Traveling solo doesn’t mean you’ll be alone. On the contrary, it gives you plenty of opportunities to connect with a local culture and people. Even more, it gives you the possibility of finding new friends. That’s why we prepared some Helpful Tips for Meeting Friends While Traveling solo.
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Our List of Helpful Tips While Traveling Solo
Namely, solo travel allowed us to immerse ourselves in local culture, step out of our comfort zone, and be free to do what we wanted when we wanted. Consequently, we’ve made friends with other travelers and created unforgettable memories. Solo travel can be a social experience that enriches your life. Here are a few top tips for making friends while traveling alone. Let’s dive in!
Free walking tours
Cities offer walking tours and day trips to explore your new destination with locals or other travelers. Check freetoursbyfoot.com and freetour.com for free tours with like-minded people. To discover hidden gems, try Airbnb experiences or independent guides on withlocals.com. Free walking tours are beneficial as they attract exciting people, provide knowledge to integrate into the community, and help connect with other solo travelers.
Social media – especially Facebook groups
While Traveling Solo, use social media to connect with other travelers! Join travel or expat groups on Facebook, post your plans, and ask for advice. Additionally, you can share your adventures on Instagram. Say hi to fellow travelers on Backpackr or sign up for Bumble BFF to match with new friends. Ultimately, Facebook groups are the best way to connect with solo travelers. Instagram is great for solo female travelers. You may be surprised by who you meet!
Join an exciting class.
Group yoga, painting classes, surfing lessons—you’ll get to do something you love even when you are away from home! Going to an exciting class is a straightforward way to meet locals and travelers alike because you already have an interest in common and will get to share that passion. And the best part? Even if you don’t make any friends this time, you’ll still enjoy yourself while learning something new.
Learn some of the local languages.
For many solo travelers, this is a rule of thumb! But brushing up on some local phrases can help you meet local people more easily. Free apps like Duolingo and Memrise or cheap paid apps like Babbel can offer helpful phrases to help you make new friends and discover localized experiences.
Explore Solo Travel websites, online communities, and apps
Many websites and apps allow solo travelers to connect with fellow adventurers and make new friends. Meetup.com is a great website that offers free events, classes, tours, and activities worldwide.
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Other valuable apps and social platforms include:
- SoloTraveller: A social platform specifically designed to connect you with other solo travelers and backpackers in your area.
- Couchsurfing: An app that lets you find free accommodation in the homes of locals eager to host travelers.
- Showaround: This app lets you connect with locals who are willing to show you around their city and share their knowledge of the local culture.
- Flip the Trip: An app that lets you search for travel buddies for future trips.
- Tourlina is a travel app that helps solo travelers find travel companions. You can swipe on other users’ profiles to match with potential travel buddies.
With these apps and websites, you can easily connect with like-minded travelers and maximize your solo travel experience.
Stay in hostels
To make new friends while traveling alone, stay in a hostel and:
- Spend time in common areas
- Join hostel activities
- Attend breakfast
Be Flexible
When exploring a new city, you meet some people on the street, and they invite you for coffee. You have plans to visit a museum at 4 pm. Still, you want to take advantage of this opportunity, so you rearrange your plans, visit the museum, and go for coffee with your new friends. Being open to experiences can lead to exciting adventures and memories.
These simple steps will help you connect with other travelers and form new friendships while Traveling Solo.
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Feature Photo Creator: anyaberkut
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