How to Meet People While Traveling Solo: A Practical Guide
AirHuntr Editorial
June 18, 2026
One of the most common concerns about solo travel is loneliness. In practice, solo travelers consistently find it easier to meet people than group travelers — you're more approachable, more flexible, and more motivated to engage. Here's how to make the most of it.
One of the most common concerns about solo travel is loneliness. In practice, solo travelers consistently find it easier to meet people than group travelers — you're more approachable, more flexible, and more motivated to engage. Here's how to make the most of it.
The Best Environments for Meeting Travelers
Hostels: The most reliable environment for meeting solo travelers. Social hostels have:
- Common rooms with open seating designed for conversation
- Organized pub crawls, walking tours, and movie nights
- Communal kitchens where cooking alongside strangers is natural
- Staff who often facilitate introductions
Book hostels specifically for their social reputation. Read recent reviews and look for mentions of "great social atmosphere" or "met amazing people." A well-chosen hostel makes meeting people automatic.
Free Walking Tours: Available in virtually every major tourist city. Groups of 10–25 people, typically tourists and solo travelers, walking for 2 hours with a local guide. At the end, people go for a drink together spontaneously. This is the single best thing to do on day 1 in any new city.
Organized Day Trips: Day trips to nearby attractions (boat tours, hikes, cooking classes) put you in close proximity with 6–20 people for several hours. Shared experience creates natural conversation.
Language Schools: Taking a 1–2 week Spanish, Italian, or Portuguese class is one of the best ways to meet people with long-term potential — you're there for weeks, not days.
Coworking Spaces: If you work remotely, coworking spaces attract a community of like-minded location-independent workers. Many host social events.
Meeting Locals
Meeting locals requires more deliberate effort than meeting travelers, but produces more memorable experiences.
Couchsurfing Events: Couchsurfing hosts regular meetups open to travelers in most major cities — advertised on the Couchsurfing app. These specifically attract locals interested in meeting visitors.
Language Exchange (Tandem): Apps like Tandem or Speaky connect you with locals who want to practice English in exchange for helping you with the local language. Often leads to genuine friendships and local recommendations.
Sport: Showing up at a local running club, yoga class, or sports meetup is a reliable way to meet local people with a shared interest.
Via Meetup.com: City-based events organized by interest — hiking, board games, language, photography. Many welcome international visitors.
Conversation Starters
You don't need to be extroverted. The simplest approach: be genuinely curious. "Where are you from?", "How long have you been traveling?", "What's the best thing you've eaten here?" are reliable openers because travelers are already primed for this conversation.
The hostel common room has no awkwardness — everyone is there for the same reason and small talk is completely natural.
Managing Solitude
Not every moment of solo travel involves socializing. Solitude is part of the deal — eating a meal alone, navigating a city alone, sitting with your thoughts. This is not a problem to solve. Many solo travelers come to see these solitary moments as among the most valuable: space to process, observe, and feel present in a way that group travel rarely allows.
The balance between socializing and solitude is personal. Some solo travelers spend their entire trip in social hostel environments; others prefer private accommodation and intentional solitude. Both are valid.
The practical point: if you want company, it's always available. If you want solitude, that's equally easy to choose.
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