“You’ll be lonely if you go”
A remark from a co-worker not long before I set off.
But at the time, I was the loneliest I’d ever been.
Sat in a box for 40 hours a week where everybody stared at their screens, attending meetings online, scolded for chatting too much in the office and zero socialising outside of work… mainly because I think everybody just hated each other.
But now? After a year solo on the road I’ve never felt lonely. Not even once. Sure, I get bored sometimes, but lonely? Not even a little.
Although, I do appreciate I’m quite introverted and quite happy just chilling with my dog, when the craving for other human interaction kicks in, these are my go-tos — in no particular order:
Nomad Table
This is a relatively new app that has become very popular. It’s main interface is that of a map in your local area and you’ll be able to see a selection of people also travelling/nomadding in that area at the same time, you can communicate directly or via the city group chat. But where Nomad Table really shines is through the events: simply pin an event idea to a map like “I want to go paddleboarding on Saturday” and if other people are interested, they join your group chat and away you go! Likewise, if you see something published that you already like, dive in!
Bumble BFF
If you can handle the mild awkwardness of matching platonically with strangers, this one can work surprisingly well, but I’ve used it a couple of times and frankly it’s just weird. Maybe it works better in bigger cities, but I wouldn’t bank on this one too much.
Hostelworld Chat
Even if you’re not staying in hostels anymore, this feature is brilliant for scoping out what’s happening locally. Many hostels allow external guests to join events like bar crawls or language exchanges, so it’s a good entry point for meeting other travellers. You need to have an upcoming reservation to unlock the chat, which will open two weeks before your stay starts. As such, book a refundable night somewhere for two weeks in the future, get chatting and remember to cancel the reservation. Easy peasy.
Free walking tours
Never underestimate these. They’re not just a history dump, they’re often where solo travellers naturally talk to each other. The trick is to go for a drink or for lunch with the group afterwards; half the time, that turns into dinner plans. GuruWalk is the most popular one.
Activities via GetYourGuide, Viator or Airbnb Experiences
I book random things through these platforms all the time. Churro-making masterclass, ceramic tile painting, Mexican wrestling. Honestly, whatever’s local, I’ve done it all. Even if the activity itself is average, the people you meet are often in the same mindset: open, curious and up for a chat. It’s far from forced socialising and super-relaxed, I’ve often found this is one of the easiest way to meet people.
Language exchanges
I haven’t done this yet. I think it would clash with my ’tism. But for many, this is the most organic way to meet locals. If you’re learning the language, it’s a double win. Search online and social media but if you get stuck, message a couple of local language schools and ask for advice on finding a popular language exchange.
Group language lessons
Always my go-to. I look for schools that host social activities like movie nights or cooking classes. I’ve had mixed luck — once it was just me and one other student almost three times my age; another time, I ended up on a school field trip and was the oldest by 20 years. But when it clicks, it’s brilliant. The trick is not to commit to lots of back-to-back classes first, ask to come along to one or two, get a feel for the class and if you’re happy you can sign up long-term.
Co-living
I’ve only done this once and honestly didn’t enjoy it. The community vibe was great, but the co-living itself was a bit of a shithole. Still, I’ll try it again. It’s perfect for breaking up long stretches of solo travel, especially if you’re full-time on the road. My issue with co-livings are that you really need to be into socialising, and I’m just not. I value my privacy and I want to socialise with people when it suits me, not forced into a game of human twister before dinner.
Co-working
But choose wisely. The best co-working spaces aren’t the fanciest ones, they’re the ones with active community managers and a solid events calendar. Make sure to arrange a tour, ask lots of questions, inspect the equipment, run a speed-test and ask about events. If all they do is rent you a chair, skip it, you might as well save the money and work from home. You’ll know within a day if the place is going to be a good vibe or not.
Join a hobby club
I always join a run or hiking club. If a city doesn’t have a decent one, it’s instantly scrubbed off the long-term list. You do need a bit of local language fluency to make this work, but it’s such a good way to meet people who actually live there, not just passing through. I normally find them through Instagram or using ChatGPT Deep Research although the latter is often out of date.
Start a new hobby
Get into CrossFit, salsa, pottery, rock climbing, chess, whatever catches your eye. Group classes are goldmines for connection. Don’t overthink it. Remember, if it goes terribly, you’ll never see these people again and they’ll forget you after five minutes. Everyone has their own shit going on to care about how socially awkward you are (that’s what I tell myself, anyway).
Date
Seriously, go and date people. I’ve made some of the most amazing memories from dating people, don’t frown upon it. Use the apps, approach people in bars, whatever your style, just go for it. I know it gets a bad rep thanks to the “passport bro” community (people going around the world trying to be the next reincarnation of Genghis Khan) but that’s not what we’re talking about. Date with intention, be respectful, learn something new, and if nothing else, you’ll leave with a funny story.
Facebook events
Whilst Facebook might be dead for many of us, it’s alive and well for local events in most parts of the world. Community markets, art shows, yoga in the park, you’ll find it all there. Just switch your location and scroll through the “Events Near Me” tab.
A few more that don’t get mentioned enough
- Volunteer somewhere. Animal shelters, beach cleanups, community kitchens.
- Join local WhatsApp or Telegram groups. Search “digital nomads + [city]” or “expats + [city]” and you’ll usually find one.
- Say yes more often. Even when you’re tired. Even if it’s not your thing. Some of my best nights abroad started with me thinking “this will probably be crap.”
So no, I’m not lonely. I’ve been more connected living out of a backpack than I ever was chained to an office desk. I think loneliness is a lot more emphasised when you don’t have much of a purpose. I have zero connections with anybody beyond surface-level now but I’m yet to experience a bout of loneliness, something which I battled with a lot when I lived in my hometown.
And when you travel, especially solo, you meet people who actually see you. Even if it’s just for an evening, a few days, or one good conversation over a badly mixed mojito. Good luck out there!
