How to Meet People When You Travel Solo
Sometimes you travel alone because you love it. Sometimes because there's no one to go with. Either way, you're on your own — and that's usually fine, until it isn't.
Some moments you want company. A meal that feels better shared. A night out you don't want to spend alone. A day where a conversation would make the whole thing lighter.
Here's how I meet people when I want to. A mix of apps, tours, and real-life moments that actually work.
Walking tours
The single best way to meet other travellers. Everyone on a walking tour is a stranger, everyone is open, and you're already spending two or three hours together.
I did a walking tour in Peru and by the end of it, the whole group ended up going out to eat together. Same thing happened in Helsinki. Started as strangers in the morning, friends by dinner. That happens more often than you'd think.
Group tours you can join solo
A food tour, a day trip, a cooking class, a wine tasting. If there's something you want to do, book it. You'll be surrounded by other people who came alone or in small groups happy to include you.
Pub crawls
I was in Las Vegas, I wanted to go out dancing, but not alone. So I signed up for a pub crawl. We went from bar to bar as a group, danced, drank, had the best time.
Pub crawls are underrated for solo travellers. Group energy, no planning, and the night's fun even if you don't click with anyone.
Timeleft
Timeleft is an app that connects strangers over shared experiences in more than 200 cities across 52 countries. The classic one is dinner — you sign up, the app matches you with five other people based on personality and interests, and you all meet at a restaurant. But they also organise casual drinks, morning runs, and coffee meetups depending on the city.
Perfect if you're somewhere for a while and want to meet locals or other travellers over food or a run instead of at a bar. Check the app to see which formats are available where you are.
Meetup
Meetup is a website and app where locals organise groups around anything — hiking, language exchange, board games, photography, yoga, food. You search by city, find something you like, and just show up.
I've used it for language exchanges. It's a great way to meet locals doing something they actually enjoy, not just tourists.
Hotel and hostel receptions
Some of my best conversations have started at reception. I was in Los Angeles asking about something at the front desk, another girl came up to ask her own question, we started chatting, and we ended up having lunch together. It happened to be the day of the Oscars, so after lunch we walked over to the red carpet. We saw a few celebrities, some journalists stopped us for interviews on the street — and what started as a random exchange at the front desk turned into one of the most fun afternoons I've had travelling.
Small moments in shared spaces — reception, the breakfast area, the terrace, the elevator — those are where connections happen. Say hi. Ask where they're from. See what happens.
What I don't do
I'm friendly, but I'm careful. Here's what I don't do, no matter how nice someone seems:
I don't go to strangers' houses. Doesn't matter how many hours we spent on the tour together, if someone I just met invites me to their place, I say no.
I don't get on boats or into cars alone with people I just met. Group activity, sure. Just me and them, no.
I trust my gut. If something feels off, even if I can't explain why, I leave. Being rude to a stranger is a small price to pay for feeling safe.
Most people you meet travelling are genuinely nice. But "most" isn't "all," and being warm doesn't mean being naive.
Company when you want it
Meeting people when you travel solo isn't the goal — it's a tool. You use it when you feel like company, and you skip it when you want to be alone.
You don't need to leave home with people lined up. You just need to know where they are when you want them.
Have you experienced this while travelling solo? Share your story with the She Wanders Safe community soon.