February 16, 2026 · 6 min read

How to meet people in a new city (without awkward small talk)

Find your people with consistent plans

Start with repeatable activities, not one-off events

If you are new in town, one-time parties can feel exciting but they rarely build momentum. The fastest path to friendships is showing up to the same kind of activity every week.

Look for running groups, padel matches, hiking meetups, language exchanges, or creative circles that happen regularly. Familiar faces reduce social pressure and create trust naturally.

Use interests as your social filter

You do not need to be friends with everyone. You need to meet people who enjoy similar hobbies and free-time rhythms.

Pick two or three interests you genuinely enjoy and join events in those categories. Shared context makes conversations easy and lowers the awkwardness of first meetings.

Be the person who follows up

Most connections fade because nobody suggests the next plan. After an event, invite one or two people to another activity the following week.

Friendships are built through consistency, not intensity. Small recurring plans beat rare big plans every time.

Ready to find your people?

Browse local events, join hobby communities, and make plans that actually happen — all on Social.

Find events near you →Browse hobby communities Discover your social type

More guides

8 min read

How to build a social life as an expat (the honest guide)

Expat social life is structurally harder than it looks — not because of language or culture, but because the automatic social structures that create friendships at home simply do not exist in a new country. Here is what actually works.

7 min read

How to meet people in London (a practical guide for newcomers and residents)

London is enormous and socially complex. Here is the honest, practical guide to actually meeting people in the city — what works, what does not, and where to start.

Loading app…