The Solo Traveler's Hack to Making Friends

One of the most daunting aspects of traveling solo is the fear of being alone. During my first solo trip to Spain in 2023, I spent nearly 4 days alone in Mallorca. I remember feeling awkward as I sat next to large groups of friends who had clearly traveled there together. While spending time by myself can lead to great moments of reflection, several days of it can drive me crazy.

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Before that trip, I had traveled extensively around Europe and the US with no problem meeting people, but I had always been part of a group. The first time I truly traveled alone, I became acutely aware of every little move I made, and I had a thought that I hadn’t had since high school: Is everyone looking at me and judging me?

I’ll let you in on a little secret: they’re not. Everyone is too worried about making their own friends and planning their own trips to notice you’ve come alone. Since Mallorca, I’ve taken several solo trips and picked up some tricks on how to make friends without feeling awkward. Remember to be cautious at first with new people, especially when traveling alone, but stay open to the possibility of making new lifelong friends!

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Choose Lively Accommodations

The easiest way to meet people while you are traveling is to pick social accommodations. If you feel comfortable staying in a hostel, I highly recommend it. Most of the time, reviews on sites like Hostelworld and Booking.com make note of the hostel’s atmosphere, and usually a hostel’s website will have a calendar of events that promote socialization among guests. When I stayed at Wake Up! Byron Bay in Australia, my friend and I competed in a heated game of beer pong, which led to us going to a piano bar with other hostel guests.

If you prefer staying at a hotel, you can also take the initiative to find out about different hotel events. Some hotels host pool parties, workout classes and other fun activities, providing a perfect opportunity to interact with fellow guests.

Use Social Media

Use social media for its initial purpose: to connect those from around the world. Numerous apps are designed with solo travelers in mind. TripBff is a personal favorite of mine; it posts different meetups for solo travelers and highlights hot spots for those wandering alone. Anyone staying in a hostel booked through HostelWorld can join a city group and hostel group on the app, which will connect them to other travelers in the area. While traveling in Valencia solo, I met up with a woman who asked if anyone wanted to grab drinks; a few weeks later, she came to visit me in London!

Facebook and Instagram groups are also excellent ways to connect with other solo travelers. There are several Facebook groups specifically for individuals traveling alone. I like Gals Who Travel, as well as Lonely Planet Travelers (of course), for tips and advice.

Join Group Tours

One underrated way of meeting people is by joining group tours. While I’m not always the biggest fan of overpriced bus tours, GetYourGuide and Airbnb Experiences occasionally have smaller group tours, and those can be a great way to meet others. Many cities also offer free walking tours, which you can typically find on the city’s tourism board website or on apps like Eventbrite. When I was solo traveling in Málaga, I met three women on a guided hike, and I spent the remainder of my time with them.