15 Resources to Help You Adjust When Moving to a New City

Moving to a new city is exhilarating: you have endless opportunities, millions of new people to meet, and endless enthusiasm. Until, that is, the nerves set in. Yes, moving to a new city is exciting, but it’s also terrifying if you don’t know anyone. Even if you’ve been relocated for work or have a job lined up, actually adjusting to life when moving to a new city is a task that’s easier said than done. 

Thankfully, this is the 21st Century, so you can explore your new home virtually before you get there, and learn tips and tricks to do it safely once you’ve arrived. There are entire websites dedicated to tiny neighborhoods, apps built to introduce you to potential friends, and nifty tools that will make sure you don’t get lost on the way home from work. And there are plenty of non-tech resources for learning your surroundings the old fashioned way, too.

If the new city nerves are setting in, check out these resources that are here to help you along the way:

Resources for Meeting People

One of the hardest parts of moving to a new city? You don’t have your trusty group of friends by your side. In fact, it’s pretty common that you’ll have no friends by your side–how could you, when you don’t know anyone here?  Thankfully, there are a few easy ways to meet people in your new city.

Meetup is an essential item in your new-to-town toolkit. It lets you find a group that meets up near you for just about anything. Join a group that’s training for the local marathon together, make friends with the neighborhood geeks during their weekly TV trivia nights, learn a new language with fellow linguists, or hit up some game bars with other new to town techies. If you’re interested in it, chances are, a meetup group for it exists in your city, and it’s the perfect way to make new friends.

Making new friends is hard, but making a new best friend? That’s even harder. Thankfully, BumbleBFF aims to make it as simple as online dating. Their app works just like any dating app, but with a focus on friendship: fill out a profile, let the algorithm present you with matches, and get to know similar people through a messaging system that doesn’t involve giving out your phone number. The difference is the focus is on friendship, and everyone in here is interested in a genuine friendly connection. And in some cities, BumbleBFF host meetups to help connect you to your new online friends–an easy way to meet other new folks, just like you.

Make New Friends by Volunteering Locally

What issues are you passionate about? Politics? Animals? Homelessness? Religion? No matter what it is, there’s an opportunity to volunteer for it. Look up your local animal shelter, or aquarium, or temple, and see what they need help with. Not only will you meet people, you’ll find your schedule occupied with plenty of activities, fighting back the homesickness blues. To find tons of volunteer opportunities in one place, check out United Way.

Resources for Getting Around

Want to let everyone know you’re new to town? Pull out a map. Navigating your way in a new city can be tricky–especially if you’ll be using public transit–but getting to know your way around will be worth the effort.

Google Maps

Where on Earth would we be without Google Maps? Probably not at our destination, that’s for sure. This is your go-to for directions, but it’s also a great app for finding the best local restaurants, shops, coffee spots, and more. If your new city has tricky traffic, take a look at the red and green traffic lines on Google Maps throughout the day to spot the fastest way home like a true local.

Transit

Theoretically, Google Maps has the transit map for some cities. But does it know where the bikeshare stands are, how long it will take to find a Lyft, or what your backup option is if that late-night bus doesn’t make it? The Transit app does. Let this be your guide to getting around the same way all the locals do, and supplement with any city-local transit apps your new city offers.