As a digital nomad, making new friends can be a challenge, but there are various ways to meet like-minded individuals while traveling.
One way is to stay at a coliving space that offers a ready-made community of remote workers who share your passion for travel and work.
Coworking spaces also provide a great opportunity to interact with other remote professionals and form meaningful relationships, as they often host networking events and social activities.
But besides making new friends at work-related places, browse through our list of locations, interests, events, and experiences that help you to make new friends along the way.
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🏙️ Locations
Coliving space
Coliving spaces are a great way to make new friends as a digital nomad because they offer a ready-made community of like-minded individuals who share your passion for travel and remote work.
In a coliving space, you can easily strike up a conversation with someone in the shared living areas or during organized activities and events.
Additionally, coliving spaces often have common spaces and facilities like coworking spaces, communal kitchens, and game rooms, which provide ample opportunities for socializing and getting to know your fellow digital nomads.
Many coliving spaces also organize group outings and excursions, which is another great way to bond with other community members.
Check out these 9 coliving spaces in the European countryside!
Sarah Kuhlemann
Coworking space
Coworking spaces are popular among nomads, as they offer an opportunity to work in a professional environment and interact with other nomads.
Coworking spaces also provide a sense of community, where individuals can share ideas and collaborate on projects. This environment creates a natural setting for building friendships, as individuals are spending time together, share experiences, and develop connections based on mutual interests.
Moreover, coworking spaces often host networking events, workshops, and social activities, providing ample opportunities for digital nomads to meet new people and form meaningful relationships.
🎨 Interests
Gyms
Gyms are a great way to make new friends because they provide a common interest and a sense of community.
Being a part of a gym allows you to meet people with similar fitness goals and lifestyles, and provides a natural opportunity to start conversations and connect with others.
Additionally, participating in group fitness classes or joining a workout group can create a sense of accountability and shared motivation toward achieving fitness goals, leading to stronger connections and friendships.
Gyms often organize social events or activities outside of the gym, such as hiking or running groups, which can provide further opportunities to meet new people and form connections.
Yoga
Yoga studios provide a great opportunity to meet like-minded individuals who are interested in health and wellness.
Attending regular yoga classes allows for consistent interactions with other practitioners, and the communal nature of the practice can create a sense of connection and community.
Additionally, yoga studios often offer workshops and events outside of regular classes, providing further opportunities to meet new people and build relationships.
Running
Joining a local running group can be a fantastic way to meet new people and make friends while staying healthy and active.
Running with a group provides a sense of community and shared accomplishment, making it easier to connect with like-minded individuals.
Additionally, running groups often organize social events outside of running, such as dinners or happy hours, which provide further opportunities to get to know your fellow runners.
Hiking
Joining a hiking group is another popular way to meet new people and form friendships.
Hiking is a great way to get outside and explore the natural beauty of a new location, while also providing a shared experience that can bring people together.
Hiking groups often attract people with similar interests and values, which can make it easier to connect with others.
And lastly, hiking is a low-pressure activity that allows for plenty of conversation and interaction, making it an ideal setting for forming new connections.
Tennis
Tennis is a social sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels.
Through joining a tennis club, digital nomads can participate in organized matches, events, and tournaments, providing them with the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals who share a common interest.
Playing tennis regularly is also a great way to stay fit and healthy while traveling.
Dancing
A dance class offers an opportunity to meet people with similar interests in a fun and social setting. Dancing can be a great icebreaker and help build connections quickly.
In addition, dance classes often require partnering up, providing an opportunity to interact and bond with classmates.
Finally, participating in a regular dance class can provide a sense of community and belonging, which is especially important for those living a nomadic lifestyle.
🎤 Events
Digital Nomad Meetup
Attending digital nomad meetups is an excellent way to connect with other nomads and expats.
Although digital nomad meetups can turn into superficial small talks that make you feel like you are wasting time, give it a try.
Focus on one or two people that catch your interest and don't hesitate to ask if they want to connect via Whatsapp or Facebook.
Retreat
From writing retreats to yoga retreats, from mindfulness to business - retreats are an intimate way to meet new people.
The group of people you meet might feel more like-minded as nomads in your local coworking space. Retreats focus on specific topics and aim to help the participants to solve, improve, realize, or grow in a certain direction.
The group setting can be very intimate depending on the retreat size. This makes it easier to connect with the other participants.
Retreats typically offer various activities and workshops that encourage interaction among participants, making it easy to form connections.
Conference
Attending a remote work conference is an excellent way to meet other digital nomads and build new connections.
These events bring together like-minded professionals from various backgrounds and industries, providing ample opportunities to network and socialize.
With workshops, keynotes, and social events, remote work conferences offer a balance of professional development and social interaction.
Sarah Kuhlemann
Festival
Going to a festival is a great way to meet like-minded individuals who share your interests and hobbies. Whether it's music, art, or culture, festivals attract people from all over the world and provide a fun and relaxed environment for socializing.
Festivals often have designated areas for meeting new people and networking, making it easy for digital nomads to make new friends and potentially even business connections.
🦁 Experiences
Group tour
Sounds like baseball caps, and wristbands? Not quite. Group tours can be a good opportunity to see the localities while meeting new people.
The shared experience of the tour can be a natural conversation starter and bonding opportunity.
Ideas are free walking tours, wine tours, culinary experiences, cooking classes, zip line adventures, or mountain bike tours. Check the local Facebook groups, meetup.com, or the local blackboard for advertisements.
Cruise
Booking a digital nomad cruise can be a fun and unique way to make new friends while traveling. Being surrounded by a group of like-minded individuals who also work remotely can lead to connections and friendships that last beyond the duration of the cruise.
Plus, with various activities and excursions planned, there are plenty of opportunities to socialize and get to know your fellow travelers.
Have a look at Nomad Cruise!
Safari
Joining a safari in Africa is a great way to connect with like-minded individuals who share a love for adventure and exploration.
The group nature of a safari allows for natural socializing and bonding over shared experiences such as game drives, bush walks, and campfire conversations.
With the added excitement of seeing wildlife in their natural habitat, a safari can be a unique and unforgettable way to make new friends as a digital nomad.
🎀 Conclusion
Yes, making new friends as an adult takes more time. And yes, making new friends as a digital nomad is more difficult.
As adults, making friends is difficult. We tend to be shy. We might have expectations. We are afraid the other has expectations. And many times we just haven't met the right person yet.
If you are looking to make new friendships, be curious, and open-minded, and allow deep conversations. Listen with interest. And share with bravery.
Suggest connecting via Whatsapp or Facebook and ask for a second coffee or lunch meetup.
As nomads, we change location frequently. A new city, a new local community, new Facebook groups, and the opportunity to join new digital nomad events. Once we bonded with our new nomad or local friends it is just a matter of time until the next goodbye. And the cycle starts all over again.
So, being an adult plus a nomad feels double challenging.
I give the question back to you: How to make new friends as a nomad?
Please let me know your thoughts.
Sarah Kuhlemann
Sarah Kuhlemann
