We can all agree that travel is a lot of fun, but I think it’s even better when the experiences are shared. I usually travel with someone but there are times when I solo travel and try to find friends on the road. For me, meeting new friends on trips has sometimes been a bit of a challenge. It really depends on the location and where you’re staying but finding like-minded people isn’t always as easy as it sounds.
The last time I traveled solo was in the North of Spain and I tried checking meetup apps and Facebook groups beforehand. However, I found that there they didn’t have many events going on for travelers, expats or nomads and my Spanish is not in a level that I could have actual conversations with it. This is when I thought, I should post about this topic on my blog.
The struggle is real to meet new friends when traveling
I’m not a fan of hostels, which is one reason I struggle to find friends. I don’t mind sharing the bathroom with others but for me I need my space and beauty sleep.
I also find the applications that exist a bit annoying because many of the friend-finder apps are just for finding online friends and people are not serious about meeting up in real life. The other applications are very limited by time and locations: Timeleft is only for dinners on Wednesdays and The Breakfast is only for breakfasts and you get only one match a day. Meetup kind of works but it’s meant for bigger events, not for spontaneous meetups. As far as I know there aren’t (not that I know of) any social app for travelers that actually works.
I bet I’m not the only one struggling with finding friends when solo traveling so I decided to share my two cents about how to find friends on the road.
Here are my best tips on how to make friends when solo traveling
Social media platforms
People say Facebook is for old people and nobody uses it anymore, but the truth is that it is still the go to platform for groups related to traveling and most of the destinations have their own groups for solo travelers, nomads or expats. In addition, there are groups on Slack and Whatsapp for people to meet in different destinations. The struggle is that getting into these Whatsapp groups you need to find people tha can get you in them in some other way and Facebook works for that.
Local events
Local events are a great way to meet new people. There are several ways in finding out about these events. Many tourism boards publish calendars about the bigger events. Event platforms like Eventbrite, Meetup, and Facebook Events are great places to start, letting you filter by location, date, and interest. Local community boards, newsletters, and neighborhood apps like Nextdoor often highlight smaller or more niche happenings. You can also follow local venues, cafes, art spaces, or hobby groups on social media they frequently post about upcoming events.
Local events are a great way to meet people because they naturally bring together individuals with shared interests, making conversations easier and more organic. Whether it’s a community festival, workshop, live show, or food market, these events offer a low-pressure setting where connections happen naturally. You’re surrounded by people who choose to be there for the same reason, which creates instant common ground to start a conversation.
Cafés
Random coffee meetups are a nice way to meet new people, but they have some challenges. Not all cafes are equally good for meeting new people. I would recommend searching online, which cafes other travelers or digital nomads are suggesting and maybe even go to a coworking/laptop friendly café. Initiating a conversation might still be hard if you are not super extrovert. My tip is that you can start by asking a random person a question about the area and see how they respond.
Hostels and colivings
Hostels and coliving accommodations are great places to find new friends when traveling. Most people who stay in these accommodation types are traveling solo and looking for connecting with new people. Hostels and colivings usually organize events which make it easier to meet new people. Also, by just sharing the living spaces it is very likely to spark a conversation with someone interesting.
Volunteering
Volunteering is another great way to meet new people because it brings together individuals who are not only from diverse backgrounds but also share a common purpose giving back and making a positive impact. Working side by side with others fosters teamwork and meaningful conversations, often creating deeper bonds than casual social encounters. It also connects you with locals and fellow travelers in a more authentic, grounded way, offering insight into the community you’re visiting. In addition, often you share the same passion as others when you are volunteering for a cause.
Applications
Applications can help you find people in new locations. There are event applications like Meetup or Eventbrite. For meetings over meals there are applications like Timeleft and The Breakfast, but they only work in bigger cities. However, there is a new application in development for spontaneous coffee and food meetups called Friendchise, that I will explain more about next.
New friend-finder platform Friendchise to meet people over food or drinks
I’ve shared how I’ve struggled to find friends while traveling, and some of the ways I personally try connecting with others. This is something I’m really passionate about, and I truly believe there’s a need for a better platform, one that makes it easier to meet people in real life. This is why I am the founder of a new friendship app, Friendchise.
Friendchise is all about meeting new people in real life. The idea of the platform is to make it easier for people to meet new like-minded people over food and drinks and create new meaningful connections. On the platform you can share your own plans or join plans others have created. You choose who you meet, when and where but the location is always a restaurant, a bar or a café. It’s the easiest way connect with like-minded travelers!
Join the Friendchise community to make the most of your travels!
Check out this easy read article about what to consider when buying flights!