How I Made Friends in Palermo

Making friends in a new city is never easy. Making friends in a city you’re only in for three weeks? That’s another challenge altogether. Still, during my time in Palermo, I found a few ways to connect with people — and here’s how it went.

Work from a Co-Working Space

Working from a co-working space is one of the easiest ways to meet new people, especially if you’re traveling solo. I spent a week at BEET Community, where I joined their WhatsApp group to stay updated on upcoming events.

While I didn’t end up hanging out one-on-one with anyone, joining the community helped me feel more connected and “in the know.” Just chatting with new faces during coffee breaks made a big difference from working alone in my Airbnb.

Bumble For Friends

Before leaving the States, I downloaded Bumble for Friends to see if I could connect with people before arriving. It took a bit to figure out the travel mode, and just as I got the hang of it, Bumble split their main app into a separate one for friends — classic timing.

Even so, the app helped me chat with three people, and I met one woman in person. We hung out a few times and had a great connection. Palermo doesn’t seem to have a huge digital nomad community yet, but even making one solid friend made my trip more meaningful.

Co-Working Events

As I mentioned in my Best Places to Work post, I joined BEET Community for a week. Their potluck dinner was where I ended up meeting the most people. I didn’t form any deep friendships, but it was a refreshing change from another night in alone. If you’re visiting Palermo (or any city, really), I’d highly recommend checking out a co-working space and attending their events — it’s one of the easiest ways to meet others.

Excursions & Classes

I also signed up for a week of Italian language classes, a photoshoot, and a walking tour. Pushing myself to do these activities during my first week helped me meet new people outside of the work setting.

Out of all these experiences, I connected most with my photographer — we even met up later for coffee and had a wonderful chat. Sometimes the best friendships happen in unexpected ways.

Final Thoughts

Making friends while traveling can be tough, especially when your time is limited. But if you stay open, follow your interests, and put yourself out there, you’ll find like-minded people along the way. Even one genuine connection can make your trip feel a lot less lonely.