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How-to

How to make friends in a new city

Moving to a new city usually means starting your social life from zero. Most friendships grow from seeing the same people again and again, so the goal in the first weeks is simple: put yourself in the same places often, meet a few people, and follow up. This guide is a plan you can start this week, plus how a map-based app like iS Gather can help.

iS GatherPublished by Transcend Technologies, Inc.
2 min
iS Gather live map with 3D avatars of people nearby, over a night map of a new city
On this page
  1. 1. Pick a few regular places
  2. 2. Join something small and recurring
  3. 3. See who is around you
  4. 4. Share what you are into
  5. 5. Follow up within a few days
  6. Stay safe while you meet people
  7. See who is on iS Gather in your city
  8. Questions

1. Pick a few regular places

Choose two or three places you can visit every week: a cafe, a gym or climbing wall, a park run, a library or a coworking space. Going at the same time each week means you keep seeing the same faces, and a nod turns into a conversation.

2. Join something small and recurring

Large events are good for energy, but small groups that meet every week are better for friendships: a language exchange, a sports league, a volunteering shift, a class or a hobby club. You get many short conversations with the same people, which is how strangers become friends.

3. See who is around you

A map-based social app shows people near you instead of a feed. On iS Gather, people around you appear as 3D avatars on a live map; tap one to see their profile and send a one-tap ice breaker. Before you sign up, you can browse a city page such as Los Angeles, Chicago or Seattle to see who is on iS Gather there.

New to the idea? Read what a map-based social app is.

4. Share what you are into

People reply more when they can see what you like. Write a short bio, and post a photo or a short video with a hashtag about your hobby. Others in your city who follow that hashtag can find you, and you can find them from trending hashtags.

5. Follow up within a few days

Most new connections fade because nobody makes the second plan. If you had a good chat, send a message within a few days and suggest something specific: a coffee, a walk, the next session of the class. Keep the first meetups short and in public places.

Stay safe while you meet people

Meet in public places first, and do not share your home address or daily routine. On iS Gather, Friends Only mode shows you only to your connections and Ghost Mode hides your location from everyone. You can block or report anyone from their profile or a message.

See who is on iS Gather in your city

Questions

How long does it take to make friends in a new city?
It varies from person to person. Friendships usually grow from repeated contact, so regular places and weekly groups speed things up more than one-off events.
What is the best app to make friends after moving?
Use an app built for friendship rather than dating. iS Gather shows people near you on a live map so you can see who is around and say hi with an ice breaker. It is free on iPhone, Android and the web.
Can I see who is on iS Gather in my city before signing up?
Yes. Public city pages on isgather.com, such as /near/new-york, list the profiles in Public mode in that city.