Your New-City Social Map: 8 Places Where Strangers Can Become Familiar Faces

Moving to a new city is exciting, but it doesn't hand you a social circle right away. And the best news of all? You don't have to go to every party and become friends with every face. Let's start small, with places where you can meet people who will listen to you and who you can see again.

Eight Interesting Places to Add to Your Personal Map

1. The Class You Have Been Mean to Yourself Into

Take a pottery course, learn to cook, take photos, dance or speak a foreign language: when studying you share experiences and have something to talk about before and after the lesson.

2. A Group Sport or Walk

Walking groups, running clubs and amateur sports are social events par excellence, where those who prefer a more active lifestyle to a dinner party can meet.

3. Cafés and Independent Places

Find a regular café or library where you can spend your free time. When you're used to being around, it's easier to spot new faces. But remember that, to have friends, you need to have something in common and to talk to each other.

4. Music and Other Like-minded Events

Live music, readings, exhibitions, and creative workshops are opportunities to meet people who share your interests.

5. Volunteer Groups

Community groups help the local area while bringing together caring individuals.

6. Literary Circles and Games Nights

If you're interested in less crowded gatherings, you can find book clubs, quiz nights, games evenings or other social events with a common theme. Having something to focus on makes it easier to spark a conversation and spend time together without stressing too much.

7. Local Festivals and Markets

Markets and festivals are great to discover your city, but they also allow you to find people, meet locals and learn about new shops or activities.

8. Social Discovery Apps

The problem with exciting opportunities is that sometimes we just don't know who wants to join in.

JoinMeIn is a real world social app for discovering nearby people, plans, interests, dating and events. Using a Live Radar, you can find new friends, dates or roommates, while local events and plans allow you to meet people with similar tastes. The beauty of JoinMeIn is that you decide when and where you want to be discovered. So, you can have control of your safety while exploring the world around you.

How to Turn These Interesting Places into a Social Circle

Finding the right place is only the beginning. Once you've found an activity you like, give it a chance by going regularly. This helps to build a connection and to get to know each other better, from strangers to acquaintances. If you find yourself chatting for a long time, ask your new contact for a coffee after the lesson or show interest in seeing each other again at the next event.

Remember that you don't always have to find a group right away: you could find a hobby first. You may even strike up a conversation with someone at a festival who invites you to their local game night. Be realistic with yourself: you may need more time to find a new best friend. But getting to know people is a start and, with the help of these tips, you should soon have a social life as fun as your new city.

Above all, think about your own safety before meeting new people discovered with the help of JoinMeIn. It's a good idea to get to know people in public places at first. So, you can get to know each other better and feel safe.

Create Your Own Map

You don't have to join all eight of our suggested groups. Think about which two sound most fun or feasible for your budget, and start there. Once you have found an activity that you like and a regular group of people, that's when your social life can really begin. With JoinMeIn you can find people and plans that suit you. So why wait?

Read the original article: https://joinmein.io/blogs/make-friends-in-a-new-city-12-places-to-start-this-week