Make Friends in a New City: 12 Places to Start This Week

By the JoinMeIn Team · Last updated October 23, 2026 · 7 min read

Quick answer: The easiest way to make friends in a new city is to show up repeatedly at recurring, interest-based activities, such as a fitness class, a hobby club, a volunteer shift, or a local event. Seeing the same people every week turns small talk into familiarity, and familiarity into friendship. Start with one or two regular activities this week, then follow up with a low-pressure plan.

Key takeaways

• Repeat beats variety. Going to the same class or group weekly works better than attending many one-off events.

• Shared activities do the talking for you. A class, a project, or a game gives you an easy topic.

• Friendship takes time. Research from the University of Kansas found it takes roughly 50 hours together to move from acquaintance to casual friend, and more than 200 hours to become close friends.

• Follow up. A short message after the first meeting is what turns a nice chat into a second meeting.

• Stay safe. Meet in public places, tell someone your plans, and use apps with real safety tools.

Why is it hard to make friends in a new city?

Moving to a new city brings exciting opportunities, but building a social life from scratch can feel challenging. You may have a new apartment, interesting neighborhoods to explore, and plenty of local events to attend, yet still wonder where to find people who share your interests. Most of your old routines, the ones that created friendships without effort, are gone.

The good news is that you don't need to know everyone or make instant best friends. You need a handful of places where people naturally connect, discover shared interests, and see each other again. Whether you're relocating for work, education, or a fresh start, the 12 places below can help you meet people in a new city. If you're also settling in, our 4-weekend guide to meeting people after moving pairs well with this list.

Where can you make friends in a new city? 12 places that work

1. Local cafés and coffee shops

Cafés work because of repetition: visit the same coffee shop regularly and the staff and other regulars become familiar faces. Work from a shared table, join a community event, or simply chat while you wait for your order. Familiar faces make it easier to start conversations over time.

2. Parks and outdoor spaces

Parks are good for meeting people who share your routines. Go for walks, jogs, or outdoor activities, and attend group sessions or community gatherings when you can. Regular timing, such as the same weekend morning, helps you recognize the same people.

3. Fitness classes and sports groups

Yoga classes, running clubs, cycling groups, and recreational sports give you something to talk about and a reason to see the same people every week. A post-class coffee is an easy, low-pressure way to deepen a new connection.

4. Local events and community festivals

Street fairs, cultural festivals, live music, art exhibitions, and neighborhood celebrations bring people together around common interests and make starting a conversation easier. You can browse nearby plans and IRL events on JoinMeIn, including free events with instant tickets and QR check-in.

5. Hobby clubs and creative workshops

Photography groups, cooking classes, painting workshops, book clubs, and dance sessions help you meet people who enjoy the same things you do. Choose an activity you genuinely like so that connecting feels natural rather than forced. You can also find people who share your interests before you go.

6. Coworking spaces

If you work remotely, coworking spaces introduce you to professionals, entrepreneurs, and freelancers. Attend networking sessions or informal gatherings to turn professional introductions into friendships.

7. Volunteer organizations

Volunteering at community projects, food banks, environmental cleanups, or charity events gives you a shared purpose. Working side by side is one of the fastest ways to build meaningful connections while contributing to your new community.

8. Classes and educational meetups

Language lessons, professional workshops, and evening classes attract people who want to learn something new. Regular sessions make it easier to recognize familiar faces and continue conversations from week to week.

9. Neighborhood groups

Local community groups can help you discover neighborhood recommendations, social gatherings, and activities nearby. Look for groups that organize in-person meetups rather than relying entirely on online conversations.

10. Social meetups and group activities

Group dinners, board-game nights, walking tours, and casual hangouts are relaxed settings for meeting new people. If you want something spontaneous, see our list of apps to find people to hang out with tonight.

11. Friends of friends

Let colleagues, roommates, classmates, or acquaintances know you'd like to meet people. Accept invitations when possible and suggest casual group activities. One introduction can open the door to an entirely new social circle.

12. Social discovery apps

Social discovery apps help you find people with compatible interests and nearby plans instead of waiting for friendships to happen by chance. With JoinMeIn's Live Radar, you can go live for a set window and see who is nearby and open to meeting. You can also compare options in our guide to the best apps to meet people nearby in 2026 or learn how to meet people nearby without swiping.

How do you turn new connections into real friendships?

Meeting someone once is a beginning, not the finish line. Friendships grow through repeated contact, shared experiences, and time. Try these practical steps:

1. Start with a simple conversation. Ask about a local event, favorite café, hobby, or activity.

2. Suggest a low-pressure plan. Invite someone for coffee, a walk, or a casual group activity.

3. Follow up afterward. Send a friendly message and suggest meeting again if you both enjoyed the conversation.

4. Show up consistently. Return to activities and groups where you feel comfortable.

5. Be open to different people. Friendships can develop across backgrounds, careers, and age groups.

You don't need to attend every event or become instantly outgoing. A few regular activities and genuine conversations can gradually build a stronger social circle. Living in a big city? Read our practical guide on how to make friends as an adult in New York City.

How can you meet new people safely?

Most meetups are friendly and uneventful, and a few simple habits keep them that way:

• Meet in public places for the first few times, and arrive and leave on your own.

• Tell a friend or roommate where you're going and when you expect to be back.

• Take conversations at your own pace, and don't share your home address early.

• Trust your instincts. It's always fine to leave or say no.

If you use an app, look for real safety features. JoinMeIn offers end-to-end encrypted 1:1 chats, optional ID verification, silent blocking, an SOS button, and location sharing only while you're live. Read more on our safety and privacy page. JoinMeIn is for adults aged 18 and over.

How does JoinMeIn help you meet people nearby?

JoinMeIn is an in-person social app for iOS and Android built around real-life plans rather than endless swiping. You can go live for 30 minutes, 1 hour, or 3 hours, browse nearby events, and match on shared interests. Curious how it all fits together? See how JoinMeIn works or explore all features.

Related reading

Keep going with these guides from the JoinMeIn blog:

Find your people with JoinMeIn

You don't have to spend months wondering where to meet people in your new neighborhood. JoinMeIn helps you discover nearby people, local plans, and real-life social opportunities, making it easier to see what's happening around you. Whether you want new friends, casual hangouts, or local activities, take the first step toward connecting with your community.

Ready to meet people near you? Get the JoinMeIn app and start discovering new connections and local experiences.

Book your next social adventure. Find people nearby with JoinMeIn.

Sources: Hall, J. A. (2018), Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, via the University of Kansas.