Best way to make friends with native speakers in another country?

1

I’m curious how everyone here approaches making local friends when living or studying abroad.

When you move to a new country, it’s easy to stay in the “expat bubble,” so I’m wondering what has actually worked for you when trying to connect with native speakers.

Do you usually join language exchanges, take group classes, use apps, or meet people through hobbies? Any do’s and don’ts?

Would love to hear your tips or stories!

2

What helped me most was joining hobby groups rather than sticking to language exchanges. When you’re doing something locals already do, sports, cooking classes, clubs, you end up meeting people naturally.

My main do: say yes to invites, even if you feel shy.
My main don’t: don’t stay only in the expat circle…

Once your routine overlaps with local life, making friends gets a lot easier.