How to Make Friends While Traveling

One of the best ways to truly experience a new place is through the people who call it home. While visiting famous landmarks can be exciting, the most meaningful travel experiences often come from forming genuine connections with locals. From spontaneous adventures to deep cultural exchanges, making local friends can completely transform the way you see a destination.

 

Why Making Friends While Traveling Matters

Making friends while traveling gives you an authentic perspective on a place that no guidebook or tourist attraction can provide. It allows you to:

 

• Experience traditions, customs, and daily life firsthand.
• Discover hidden gems that aren’t on the typical tourist radar.
• Gain a deeper understanding of a culture beyond surface-level observations.
• Create lifelong friendships and a global network of connections.

 

Ways to Make Friends While Traveling

If you’re wondering how to build friendships while traveling, here are some tried-and-tested methods:

 

1. Use Couchsurfing and Facebook Groups

Couchsurfing is not just for finding a place to stay—it also has a feature called ‘hangouts’ where you can see who’s online in your city and make plans. I’ve met some of my closest friends in life through Couchsurfing and it’s by far my favourite way of meeting people, especially as it’s great for spontaneous plans!

 

Facebook groups for travelers and expats in different cities are also a great way to find social gatherings, activity partners, and local insights. I often search for groups such as ‘Nomads in X City’ or ‘Expats in X City’ to find relevant connections. Additionally, I recommend a page called Host A Sister, which is a female-only group and allows you to find hosts in other countries or people to meet up with. Facebook groups for travellers and expats in different cities are also a great way to find social gatherings, activity partners, and local insights.

 

1. Stay in Locally-Owned Accommodations

Hotels can be convenient, but staying in locally-run guesthouses, homestays, or hostels also often leads to deeper interactions. I also often use Couchsurfing while travelling, an app which allows you to stay for free with locals who are eager to share their culture and lifestyle with travelers.

 

2. Join Language Exchanges

If you’re in a country where you don’t speak the language fluently, language exchange meetups are a great way to meet locals who want to practice English or another language you speak. Apps like Tandem or HelloTalk can also help you connect with locals before you even arrive.

 

3. Take a Class or Workshop

Cooking classes, dance lessons, or craft workshops provide an excellent opportunity to make friends. In Colombia I started taking salsa classes, and I met the majority of my friends there through group classes or salsa socials.

 

3. Meetup App

 

Meetup is a platform that connects people based on shared interests, offering a variety of local events, from hiking trips to language exchanges and professional networking. It’s a great way to meet both locals and fellow travelers who enjoy the same activities. Simply search for events in your current city, join a group, and start connecting!

 

5. Volunteer Your Time

Volunteering is one of the most rewarding ways to meet locals while making a positive impact. Whether it’s teaching English, working on a farm, or helping with conservation projects, volunteering fosters deep cultural immersion and long-lasting friendships.

 

6. Say Yes to Invitations

Sometimes, the best experiences come from spontaneous moments. If a local invites you to a family dinner, a community festival, or a small gathering, say yes! Some of my best memories over the course of the past year have come from forcing myself to say yes to opportunities presented to me!

 

7. Spend Time in Local Cafés and Markets

Frequenting local coffee shops, markets, and plazas rather than tourist-heavy areas makes it easier to strike up conversations with locals. Many of my friendships in Cuzco were started through eating lunch or buying a juice in San Blas market, where I always ended up striking conversation with the person next to me.

 

Final Thoughts on Making Friends While Traveling

Making friends while traveling is about more than just meeting new people—it’s about deepening your travel experiences and seeing the world from a new perspective. Some of the best travel memories come from the unexpected friendships formed along the way. So next time you’re in a new destination, step out of the tourist bubble, strike up a conversation, and embrace the connections that make travel truly special.

 

Have you made meaningful friendships while traveling? Share your stories in the comments below!