How to Make Friends While Traveling Solo
2025-04-19 · 7 min read
Solo travel is one of the most rewarding things you can do, but the loneliness is real — particularly on longer trips. The difference between feeling isolated and feeling independent often comes down to how deliberately you create opportunities for human connection. It doesn't happen by accident, but it doesn't require being an extrovert either.
Stay in social accommodation. Hostels aren't just for broke backpackers anymore — brands like Selina, Generator, and The Social Hub cater to travelers in their late twenties and thirties with private rooms, coworking spaces, and organized social events. The common areas and communal kitchens create natural conversation entry points that hotels deliberately prevent.
Take group activities that require cooperation. A cooking class, a group surf lesson, a walking food tour, or a pub crawl creates a shared experience with strangers that breaks down social barriers faster than sitting alone at a bar. Companies like Devour Tours, Intrepid Travel, and WithLocals specifically design small-group experiences that encourage interaction.
Coworking spaces are the underrated social hub for solo travelers. If you have any remote work to do, a day pass at a local coworking space — WeWork, Impact Hub, or independent spots — puts you in a room with people who are often in the same situation: working abroad, looking for a lunch companion, open to a drink after close. The digital nomad community in cities like Lisbon, Bali, and Medellín is built on these spaces.
Use apps designed for traveler connection. Meetup.com lists local events in virtually every major city. Couchsurfing's Hangouts feature connects travelers in real time, even if you're not staying on someone's couch. Bumble BFF mode works internationally and matches you with locals and travelers looking for platonic social connections.
Be the person who initiates. Sit at the bar instead of a table. Ask someone what they're drinking or where they've been. Offer to share a taxi to a destination you're both headed toward. The vast majority of solo travelers are hoping someone will start the conversation — being that person requires less courage than you think and pays off more consistently than you'd expect.
