Solo Travel: How I Make Friends Abroad (and Stay Safe)
Because solo doesn’t have to mean alone.
Hey creators!
While most of my posts here are focused on content creation, I also want to share insights from my solo travel journey — especially the tips that have helped me feel more connected (and less lonely) while abroad.
One of the most common questions I get is:
“How do you make friends while traveling solo?”
Solo travel can be empowering, peaceful, and exciting — but yes, it can get lonely sometimes. The good news? There are tons of ways to meet other travelers once you’re out there. Here are a few of my favorites:
1. Facebook Groups Are Your Best Friend
Hop on Facebook and search:
[City/Country] + “Digital Nomads”
[Location] + “Expats”
[Location] + “Travelers”
There are also general groups like:
• Gals Who Travel
• Find a Travel Buddy
• Host a Sister
These are great for finding meetups, safety tips, housing leads, and other solo travelers in the same city.
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2. Try These Solo Travel Apps
• NomadHer — an amazing app for solo female travelers to connect
• Travello — lets you find other travelers nearby and see what they’re doing
• Backpackr — also great for casual meetups and local recs
These are like little pocket communities — and so helpful when you want to meet someone for coffee, a hike, or dinner.
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3. Join Walking Tours or Local Experiences
Most major cities offer free walking tours, which attract a lot of other solo travelers.
Also: food tours, cooking classes, hikes, and Airbnb Experiences are amazing ways to meet people with shared interests.
Pro tip: Pick something you’re genuinely into — you’ll naturally vibe with people there.
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4. Dine Out Solo (and Sit at the Bar!)
Yes, it can feel awkward at first — but bars and communal tables are great spots to strike up conversations with locals, staff, or fellow solo travelers.
Some of my favorite travel convos happened this way.
If solo travel feels intimidating, just know — you’re not alone in feeling that way. But once you start using tools like these, you’ll find your rhythm and your people.
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If this helped you, I’ll be sharing more solo travel tips (plus creator tools, pitching templates, and ways to get paid online) — so feel free to subscribe and follow along!
XO,
Nancy