Meeting people while travelling solo – making friends and handling loneliness

Where to meet other travellers

Some places and activities make meeting people much easier. Building a few of them into your trip gives you natural chances to start conversations.

Accommodation

• Hostels with social spaces, such as a common room, kitchen or rooftop, are among the easiest places to meet people. Many organise evening events, walking tours or shared dinners. You can usually book a private room if you prefer privacy.
• Small guesthouses with shared breakfasts often lead to relaxed conversations with other guests and hosts.

Activities

• Walking tours, including free or tip-based tours, are a classic way to meet people on your first day in a city.
• Cooking classes, food tours and workshops bring together small groups with a shared interest.
• Day trips and excursions to sights outside the city often mean several hours with the same small group.
• Outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, diving or surfing lessons connect you with people who share your interests.
• Volunteering or language courses on longer trips create lasting connections.

Transport

Long train journeys, shared minibuses and boat trips often lead to conversations, especially on popular travel routes where many people are heading in the same direction.

Choosing well-travelled routes for your first solo trips also helps. The more travellers there are, the more chances you have to meet someone you get on with.

How to start conversations when you are shy

You do not need to be naturally outgoing to make friends while travelling. Many solo travellers describe themselves as introverts. Travel actually makes conversation easier, because everyone around you shares something: you are all far from home, exploring the same place.

Easy openers

• Ask a practical question: where someone has been, what they would recommend, or how they got there.
• Comment on something you are both experiencing, such as the view, the food or the delayed bus.
• Offer something small: to take a photo, share a tip or split a taxi.
• Ask to join: many travellers are happy if you ask whether you can sit with them or join them for dinner.

Habits that help

• Put your phone away in shared spaces, so you look available for conversation.
• Say yes more often to invitations that feel comfortable, such as a group dinner or a day trip.
• Take part in structured activities, where the activity itself does much of the work.
• Learn a few words of the local language; even a greeting and a thank you open doors with local people.

Not every conversation will turn into a friendship, and that is fine. Many travel connections are short and friendly, and that is part of their charm. You can also take a break whenever you want. One advantage of solo travel is that you can choose when to be social and when to be alone.

Using apps and online groups safely

Social media groups, travel forums and apps designed for travellers can help you find people heading to the same place, join meet-ups or ask for local advice. They can be especially helpful in places with fewer obvious backpacker hubs.

Ways people use them

• Joining traveller groups for a country or city to ask questions and find meet-ups.
• Finding people to share a trip, such as a day hike or a taxi to a remote sight.
• Attending language exchange evenings or local interest events.
• Connecting with local hosts or residents who enjoy meeting visitors.

Staying safe

• Meet new people in busy public places, especially the first time.
• Tell someone where you are going and who you are meeting.
• Do not share your exact accommodation details until you are comfortable.
• Be cautious with anyone who asks for money, pushes you to change plans quickly or makes you uneasy.
• Make your own way to and from meetings so you are not dependent on someone you have just met.

Most people you meet through travel groups are simply other travellers looking for company, just like you. These habits are about keeping you in control, not about expecting the worst.

Treat information shared in online groups the same way you treat any other tip: helpful, but worth checking. Prices, opening times and rules change, and one person's experience may not match yours. Official sources remain the best guide for anything to do with safety, entry rules or health.

Connecting with local people

Meeting other travellers is easy on popular routes, but some of the most memorable moments of a trip come from conversations with people who live there. Solo travellers often find that local people are more likely to start a conversation with someone alone.

Ways to connect

• Stay with local hosts in guesthouses, homestays or family-run accommodation.
• Take classes run by local people, such as cooking, crafts, music or dance.
• Visit markets and neighbourhood cafes rather than only the main tourist areas.
• Join a local guide for a walking tour or day trip and ask questions about daily life.
• Go to language exchange events, where locals practise your language and you practise theirs.
• Attend local events, such as festivals, sports matches or community celebrations, when appropriate for visitors.

Respect and good manners

Learn a little about local customs before you go, such as greetings, dress, tipping and topics that may be sensitive. Ask before taking photos of people. Be curious rather than judgemental, and accept that some people may simply be busy or not interested in chatting.

Be aware that in some busy tourist places, very friendly approaches can be part of a sales pitch or a scam. It is fine to be polite and warm while still saying no to offers you did not ask for.

Even a short conversation with a shopkeeper, a bus driver or a family at the next table can become a highlight of the day. Patience, a smile and a few local words usually go further than fluent language skills.

Handling loneliness on the road

Loneliness is one of the most common worries about solo travel, and it is worth talking about honestly. Most solo travellers feel lonely at some point, often in the evenings, on long travel days, after saying goodbye to new friends, or when something goes wrong. It does not mean the trip is failing.

What tends to help

• Plan social anchors. Book a walking tour, a class or a group day trip every few days, so company is never far away.
• Choose social accommodation for part of the trip, even if you prefer privacy most of the time.
• Keep a routine. A morning coffee spot, a daily walk or a regular call home gives structure to your days.
• Stay in touch with friends and family, but try not to spend the whole trip on your phone.
• Look after the basics: sleep, food, water and some exercise make a big difference to mood.
• Give yourself permission to change plans, move somewhere busier or go home early if you really want to.

Enjoying your own company

Being alone and feeling lonely are not the same thing. Many solo travellers come to value the quiet moments: reading in a cafe, walking without a plan, or watching a sunset without needing to talk. Writing a journal, sketching or taking photos can make time alone feel purposeful.

If low mood lasts or feels heavy, talk to someone you trust and consider professional support. Your travel insurance may also have a helpline.

Group trips as a way to travel solo with company

For many solo travellers, joining a group trip is the most reliable way to make sure they have company. You book alone, but you spend the trip with a small group of people who have chosen the same route and, often, are also travelling solo.

Why group trips help with meeting people

• Built-in company at meals, on journeys and during activities.
• Shared experiences make it easy to talk and bond, often within the first day.
• A guide or tour leader who can introduce local people and explain customs.
• Free time on most trips, so you can still have time alone.

Choosing the right group for you

The feel of a group depends a lot on its size, age range and style. Some trips attract mostly younger travellers, others focus on people in their 40s, 50s and beyond, and some are for women only or for specific interests such as hiking, food or photography. Read the trip details and the operator's description of who usually joins.

Smaller groups often feel more personal, while larger groups give you more people to choose from. If you are unsure, a short trip of a few days is a good way to test whether group travel suits you before committing to something longer.

Many people also find that friendships made on a group trip continue afterwards, with travellers keeping in touch or even planning future trips together. That is never guaranteed, but sharing several days of new experiences tends to bring people together quickly.