Meeting people in a new city starts with shared interests. Across firsthand accounts and coaching advice, one method surfaces more than any other: join an activity where the same people return each week. Sports teams, hobby classes, language groups, and interest-based events put you in repeated contact with strangers who already share common ground, which removes the pressure of making conversation from nothing. The rest is consistency, a few event platforms, and a willingness to say the first hello.
The advice below comes from people who moved alone to Mexico City, Sacramento, France, Malaysia, Aarhus, and beyond, plus life coaches and therapists who work with newcomers. The through-line is the same everywhere: friendship grows from repeated contact, shared context, and small moments of being in the same place at the same time.
Join shared-interest activities
Shared interest is the fastest way to make new friends in a new city. When the environment is full of familiar things you can talk about, conversation feels natural and the anxiety about what to say drops away. One person who moved across the country for a new job put it plainly: the key to making new friends is to find a commonality, then keep showing up for a few weeks to see who you connect with.
Sports teams and rec leagues appear across nearly every account. One newcomer to Sacramento joined a co-ed soccer league despite not having played in years, then added a softball team, and found the post-game hangs were where the bonding happened. A running club in Aarhus produced over 20 friends, two flat shares, and seasonal parties for one member who still attends four years later. The vibe is casual, no one cares if you are rusty, and you see the same faces every week.
Best activities for meeting people
Activities that combine a shared task with regular attendance work best for new connections:
- Any sports team, running club, or co-ed rec league
- Yoga, dance, pottery, ceramics, or craft classes
- Hiking and outdoor groups, which offer a chilled way to talk while walking
- Book clubs, where discussing books reveals someone's values and attitudes
- Improv comedy, gaming cafés, or board game nights
- Volunteering for a local organization you care about
One newcomer noted that classes solve two problems at once when you have moved somewhere with a different first language: you improve the language and meet open-minded people of all ages. A French video club she joined ranged in age from 16 to 90, and miming got her further than she expected.
Use Meetup to find local groups
Meetup is the most-recommended app for finding local groups and events. It is a website and mobile app built around meeting people through shared interests, with groups sorted by age, working style, hobby, and location. One user based in Mexico City joined groups for digital nomads and remote workers; London listings ran from "over 30s" to "young Indian professionals" and "friends for weekend walks."
You search by group or by calendar to see upcoming events, and if no group appeals, you start your own. Most groups are free to join. One person who moved to Tokyo and Manila made friends through Meetup and bookstores; another attended niche meetups for Half-Iranians in London. A common caution from regulars: attend often, because people recognize and want to hang out with faces they see repeatedly.
Post in Facebook groups and event platforms
Facebook groups let you introduce yourself and connect before you leave home. One newcomer to Mexico City made this her first step, posting a short introduction in several groups: a line about being new, her age and background, her work, and the activities she wanted to share, like coffee or bars. To find groups, type your city name into Facebook followed by terms like newbies, expats, or foreigners, then join as many as possible and answer the entry questions so you get accepted.
A bonus technique: search the group for similar introductions posted in recent months, because those people may still be looking for friends or already know others to introduce you to. Check whether groups run dedicated WhatsApp threads, which work better for same-day plans. One newcomer in Porto saw messages about a picnic, went along, and made two friends she still sees months later.
Eventbrite lists workshops, pop-up markets, panels, and community events, which makes it easy to find people who like the things you like. One approach that removes pressure: pick one event a week and just go, since you do not have to stay the whole time. Simply showing up puts you in new spaces with new people, and events listed online tell you the theme, duration, and headcount so you know what to expect.
Become a regular and stay consistent
Consistency turns strangers into friends. Becoming a regular is one of the least glamorous and most effective pieces of advice: whether it is a corner coffee shop, a weekly trivia night, the same yoga class, or the neighborhood bar where the bartender learns your name, belonging accumulates through small, repeated moments rather than announcing itself on day one.
People often forget that all their early friendships were forged through proximity, forced interaction, and consistency. Nothing really changes as you get older other than it becoming easier to avoid.
Pick a few places or activities you can realistically return to when you are tired, behind on laundry, and not feeling charismatic. In some ways it is a numbers game: keep having interactions, and eventually one sparks. A therapist recommends scheduling weekly time blocks for socializing, which helps introverts and neurodivergent people plan ahead and prepare mentally.
Lean on your existing network
Your current friends and family are a direct route into a new city. Tell them you have moved and ask if they know anyone in the area, because an old camp friend, a former roommate, or a cousin may have someone to connect you to. Setups can be platonic, and an Instagram DM works too, since people are more receptive to friends than most expect, especially with a mutual connection.
Once you have a few people, the ball rolls faster. Let new friends know you are looking to build a social group. One newcomer met a friend named Cat in a Facebook group, who added her to a WhatsApp group of expat teachers new to the city, and those became her closest friends. Had Cat not known she was looking, that introduction might never have happened. Get a group chat going so plans get made without you doing all the work.
Be bold about your intentions
Saying you want to make friends invites people to help you. One newcomer told people straight up, "I'm new here and looking to meet cool people, know of any fun stuff going on?" and got a positive response nine times out of ten. Being open about wanting connection helps people know how to support you and invites more genuine friendships.
Making the follow-up concrete matters as much as the first hello. A lot of potential friendships die because no one names the next step. Instead of "we should hang out sometime," which asks both people to do invisible work, suggest something specific and low-pressure:
- "Want to grab coffee next weekend?"
- "I'm trying that new ramen place on Thursday if you want to join."
- "Want to go to the next one of these together?"
- "I usually work from that cafe on Fridays, feel free to come cowork."
Early friendship thrives on low-stakes repetition more than curated plans. Say yes to invitations during your first few weeks, even when you are tired. One newcomer nearly skipped a coffee-shop invite after a long day, pushed herself to go, and it led to many future meetups.
Try language exchanges and community spaces
Language groups meet two needs at once when you have moved somewhere with a different first language. Formal language classes give you a teacher and structure; informal language meetups and language cafés focus on practice and are often free. One newcomer joined a Spanish-English exchange WhatsApp group in Mexico City with big group meetups and arranged one-on-one cafe sessions, which suit shyer people better than walking into a group alone.
Physical community spaces surface events that never reach the internet:
- Public libraries, where notice boards and staff point you to clubs and events
- Cultural community centres, which often host weekly communal dinners open to all ages
- Coworking spaces, some free, that arrange events for remote workers
- Notice boards in supermarkets, community centres, and libraries advertising local groups
Download a friendship app
Apps ease introverts into meeting people when making the first move in person feels too scary. Bumble has a "BFF" feature for those looking for friendship rather than dating, letting you choose friends the way you would choose dates. Couchsurfing offers a "Hangouts" feature where you post what you want to do, see nearby people who are also free, and plan a coffee, hike, or museum visit in a group chat. SureSpace works the same way for people in Dubai, a friendship app where you build an authentic profile, find others through shared interests, and turn matches into real, in-person friendships.
WhatsApp and Telegram groups organized around a city or interest connect you with locals and newcomers; a friendly message can start things quickly. Online communities built around a shared hobby, creator, or heritage sometimes arrange in-person meetups too. When you meet anyone from online, basic safety habits protect you:
- Meet in public spaces that are well lit and busy
- Tell a close friend or family member where you are and who you are with
- Check profiles for real photos, genuine reviews, and a written bio before meeting
Get your mindset right
Making friends as an adult feels awkward, and naming that removes its power. A life coach reframes the discomfort: change is uncomfortable, yet it often leads to a better future, and the other people looking for friends are just as nervous. Embrace the awkward and stay authentic, because relationships that do not start out real tend to fizzle. The qualities you think make you weird are exactly what some people look for in a friend.
Curiosity is the way out of self-focused anxiety. Instead of performing "interesting person," become genuinely interested and ask people about their experiences:
- "How did you end up in this city?"
- "What do you like about this neighborhood?"
- "What's your favorite thing you've found here so far?"
- "What made you want to try this?"
Then listen, ask a follow-up, and notice what they light up about. Do not confuse friendliness with friendship: a warm conversation is the starting material, not the finished thing, and it needs follow-up and time. Build multiple kinds of connection rather than pressuring the first few people to become your whole world, since a well-rounded life is a web where one person being busy does not leave you alone. Expect a lag between effort and belonging, and remember that other people are also hoping someone else makes the first move.
Building your community in Dubai
Moving to Dubai puts these same principles to work in a city full of expats who arrived alone and are quietly hoping to meet their people too. Shared-interest activities, becoming a regular, and being open about wanting connection turn an unfamiliar skyline into a place that feels like home, and a strong local circle is what catches you on the hard weeks.
SureSpace is built for that first step in Dubai, bringing English-speaking newcomers and residents together through interest-based groups, authentic profiles, and in-person meet-ups across the city. It is a friendly place to start turning shared interests into real friendships when you are new in town.