How to Meet People While Traveling Solo (Without Being Awkward)

You’re Solo, Not Alone

The biggest fear people have about solo travel isn’t safety — it’s loneliness. “Won’t I be eating alone every night?” “What if I don’t meet anyone?” “I’m not good at talking to strangers.”

Here’s the truth that every solo traveler discovers: you will meet more people traveling solo than you ever would with a companion. When you’re alone, you’re approachable. Other solo travelers are actively looking for someone to share experiences with. The barrier to connection is laughably low — “Where are you from?” is all it takes.

The Hostel Strategy

Hostels aren’t just cheap accommodation — they’re social infrastructure. The best hostels are designed to bring people together.

How to Pick a Social Hostel

• Check reviews for social mentions — Look for words like “common room,” “bar,” “events,” “met amazing people”
• Choose 4-8 bed dorms over private rooms (if you want to meet people)
• Book hostels with communal kitchens — Cooking together is one of the fastest ways to bond
• Look for organized activities — Pub crawls, walking tours, cooking classes, movie nights

The First Night Trick

When you check into a hostel, do this:

1. Drop your bags
2. Go straight to the common room
3. Sit somewhere visible (not hidden in a corner)
4. Make eye contact and smile
5. Ask anyone nearby: “Hey, just arrived — have you found any good restaurants around here?”

That’s it. That single question has started thousands of travel friendships.

Group Tours and Day Trips

Photo by Ketut Subiyanto on Pexels

Group activities are the ultimate icebreaker. You don’t need to be outgoing — the activity does the work for you.

Best Group Activities for Meeting People

• Free walking tours — Every major city has them. Tip-based, so there’s no risk. You’ll walk with 15-30 people for 2-3 hours, plenty of time to chat
• Cooking classes — Chopping vegetables together creates instant camaraderie
• Pub crawls — Not just for party animals. They’re structured socializing with a group of fellow travelers
• Day trips — Boat tours, island hopping, national park excursions. Shared vans and boats mean captive audiences
• Volunteer programs — Workaway, WWOOF, or local volunteer projects put you side by side with like-minded people

Booking Tips

• GetYourGuide and Viator have reviews that mention group size and social atmosphere
• Choose small group tours (under 12 people) over large bus tours
• Multi-day tours (G Adventures, Intrepid) are friendship accelerators — 5 days with the same group creates bonds that last years

The Digital Nomad Scene

If you work remotely, coworking spaces are the new hostel common rooms. They’re designed for connection.

Best Coworking Destinations for Solo Women

City	Top Spaces	Monthly Cost	Vibe
Lisbon	Second Home, Outsite	$150-250	Creative, international
Chiang Mai	Punspace, Hub53	$80-120	Chill, wellness-focused
Bali (Canggu)	Dojo, Outpost	$100-180	Surf + work lifestyle
Mexico City	WeWork, Selina	$120-200	Foodie, cultural
Medellín	Selina, Tinkko	$80-150	Emerging scene, affordable
Budapest	Loffice, Impact Hub	$100-160	Central European charm

How to Connect in Coworking Spaces

• Attend the welcome events (most spaces have weekly ones)
• Ask someone at the next desk what they’re working on
• Join the space’s Slack or WhatsApp group — events, dinners, and weekend trips are organized there
• Suggest a lunch group — “I’m going to grab pad thai, anyone want to come?”

Apps and Online Communities

Photo by Markus Winkler on Pexels

Apps for Meeting Fellow Travelers

• Bumble BFF — Like dating apps but for friendship. Filter by travelers in your area
• Couchsurfing Hangouts — Not just for accommodation. The “Hangouts” feature shows people near you who want to grab coffee or explore
• Meetup — Search for events in your destination. Hiking groups, language exchanges, photography walks
• Facebook Groups — Search “[City] Solo Female Travelers” or “[City] Digital Nomads.” Most cities have active groups with regular meetups

Reddit Communities

• r/solotravel — 3M+ members sharing tips, meetup requests, and stories
• r/digitalnomad — For remote workers on the move
• r/TwoXTravel — Specifically for women travelers (renamed from various older communities)

Classes and Workshops

Learning something new is one of the best ways to meet people organically.

Ideas by Destination

• Italy: Pasta-making class
• Thailand: Muay Thai gym
• Japan: Sushi-making or pottery workshop
• Portugal: Surf lessons
• Morocco: Moroccan cooking class
• Anywhere: Yoga class, dance lesson, language exchange

The shared vulnerability of being a beginner creates instant connection. You’re all bad at it together — and that’s hilarious and bonding.

The Art of Solo Dining

One of the most common fears: eating alone. Here’s how to reframe it.

Make Solo Dining Amazing

• Sit at the bar instead of a table — bartenders are natural conversationalists, and other bar-sitters are usually open to chatting
• Bring a book — Reading at a cafe is the ultimate solo activity. Plus, people love asking “What are you reading?”
• Try food markets and hawker centers — Communal seating means you’ll naturally end up next to someone
• Take a food tour — Combines eating with socializing and learning about local culture
• Ask locals for recommendations — “What’s your favorite dish here?” is a conversation starter and usually leads to the best food

When You Want to Be Alone

This might sound counterintuitive in an article about meeting people, but: it’s okay to want solitude. One of the greatest gifts of solo travel is choosing when to be social and when to retreat.

You don’t need to make friends at every stop. Some of the best solo travel moments are:

• Watching a sunset alone from a hillside
• Getting lost in a city without anyone waiting for you
• Journaling at a quiet cafe
• Taking a long, aimless walk

The magic of solo travel is that you get to choose. Every single time.

Quick Reference: Conversation Starters

If “Where are you from?” feels stale, try:

1. “How long have you been traveling?”
2. “What’s the best thing you’ve eaten here?”
3. “Have you been to [nearby attraction]? Worth it?”
4. “I’m trying to figure out what to do tomorrow — any suggestions?”
5. “That book/phone case/backpack is cool — where’d you get it?”

Every solo traveler you meet was once nervous about their first trip alone. You’re joining a global community of people who took the leap. Welcome to the club.