Where to Join Local Social Groups to Make Friends in Your City

Meeting people and building real friendships as an adult can feel hard but there are plenty of local communities and platforms specifically designed to help you connect with others in your city. This guide breaks down where to find social groups, how to join them, and what to expect so you can build your social life intentionally and confidently.

Why Local Social Groups Matter

As adults, we no longer have built-in friend circles like school or university. According to real life experiences and community observations, joining local social groups helps you meet people with shared interests, creates recurring opportunities to interact, and builds familiarity over time, which is key to forming friendships.  

This is especially important in cities, where people often live close together but rarely interact. If you’ve ever felt surrounded yet disconnected, Why Is It So Hard to Make Friends in Australia? (And What Actually Helps) explores this challenge in more depth.

Friendship & Community Apps: Your Modern Social Hubs

Many people today start their search for local groups online before meeting in person. These apps act as bridges between strangers and communities that already exist near you.

• Bunchups: Bunchups is designed specifically to help people discover and plan real-life social hangouts based on shared interests. Instead of endless scrolling and crowded meetups, it focuses on one-on-one and small group activities based on shared interests, making it easier to turn “wanting to socialise” into actual plans. This works especially well if you’re new to a city or looking to expand your circle beyond existing contacts. You can explore how this works in practice in How Bunchups Enhances Your Social Life: App Features & Walkthrough.

• Meetup: One of the most popular platforms for discovering local groups and events. You can join gatherings around hobbies, interests, fitness, tech, languages, and more, with events happening in most cities every week. What makes Meetup particularly powerful is that attending is already a social cue: everyone there is there to connect.  

• Eventbrite: While Eventbrite is primarily known as an event-ticketing platform, it’s also a great place to discover local workshops, classes, networking events, and community gatherings. Many smaller social events, creative meetups, and interest-based sessions are listed here, making it a useful tool for finding one-off or recurring social opportunities nearby.

• Bumble BFF: Bumble BFF is built specifically for platonic friendships. It allows you to match with people in your city who are also looking to make friends, removing the ambiguity that often comes with adult socialising. While it starts with one-to-one chats, many connections eventually turn into group plans or shared activities.  

• Facebook Groups: Facebook Groups remain one of the most active places to find local communities. From city-specific social groups to hobby-based and women-only or interest-led communities, many groups regularly organise in-person meetups. Searching for your city name plus keywords like “social,” “friends,” or “events” often reveals highly active local groups.

• Reddit and Discord: Reddit and Discord are excellent for finding niche communities and local interest groups. City-based subreddits often share meetups, social events, and community recommendations, while Discord servers allow people to build rapport online before meeting in person. These platforms work best when used as an entry point to real-world interaction rather than staying fully online. These platforms work best as entry points, not endpoints — a theme also discussed in How to Find Hobby Groups and Build Interest-Based Friendships in Australia.

Pro tip: Use the search filters in these apps to look for events that match your interests -food, sports, books, language exchanges, weekend hikes, because shared activity often leads to easier conversations.

Work, Study & Professional Groups: Make Friends Through Shared Purpose

Sometimes your circle grows right where you spend the most time.

Local colleges, universities, and professional networks often host events and community gatherings. For example, student hubs and societies bring people together over shared academic and cultural interests, while professional workshops or networking mixers are great for meeting both peers and potential friends.  

Even beyond formal institutions, industry meetups and coworking spaces frequently organise casual or themed events. These provide natural chances to connect with people in your neighbourhood, not just to swap business cards but to share experiences, insights, and social outings. You might also find value in How to Find Business Networking Opportunities in Australia.

Hobby & Interest-Based Groups: Meet People Through What You Love

Joining groups that revolve around activities you genuinely enjoy is one of the most effective ways to find friends who fit your vibe.

• Fitness & sports clubs: Running clubs, cycling groups, yoga sessions or sports leagues, these are social by nature and often meet regularly, which helps with repeated exposure.  

• Creative & cultural groups: Art workshops, dance classes, coffee tastings, language meetups, or book clubs are excellent places to bond over shared passions.

• Volunteer organisations: Not only are you giving back to your community, but you also meet people who share similar values and causes.

Finding these types of groups often involves searching local noticeboards, community centre listings, or city events calendars.

Community Events & Local Hubs: Natural Spaces for Connection

Not all social groups come from formal membership or apps. Some of the richest opportunities to meet people happen through broader community involvement:

• City or town events: Markets, festivals, street fairs, and local parades are social environments where introductions happen organically.

• Library programs & talks: Many public libraries run regular clubs, workshops, or themed events that attract locals interested in learning and discussion.

• Neighbourhood or council-run initiatives: Some cities have councils that list group activities, classes, or volunteer opportunities (especially in larger cultural hubs).  

These community spaces often prioritise inclusion and accessibility, making them friendly starting points if you’re new to socialising in a city.

How to Join These Groups Successfully

Once you find a group you like, these simple practices make joining easier and more effective:

• RSVP and show up regularly: Regular attendance fosters familiarity and gives people a chance to recognise you.

• Start small: Introduce yourself briefly and show curiosity about others, most people appreciate friendly efforts more than perfection.

• Be consistent: Friendships usually form through repeated interactions over time.

• Ask questions: Shared interests are great, but personal stories and sincere curiosity deepen connections.

Safety & Comfort Tips

When joining in-person meetups for the first time:

• Prefer public, well-lit locations

• Share plans with a friend or family member

• Notice and respect your comfort levels as you meet new people

For practical guidance, How to Meet New People Safely in Real Life is a helpful reference.

Conclusion

Joining local social groups is one of the most effective ways to expand your circle and build meaningful friendships in your city. Whether you start with apps like Bunchups or dive into local hobby clubs and community events, the key is to participate, stay consistent, and have fun discovering people who match your interests and community vibe.

Meeting people isn’t always easy, but the right groups and the right mindset can make it rewarding and genuinely life-enhancing.