10 ways to make friends in a new city as an adult
It’s not always easy to make new friends as an adult, especially if you’ve recently moved to a new city or started a new job. Meeting people IRL often feels like an intimidating task, especially in a day and age where the word “friend” has become a verb on social media—and being connected online just isn’t the same as having meaningful in-person relationships.
But how do you make new friends in your 20s or 30s (or at any age!), especially in a new place where you don’t know anyone yet? We’ve collected our favorite ideas for how to meet people in a new city, so you can foster connections that lead to true, lasting friendships.
Table of Contents
1. Get to know your neighbors
Your first opportunity to make new friends as an adult starts at home—or at least next door. If you find yourself walking past rows of closed doors in your new building or neighborhood, it’s time to get to know your neighbors!
- Create small gift baskets of treats and go door-to-door to hand them out (and introduce yourself).
- Take regular walks in your neighborhood and greet people who are doing the same.
- Organize a neighborhood block party and invite everyone on your street or in your building.
In addition to reaching out to your neighbors, don’t forget about your roommates (if you have them). Invite them to your neighborhood events, and encourage them to bring their friends, too.
2. Throw a housewarming party
You’ve got a new place—now it’s time to fill it with friends! Throw a housewarming party to bond with the people you’ve met so far, including coworkers and neighbors.
- Post a shareable link to your housewarming party invitation on a neighborhood message board or work channel.
- Want to make friends with your guests’ friends? Before you send out your Paperless Post invitation, make sure to allow guests to bring additional guests—the more, the merrier!
- Turn your soirée into a dinner party and have guests bring their favorite dishes to share. (And don’t forget our guide to conversation starters for parties!)
Your housewarming party can also turn into an unpacking party, especially if you already know the people attending. Just make sure you provide enough food and drinks to show your appreciation for their hard work!
3. Attend public events
Events that are open to the public are a great way to meet more people. Whether it’s a state fair, block party, church fundraiser, or company grand opening, mingling with other people over refreshments always breaks the ice.
- Find upcoming public events on bulletin board flyers at your nearest coffee shop or library.
- If you’ve made an acquaintance at work or in your neighborhood, consider asking them to join you.
- Get some face time with the people who organized the event if you’d like to be involved with their group in the future.
You don’t always need to have advance notice for public events, either. If you’re out on the town and you see a festival or community gathering, feel free to join in!
4. Find social opportunities at work
It’s easy for happy hour invitations to get lost in your work email inbox. Keep an eye out for these social opportunities, and make sure to join the next time one comes across your screen.
- If your company doesn’t host many social hours, consider organizing your own! Ask teammates to join you on a walk to a coffee shop during your next break or lunch hour.
- Offer to help organize your company holiday party and bond with the committee during planning meetings.
- Find creative ways to connect with your coworkers, such as games over lunch or an after-hours escape room.
Coworkers make great friends outside of work, too! Add your coworkers’ personal contact information to your next guest list so you can enjoy their company at future gatherings.
5. Volunteer for a good cause
There’s no better way to make friends in a new city than by working on a project together—especially if it’s one you both care about. Volunteer for a cause you feel strongly about, whether it’s creating care packages for people in need or cleaning up the neighborhood streets, and bond with others doing the same.
- Find your nearest volunteer opportunities through community websites, message boards, or online volunteer matches.
- Look into organizations that always need volunteers, such as hospitals or animal shelters.
- If you can’t find a volunteer event in your area, organize one yourself (and invite everyone in your neighborhood).
While you’re at the volunteer event, see if members plan to attend any future events. You can also check the organization’s calendar to keep those important conversations going.
6. Spend time on your hobbies
Find friends who share your interests when you spend time pursuing your hobbies. See if your new town hosts meetups for hobby groups, such as gaming clubs or adult softball leagues, and start making friends in a new place while doing what you love.
- If you play an instrument, stop by bars or venues where local bands play to make connections.
- If reading is one of your favorite hobbies, check the library for upcoming literary events, including writing groups and book clubs.
- Take a walk through the park on weekday evenings to see if any groups get together for pick-up basketball or volleyball games.
For more independent hobbies, such as knitting or robotics, start your own hobby club for others to join. Meet at a public place and enjoy working on your individual projects, together!
7. Take a class
New town, new job, new place—now’s the time to learn a new skill, too! Take a class at a community college or recreation center, and make new friends with your fellow students.
- Choose a subject you’ve always wanted to learn more about or revisit a class you enjoyed as a college student.
- Check out yoga or spin class listings at your local gym or workout studio, and arrive early to get to know other students.
- Find a class that involves lots of group or partner participation, such as a ballroom dancing class.
Classes can also be excellent creative outlets, especially if your job doesn’t foster those skills. Spend time creating something new with others who love doing the same.
8. Find like-minded communities
Do you attend religious services, have children, or own a dog (or all three)? Find the right community with like-minded individuals.
- See if your town has a church or community group that hosts events for newcomers.
- If you have kids, find a parenting group where you can bring your children to meetups so you don’t have to find childcare.
- Dog owners can spend time at nearby dog parks or dog-friendly places (your dog needs friends, too!).
Start a group text for new friends with limited schedules to stay in touch when life gets busy. Offer up multiple ways to get together with your new group, such as weekday lunches or evening walks.
9. Start an exercise regimen
People love to bond over a good workout. Find an exercise regimen that works for your experience level—or push yourself to the next level!—and spend time socializing with workout buddies.
- Swimmers love to hang out after practice! If you like to swim, find a pool in your area that hosts recreational swim sessions and meet your fellow swimmers there.
- Start biking or running along the same route every day to meet people with the same routine.
- Train for local competitions and get to know the people who are training for the same event.
If the gear required for your regimen gets expensive, check out local secondhand sports shops for great deals. Bonus: you can make friends with anyone looking for the same type of equipment at the shop!
10. Shop local
Plug into your new town’s small business scene when you make a commitment to shop local. You’ll connect with the business owners and the people who shop there—and soon, you’ll feel like a local, too!
- Spend time at an independent coffee shop each week and start a conversation with other customers who stop by at the same time.
- Instead of going to the grocery store, get your produce at a farmer’s market and make connections over bunches of kale and grapes.
- Find your next read at a local bookshop and meet new friends across the bestseller shelf.
You can also do business with individual vendors for one-on-one connections. Hair stylists, independent salespeople, and mobile dog groomers are good people to seek out for friendly conversations!
Build connections that last with Paperless Post
Meeting new people as an adult doesn’t have to be difficult. All you need to do is follow your own interests and meet people who feel the same way—and in no time, you’ll be ready to plan your first get-together!
Paperless Post has all the tools you need to stay connected to your new friends. Whether you’re celebrating your birthday or hosting a Friendsgiving dinner, we know how valuable friendship can be—and we’re here to help you make connections that last.
Bring friends together for a fun night of bonding—from wine tastings to watch parties and more.
