10 ways to meet people while travelling solo!

Travelling alone is undoubtedly one of the most liberating experiences anyone can have. You can set your own hours, explore places exactly as you please, and learn a huge amount about yourself as you become more knowledgeable about the world around you. However, as someone who’s spent the last eight months living abroad, I’ll be the first to say that it can get lonely at times. Sometimes it can actually be a good idea just to power through these rough patches and learn to enjoy your own company, but at the same time, I think travelling is almost always enhanced by interactions with other people. Here, then, are ten ways to find new friends when you're away from home.

Try to find friends through friends

Before you’ve even set off, a great way to meet new people is to ask your nearest and dearest if they have contacts in the places you’re planning on visiting. When I was staying in Italy a few years ago, my mother got in touch with an old colleague of hers, and I spent a lovely morning with her in Vicenza, seeing parts of the city I would never have found with a travel guide alone. This is a great way to meet people, because you’ll know off the bat that you can trust them, and you’ll be able to bond over your mutual acquaintance.

Alternatively, if you know people abroad, go and stay with them, and meet others through them. I spend a fortnight with my mother's old Italian penpal a few years ago, and, because she was an English teacher, she had a number former students who were very keen to show me around. I was also introduced to many of her relatives, and even did a month-long exchange with one of her younger cousins!

Pick accommodation that will allow you to meet others

One of the easiest ways to meet people while travelling – and especially if you’re on the younger side – is by staying in hostels. I worked in one for a month this summer (look out for a whole article on this experience, coming soon!), and walked away at the end with loads of new friends, many of whom I have kept in touch with and seen since. There are so many ways to meet people – in your dorm, at communal meals, or on hostel-run pub crawls – and you may find other travellers heading to the same next destination! Just make sure that you check hostel reviews before booking anywhere, as some have much more of a friendly atmosphere than others.

Alternatively, if you fancy having a bit more space to yourself, and would be interested in meeting locals, why not try Couchsurfing? Not only is it completely free, but you’ll also get an insider’s perspective on the place you’re visiting, and perhaps find out about great places to go that are off the beaten track. You will have to earn your keep, as it were, but if you’re up for talking about anything from travel stories to world politics, you’ll have a blast!

Finally, if you’re planning on staying in one place for an extended period of time, see if you can find shared accommodation. You could either choose to live with people your own age – Facebook groups are one of the best places to find housemates – or with a host family. I'm currently living in an Italian household, and have met so many locals – their friends and relatives – as a result. If you're looking for free lodging and a bit of extra cash, you can also try au pairing.

Use meet-up websites

While I was living in Biarritz last winter, I used the Meetup website to find people in my area to spend with. Thanks to the gatherings I attended, I met locals of all ages, with  different, but equally useful, advice on what to do in the city, and was invited along to other events: pub quizzes, clubs nights, and a Halloween celebration, among other things. Here I am, just before going to a pirate-themed night at a local bar with some new friends!

If you’re only staying somewhere for a short time, the Shut Up and Go Facebook page is a fantastic place to find nearby travellers. One of my friends actually met up with a Swedish girl in Florence, and they got on so well that the latter went to stay with the former in Edinburgh later that year

Find out what’s going on in your area

It can be daunting rocking up to social events alone, but if you put yourself out there, you’ll almost certainly meet new people to hang out with! The Facebook Local app is a great place to find out what’s going on near you, as are tourist information websites. Whether you’re into concerts, art exhibitions or book club gatherings, you’ll definitely find something up your street! Here's a photo from a beautiful Christmas light festival I went to in Biarritz.

Attend language exchanges

If, like me, you dream of being a polyglot, head along to a language exchange! Facebook is, again, probably your best bet in terms of finding these sorts of events, and there’ll more than likely to several different ones to choose from. Not only will you be able to improve your language skills and help others improve theirs, you’ll also meet new people and hopefully arrange to see them again in a less formal context.

Use dating apps

Another way to improve your language skills is by going on dates! Nowadays, there are so many apps to choose from, and whether you’re looking for a quick fling or a long-term relationship, you’ll be sure to find people on the same wavelength. What is more, even if you don’t end up falling in love, you’ll discover new bars, coffee shops, and other date spots along the way.

Book experiences, activities, and tours

They say that you’ll find the best new friends when you’re doing something you love! Whether you’ve been playing volleyball for years, or are an amateur knitter, you’ll easily find people with similar interests if you join clubs or take part in organised activities. Airbnb is a fantastic place to find experiences hosted by locals, and if you attend these – or go on walking tours – you’ll meet loads of fellow travellers, while learning more about the history and culture of the place you’re visiting. Here's a (very unflattering!) picture of me on a bakery tour in Bordeaux.

Study or do a short course

If you’re an EU citizen, doing an Erasmus exchange is probably the best way for you to meet new friends abroad while you’re still in education. I have never studied in another country, but I have many friends who are doing so right now, and they’ve all met loads of new people from across the world. You’ll be able to bond with fellow international students, not least because everyone will have difficulties in adapting to living abroad, and also make friends with locals at your university.

If you don’t have the time or money for this sort of commitment, you could also try doing a short course in something or attending a summer school. In your free time, you’ll be able to explore the area with your classmates.

Work or volunteer

If you're not so interested in studying, why not get a job or volunteering position? This is one of the best ways to meet people abroad – not least because you’ll be spending a lot of time with them – and you’ll quickly gather up a new group of friends. Workaway is a great website to use to find voluntary work – usually twenty hours a week, in exchange for free bed and board – and there are gigs in just about every city. For the small price of 29€, I bought a year’s access to this page last summer, and had two invaluable experiences: au pairing near Toulouse, and working in a hostel in Bordeaux. Even better: this site has a feature where you can find other Workawayers nearby. Alternatively, if you don't mind getting your hands dirty, give WWOOFing a try!

Other short term jobs I’ve done – that have led to my meeting hundreds of new people – include stewarding at festivals, doing bar work, doing a translating internship, and teaching English as a foreign language. If you're a student in the EU, apply for Erasmus traineeship funding!

Strike up conversation with strangers

And finally, if all else fails, just walk up to people and say hi! One of the guests at my hostel in Bordeaux did just this, and my goodness had he met a lot of people on his travels. It’s not easy to speak to strangers, especially if they’re in a large group, but you have to remember that most people love making new friends, and even if things are awkward at first, you’ll very quickly see the benefits of taking the plunge.

Final thoughts

So there you have it: ten ways to meet new friends while travelling solo! Remember to be open to everyone and everything – I’ve had some of my best experiences socialising with people three times my age, and taking part in activities I never would have dreamed of enjoying – all while staying safe and knowing your limits. If you make a load of new pals, fantastic; if not, be your own best friend, and enjoy seeing the world in your own speical way!

Photo gallery