How I make friends whilst travelling solo
Travelling solo doesn’t mean being alone. The four ways I’ve met some of my favourite people on the road, from hostel kitchens to apps.
Travelling solo doesn’t mean being alone. Honestly, I’ve met some of my favourite people while on the road: chatting in hostel kitchens, joining random group tours, or even finding people through apps. It’s wild how easy it can be once you put yourself out there.
1. Choose social accommodation
Hostels, homestays and co-living spaces are built for connection. Common areas, kitchen chats and hostel activities make it easy to meet other travellers without forcing it. Even a simple “where are you from?” can spark a new friendship, because everyone is there for the same reason: to explore and connect.
2. Try a work exchange or volunteering
- Workaway: help in hostels, farms or schools around the world.
- WWOOF: live on organic farms and learn about sustainable living.
- TrustedHousesitters: take care of pets while staying in beautiful homes.
- Worldpackers: volunteer or exchange skills for free stays, with verified hosts and reviews.
- HelpX / HelpStay: similar to Workaway, with flexible stays.
You live, work and eat with people every day, so friendships happen naturally.
3. Join group activities
Joining group activities such as walking tours, cooking classes or adventure excursions is an easy way to meet people while travelling. Platforms like Meetup make it simple to find local events and activities in any destination.
4. Use connection apps
- Bumble BFF: connect with locals or travellers nearby who are looking for friendship, not dating.
- Couchsurfing: beyond free accommodation, it’s a global community where travellers and locals meet through hangouts and events.
- Facebook travel groups: search for city-based or niche groups (for example “Solo Female Travelers” or “Digital Nomads in Lisbon”) to meet people in your area.
- Hostelworld chat: connect with travellers staying at your hostel or nearby before you arrive, perfect for planning meetups.
- Dating apps: Bumble, Tinder or Hinge can be great for meeting locals or other travellers. Just be upfront about what you’re looking for and meet in public. Worst case, you get a good story out of it.
Half the fun of solo travel is the people you meet along the way.
If you’re new to a city, these are also the things I do to get the feel for a new place, and most of them are great for meeting people too.
