How to Travel Solo and Make Friends: A Practical Guide for Women
Travelling solo is exciting, but it can also feel intimidating. You might love the idea of independence, but worry about feeling lonely once you arrive.
You can absolutely make friends while travelling solo, but it doesn’t always happen by accident. A lot of the time, you just need to put yourself out there.
Here are practical, proven ways to meet people and make friends while travelling solo.
1. Book Activities That Naturally Attract Other Solo Travellers
One of the easiest ways to meet people while travelling is to join structured activities where conversation is already expected.
Good options include:
Walking tours
Food tours or wine tastings
Cooking classes
Pub crawls
Guided day trips to nearby towns
These experiences tend to attract solo travellers and small groups open to conversation.
2. Use Apps Designed for Meeting Other Travellers
There are now several apps specifically designed to help solo travellers connect. You’re clearly not the only one with this concern!
Popular options include:
Apps that show nearby travellers open to meeting
Platforms that list local meetups and social events
Travel-focused communities/Facebook groups where people post plans and invite others to join
These are especially useful in cities or popular travel regions. You don’t need to meet everyone; even one coffee or shared activity can shift how connected the trip feels.
3. Stay Somewhere That Encourages Interaction
Where you stay matters more than many people realise. Some of the best travel memories are from making friends in hostels.
Key things to look out for when searching for social hostels are nightly dinners, bar crawls, and day activities.
That being said, you definitely don’t need to stay in a party hostel to meet people.
Hotels/villas with shared spaces or communal events can make a big difference, too. Even sitting in a shared lounge or breakfast area makes casual conversation much more likely than retreating to a private apartment every night.
4. Say Yes to Small, Spontaneous Moments
Many travel connections don’t start with big plans; they start with small moments like:
Sitting at the bar instead of a table
Joining a shared table at lunch
Asking someone what they ordered
Complimenting someone on their outfit
Asking for local tips on where to eat/drink/shop or what to see
5. Check Local Event Listings Before You Go
Before you arrive, take a few minutes to see what’s happening locally.
Keep your eyes peeled for things like live music, comedy shows, markets, festivals, tastings, seasonal events, workshops, etc.
These attract people who live there and curious travellers. Wine regions in particular are excellent for this, as events tend to be social and relaxed.
6. Accept That It Takes a Little Intentionality
Friendship while travelling doesn’t usually come from staying entirely in your comfort zone, but it also shouldn’t feel exhausting. If you feel overwhelmed at the idea of this all…
Aim for at least one social activity per day, so you can balance alone time and shared experiences.
Even one or two genuine connections can completely change how a solo trip feels. Trust me.
Why Solo Travellers Often Thrive on Small Group Trips
If reading this list makes you think, “That sounds nice, but also like a lot of effort,” you’re not alone. This is exactly why small group trips work so well for solo travellers.
They offer:
Built-in social opportunities
Shared experiences without awkwardness
Structure without rigidity
Connection without pressure
You still get the independence of going somewhere on your own, but you don’t have to worry about feeling alone.
Why Amica Vina Retreats Are a Perfect Fit for Solo Travellers
At Amica Vina, our small group wine retreats are made for female solo travellers like you. Designed around:
Discovering breathtaking French wine regions
Tasting and learning about incredible wines
Creating new friendships with like-minded women.
You’ll arrive solo, but you’ll leave with shared memories, inside jokes, and new friends.
Thinking About Travelling Solo This Year?
If you’ve been waiting too long for your friends to commit to your dream girls’ trip, this could be your sign.
✨ Bordeaux and Provence wine retreats launching soon
✨ ‘Paris, Champagne & Loire Valley’ and ‘Alsace Christmas’ wine retreats launching in a few months
✨ Limited spaces available
