group event at a public place.
1. Make sure your post includes:
  1. Event details
  2. A brief background or photos of yourself
  3. Any activities planned. eg. a sports game, a sightseeing adventure trip, a mastermind lunch, or a board game night
  4. Your contact details
Search your #[Location] and engage with newcomers to the area and invite them.
Show up, have fun, and take photos.
With permission, post and tag your guests and location # hashtags with your photos. This helps you with making future events and to be discovered by potential new friends.

Keep posting events and don’t get discouraged if no one signs up. Try different venues, event ideas, times, and even other social media channels.

Engage and Message

Search your location on these platforms and see who’s posting in your area.

Comment, like, or engage with their posts and stories.

Reach out and ask for some recommendations or experiences about their trip. If they are receptive, mention that you’re in the area and see if they are open to meeting up, preferably doing something related to a common interest.

This strategy is a numbers game and works best if you have things in common.

Interact with other accounts who happen to be in your location, including local company pages. You’ll sometimes find private upcoming events that can’t be found in the regular event search.

Tap Into Your Network

Your existing network is a great source for making new friends. After all, they have already vetted you. Ask around for introductions and let them know your travel plans to see if anyone is willing to connect in your area.

Travel Platforms

Couch surfing

Couchsurfing was a popular platform to connect with fellow travelers and locals who let you sleep at their place for free. The community spirit is fading away since a change in management, but you can still meet cool people if you’re persistent.

Couchers.org offers a replacement to bring the original concept back to its former glory. You can find nearby travelers on a map who are open to meeting with others and arranging a hangout.

Hostelworld Chat:

The chat feature lets you connect and chat with other guests in your hostel. It’s useful if you want to make plans with other guests. However, don’t expect responsive engagement. People in hostels prefer making new connections in person. That’s why spending time developing your social skills and talking with strangers is a better way to meet new people.

Conclusion

Making friends as a digital nomad is easy once you make an effort to show up. Expose yourself to as many opportunities to meet new people and you have already won half the battle. Then all you have to do is approach people and start conversations. The key to turning strangers into friends is to invite them out to things. The more people you meet, the greater the chance you’ll find a new companion.

Once you get more comfortable making new friends you will eventually want to build your tribe of close friends. Check out our follow-up guide on how to make lasting friendships as a digital nomad.