“Staying at a hostel” is the most common advice for making friends during your solo travels, but it doesn’t work for everyone. If hostels simply aren’t your thing and you want your own privacy, here are three alternative ways to make new friends when you’re traveling on your own.
Free Walking Tours
If you’re not staying at a hostel, you can still meet fellow travelers by joining a free walking tour. You’ll be mostly listening to your tour guide during these tours, but you can still try to strike up a conversation with other travelers and suggest exploring the rest of the city together.
Out and About
Clubs, restaurants, galleries, museums, major tourist sites—the list of places where you can meet new people is pretty much endless if you’re outgoing enough. Step out of your comfort zone, start a conversation with someone who seems interesting, and don’t worry if you don’t hit it off because you’ll probably never see them again anyway.
Meeting People Online
If you struggle to strike up a conversation with strangers in person, you can try to first “meet” them online. There are many Facebook groups where solo travelers look for company during their trips, but you can also use dating apps such as Tinder and Bumble to make friends—just be clear about your intentions and only meet people who make you feel safe.