How to Make Friends as a Solo Traveler
Traveling the world can be the experience of a lifetime, but even on the best days, there can be high and lows. Experienced travelers will often paint the picture of this perfect lifestyle full of insta-worthy moments, incredible friendships, breathtaking views, and endless exploration. And while, yes, many days will be filled with exactly these things, some days are not quite as bright. There will be days full of stress, tears, and loneliness too.
I have been traveling for almost 10 years now and I believe it is super important to share not just the fantastic parts of traveling, but also the struggles and stresses. One thing that many travelers struggle with, myself included, is loneliness while solo traveling. In fact, the other day I was talking to a friend who mentioned she was nervous about solo-traveling as a digital nomad because she would lose the sense of community she had at home, and might not be able to make friends.
I am sure that there are so many people who have this exact same fear that stops them from taking the leap into travel. Picture this - you land in a new country or city where you’ve never been before and don’t know anyone, and maybe not even the local language. It can be difficult sometimes to meet new people and make friends right away. That being said, with a little bit of patience, courage, and the help of these tips you’ll be on your way to making friends in no time.
Traveling around Cape Town, South Africa 2022.
1 - Facebook Groups
Almost every city in the world has a Facebook group dedicated to and run by expats, digital nomads, or travelers in the area. These groups can be amazing for making connections and finding out about local events.
Just search for something like “Expats in …” or “Digital Nomads in…” wherever you are traveling to and something is bound to show up. Then you can introduce yourself and see who else is looking to meet up.
At an event for expat girls in Santiago de Chile.
2 - Meetup.com and Couchsurfing Events
Similar to using Facebook groups, sites like Meetup.com and Couchsurfing can also be great online resources for connecting with new people. Meetup is super easy and free to use. The great thing about Meetup is that you can search for events based on your interests, which means you are bound to meet people who you will already have things in common with. There are often events for language exchanges, yoga, sports, hiking, music, or even photography and writing. Oftentimes locals will also join these groups so you’ll meet a great mix of people.
I recently went to a meetup event and made many new friends. I was nervous to go alone but ended up really enjoying it!
At a Meetup event for travelers in Lisbon, Portugal
3 - Stay at hostels
As a remote worker, I usually choose airbnbs over hostels because I need to spend most of my time focused and working, and I typically travel slower. Hostels are usually super social environments, where new people move in and out every day. That being said, they are one of the best places to meet new people when you first arrive in a new place. Hostels immediately connect you with other people so you are not alone while traveling. Hostel staff are always super kind, social individuals who know a lot about the local area and can give tons of recommendations. There will be a ton of other travelers all around, doing lots of different things, so you can easily socialize and see who might be sticking around for longer. And finally, hostels often plan their own social events. These could be bar crawls, excursions, walking tours, and more.
Even if you don’t reserve a room in the hostel itself, many of their events are open to the public in general. Some hotels even have coworking spaces built in that are perfect for digital nomads who miss the social aspect of office life.
Traveling in NYC in 2018
4 - Coworking Spaces
Most cities around the world, especially now that remote work has become such a popular alternative to the traditional 9-5 life, have a plethora of coworking spaces. I highly recommend researching and checking out the options that the city you are in offers. Not only do they offer networking opportunities, but coworking spaces often host other fun, after-work events like happy hours, excursions, game nights, language exchanges, and more.
5 - Accept that being alone sometimes is OKAY
Before anything else, remember that it is okay to feel lonely, uncomfortable, and lost sometimes. This is especially true at the beginning of a trip when you are just arriving and getting a feeling of your surroundings.
Embrace this time when you don’t have a million plans or people to hang out with and spend time with yourself! Go out to eat, explore, and do activities that you love. What you’ll find is that by doing things that you genuinely enjoy, naturally, the right people will start to end up in your life. Plus, there is nothing better than being on your own terms while traveling. You can eat at whatever cafe you want, spend hours wandering around the new city, and go to museums or to
I took up a ceramics class for fun in Santiago, Chile!
If you are considering taking a solo-trip or even jumping into full-time travel, but are worried about not being able to make friends or meaningful connections, I hope this article will help you see it’s not as hard as you might think to make friends living this lifestyle. People who travel frequently are some of the most open minded people, welcoming, and kindest people I’ve ever met. The fact that there are so many shared experiences and struggles within the travel community only means the opportunity for more meaningful and genuine connections ❤.