How to meet new friends on your travels: Tips for digital nomads, expats and solo travellers

Life on the road is great fun because the world indeed becomes your oyster. You do get to visit some pretty awesome places and get to call them home for a while but, as with anything, it isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. 

One of the main challenges faced by digital nomads, expats and solo travellers is that life tends to get pretty lonely sometimes. I’ve lived away from home for many years so I’m no stranger to this feeling but I still found it tough at first. Mind you, I’m travelling with my boyfriend which makes things a whole lot easier and, as much as we enjoy each other’s company, it’s healthy for the relationship that we spend some time apart.

So I listed below the ideas that have been helping me get out of my cocoon to meet new friends and find cool things to do in my current postcode. I know some of the things on the list might sound pretty obvious to you but you’d be surprised how often they’re overlooked because people are on a budget or don’t see the potential of it.

You don’t need to be an extrovert or a digital nomad to make use of these tips. Some of these options are introvert-friendly and can be also useful to you even if you’re just going on a short holiday and are not necessarily moving abroad.

Check MeetUp

I recently resurrected my MeetUp account which was opened 10 years ago (!) and I was surprised to see that the website is still going. If you somehow haven’t heard of MeetUp, it’s a free platform where you can list or find events in your area that match your interests, say origami paper plane making or french bulldog get together. As the name suggests, it’s a community-building platform that makes meeting new people with the same interests as you easy and fun!

Browse Facebook Events

I guess I’d never had to actively search for events on Facebook because my life in London was already eventful as it was, so most of the time, I’d only pay attention to invitations coming from friends. A Meetup on steroids, Facebook Events has evolved and it’s used by people to promote and find fun stuff happening all around. All you need to do is go to the Events tab on Facebook and select the dates and location to see what’s happening around where you are.

Look up Eventbrite

The ticketing website Eventbrite is one of the world’s biggest events platforms where you can definitely find something to do that might tickle your fancy and bump into new friendly faces.

Join Facebook Groups

Facebook Groups have long been neglected but are now taking centre-stage on the platform. Any Facebook user can create their own group that others who share the same interests and (sometimes) location can join. Swing Dancing in Seville? We got it! Gran Canaria Digital Nomads? Tick! Sydney Harbour Runners! Yas!

For this reason, Facebook Groups can hold valuable information to those seeking to visit or move to a particular city because that’s where you can have all of your questions answered and where you can interact with the people that are already in the area which also means, partnering up for work and par-tay!

Go to Coworking Spaces

On top of being a great alternative for you to break away from the solitude of working at cafes, meet like-minded people and get some work done, coworking spaces usually organise regular career-related and social events that are open to anyone. I repeat, anyone.

You can use websites like Coworker to find a coworking space right where you are.

Use your network

I perhaps don’t tend to ask my friends for help as often as I should because if I did, I could’ve had it easier sometimes like when we moved to Gran Canaria.

I was keen to start playing beach volleyball again so I looked for info online, kept looking for people playing on the beach and once I finally joined a group, I met someone with whom I had friends in common. If I’d asked around in the first place, I probably would’ve found this group without all that hassle.

So be less like Milene, get the word out to your community and let the 6 degrees of separation work in your favour whenever you need it.

Look around

Print media is still going strong, especially in places where small businesses and independent entrepreneurs can’t afford a website or don’t have time to keep their social media profiles updated.

So my advice to you is to keep your heart open and your eyes peeled for any flyers, posters, stickers, banners or notice boards which might pop up along the way, leading you to some cool things happening locally that you might be interested in.

Do Good

Volunteering is a fantastic way of meeting new people and helping a cause that’s close to your heart, be it caring for dogs in a local shelter or teaching English to immigrants. You can find ways in which you can help and give back to the local community on websites like GivingWay or Idealist.  

Find Local Websites

Most city councils and other local organisations will list and promote social events on their own websites. It’s perfect for finding food, music and arts festivals where you are and in the surrounding areas, giving you a good excuse to go on a little side trip somewhere different. All you have to do is to check online for their events program and take your pick. 

Follow New Blogs

Same as with the local websites, a quick Google search will list many area-specific blogs which can provide a ton of information, from where the main hangout spots are to the best things to do on a particular time of the year.

Use Social Apps

If you’re looking to expand your social network, apps are one of the quickest and easiest ways to connect with new people wherever you go. Whether you want to find a new BFF or a potential lover, social apps like Bumble can definitely be a good helping hand. 

Attend Language Exchange Events

“Oh, it’s a nice idea but I only speak English.”

That’s fine because you can still join language exchange events targeted to people who want to practise their English, if speaking languages isn’t your thing. Websites like Mundolingo organise language exchange socials all around the world which are a fantastic opportunity to practise a new language in a friendly environment and meet interesting people. 

Share Accommodation

By booking yourself in shared accommodation, you won’t be short of chances for socialising. Staying at hostels, coliving spaces, Airbnbs or doing CouchSurfing can be great fun because you meet people from all walks of life with whom you share incredible experiences and perhaps a few boozy nights.

Go on a Tour

Joining a tour instead of venturing out a new city on your own can also be a good way of combining a bit of sightseeing and human interaction. Nowadays, most big cities offer free walking tours which means you won’t need to empty your wallet for anything fancy or expensive just for the sake of it.

Join a Gym

I’m sure fitness fanatics are already on top of it but, in any case, joining a gym is another idea of where you can interact with new people whilst keeping your fitness levels up, especially after indulging on the local cuisine. Check websites like World Gym or head to the nearest gym for their daily, weekly or monthly rates and class schedule.

Take a Class

Interested in cooking? Dancing? Yoga? Why not hit two birds with one stone by signing up to a class? This way you learn a new skill and make new friends with whom you might share a common passion.

Say hello

If you don’t ask, you don’t get. As simple as that. I know it can be pretty daunting to just strike a conversation with strangers, especially in a country where the language is a barrier but, by putting our shyness aside and getting out of our comfort zone just a little, might pay off in the long run.

We’re always interacting with strangers one way or another. We engage in conversations with the cashier at the shop or have to ask strangers for directions when we’re lost. So embrace these situations as opportunities to practise your small talk muscle and see what happens. Worst case scenario is that you won’t get much response. So what? No biggie, no one knows you anyway. At least you tried!

If I hadn’t got over my initial hesitation in asking some random strangers to play volleyball with them, I’d have denied myself the chance of meeting nice people, brushing off my volleyball AND Spanish skills and witnessing many special sunsets on the beach with my new friends. So the payoff is much higher than the risks involved.

Now I’d like to know about you: What are your successful tips on how to meet new friends? What are the tips I shared that are new to you and which ones are you likely to use in the future?