Feeling lost about how to meet people in a new city? Learn practical strategies for building meaningful connections and making friends in a new city, whether you’re naturally outgoing or prefer to take things slow.
What’s Coming Up
- Why Is Making Friends in a New City So Challenging?
- How to Meet People in a New City: 5 Tried-and-True Methods
- Where to Meet People in Your New City
- Making Friends in a New City: Personality Insights
- Taking Action: Your Path to New City Connections
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Further Reading
Why Is Making Friends in a New City So Challenging?
Picture this: You’re staring out your new apartment window. You can’t help but feel a mix of excitement and that all-too-familiar knot in your stomach. While the city buzzes with energy outside, your own social life feels stuck on pause. Sound familiar?
If you’re wondering why meeting new friends feels harder than you expected, you’re not alone. This challenge is one of the most common struggles that people face after relocating.
The reality is that building a social circle from scratch comes with a unique set of hurdles.
For one, your trusted support system is now scattered across area codes, leaving you to navigate social activities alone.
Then there’s the overwhelming nature of not knowing where to begin to find your new favorite gym, coffee shop, or Chinese restaurant, not to mention new people with similar interests.
Last but not least, between unpacking boxes, settling into a new job, and managing daily life, finding time for socializing can often fall to the bottom of your to-do list.
Under these circumstances, it’s natural for self-doubt to creep in and for you to feel hesitant about stepping outside your comfort zone.
But here’s the thing: Feeling this way is practically a rite of passage for anyone who is brave enough to start fresh in a new city. These challenges aren’t a reflection of your social skills or likability. They’re simply part of the transition process that millions of people face when relocating.
And, while making friends in a new city might feel daunting right now, there are proven strategies that can help you build meaningful connections. Let’s break down exactly how to meet people in a new city, step-by-step, so you can start building your new social circle today.
Ready to uncover the truth about who you really are? Take our free personality test and gain deep insights into your strengths, challenges, and more in just 10 minutes.
How to Meet People in a New City: 5 Tried-and-True Methods
Now that we understand the challenges, let’s dive into solutions. While the fundamentals of how to make friends remain consistent wherever you are, these five methods are particularly effective for meeting people in a new environment.
1. Join Local Sports Leagues or Exercise Groups
Regular physical activity is a fantastic way to make friends in a new city. (And as an added bonus, it’s great for your health too!) Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or just starting out, recreational sports and exercise groups create opportunities for regular meetups with like-minded people who would likely be open to combining fitness and friendship.
Some popular options include:
- Local running groups
- Local hiking clubs
- Adult soccer and softball leagues
- Pickleball and tennis leagues
- Yoga classes
- High-intensity training (HIT) workouts
- Rock-climbing groups
- Cycling clubs
- Boxing classes
Pro tip: Many cities have recreational sports leagues specifically designed for newcomers. Look for “social” or “beginner-friendly” leagues – these tend to focus more on fun and connection than competition, making them perfect for meeting new people.
2. Attend Community Events
One of the best ways to meet people in a new city is through community events. The casual, festive atmosphere of community events makes it easier to chat with potential friends who are also looking to explore and meet people.
Look for events like:
- Gallery openings
- Food festivals
- Street fairs
- Live music events
Pro tip: Check your new city’s official website, local news sites, and community boards to find upcoming events.
3. Volunteer for Causes That You Care About
Volunteering connects you with people who share your values and allows you to make a positive impact in your new community. It’s also one of the most rewarding and meaningful ways to find friends in a new city.
Try volunteering with:
- Local animal shelters
- Food banks
- Environmental organizations
- Community gardens
- Literacy programs
Pro tip: Start by volunteering for one-time events before committing to regular shifts. This lets you explore different organizations and meet various groups of people while finding the perfect fit for your schedule and interests.
4. Take Classes or Workshops
Learning something new alongside others creates natural bonds through shared experiences. Plus, regular class schedules provide consistent opportunities for connection.
Popular options include:
- Cooking classes
- Art workshops
- Language courses
- Dance lessons
- Yoga teacher training
Pro tip: Look for multiweek courses rather than one-off classes. These longer programs give you time to develop real friendships, and many groups naturally organize study or practice sessions outside of class time.
5. Join Professional Networking Groups
Your career can be a powerful gateway to new friendships. The shared experiences of your industry create instant common ground, making it natural for relationships to transition from work friendships to genuine connections over coffee breaks and happy hours.
Consider joining:
- Industry-specific meetups
- Niche professional groups
- Coworking spaces
- Professional development workshops
Pro tip: Look for professional groups that include social components, like monthly happy hours or casual networking events. These relaxed settings make it easier to move beyond work talk and develop more personal connections.
It may not always be easy to find friends when you’re starting fresh, but these proven strategies can help speed up the process.
The key to success with any of these methods is consistency. Choose one or two that align with your interests and make sure you stick with them.
Where to Meet People in Your New City
Learning how to meet people in a new city isn’t just about structured activities. Sometimes the best connections happen in more casual settings. Here are some settings where making friends can happen naturally:
- Local coffee shops: Becoming a regular at a neighborhood coffee shop or café creates organic opportunities for connection. Visit at consistent times, and you’ll start recognizing familiar faces.
- Farmers markets: Weekly markets are social hubs where conversations flow naturally. Whether you’re asking about unusual produce or sharing recipe ideas, the casual atmosphere makes meeting people feel effortless. Plus, the consistent schedule can help turn casual chats into real connections over time.
- Book clubs: Book clubs often meet at libraries and other community gathering spots. Engage in structured conversations about books that make it easy to connect with fellow avid readers who share similar interests.
- Trivia nights at local bars: These popular weekly events attract regulars and newcomers alike. The shared goal of winning (and the fun of playing) naturally brings people together, often leading to post-game hangouts and lasting friendships.
- Language exchange meetups: From casual coffee chats to structured conversation groups, these gatherings bring together people from diverse backgrounds. The shared goal of language learning creates an instant bond, and members are typically eager to both teach and learn.
Making Friends in a New City: Personality Insights
Ever notice how some people light up at the thought of a crowded party, while others immediately start thinking of excuses to stay home?
Your personality type influences many aspects of how you connect with others – from how you communicate to what kinds of settings make you feel comfortable opening up.
The 16Personalities framework helps us understand these preferences across several dimensions. And while each dimension shapes your social style, today we’ll focus on one of the most significant factors when it comes to how to meet people in a new city: whether you tend toward Introversion or Extraversion.
Understanding this aspect of your personality can help you make choices that align with your natural style while gradually expanding your comfort zone.
For Introverts: Strategic Social Connection
Introverts usually recharge through quiet time alone. But this doesn’t mean that they don’t want or need a social life. It simply means that they approach socializing differently, often preferring more intentional, intimate settings.
Some of Introverts’ greatest social strengths include:
- Deep listening skills that create genuine connections
- Facilitating one-on-one conversations that flow naturally
- Careful observation of social dynamics
- Delivering thoughtful responses that lead to meaningful exchanges
- An ability to make others feel truly heard
It’s important for Introverts to remember to:
- Arrive early at bigger events when the energy is calmer and there are fewer people
- Build momentum gradually – practice initiating at least one conversation in a familiar setting
- Balance listening with sharing
For Extraverts: Channeling Your Social Energy
While Introverts gain energy from spending quiet time alone, Extraverts naturally gain energy from social interaction and typically enjoy diving into new situations. This enthusiasm for connection can be a powerful asset when building a social circle in a new city.
Some of Extraverts’ greatest social strengths include:
- A natural ability to initiate conversations
- Being able to draw energy and inspiration from group settings
- Easily forming connections between people
- Quickly establishing rapport and building trust
- Bringing an enthusiasm that helps others feel welcome
It’s important for Extraverts to remember to:
- Focus on quality over quantity – avoid burnout from saying yes to too many social activities
- Choose activities with consistent groups to build deeper connections
- Balance large group events with smaller, more intimate gatherings
Remember, these personality preferences aren’t rigid rules. They’re simply tendencies that likely influence how you’ll find friends in a new city.
Taking Action: Your Path to New City Connections
Meeting people in a new city doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Whether you’re an Introvert who prefers one-on-one connections or an Extravert who thrives in group settings, you can use different strategies that play to your strengths.
This is why understanding your personality type can transform how you meet people in a new city and help you choose methods that feel energizing rather than exhausting.
Want to better understand your unique personality? Explore 16Personalities further and take our free personality test to unlock the insights that can make building your new social circle feel effortless.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I meet people in a new city?
Meet people in a new city by joining local sports leagues, attending community events, volunteering for causes that you care about, taking classes or workshops, and participating in professional networking groups. Consistency is key – commit to showing up regularly at activities that align with your interests.
How do I make friends in a new city?
Make friends in a new city by becoming a regular at local establishments like coffee shops and farmers markets, joining book clubs at libraries or in other places in your community, attending trivia nights at local bars, or participating in language exchange meetups in your neighborhood. These everyday places create natural opportunities for meaningful connections beyond structured activities.
How do Introverts make friends in a new city?
Introverts can make friends in a new city by leveraging their natural strengths, such as one-on-one conversations and deep listening. Choose smaller, more intimate settings, arrive early at events when the energy is calmer, focus on activities with consistent groups to build deeper connections over time, and remember to balance thoughtful listening with personal sharing.