How to Meet New Friends Traveling Solo

And You Don't Have to Be an Extrovert

Mary Bartnikowski

Jun 25, 2025

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This is how I made incredible friends traveling solo worldwide for the past 20 years.

Your tribe will discover you.

Things you can do:

1. Go to expat meetups, bars, and restaurants

2. Volunteer at a Thai temple, meditation center, ashram in India, or school in Colombia

3. Be open to staying longer in one destination

4. When you start a traveling lifestyle you don’t want to be in a town only a few days you want to dig in more deeply

5. So you meet people spontaneously at coffee houses and cultural events

6. Food tours: I’ve met new people from all over the world who are foodies too

Paula and I met at an expat meet up, the first one I attended in Cefalu, Sicily.

I spoke with several new people at this gathering and had authentic conversations.

So the next day, I asked myself, who at the meet up was I most interested in getting to know?

It was Paula.

But I couldn’t find her contact info. 30 minutes later she sent me a text on WhatsApp: let’s check in later in the week and get together. Yay.

Her story intrigued me: solo working woman my age from Ireland. And I love the Irish because they’re witty and friendly.

So a week later I got in touch with her and we set up a time for a dinner date.

We had a deep chat at the beach, enjoyed dinner at a nice restaurant and I found a new friend.

You don’t have to be extroverted to make friends as a solo traveler.

You just have to show up.

You don’t have to jabber on and not stop talking. Just be present.

Not every one gels with you. But this is real life and you don’t love everyone you meet, but!

I’d never meet Paula in Silicon Valley, my home base, while traveling the world.

She escapes the winter in Ireland every year.

I’m escaping winter too. So it was kismet. we both have our own businesses and can take off on a whim

Cool to meet another woman my age who works full time and happily travels too.

I’m 69 and will continue to work because 1. I enjoy working and 2. I’m not Jeff Bezos

But bonus: I’ve met remarkable people by traveling solo.

My friend Anna who lives in Florence Italy I met at a local dinner for residents and foreigners.

Her husband said hello to me just as I was considering leaving the party and boom, he introduced me to his wonderful wife Anna and we’ve been friends for 7 years.

The photo above is a recent shot of us renting a car in Sicily and praying we won’t destroy it. Ha!

So cultivate friends of all ages and don’t discount any age group when you’re traveling.

One of my happiest moments in Paris recently was this:

I was dining at Casimir Paris restaurant in the 10th arrondissement and had a scrumptious meal, I’d met the chef previously and i went up to the bar to ask a question.

two young men got up from their table and started talking to me, asking about California, bantering, making champagne suggestions and suddenly I was in the middle of a fun conversation that they started I just showed up.

They were open and inviting and welcomed me with their superb English. And I was relieved I didn’t have to murder my French in front of a small crowd of residents.

Don’t tell yourself Parisians don’t know english because they do. and leaern soem French, say Bonjour all the time, be friendly - drop your home country and immerse yourself in this new one!

Traveling with Bangkok ladies I met at the temple where I was living in rural Thailand

I was invited to road trip to temples with the ladies above who were visiting Tubmingqwn temple in Thailand where I was shooting video and photos for the Abbott.

Volunterring is fun because you get an immediate group of local people who want to know you. And you’re interested in them too.

The world is your oyster, wash it down with some wine and enjoy your new life of fun and travel, you can do it!

How to Meet New Friends Traveling Solo

And You Don't Have to Be an Extrovert

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