How do you make friends when you have just arrived in a city?
Short answer: keep seeing the same people, in the same place, for several weeks in a row. Friendships rarely start from a single meeting, they grow from a regular activity. Here are 7 practical ideas, and an option if you want company right away.
Blog · Updated on 9 November 2026
7 ways to meet people
- A club or group activity: running, climbing, hiking, improv theatre. The same slot every week makes faces familiar quickly.
- A class or workshop: cooking, pottery, dance, languages. You have something to talk about from the first minute.
- A language exchange: many cities have evenings where people speak a language to practise it. They are built so that strangers talk to each other.
- Volunteering: a neighbourhood association, a community garden, a shared meal. You meet people who like getting involved close to home.
- A place to come back to: the same café, the same bakery, the same market. Being recognised by the regulars is a good start.
- Your neighbours and your area: a neighbours' party, a local group, a simple hello on the stairs.
- Saying yes to invitations: even when you are tired, in the first year, saying yes one time out of two changes a lot.
What if you want company right away?
These ideas take time, and the first weeks can feel long. On Rent a BFF you can book a BFF by the hour, a verified person, for a coffee, a walk or a tour of a neighbourhood. It is strictly friendly and platonic, in a public place. You send a request, the BFF accepts, you pay a 15% booking fee online and settle their rate directly in person. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. See also: renting a friend after moving and what to do alone on a Sunday.
What it is not
Rent a BFF is not a dating site and does not replace lasting friendships: it can help you through a rough patch, not fix everything. If the feeling of isolation lasts, talk to a health professional or a listening association. More in renting a friend to ease loneliness.
Want to meet someone this week?
Browse the profiles published near you and send your request, no commitment.