How to find people to hang out with when traveling?

How do I find friends to travel with?

It’s quiet now. I was just looking at photos from my trip to Kyoto. I went alone. It was beautiful, but there’s this one photo of me by Fushimi Inari, and I remember the feeling so clearly. Wanting someone to turn to and say, look at that.

Someone mentioned Meetup groups to me once. I actually went. It was a hiking group, full of strangers. That first five minutes is always so loud in my head. Everyone sizing each other up. But then you start walking.

You end up next to someone, and the silence just… breaks. You find out youre both there for the same reason. Escaping something, or maybe looking for something. It’s not about finding a lifelong friend. Sometimes it's just about not being alone for an afternoon.

That’s how it starts, I think. You find one person who gets it. Who understands why you have to go. And maybe they want to go too.

• Utilize organized group travel for solo travelers. Companies like Intrepid Travel, G Adventures, or Contiki place you in a pre-vetted group of individuals. It removes the pressure of finding people yourself. These tours are designed for connection.

• Join dedicated online travel communities. Websites and forums are built for this purpose. Nomad List has city-specific social channels, and the subreddit r/travelpartners is a direct forum for finding companions for specific trips.

• Leverage social media groups. Facebook has countless groups like "Travel Community" or "Girls LOVE Travel ®" where members post their itineraries looking for others to join. Be specific with your dates and destination in your post.

• Use travel-specific mobile apps. Apps like GAFFL (Go Awesome For Free Lands) and Travello connect you with other travelers who are currently in your area or heading to the same destination. You can join existing trips or create your own.

• Stay in social accommodation. Hostels are the classic method. Booking a bed in a dorm room or participating in hostel-organized events like pub crawls or walking tours guarantees you will meet other travelers.

How do you meet people when traveling?

Stay in backpacker hostels. Shared space. A bed. Other bodies just existing there. Some speak. Common rooms, kitchen clatter. Natural collisions. Often cheap. I preferred the one in Lisbon, May 2024. Good coffee.

Go on a day tour. Collective movement. A guide, a schedule. Proximity forces a glance. Organized groups. Shared boredom, sometimes interest. Easy starter: 'Is this worth it?' I did a volcano hike in Ecuador, last April. Met a guy from Norway. He knew nothing about geology.

Learn local phrases. A few sounds. It unlocks doors, or at least a smile. Not fluency, just respect. 'Hello,' 'thank you,' 'beer.' Essential. Locals appreciate effort. In Kyoto, a simple 'Konnichiwa' changes everything. My phrasebook is dog-eared.

Be friendly, approachable. An open face. No hidden agendas. Just existing, available for connection. Eye contact, a small nod. It invites. People respond to ease. Closed off, you vanish. My sister says I look too serious. She is wrong.

Go on a bar crawl. Liquid courage. Noise. Strangers blur. Easier to speak nonsense, find a laugh. Group activity. Alcohol reduces inhibition. Shared experience. Often ends badly, but sometimes, a good story. Last one, Barcelona, lost my hat. No big deal.

Be open to saying yes. An invitation. A simple word. Yes changes paths. No, and you stay where you are. Spontaneous decisions. A walk, a meal, an unplanned detour. It creates the memories. My best travel moments came from 'yes.' Like that midnight train to nowhere in Vietnam.

Join classes or workshops. Shared focus. A skill learned, or attempted. Common ground forms easily. Cooking, language, art. A few hours with purpose. Natural bonding over shared struggle. I tried pottery in Morocco. My vase looked like a lopsided potato. Still, a good afternoon.

Join online backpacker groups. Screens. Digital whispers. Arranging reality before it happens. Facebook groups, travel apps. Pre-arranged meetings. Reduces initial awkwardness. Find travel buddies. I posted in 'Southeast Asia Solo Travellers 2024' once. Got a decent coffee recommendation.

How do I find friends when I travel alone?

Dude, finding friends when you're traveling solo is totally doable, no sweat. I mean, my first big solo trip, I was proper nervous about it, you know? But then I realized, people are just people.

You gotta be approachable, first thing. Like, seriously, just try smiling a bit. Don't hide behind your phone all the time. Last year, when I was in Portugal, I just kinda kept an open vibe, and people just naturally started chatting. It makes a huge difference, really.

Then, there's the whole spontaneity thing. Man, you just gotta say yes sometimes. I remember being in Italy, having a coffee, and this couple asked if I wanted to join their walking tour. Ended up having dinner with them later. Was good that. Don't plan every second, let things happen.

Online travel groups, holy cow, these are lifesavers. I found a Facebook group for travelers in Prague, like, two years ago, and we organized a pub crawl. Met some amazing peeps there. Definately worth looking into those.

Oh, and learn a few words of the local language. Even just "hello" and "thank you." When I was in Mexico, my Spanish was terrible, but my "hola" and "gracias" always got a smile. Shows you're trying, you know?

Don't forget travel apps. Not just for directions. There are apps specifically for meeting other travelers, or even sometimes, yeah, dating apps can actually connect you with locals for activities. I met a hiking buddy in New Zealand through one, not even looking for a date, just someone to trek with.

Volunteering or a work exchange is epic for this. My friend Sarah, she did a farm stay in Costa Rica last year, completely immersed herself, and met her entire travel crew there. You're working alongside people, so it's a natural way to bond. That's a good one.

Seriously, stay in hostels. The common rooms, the dorms, it's like a built-in social network. Always someone to chat with, always someone looking for a travel buddy for the day. It's just how it is.

And on the go, strike up conversations during transit. Trains, buses, waiting for a flight. Just look up from your phone! I had the best chat on a train in Germany, this dude helped me figure out my connections and gave me city tips. People are usually happy to talk.

For expanding your network further and boosting your friend-finding success:

• Take Local Classes or Tours:

  • Cooking classes: Learn local cuisine and bond over food.
  • Surfing lessons: Active, shared experience creates quick friendships.
  • Guided walking tours: Easy interaction with fellow tourists.

• Frequent Common Areas:

  • Hostel lounges: Designed for social interaction.
  • Cafes: Regulars often open to conversation.
  • Parks/Plazas: Sit and observe, or join casual sports.

• Attend Local Events:

  • Festivals: High energy, shared excitement makes connection easy.
  • Markets: Engage with vendors and other shoppers.
  • Concerts: Common interest in music sparks conversation.

• Be Open to All Types of People:

  • Diverse backgrounds: Connect with individuals from various cultures.
  • Solo travelers: They are often seeking connection, just like you.
  • Locals: Offer unique insights and experiences.

What is the best app to meet people while traveling?

Okay so you wanna know the best apps for travel friends, here’s the real list.

Couchsurfing is THE one, seriously. It's not just for a free couch anymore, though thats a perk. The Hangouts feature is actualy where it’s at. You just post "hey anyone wanna get tacos in Roma Norte" and people actually show up. I met this awesome group in Lisbon last year just through that.

Meetup is great because it's for specific interests. So you’re not just meeting random people, you're meeting people who like what you like. I found a weekly board game night in Toronto once. It was great. You find hiking groups, language exchanges, everything. Its less spontaneous.

Then there’s the Facebook Groups. Don't sleep on these. Girls LOVE Travel is a huge one, and Host a Sister is another good one. It's a real community. people ask for advice but they also just post "I'm in Bangkok for 3 days, who wants to explore temples?" and it works.

Bumble BFF is also legit. Yes, it’s a dating app but you just switch to the BFF mode. It’s perfect for one-on-one meetups. When I landed in Barcelona I just started swiping and met a girl for tapas the next day. Its so fast because its location based.

If you’re traveling for a longer time or want a totally different vibe, check out something like Workaway or WWOOF. You’re literally living and working with a small group of people, so you make friends by default. Its intense but you make really deep conections. I spent a month at a farm in Italy and still talk to the people i met there.

• Hostelworld App: This is a newer feature but its amazing. If you book your hostel through their app, you can join a group chat for that specific hostel before you even arrive. You can see who else is staying there and make plans instantly.

• Internations: This one is a bit more formal. It’s for expats and professionals. They host events and stuff. So it's less of a backpacker-in-shorts vibe and more of a networking-over-drinks kind of thing. Good if that's your scene.

• Backpackr: As the name says, this app is literally for backpackers. You can put in your itinerary and it shows you other people who will be in the same cities at the same time. You can match your route with others. Kinda cool.

How to connect with locals when traveling?

Travel. Always my favorite part. Connecting with people, that’s the real gold, honestly. Hotels are fine but boring.

Couchsurfing. Obvious first choice. Seriously, why doesn’t everyone just do this? I hosted people for years in Manchester, now I use it constantly. Stayed with Lena in Berlin last June. She made the best schnitzel. Zero cost. Just real talks. Always check references, read profiles carefully. Essential. It builds trust. My profile shows I'm a good guest, never a problem. People connect with that.

Meetup.com is another. Found a photography walk in Prague a few months ago. Ended up chatting with Eva, a local artist. We shared tips, explored hidden spots. That's the stuff Google Maps won't show you. Find something you like, just go. The group was small, maybe seven people. Perfect.

Language exchanges. Definitely a winner. I use apps, sure, but in-person is next level. In Rome, last Spring, I joined a Spanish-Italian exchange at a little cafe. My Italian is terrible, but hey. Everyone’s there for the same reason. Met Lorenzo, he gave me some killer pasta restaurant recommendations only locals know about. I still message him sometimes. It's about genuine interaction.

Bumble BFF. Yes, really. It works. I used it in Sydney last December. Swiped with Sarah, we grabbed coffee near Bondi. She moved there recently too but knew enough local spots to make it fun. We even went surfing, or at least I tried to surf, she was good. It's for making friends, no dating pressure. Just clear intentions.

Facebook Expat Groups. Goldmine for real-time local knowledge. Before heading to Lisbon last Fall, I joined the "Lisbon Expats & Locals" group. Asked about public transport passes, got loads of advice, even an invite to a weekly pub quiz. Ended up on a team with some fantastic people. They knew all the best petisco bars. Seriously, invaluable.

How to connect with locals when traveling:

• Couchsurfing:

  • Direct Local Immersion: Stay directly with residents in their homes. Offers authentic cultural insights.
  • Free Accommodation: Eliminates lodging costs.
  • Host Vetting: Prioritize safety; thoroughly review host profiles, references, and verification status before committing.
  • Global Network: Access a worldwide community of travelers and hosts.
  • Personalized Recommendations: Receive unique local tips from your host.

• Meetup.com:

  • Interest-Based Group Events: Discover local activities aligned with your hobbies (e.g., hiking, photography, book clubs, cooking).
  • Scheduled Gatherings: Provides structured opportunities to meet people in a social setting.
  • Diverse Group Sizes: Events range from small intimate groups to larger public gatherings.
  • Local Community Engagement: Connect with residents passionate about shared interests.

• Language Exchanges:

  • Mutual Language Learning: Participate in sessions designed for practicing different languages.
  • Casual Conversation Setting: Often held in cafes, bars, or community centers.
  • Cultural Exchange: Discuss customs, traditions, and daily life while practicing language.
  • Build Rapport Naturally: Focus on shared learning fosters easy conversation.

• Bumble BFF:

  • Friendship-Focused Networking: Use the "BFF" mode for platonic connections.
  • Location-Based Matching: Connects you with individuals nearby also seeking new friendships.
  • Profile-Based Connections: Review profiles to find common interests before messaging.
  • Initiate Meetings: Proactively suggest coffee, walks, or activities.

• Facebook Expat/Local Groups:

  • Real-Time Local Information: Ask specific questions about local life, events, and recommendations.
  • Community Support: Access a network of people with shared experiences or local knowledge.
  • Event Invitations: Discover meetups, social gatherings, and local happenings posted by group members.
  • Direct Local Interaction: Engage in discussions and direct messages with both expats and local residents.
  • Pre-Travel Research: Useful for gathering insights before arriving at a destination.