Meetup

What is Meetup?

Meetup is the world's largest platform for organizing and discovering local events. Founded in 2002, it hosts millions of events across virtually every interest category, from technology and business to hiking and photography.

For digital nomads, Meetup is one of the most reliable ways to find community in a new city. Whether you want professional networking, social activities, or skill-building workshops, Meetup connects you with local groups that share your interests.

Why Digital Nomads Use Meetup

Instant Access to Communities

Arriving in a new city used to mean weeks of lonely exploration before finding your people. Meetup changes this. Within minutes of landing, you can find events happening this week and show up knowing you will meet like-minded people.

Professional Networking

Many cities have active tech meetups, entrepreneur groups, and industry-specific gatherings. These events help you:

• Meet potential clients and collaborators
• Learn about local opportunities
• Stay current with industry trends
• Build relationships that outlast your stay

Social Connections Beyond Work

Not everything is about business. Meetup helps you find:

• Hiking and outdoor groups
• Language exchanges
• Photography walks
• Board game nights
• Book clubs
• Fitness classes

These activities combat isolation and create balanced nomad life.

Finding the Right Meetups

For Professional Networking

Search for:

• "Digital nomads" or "remote workers"
• "Entrepreneurs" or "startup founders"
• Your industry (developers, designers, marketers)
• "Coworking" events

For Social Activities

Browse categories like:

• Outdoor and adventure
• Arts and culture
• Language and culture exchange
• Sports and fitness
• Social and hobbies

For Skill Building

Look for:

• Tech talks and workshops
• Creative skill shares
• Business development seminars
• Language learning groups

How to Get Value from Meetup

Before the Event

Read the description carefully: Understand the format, audience, and expectations.

Check the organizer history: Active organizers with many past events run better groups.

Look at attendee count: Very small events may be intimate or may indicate low interest.

RSVP promptly: Popular events fill up, and organizers appreciate knowing numbers.

At the Event

Arrive early: First arrivals often get quality time with organizers and regulars.

Introduce yourself as a nomad: Many people find the lifestyle interesting and want to hear about it.

Ask questions: Show genuine interest in others rather than just talking about yourself.

Collect contacts: Get phone numbers or LinkedIn profiles from people you connect with.

After the Event

Follow up within 48 hours: Send a message referencing something you discussed.

Attend regularly: Showing up consistently builds deeper relationships than one-time visits.

Contribute value: Share knowledge, make introductions, offer help.

Types of Meetup Events

Recurring Weekly/Monthly Events

Regular events build community. You see the same faces, relationships deepen, and the group becomes a real support network. These are the most valuable for nomads staying weeks or months.

One-Time Special Events

Conferences, workshops, and guest speakers. Good for learning and meeting new people, but less effective for building ongoing relationships.

Coworking Sessions

Work alongside others at a cafe or coworking space. Low-pressure way to meet people while being productive.

Activity-Based Gatherings

Hiking, photography walks, running clubs. Shared activities create natural conversation starters and reveal compatibility beyond work.

Networking Events

Structured for meeting many people quickly. Good for expanding contacts, less effective for deep connections.

Meetup in Different City Types

Major Tech Hubs

San Francisco, Berlin, London, Singapore have dozens of active tech and startup groups. You could attend events daily.

Popular Nomad Destinations

Lisbon, Bali, Mexico City, Bangkok have growing nomad-specific meetups alongside local groups.

Smaller Cities

Fewer options but often more welcoming communities. You become a regular faster.

Developing Regions

Meetup presence varies. Check before assuming it will be active.

Tips for Nomads Using Meetup

Update your location immediately: The app shows events near your current location. Update it when you arrive somewhere new.

Join groups before you arrive: Browse your destination city and join interesting groups. Some require organizer approval which takes time.

Communicate your timeline: Let organizers know you are visiting. Many appreciate meeting travelers.

Do not overcommit: It is tempting to RSVP to everything. Be realistic about your schedule.

Quality over quantity: Three meaningful connections beat twenty business card exchanges.

Meetup vs. Other Options

Creating Your Own Meetup

If no relevant groups exist in your city, consider starting one:

Pros

• Build the community you want
• Establish yourself as a connector
• Meet everyone who joins

Cons

• Organizer fees apply
• Requires consistent commitment
• You need to do the work

Many successful nomad meetups started with one person deciding to make it happen.

Common Mistakes

Only attending once: Real value comes from regular participation. One event rarely changes your life.

Treating events like transactions: Showing up only when you need something is obvious and off-putting.

Ignoring non-nomad events: Locals and expats offer different perspectives and connections.

Not following up: Conversations at events mean nothing without post-event contact.

The Bottom Line

Meetup is essential infrastructure for the traveling professional. It provides consistent access to community regardless of where you land. The platform is not perfect, but nothing else offers the same breadth and depth of local events worldwide.

Make Meetup a habit: check it when you arrive somewhere new, join relevant groups, RSVP to events, and show up consistently. The connections you make will transform your nomad experience from isolated to connected.

Your people are out there, organizing events right now. All you have to do is show up.