Moving to a new city is stressful enough, but once you’ve moved and you don’t know anyone, you may be feeling lonely and overwhelmed. These are perfectly normal feelings to have, and meeting people in a new city often feels impossible due to the busy lives that many adults lead.
However, building a group of supportive friends or finding a loving partner doesn’t need to be the difficult task you might think. Below, we give you tips on the best ways to meet people in a new city and get your social life jumpstarted.
Best Ways to Meet People in a New City
The following methods are all great ideas for meeting people in your new city. Select a few of the ideas from our suggestions that suit your lifestyle the most, and confidently get started meeting new people.
Pick Up a New Hobby
Engaging in a new hobby or joining a local group that supports your hobby is a great way to meet like-minded people. This method is great for making friends and even meeting a partner, as you’ll already have something in common with them.
Photography groups, bird-watching groups, board game groups, and more are all sure to be found in some form around your new city.
Join a Sports Team
Joining a sports team is a fun way for individuals that want to exercise more or those that are already fairly athletic to stay healthy and meet new people. Most cities have recreational sports leagues (also known as “bar leagues”) for individuals to join and engage in sports such as soccer, flag football, street hockey, or even cornhole and axe throwing.
Once you’re placed on a team, you can start making connections with others that might turn into long-term friendships.
Volunteer in the Community
Volunteering in your new community is another great way to get outside of your comfort zone while helping people or animals in need. Animal shelters, food banks, and other volunteer organizations almost always need individuals willing to help. While you’re out volunteering, you will likely meet individuals that are interested in the same causes you are.
Join a Gym
Joining a gym or taking an exercise class is a fun, healthy way to meet others who value fitness or those that want to be social. A dance class, a Pilates class, or a yoga class are all unique ways to get in shape, focus on mindfulness, and meet new friends.
Become Active With Your Church
If you are a religious person, becoming active in a local church is an easy way to meet new people and continue embracing your faith. The majority of cities have a range of different churches, and many are very welcoming to newcomers, even if you are looking for a new religious community to join.
Join a Book Club
Book clubs are prevalent in many communities because of how fun these groups are. Search for local book clubs that read authors you enjoy or a specific genre of book. Then, you can attend weekly or monthly meetups and discuss your favorite worlds with people who feel the same way about books. At the very least, you’ll get some great book recommendations out of this activity.
Attend Events in the Community
Many cities have local events such as festivals, free concerts, and open-house nights at museums or other public facilities.
Attend these events and don’t be afraid to start speaking with individuals that you believe you would get along with. You’ll have some interesting conversations, enjoy the event, and may make some deeper connections with future friends along the way.
Join a Local Facebook Group
These days, there’s a Facebook group for virtually anything, and you can join a local Facebook group that fits your niche interests.
Whether you are searching for an LGBTQ+ community to fill you in on the local scene, or you want to join a hiking or other casual meetup group, local Facebook groups are just the thing.
Attend Trivia Night
Trivia night is always fun, and if you love trivia and spending time out in bars or restaurants, trivia night is for you. You can attend trivia events alone and find a team, or you can show up at the bars and restaurants hosting trivia and make connections with individuals.
You might also be able to join local Facebook groups that are interested in forming trivia teams, or you can recruit trivia team members from one of the other activities on our list.
Try Out the Apps
Smartphone apps are a big part of modern life, and you can meet new people using dating apps and apps designed to help you find friends, such as Bumble BFF, in your new city. Create your profile on your preferred app and get swiping to find your new friend group or get some dates in your search for a partner.
As with anything, make sure to use common sense when meeting people off of apps. Utilize a reputable criminal records check when necessary to ensure the person you are meeting is honest about their identity.
Making Meaningful Connections in Your New City
Making meaningful connections in your new city might seem like an impossible task at first, but there are plenty of activities and groups you can join to get this process started.
Take your time when meeting new people, enjoy the process, and enjoy your new city. Before you know it, you’ll have the supportive friend group you were hoping for.
Events
