Looking for friends? These are the best ways to meet new people

‘Friends wanted’ tells people what you want, but not yet what spending time together means to you. Make your appeal concrete: are you looking for someone for a Saturday walk, a museum visit, or coffee after work? Mention roughly how often you want to meet. This way, someone can assess whether your expectations match.

On Meet4Moments, you can look through the appeals to see how others are looking for contact. A possible phrasing is: ‘I am looking for a friend to walk and catch up with for an hour occasionally on Sundays.’

Responding yourself can feel better than waiting for messages. Don't look for someone who is identical to you in every way, but for a starting point that you are genuinely curious about. A shared interest in reading or cooking can be enough for a first conversation. Age alone says little about your potential connection.

For example, browse the members and ask a question about something someone mentions. ‘You mention that you love baking; do you try new recipes or do you have set favourites?’ gives more room for conversation than just ‘Hi’.

During a shared activity, you don't have to constantly think of topics. You can talk about what you are doing, be quiet for a bit, and continue talking later. Choose something you are actually interested in, not solely an activity where you hope many potential friends will show up.

Through activities, you can see what aligns with your preferences. Pay attention to group size, duration, and practical information. If you want a quiet introduction, a small group might suit you better than a busy event. If anything is unclear, ask beforehand how the meeting will proceed.

A course offers repetition: you don't have to start a friendship immediately during the first lesson. Whether it's drawing, learning a language, or photography, a shared subject arises naturally. Preferably choose a series that fits your schedule, so you actually keep bumping into the same people.

After a few lessons, take a small step outside the curriculum. For example: ‘I’m going for tea somewhere after this, would you like to join me?’ Keep it casual. A shared lesson hour is a starting point, not an obligation to meet privately.

Performing a concrete task together can make contact less awkward. Think of helping at a community activity or working on a recurring project. Choose work you find valuable and a commitment you can sustain. Signing up only to find friends might be disappointing if everyone is mainly focused on the task.

Ask beforehand if you will be working with a fixed group and if there are shared breaks. Those moments specifically offer room to get to know each other better. Meanwhile, respect that not every fellow volunteer is looking for contact outside of the work.

A former colleague, previous neighbour, or someone from a former course isn't entirely new, but can take on a new place in your life. You don't need to explain a faded contact in detail. A concrete, friendly message is usually clearer than spending months thinking that you really should send something.

You could write: ‘I was thinking about our lunch breaks the other day. Would you like to grab a coffee soon?’ Leave room for a no or an unanswered message; shared history does not give a right to renewed contact.

Perhaps your sister, colleague, or neighbour knows someone with whom you share interests. You can mention that you’d like to meet new friends, without making that person responsible for the result. Ask for a joint walk rather than a complicated introduction where you are immediately sat alone opposite each other.

For example: ‘If you guys go to an exhibition again, I’d love to join.’ Don't ask for someone's phone number without permission. A meeting of three allows everyone to decide for themselves if direct contact should follow.

Living nearby makes a short meetup practical, but proximity doesn't automatically mean you know each other well. Start with a conversation at a public community meeting or during a joint clean-up event. Ask something relevant to the moment and listen to whether the other person also shows interest in you.

When you speak more often, you can suggest a coffee date in a public place. Don't immediately invite someone to your home just because you happen to share the same street. Keep neighbourhood contact friendly if the other person prefers just saying hello; that is also valuable.

A recurring group gives you the chance to remember faces and names. Choose a pace and level where you have enough focus left for contact. Someone who is constantly trying to prove themselves or is out of breath may have little room for conversation. Athleticism doesn't have to be your main selection criterion.

If possible, come at the same time a few times. Afterwards, for example, ask how someone found the route. If the conversation flows well, you can suggest walking to the starting point together next time.

A book club, craft circle, or games group might fit if you prefer talking about something substantive rather than small talk. Don't just look at the subject, but also at the way the group meets. Does everyone get space, or does the conversation always revolve around the same people?

Ask if you can come for an introduction once before you commit to anything. You can say afterwards: ‘I found your take on that book interesting; what made you think of that?’ This way, you deepen the conversation without having to become personal immediately.

With some colleagues, you talk easily, even though you hardly have contact outside of working hours. A short lunch walk can show if there is something to discuss without work matters. Choose someone where the initiative feels mutual and take professional boundaries into account, especially in a hierarchical relationship.

Suggest something small first, like having lunch together outside the building. Don't make a rejection awkward and continue to treat each other the same at work. Your colleague doesn't have to become your friend to be a great colleague.

In an online group, you can first discover how someone communicates. Respond to contributions based on content and see if conversations come from both sides. Don't immediately share personal problems or confidential data to create quick intimacy. A pleasant online conversation doesn't tell you everything about a meeting.

If you want to establish contact via Meet4Moments, you can register for free and create a profile. The platform is for adults looking for new contacts, not a dating site. State in your profile which shared activity you would enjoy.

You don't have to wait for an invitation that fits you perfectly. Propose a simple outing with a clear start and end time. An hour for coffee or a short walk is more manageable than a whole afternoon without a plan. Also provide an alternative if the weather makes an outdoor appointment difficult.

Meet in a public place first, arrange your own transport, and do not share private addresses or financial details. Make it clear beforehand where you will meet. You can find more points of attention under safe meetups.

Sometimes it’s not the chemistry that's missing, but a shared free moment. If you are available during the day on weekdays and others only at the weekend, meeting up remains complicated. Therefore, also search by availability. A walking buddy for Tuesday mornings doesn't need to be in the same life stage to still be good company.

Moving house, divorce, or retirement can change routines without everyone becoming lonely as a result. Furthermore, being alone is different from feeling lonely. State practically what you are looking for now: for example, someone for a monthly lunch, not necessarily a completely new circle of friends.

Meeting new people is one thing; seeing each other again requires a separate step. After a nice meetup, let them know what you enjoyed and make a feasible proposal. For example: ‘I enjoyed looking at that exhibition together. Shall we plan something else for next month?’

Pay attention to reciprocity without starting to count messages. Does the other person also take initiative or suggest an alternative? Not every contact becomes close, and different contacts can offer different things. Respect a rejection and give your attention to meetings in which you both want to invest.