How to Make Friends in a New City

Moving to a new city can be overwhelming—especially if you don't know anyone. While making new friends can come with challenges, there are plenty of ways to make new connections. Here are some tips for making friends in a new city!

Start Before You Move

Building connections before you move can help ease moving anxiety. Asking your network, joining online meetup groups, and researching activities can help you. Learn more about connection building before your moving day.

Ask Your Network

Reach out to family, friends, or coworkers if they know anyone in the city you're moving to. When you get contacts, reach out with a brief message introducing yourself.

Join Facebook Groups

Joining a Facebook group is a great option for meeting people—especially if you don't know anyone in your new city. Consider joining a few interest-based groups, observe conversations and events to know your city better, then post a brief introduction.

Research Activities

Look up group events, fitness studios, and community centers in your new area. Bookmark interesting classes or events so you have options ready when you arrive.

Your First Month Strategy

The initial weeks in your new city can be stressful, but prioritizing meeting new people can help you settle in. Be open to invitations, explore your new city, and organize your space.

Say Yes to Invitations

Your availability can help foster friendships. Accept invitations to events like social gatherings, coffee meetups, and fitness classes.

Explore New Spots

Choose one or two places near your home to visit consistently—like a gym or coffee shop. Staff and other regulars will start recognizing you, leading to natural conversations.

Connect Through Shared Interests

Finding classes or activities that interest you can help you adjust and meet people, leading to more connections.

Find Classes & Regular Activities

Sign up for weekly or monthly activities, like yoga classes, creative workshops, or book clubs. Repeated interactions let relationships develop naturally. Plus, you'll already have something to discuss, reducing social pressure.

Join Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteering connects you with like-minded people while contributing to your community. Consider volunteering at your local animal shelter, community garden, or food bank. Many organizations have social activities for volunteers, extending connections beyond work time.

Look into Professional Networks

Use work connections—including conferences and networking events—to build both career and social relationships. Professional friendships often extend beyond work topics, especially if you're new to the city.

Connect Online

Apps and online platforms make finding potential friends easier when you're starting from zero. Here are some apps and online platforms to help you make friends in your new city.

Search Friendship Apps

Friendship apps can be a great option for making new friends. When setting up your profiel, be authentic and clear about your intentions. For safety reasons, meet in a public place, like the mall or a coffee shop. Apps to consider include:

• Bumble BFF: Swipe-based friend matching

• Meetup: Activity-based group connections

• Nextdoor: Neighborhood-focused community

Take Initiative

Taking initiative puts you in control of your social calendar and establishes you as someone who makes things happen. Consider hosting gatherings, regular activities, and connecting others.

Host Gatherings

Once settled, throw a casual housewarming party. Invite neighbors, coworkers, and recent acquaintances. Keep it simple with snacks and drinks—focus on creating relaxed conversation opportunities.

Organize Regular Activities

Start activities you enjoy, like hobby meetups or group outings to local events. Being the organizer helps you meet multiple people while establishing yourself as socially active.

Bring Others Together

Introduce different people you've met to each other. Host small dinner parties mixing work friends, neighbors, and hobby groups. Connecting others makes you valuable to multiple social circles.

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Planning a move? Find more helpful moving resources on the Extra Space Storage Moving Hub. And if you need storage along the way, we have convenient facilities located across the U.S. to help with your relocation. Find self storage near you!