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7 Best Apps for Solo Travellers to Meet People on the Road 🌍

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Solo travel opens the door to unexpected friendships and unforgettable shared experiences. Whether you’re sipping caipirinhas with strangers-turned-friends in Rio or joining a rooftop dinner in Rome, meeting people on the road is one of the best parts of the journey. With the right apps, it’s easier than ever to connect with fellow travellers, swap stories, and explore the world together.

To help you make friends while on the move, here are the 7 best apps for solo travellers to meet people, from hostel hangouts to like-minded locals. Let’s get connecting.

1. 🧡 Hostelworld App – Best for Hostel Connections

Join chats and meet travellers

If you’re staying in hostels, the Hostelworld app is your ultimate social travel companion. It goes beyond just booking dorm beds, it helps you connect with other travellers before you even arrive.

With Hostelworld’s social feature, you can:

  • Join group chats with people staying at your hostel

  • See and message travellers visiting the same city

  • Share your travel plans and find people heading in the same direction

  • Join local events and activities right from the app

Whether you’re looking for dinner buddies, sightseeing partners, or just want to break the ice with someone before check-in, Hostelworld makes solo travel feel instantly social.

Download the Hostelworld app to start meeting people from the moment you book


2. 🌎 Travello – Best for Travel-Focused Social Networking

Travello is a social network built specifically for travellers. You can meet people nearby, join meetups, and find group tours or activities that match your interests. The app also features travel deals and a feed to share photos and stories.

Great for: solo backpackers, digital nomads, and travellers looking for community vibes.

3. 🎒 Backpackr – Best for Matching with Fellow Backpackers

Backpackr connects you with people based on where you’re going and what you’re interested in. You can see who will be in the same area at the same time, start conversations, or plan trips together.

The “Common Room” chat feature is especially handy for general travel talk or finding quick buddies on the road.

4. 🛋️ Couchsurfing – Best for Meeting Locals

Couchsurfing is well-known for its host-and-guest platform, but it also has a “Hangouts” feature where you can see who’s nearby and available to meet up. Whether you want to grab a coffee, explore the city, or attend a Couchsurfing event, this app is a great way to connect with locals and fellow travellers alike.

5. 🐝 Bumble for Friends (BFF) – Best for One-on-One Friendships

Originally a dating app, Bumble BFF is designed for finding platonic friendships. It’s ideal if you’re staying in one place for a while or just want a more relaxed way to meet someone to explore with. You’ll create a profile and swipe to match with potential friends near you.

Bonus: it’s widely used in major cities around the world.

6. 📅 Meetup – Best for Joining Local Events

Want to try salsa dancing in Lisbon or go hiking in Medellín? Meetup helps you discover local events that match your interests, from language exchanges to fitness groups and creative workshops. It’s especially useful if you’re travelling slowly or staying in one city for longer than a few days.

7. 🤝 GAFFL (Get A Friend For Life) – Best for Sharing Trips

GAFFL is all about finding travel companions for shared trips and adventures. You can browse itineraries, join someone else’s plan, or post your own travel dates and destinations. It’s a great way to meet people headed in the same direction and potentially split costs too.

Popular with road trippers, adventure travellers, and long-term backpackers.

Conclusion: There’s an App for That

Cheerful millennial female wanderer with touristic backpack searching online article about American vacation connecting to roaming internet for browsing websites on cellphone, international messaging

Making friends as a solo traveller has never been easier. Whether you’re booking hostels, planning a group hike, or joining a cooking class in a new city, the best apps for solo travellers to meet people can transform your trip from solo to social in just a few taps.

Start with the Hostelworld app to meet people staying in your hostel or heading to the same destination. Then expand your circle with travel-focused communities like Travello, Backpackr, and Couchsurfing. Wherever you go, your next adventure buddy is probably just a message away.

🙋 FAQ: Best Apps for Solo Travellers to Meet People

Yes. Bumble BFF is designed for platonic friendships and works like Tinder but for meeting people to hang out with rather than date. It’s great for solo travellers looking to find sightseeing or coffee buddies.

Yes. Apps like GAFFL (Get A Friend For Life) are built for finding travel companions. You can join someone else’s trip itinerary or post your own to find people heading the same way and even split costs.

The Hostelworld app also makes it easy to plan meetups with fellow travellers. Once you book your stay, you can share your travel plans, see who’s staying at the same hostel or visiting the same city, and connect in group chats to plan day trips, meals, or events together, all before you arrive.

Couchsurfing is ideal for this. It connects you with local hosts and includes a “Hangouts” feature to see who’s nearby and available to meet up for drinks, food, or activities.

Meetup is great for joining local events like walking tours, yoga sessions, language exchanges, and more. It’s especially useful for travellers staying longer in one city.

Yes. The Hostelworld app allows you to join group chats with people staying in the same hostel before you arrive. You can plan meetups, share tips, or even coordinate check-ins together.

Yes. With the rise of social travel apps, hostel events, and digital communities, it's easier than ever to connect with fellow travelers. Common hostel spaces, group tours, and local meetups also make meeting people more natural, even if you're an introvert.

Most solo travelers are open to connecting, that’s part of the experience. Look for travelers who join group chats, comment on public trip plans, or respond to event invites. If you're using apps or staying in hostels, people often appreciate a friendly message or “want to explore together?” vibe.

  • Meet in public places first

  • Trust your instincts

  • Be clear about your travel plans and comfort levels

  • Let someone know where you’re going
    Most connections are positive, but it’s smart to stay safe and respectful when meeting new people on the road.

The best places include hostel common rooms, group walking tours, free city events, and local meetups. Coffee shops, cooking classes, and pub crawls are also great for casual conversations that can lead to travel friendships.

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