Moving to a new city is never easy, whether for university or work. Making new friends in Rome, which is a large city, can seem difficult, if not impossible.
Whether it’s for a move, a pleasure trip, or because all our acquaintances have gone elsewhere, there are simple solutions to this problem. Here are some tips on how to make new friends in the Italian capital city.
How to Make Friends in Rome: Some Basic Ideas
Certainly one of the aces up your sleeve in situations like moving to a new city is old acquaintances. There will surely be a former schoolmate living in Rome, or a friend who has a friend in the capital. And surely they have a group of friends.
From there, you can start exploring their circles to see if they suit you. To further build group spirit, you can choose to invite them to dinner more often at your home, and maybe try not to be too picky when it comes to friendship.
Being selective is useful and important, but sometimes it’s through mutual acquaintances in a group of friends that you find the people best suited to you. Often this is how you can connect with locals and have new experiences.
Sometimes, instead, you can turn to groups to find friends in Rome. With them, you might choose to go to the San Lorenzo neighborhood for an affordable dinner, or have a glass of wine accompanied by live music. And who knows, maybe from a dating app, instead of a relationship, a wonderful friendship might blossom.
If you want to avoid using a dating app or social networks, consider that there are alternative opportunities. Among these are Meeters events, often dedicated to specific age groups, held in venues that guarantee both fun and socializing.
Where True Romans Go to Make Friends
For those seeking the true Roman experience, there are several other areas frequented by authentic Romans. Among these are definitely Testaccio and Ostiense, especially if you’re interested in nightlife. Making friends there won’t be hard: with a bit of alcohol and the typical Roman spirit, it should be a breeze!
If you want to find a more refined (but still well-frequented) place, you can choose to visit the “posh” Rome, mainly represented by the Prati district. There you certainly won’t find loneliness, but splendid places, trendy venues, and stylish people.
For food lovers, Testaccio is paradise: it’s in the trattorias of the area that you can savor the most famous Roman dishes. One example is Felice a Testaccio, which offers cacio e pepe, amatriciana, carbonara, and much more. But not only that: in the Testaccio market you can breathe the true air of Rome and learn the stories of businesses that have been operating there for decades.
Among the market stalls, you can not only shop but also buy books and taste delicacies from Italy and Rome made artisanally every day. And in its undergrounds, there is even an archaeological area waiting to be discovered on your next adventure!
Discover all the group events organized in Rome >>
How to Find Friendships at 40 in Rome: It's Not That Hard
Building meaningful relationships as an adult can be challenging. Someone who moves to Rome because of a job change or promotion might end up feeling a bit lonely. With new colleagues, perhaps an already established group, it’s not always possible to go out even for a coffee.
In these cases, one of the best options is to focus on your passions. If you love trekking, for example, you can look for someone who shares this interest. There are many organized nature walks already available.
If you love sports or want to get back in shape, you can choose to take a course in yoga or any other group discipline.
If you’re more intellectual and want to discover the contemporary culture of the capital, you can attend exhibitions and conferences. For book lovers, there are reading clubs, but also frequenting a neighborhood bookstore often can lead to great relationships with the owners or regular visitors.
Meeting New People Amid History: Many Opportunities in the Capital
After all, Rome is a city full of history, where you can always discover a slice of culture you didn’t know before. For this reason, associations organizing alternative guided tours have existed for years.
Moving to Rome, then, doesn’t just mean diving into chaos, but also having the opportunity to do something different every weekend.
So, among archaeological finds and curiosities, you can find someone to make friends with in Rome and continue attending these kinds of events. In short, you don’t always need boldness to meet new people: you just need to understand what you want to share with them. The rest comes naturally, and who knows, maybe even love will blossom!
Keep an Eye on the Most Interesting Events to Make Friends in Rome
In this spirit, you can decide to follow events posted on Facebook and online newspapers by these organizations. Very often, live music, street art and flea markets are advertised online – even new store openings can be a break from the routine!
The same goes for some book presentations or apericena evenings. Connections can also be made during theater or cinema events, for example. For photography lovers, some dedicated outings are periodically organized by local photography groups.
Not to mention all those free services, events, and opportunities created by associations or planetariums to better appreciate the nature around you (even in the city).
Never Hold Back: Someone in Rome Is Waiting for You!
These opportunities, even if experienced with strangers, can drastically improve your quality of life and get you out of the loneliness of a new place: sometimes just one word is enough to make new friends.
Even if it’s not always easy to achieve your social goals, always remember not to lose heart. Making friends in Rome can be tough for everyone, whether you’re 30, 40, or 50 older, and being more outgoing isn’t guaranteed, especially when you have a job and therefore limited social energy. Despite this, there’s always a solution for each of our needs: you just have to find it.
The important thing is to hang in there and keep nurturing your interests and yourself: the rest will come naturally, because there’s always something around that fits us. Becoming a member of Meeters is a good option if you’re looking for someone to make new friends and join new groups.