You booked the flight. You packed light. Now you’re sitting in a hostel common room, scrolling your phone because everyone else is already in a group. I’ve been there. In 2026, the right app can turn that awkward silence into a dinner invite, a hiking partner, or a local friend who shows you the real city.
These eight apps are the ones I actually use and recommend. No fluff. No affiliate links. Just what works.
1. Bumble BFF — Not Just for Dating Anymore
Most people know Bumble for dating. The BFF mode is a different beast. It’s built specifically for platonic connections. You create a profile, swipe on people who look like they’d be fun to grab a coffee with, and chat inside the app.
It works best in cities with a high population density. London, Tokyo, Barcelona, New York — you’ll find dozens of people in BFF mode within a 10-mile radius. Smaller towns? Not so much.
How to set it up for travel
Switch your location to the city you’re visiting before you arrive. Use the “Travel Mode” feature (free with a Basic account). Set your profile to say exactly what you want: “In town for 4 days, looking for someone to explore markets and try street food.” Be specific. “Looking for friends” is too vague.
The catch
Matches expire if you don’t message within 24 hours. That’s actually good — it forces action. But if you’re in a place with weak signal, you’ll lose connections. Download WhatsApp (free) to move the conversation off Bumble once you’ve matched. That way you don’t lose the contact.
Best for: Solo travelers who want to meet locals and other travelers in big cities. Free to use. Bumble Boost ($19.99/month) gives you unlimited extensions and rematch options.
2. EatWith — Book Dinner at a Local’s Home
Tourist restaurants serve the same pasta and pad thai. EatWith lets you book a seat at someone’s actual dining table. A local host cooks a meal, and you eat with 6-12 strangers. It’s the fastest way to have a real conversation over real food.
| City | Average meal price | Typical group size | Cuisine type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rome | $45-60 | 8-12 | Homemade pasta, wine |
| Bangkok | $25-35 | 6-10 | Street food masterclass |
| Mexico City | $30-50 | 8-14 | Tacos, mole, mezcal pairing |
| Lisbon | $35-55 | 6-10 | Seafood, Portuguese wine |
I booked a dinner in Rome through EatWith. The host, a retired chef, taught me how to make cacio e pepe while telling stories about growing up in Trastevere. I left with three new WhatsApp contacts and a recipe I still use.
Best for: Food-focused solo travelers who want deep local experiences. Prices range from $25 to $80 per meal. Book at least 48 hours in advance.
3. Meetup — Find Your People by Interest
Meetup isn’t a travel app. It’s a local events app. But that’s exactly why it works for solo travelers. You search for “hiking in Lisbon” or “photography walk in Tokyo” and find groups that meet in real life. No swiping. No small talk. Just showing up to an activity you already enjoy.
The trick is to filter by “This Week” and look for free or low-cost events. Many hiking and walking groups charge $2-5 just to cover the organizer’s fee. That’s fine. It keeps out flakes.
A common mistake
Don’t join a group that requires a membership fee before you’ve attended one event. Some Meetup groups charge $10-20/year. That’s fine if you’re staying a month. For a 3-day trip, find free events or ones with a per-event fee.
Best for: Solo travelers who want to meet people through shared hobbies, not just “let’s grab a drink.” Free to browse. Some events cost $0-15.
4. Couchsurfing — More Than Free Accommodation
Couchsurfing got a bad reputation for safety issues. The 2026 version is better. The app now requires verified ID (upload a passport or driver’s license) and has a mandatory review system. You can’t create a profile without a real photo.
Here’s what most people miss: Couchsurfing’s “Hangouts” feature is the real gem for solo travelers. It’s a map-based feature where you post what you’re doing — “Getting coffee at 3pm near the main square” — and other Couchsurfers nearby can join. No host needed. No couch needed. Just people meeting in public.
I used Hangouts in Chiang Mai. Three of us ended up renting scooters and spending the day at Doi Suthep. Total cost of the app: $0. The verification fee is $14.99 one-time if you want to host or send messages freely.
Best for: Budget travelers who want spontaneous, no-pressure meetups. Hangouts is free. Messaging requires a $14.99 verification fee.
5. Backpackr — The App for Finding Travel Partners
Backpackr is built specifically for solo backpackers. You create a profile, list your upcoming destinations and dates, and the app matches you with people on the same route. It’s like Tinder for travel buddies, minus the romance.
The app shows a map of nearby travelers. You can send a message like “I’m in the common room of The Yellow Hostel, anyone want to grab dinner?” and get a reply within minutes.
When it fails
Backpackr’s user base is strong in Southeast Asia, South America, and Europe. It’s weak in Africa and the Middle East. If you’re traveling in Morocco or Kenya, don’t rely on this app alone.
Best for: Backpackers on popular routes (Thailand, Vietnam, Peru, Spain). Free. No premium tier needed.
6. Tourlina — Women-Only Travel Community
Tourlina is a women-only app for finding female travel companions. Every profile is verified with a selfie and ID. No men allowed. It solves the safety concerns that make many women hesitant to meet strangers through general apps.
The app shows you other women traveling in your city or planning trips to the same destination. You can chat, plan shared itineraries, and book accommodations together. The interface is simple — no swiping, just profiles with trip dates and interests.
Best for: Solo female travelers who want a verified, safe way to find female travel partners. Free to use. Verification takes 24 hours.
7. Travello — Social Network for Travelers
Travello calls itself “the social network for travelers.” It has a feed where you post updates, a chat system, and a map showing nearby users. The standout feature is the group chat system for specific cities. You join the “Barcelona Solo Travelers” group and immediately have 200 people to ask questions or plan meetups with.
The app also hosts virtual events — trivia nights, language exchanges, travel story sessions. These are useful for solo travelers who want to build connections before arriving in a city.
The downside
The free version shows ads. They’re not intrusive, but they exist. The premium version ($4.99/month) removes ads and unlocks priority placement in group chats. I don’t think it’s worth paying for unless you’re traveling for more than 3 months straight.
Best for: Solo travelers who want a full social network experience, not just one-off meetups. Free with ads. Premium $4.99/month.
8. WhatsApp — The Glue That Holds It All Together
This isn’t an app for meeting people. It’s the app you use after you meet someone. Every single solo traveler I know uses WhatsApp as their primary messaging app. It works over Wi-Fi, supports group chats, and is free.
Here’s the pro tip: Create a WhatsApp group for every city you visit. Add the people you meet through the other apps on this list. Name the group “Tokyo April 2026” or “Barcelona Crew.” That way you have a permanent record of who you met and can send a message like “Anyone still in town for dinner tonight?”
I still have a WhatsApp group from a trip to Colombia in 2026. We don’t talk daily, but when someone goes back to Medellín, the group lights up with recommendations.
Best for: Staying connected after you meet. Free. Works on Wi-Fi. No SIM card needed.
Two Generic Tips for Using These Apps
Tip 1: Always meet in public for the first time. Coffee shops, busy markets, hostel common rooms. Never agree to go to someone’s apartment or a secluded spot on the first meeting. This should be obvious, but I’ve met travelers who ignored this rule and regretted it.
Tip 2: Have an exit plan. If you meet someone and the vibe is off, have a polite excuse ready. “I have to check in with my family” or “I need to move my laundry” works. You don’t owe anyone an explanation for leaving a situation that feels wrong.
Why These Apps Beat Random Hostel Meetups
Hostel common rooms are hit or miss. Some nights everyone is social. Other nights everyone is glued to their phone. These apps give you control over when and how you meet people. You can pre-arrange a dinner, find someone who shares your specific interest, or connect with locals who aren’t staying in hostels.
The solo travel experience in 2026 is better because of these tools. The loneliness that used to be part of the deal is now optional.
Download Bumble BFF and EatWith before your next trip. Those two alone will cover 80% of your social needs.
