New study reveals holidays are the best way to make friends | News
Travel has overtaken work, university and even mutual friends as the number one place where people form meaningful new relationships, according to new research.
A study of 5,000 adults aged between 20 and 40 across the UK, Italy, Spain, France & Germany has found that nearly half (45%) believe travelling is now the best way to get to know new people – outperforming traditional social settings including work, university and introductions through existing friends.
The findings come as two-thirds (66%) of people say it is harder to meet new people than it was in the past, marking an eight per cent increase compared with similar research conducted in 2025.
The study, by travel company WeRoad, suggests a growing appetite for real-world social experiences as people increasingly move away from digital platforms in search of genuine human connection.
While travel ranked first for forming meaningful relationships, work and university came second (33%), followed by friends of friends (31%), sport and hobbies (29%), and events (28%). Apps and social media ranked last, with just 9% of respondents saying they were where meaningful relationships are formed.
The research also found that 83% of people feel more open towards others when travelling, while almost three-quarters (72%) said they would like more opportunities to socialise offline.
The findings reflect wider concerns about loneliness and social isolation. More than half (52%) of respondents said they were dissatisfied with their current social relationships, while 66% said everyday life does not provide enough opportunities to meet new people.
Almost half (47%) blamed the decline in spontaneous social interactions for making it harder to build new friendships, while a third cited lack of time. Others pointed to uncertainty about where to start (25%) and social anxiety (21%).
The research was cross-referenced with international studies, including the OECD’s report on loneliness and the World Happiness Report 2025, both of which highlight growing concerns around declining social connection.
Researchers suggest that traditional places where friendships naturally formed – such as pubs, cafés and community spaces – are becoming less central to people’s lives. Instead, shared experiences, particularly those centred around travel, are emerging as opportunities where relationships can develop more naturally.
The study found that 66% of respondents have formed a genuine connection with someone while travelling, while more than half (52%) described relationships formed on trips as more authentic than those developed in everyday life.
When asked why travel creates stronger bonds, 60% said it was because of shared experiences, while 43% pointed to spending extended time together. Others said leaving behind their normal routines, the absence of social expectations and fewer predefined roles all made it easier to connect with others.
The findings also suggest that travel is increasingly being viewed as more than simply a break from day-to-day life – with many people seeing it as an opportunity to build friendships and combat feelings of isolation.
Credit: www.weroad.com
