Does the world have to rely on dating apps and the internet to meet new people? Not to put a damper on the technological advances the world is enjoying today, but there's still something spectacular about meeting and making new friends in person. Fortunately, you can still do just that in
Barcelona! The Catalan capital is famous, practically beloved even, for its outgoing locals. Many of them are more than willing to meet new people and make new friends, going so far as to come up to strangers. They'll usually do it in meetup events, language exchanges, outdoor activities, or even right then and there at the bar.
Try Co-living
While this may seem a little extreme, especially when it comes to meeting new people, why not try co-living? It's common to
share an apartment with roommates in Barcelona, right? Well, coliving is largely similar to that but usually involves more people and fosters a more intimate community between them. Nevertheless, the concept is about sharing your home with strangers and getting to know them by living your lives with each other day to day. You couldn't have asked for a more interactive and deeper way to meet and get to know new people!
Work in Coworking Spaces
Your
luxury apartment in Barcelona isn't the only place you can share with people you just met. There's also your workplace! In this day and age, working from home has become the norm. Companies adapted to this or a more solid hybrid setup after the COVID-19 pandemic while freelancing and becoming digital nomads are now bona fide professions. If any of these apply to your work situation today, then why not work in any of
Barcelona's fine coworking spaces? Blitz Coworking, Cahoot, or La Vaca Coworking all let you share your space with other people, allowing for new friendships to be fostered.
Attend a Workshop
The sky's the limit of what you can learn in Barcelona. From painting and pottery to even acting or singing, there are many workshops available in the Catalan capital. The best part is that they're another great way to meet people and make new friends in the city. It's also fairly easy because you'll already know that there's at least one thing you have in common with the other people in the class. Even more so if the specific workshop you're attending is one thing you're truly passionate about. Sharing passions and hobbies with others is often a surefire way to form a strong friendship!
Go to Meetup Events
Technically speaking, most of what's on this list constitutes a meetup event. From hobbies to language exchanges, all of these are perfect opportunities to meet people and make new friends in Barcelona. You can also include parties, raves, and cafe events, all completely different but equally fun. More often than not, these sorts of meetup events are specifically designed for you to get acquainted with strangers, especially if you just
moved to Barcelona. Attending one is enough for you to get to know all sorts of people and hopefully find your new crowd in the big city.
Join Language Exchange Groups
For those who don't know, language exchange groups gather people who speak different languages and encourage them to help each other learn their native tongues. As such, these sorts of events aren't just good for meeting new people, but also for meeting people from different countries as well as a great way to learn a new language. Possibly even more effective than if you enroll at a
language school in Barcelona. By meeting people from all sorts of countries, you can also get to know different cultures, backgrounds, and ways of life. How's that for meeting people in Barcelona?
Play Sports
Sports truly unite the world unlike any other. You've seen it during the Olympics and especially when you watch all sorts of games of championship teams. Here in Barcelona, for instance, people are practically obsessed with football. They love FC Barcelona and their passion for the sport knows no bounds. So if you want to meet people and make new friends here, try playing or watching sports with them. The former tends to be more effective in getting better acquainted as teamwork is a must for any game. The latter, on the other hand, will depend on the team you're supporting.
Get Out There
Sometimes, all you really need to do is to get out there and you'll meet people in an instant. The Spanish are a very outgoing people. Many of them are the types to just go up to someone at the bar, chat them up, and instantly make friends. If you're lucky, you might just end up on the receiving end of such treatment. You barely have to do anything either. Just go to a nearby bar, preferably one that's lively and crowded, and there's a good chance you'll catch someone's eye. What more could you ask for?
Use Apps and Social Media
Apps tend to be used for
dating in Barcelona, but some are still good for simply meeting people and making new friends. Some apps, such as Bumble, for example, allow you to clarify whether you're looking for a date, a hookup, or to make new friends. At the same time, social media platforms are always good for meeting new people. Facebook groups, in particular, have long proven to be effective in helping people meet like-minded individuals. With that said, however, it's still important to act with caution when meeting up with someone you got acquainted with online. Not all of them are honest about who they present themselves to be on the internet.
You'd be surprised at how fairly easy it is to meet new people and make friends in Barcelona. Locals here are a lot more outgoing than you think, allowing for many opportunities to get acquainted with all sorts of people.
