You're never really alone when you're solo traveling.

Sure it may take a little more effort to find your people. But they're out there if you're craving some social interaction.

Here are some of the best ways to meet people when you're alone in a different city or country.

The Hostel

Shocker right?

Probably not.

The easiest place to meet other solo travelers is at hostels, which exist in almost every major city.

But don't just pick any hostel. Some of the things I look for when choosing where to stay include the following:

• Does the hostel have a bar? If so, it's likely to be a social hostel and thus a great place to meet people
• Does the hostel do events? Day activities can be a great place to meet people in a very informal setting with little effort.
  
  Night activities like bar crawls, game nights, or karaoke can be equally effective for having fun and making lasting memories with new friends!
• How many people are staying at the hostel? You can see these numbers on HostelWorld. I used to automatically pick the hostel with the most people staying there because there would be a higher probability of meeting someone social.
  
  However, I've begun to prefer small and medium-sized hostels because they're often more intimate and the staff cares more about your needs as an individual.
  
  Either way, you can't go wrong, but figure out what you like and go for it!
• Is the hostel marketing to solo travelers? Often times hostels will explicitly ban groups of 6 or more or specifically say that they are catering to solo travelers.
  
  If so, other solo travelers are likely staying there, so book it and make new friends!

Free Walking Tour

Every major European city has free walking tours and is another perfect place to meet people.

In between stops on the tour, you can chat with others and often, the solo travelers are those most open to conversation.

Because tours can last 2 hours, you'll get to know people pretty well by the time it's over and can use the trust you've built up to make future plans.

I met my friend Anj on a free walking tour in Florence and we traveled together through the rest of Florence, Rome, Naples, and the Amalfi Coast.

People doing free walking tours are often budget travelers (it's free right?) who aren't just in Europe to party (it's a tour of the city right?) so they end up being decent folks who are interesting to hang out with.

And maybe party too :)

Hobbies

The odds are high that the place you're traveling has people with the same hobbies as you.

Gym bro? Buy a day pass at the gym.

Photography enthusiast? Bring your camera to the scenic spots in the city.

Cooking savant? Join a cooking class. The list goes on.

I've met cool people by playing pickup basketball, working out at the gym, and doing day hikes because everyone doing these things shares my interests.

Offer to Take a Photo of Someone

It's simple, but this small trick leads to meeting some dope people because of the conversation after you take the photo.

Offering to take a photo (or asking someone to take a photo of you) is just an innocent conversation starter that allows you to break the ice. But it can lead to plans that change the trajectory of your travel.

In Amman, Jordan, a guy named Gus offered to take a photo of me, and we spent the rest of the day together. It was a day that I'll never forget.

Pub Crawls

Many hostels do them, and many more have pub crawl affiliates. Either way, it's a great way to find people to go out with if you're alone in a new city.

I've always found pub crawl reps to be helpful with introducing you to other people traveling solo, and sometimes sneaking you the occasional free drink 😉.

Apps

There are a million travel apps to meet people while solo traveling. I use these only as a last resort because I find the experiences where you serendipitously connect with people more meaningful than a manufactured app experience.

Nonetheless, here are some good options for apps with different uses:

• Couchsurfing: good for meeting locals and free accommodation
• Meetup: good for activities and events in your area
• EatWith: get a meal cooked for you by a local for a reasonable price
• Dating Apps: Bumble, Tinder, and Hinge can be useful for going on dates while traveling

Conclusion

There are plenty of other ways to meet people while solo traveling that I haven't included here. Perusing Facebook Groups, finding a game of beach volleyball, and joining local events like language exchanges or salsa classes are other great opportunities to meet people.

Just because you're solo traveling doesn't mean you have to be alone. In fact, I hardly am.

What strategies do you use to make friends when solo traveling? Let me know in the comments!