5 Ways to Meet Friends in a New City

As we get older, the ability to make new friends seems to get harder. People become busy and involved in their lives, different people are in different life stages, and with the world turning very remote, it can be hard to meet new people. In fact, a study by Oxford University suggested that men and women start losing friends after the age of 25! When we’re younger or in school, we’re constantly surrounded by people doing the same thing as us, and with a lot of shared interests, making friends is inevitable. But as people’s lives change, some friendships fade out. This is especially true if you’ve moved to a new city or found yourself without community. It can be hard and lonely, trust us, we’ve been there! So we put together 5 Ways to Meet Friends in a New City (or meet friends in general). These tips have been helpful for us so let them be your guide to meeting your newest BFFs!

Sign up for a group activity

Signing up for a group activity will surround you with people who will (most likely) also be alone. Surrounding yourself with people who have shared interests and doing something together gives you something to connect on. One of our favorite ways to do this is by signing up for a workout class. It might take a little time to meet people, but going consistently and seeing the same people can give you the confidence to ask a regular class-goer if they want to grab a coffee or smoothie afterward, or take a different class together. 

Instagram or Facebook groups 

Social media is such a great tool to connect with others, so why not use it to meet friends in your city? Join a local Facebook group and put yourself out there with a post saying you moved to the city and are looking for people to do something with. You might not meet someone on your first try, but being in a group with others looking for friends gives you a great possibility to meet someone great! Instagram also can be used in a similar way, you just might have to be a little bolder by sending a DM! Instagram is especially great if you’re a creator or your page is dedicated to something specific. You can find other creators in your area who have similar interests as you and shoot them a DM. You never know who you could meet!

Find a spot, and keep going there

Going to the same place frequently can be a great way to meet people. Find a coffee shop you love and go there to work, read, or hang out frequently. You might meet other regulars who always go to the same spot, or even make friends with some of the employees! This will probably take some time, and you might have to make some small talk for a while before you feel confident to ask someone to hang out, but the more you’re there the better chance you have!

Go to events

Going to different events around your city or community is another great way to meet people. It’s all about shared interests, and having something to connect with others on is the first step! If your coffee shop is having an open mic night, head over there for a few hours. If a local brewery is doing yoga class and brews, sign up! People usually are so fun and friendly at events, and sparking up a conversation with a stranger could be easier than you think.

Always say yes (at least at first)

Once you’ve made a few connections, make sure you’re saying yes! A new friend invited you to happy hour with some of her friends? Say yes! Someone you met at workout class invited you to a weekend morning hike? Say yes! Don’t miss out on new opportunities to connect with someone, or even meet additional friends through that person. We know sometimes, you just want to watch Netflix after a long work day and hang out at home. Don’t get us wrong, we love a good Netflix night, but when you’re trying to meet people, make sure you don’t miss those chances for new friendships. 

Bonus tip: Put yourself out there

We know sometimes it can be so scary to put yourself out there! Going somewhere alone, or being the first person to ask if someone wants to hang out can be so difficult. It also can be discouraging if you’re not meeting people after trying all of these things. Don’t give up! Meeting friends as an adult can be so hard but we know your people will find you and you’ll find them with a little resiliency. 

Have any additional tips for meeting new friends or any fun stories when you moved to a new city? Share them with us in the comments! 

Xo, KSD Team