Getting started in a new city

I recently wrote about making soft and hard life resets, and moving to a new city is one way to make a fresh start.

If you’ve recently moved to a new city (or are planning a move soon), you might feel a bit intimidated by the unknown. How will you get accustomed to your new surroundings and make connections?

As someone who’s started fresh in a new place countless times, I have a few tips that will make your transition smoother.

1. Explore your new neighborhood on foot

This is the best way to get more familiar with your new area and also make sure you can orient yourself. Armed with Google Maps, I’ve explored entire cities on foot and sometimes became even more knowledgeable than the locals!

It’s important to scout out nearby convenience shops or grocery stores, cafes, bakeries, produce stands, banks, and public transportation to make your life easier when you need those things.

Pro tip: try doing this in the daytime, as it’s easier to get lost or stuck in a sketchy situation at night if you don’t know where you are.

2. Join a local tour

Okay, so you’re not a tourist. So what? Getting an experienced tour guide will still be helpful for you because you’ll learn important facts and history about your new home (whether temporary or permanent).

It’s also a chance to explore and make some potential connections. The guide should have lots of good tips and insights for you.

When I lived in Beijing, I joined a couple local food tours (Untour and Lost Plate) just to explore new neighborhoods and discover some new favorite restaurants and bars.

3. Join a local Facebook group

Many if not most cities will have dedicated Facebook groups for expats and/or locals who want to make connections or get help with relocating. Usually people will post about weekly events or meet-ups where you can go to introduce yourself.

Or, if you’re a bit more introverted like myself, you can still interact with people nearby, sharing tips and information from the comfort of your own home.

I’ve joined a few expat groups for Beijing and Albania myself, and I cannot tell you how immensely helpful the other people have been.

And specifically for the ladies:

4. Join your local Girl Gone International (GGI) group or check out Host A Sister

GGI is a phenomenal global network of women supporting each other. There are online (check out GGI’s Facebook page) and offline groups for most major cities (and even many less populated cities/regions) where you can meet others who have been exactly where you are: new to the city.

Host A Sister (also on Facebook) is like Couchsurfing but for women only, and you can reach out to other women in your city for meet-ups or travel companions.

I’ve met some wonderful people through GGI and Host A Sister, and I highly recommend both groups if you want to meet new people who share similar interests and hobbies.



Starting over in a new city/country can be a huge challenge, but it doesn’t have to be a challenge you face alone.