The options at a glance
| Option | For whom | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Food tour or small-group walk | Short-stay travellers | Several hours together, a shared meal |
| Cooking class or workshop (ceramics, ebru) | Travellers and residents | A small group around a table |
| Hostel with events or dinners | Solo travellers | Meetings the same evening |
| Language exchange, Meetup, InterNations | Long stays | Local and expat friendships |
| Coworking | Remote workers | Regular contacts |
How do you make friends in Istanbul when travelling alone? Book a group activity on day one, then another near the end of your stay with the same people.
To meet people while travelling
A food tour with a ferry crossing or a tasting in Kadıköy brings together solo travellers, couples and friends around the same dishes: see the Kadıköy food tour and the Turkish cooking class. Ceramics workshops have the same effect. Hostels in Galata and Beyoğlu often run evenings; check the programme when booking, we did not record it hostel by hostel.
To settle in or stay long
Language exchanges (Turkish for your language) are found through exchange apps and Meetup groups; expat communities go through platforms such as InterNations. We did not verify which groups were active in October 2026: check the dates of upcoming events before signing up. A coworking space creates regular contacts. The Kadıköy Tuesday market is a good place to strike up conversations with stallholders.
Traps and caution
- A very friendly person who approaches you on İstiklal and suggests "a drink" in a bar they know can lead to an exorbitant bill. Choose the place yourself and look at prices before ordering. See scams and safety in Istanbul.
- Travelling alone as a woman: read Istanbul solo, for women.
- For evenings, see Istanbul by night.
Which option to choose?
- Three days in Istanbul: a small-group food tour.
- A week: a cooking class and a social hostel.
- Several months: language exchange, coworking and sport.
La rédaction Istanbul Authority, 26/10/2026.
