How to Make Friends in a New City

It doesn’t matter what stage of life you’re in. Moving to a new city can be exciting, but scary. Especially when it comes to making new friends. We hope you took our advice and scouted out a great neighborhood. But even if you didn’t, there’s still a lot of ways to meet people in your new city.

Join a club

No matter what your hobbies are, there’s probably a group out there that does it. Love to run? Check with your local running store. Book clubs more your thing? The library can probably help you out. Just ask around and eventually, you’ll find something to join.

Get technical

There are tons of apps and websites, like Meetup.com or Hey! Vina, that can help you connect with people with similar interests. Always wanted to try mountain biking or yoga? A new city can mean new hobbies, too.

Get to know the neighbors 

Bake (or buy) some cookies and start knocking on doors. Go to a homeowners association (HOA) meeting. You don’t have to be best friends with all your neighbors. But that sweet older lady next door might have a daughter that loves biking as much as you. Plus these are the folks who are going to be able to tell you who the best repair person is and which Chinese takeout place has the quickest delivery to your neighborhood. You know. The essentials.

Consider a roommate 

Sure, it might not be the ideal situation. But double the people means double the opportunity to meet someone. If your roommate’s lived in the city for a while, she might even be able to introduce you to a friend of a friend who likes the same things you do. If nothing else, you’ll save a little money on your mortgage payments.

Be brave

There's nothing wrong with putting yourself out there. And if someone thinks you're weird for it? They're the ones stuck in middle school. If you meet someone at work or at the gym who you think could become a friend, don't be shy. Ask them for coffee or lunch. You might have just made a new best friend!

How do you make friends in a new city?