So you’ve just moved to Thailand, and now you’re looking for some activities and friends to share the wonderful land of smiles with. Having gone through this process myself, and arriving completely alone in Thailand, I know how hard it can be to get out there and find expat communities. So, I wanted to write this guide to help others find expat communities and gel with like-minded people.
By the end of this guide, you’ll have a solid list of apps and communities to use and find new friends, alongside some tips of areas to hang out in to find other, like-minded people!
Where To Find Expats in Thailand


Using Apps To Meet Expats in Thailand
Something that used to be weird, has become more and more socially acceptable and you should use it to your advantage! Especially, if you’re a bit of an introvert. There are many apps that facilitate meetups, and huge communities online where people come together in person to drink, dance, or just have conversation.
Some of the best apps to do this are:
App | Key Features | Benefits for Expats | Why Use It in Thailand? |
---|---|---|---|
Meetup | – Wide range of events- Sports groups, language exchanges, hobby clubs | – Easily connect with like-minded people- Attend events tailored to your interests- Build a consistent social circle | – Abundance of events across major cities like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket- Great for networking and finding expat-friendly activities |
Couchsurfing | – Offers “Hangouts” feature- Community of travelers and locals | – Meet other travelers and expats- Get local insights and recommendations- Low-cost way to connect | – Active user base in Thailand- Perfect for budget travelers looking to meet others and explore off-the-beaten-path destinations |
Trip BFF | – App designed for solo travelers- Match with other travelers in your area | – Good for meeting fellow travelers- Create short-term connections for trips or events- Find local tips from other expats | – Less popular but still useful in tourist-heavy areas like Bangkok and Chiang Mai- Great for travelers seeking quick companionship on their Thailand journey |
Facebook Events | – Discover events based on your location- Join expat or city-specific groups | – Stay updated on local happenings- Connect with expats and locals through common interests- Find free or low-cost events | – Highly active expat communities in Thailand- Best for finding niche events, from yoga classes to cultural festivals, often hosted by local expat groups |
The best apps to find expat communities out of these are Meetup, Couchsurfin and Facebook Events. Trip BFF is not as good and is better for finding travel partners to spend a couple days with, if you’ve got nothing else to do it’s fun, but you won’t necessarily find a community from them.
One of the better events (if you’re located in Bangkok) is Couchsurfing Weekly Friday Dinner and Drinks (pictured above). There is a fantastic community behind this with a huge WhatsApp group which has multiple channels to ask general questions, share events, meet up with people and get to know Thailand. The guy who runs it, Frans, is also extremely active and well-connected. If you have a question he’ll usually be able to introduce you to someone who might have the answer, or at least get you further than you were.
The Gym, Sports Courts & Outdoor Calisthenics Spots

Of course if you’re not into night life and you’re a fitness freak who likes to stay fit while traveling, there are loads of gym communities all around Thailand and all you have to do to join them, is turn up and talk to people!
I personally love working out, outside in the sun. Luckily, in Thailand there are literally thousands of outdoor gyms available all for free. Some are much better than others, but there will always be a small community of people around them early in the morning, or after the sun has gone down (most people avoid the heat). One of my favorites is in Chiang Mai. There’s a swimming pool, football pitch, running track and calithenics area. You meet some cool, healthy, like-minded people around these spots.
There are also tonnes of volleyball, basketball and tennis courts located around in big cities. Just turn up and ask if you can play. The worst someone can say is no!
Digital Nomad-Friendly Cafes




Another great place I’ve had success meeting friends is at Digital Nomad friendly cafes. There are loads of these dotted around Thailand in major city hubs such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen etc. and, even if there are a lot of people who don’t stay permanently in Thailand, you’ll find a few who are regulars at certain cafes.
I know it can be daunting to go up and talk to someone, but the beauty of living in another country and traveling is that you always have a reason to talk to another traveler. They’re traveling and you’re traveling, so you already have a common interest. It’s as simple as saying something along the lines of “Hey I saw you working and wanted to ask, how long have you been in Thailand for?” or “how long have you been traveling?”
I know this question can get a bit boring because most people usually resort to it, but it’s a great way to get a conversation started and learn more about the person. You can make great connections this way, and be introduced to whole groups of other expats.
There’s a reason people go and sit in cafes to do their work, it’s because they want to be more social, they want to get out of the house and connect with other humans. It’s in our nature!
Co-working Spaces



Co-working spaces are another great place to find expat communities in Thailand. Here, you’ll likely find people who are more committed to staying in Thailand long-term, as most have monthly subscriptions you can pay for, for offices, hot desks etc. the vibe in co-working spaces is usually more serious, but that doesn’t stop you from chatting to people while they’re in the cafes, at the water refill section, or while you’re eating lunch.
You can meet some great business minds in these kinds of places, people who are really goal-driven and already have good online businesses that allow them to stay in Thailand long-term. As far as networking goes, co-working spaces are the best way to meet high performing expats.
Bars & Irish Pubs
If you’re into nightlife, I’d highly recommend heading to Irish Pubs, German craft beer spots and bars that have been directed at tourists. Often you’ll find many expats are regulars here or just going out for one-off nights out, and the nightlife in Bangkok is great.
Although going by yourself to a bar can be daunting, that’s the entire reason you should! Get out of your comfort zone and go meet some new, interesting people. I am personally extremely anxious when I do this, but everytime I go with the intention of meeting new people, after overcoming my fear of the first converstion, I realise it wasn’t that hard and have a good night.
You don’t have to drink if you don’t want to, just drink soda water in a glass (I often do and I’m grateful to wake up without the grogginess).
The key to this is to find a bar you can sit at and get comfortable. Order your drink, turn around facing the people passing by, with open body language and your drink to your side (not in front of you). Then, start talking to people who walk by. Compliment them on something, ask them something you’re GENUINELY interested in and you’ll spark up some great conversations.
Some will ignore you, but most are usually friendly and happy to have a chat. There’s a reason people go out to bars (they want to socialize and meet new people).
Learning Language


A great way to find a solid expat community is starting to learn the Thai language. People who are learning Thai, are generally committed to staying longer, and not only will you meet some great people, but you’ll also learn an amazing language as well!
In Thailand you’ll find language exchange meetups, which allow you to make friends with Thai people and practice your skills, as well as meet other expats. You’ll also find loads of Thai language schools you can sign up for. Here you’ll meet a load of like-minded people who are also interested in what you’re interested in.
Once you have the skills to be able to to talk with other Thai people, you’ll also get the blessing of having friendships with locals. On top of that, it’s also a pretty awesome skill that gets people incredibly interested in you at meetups, and you form some great connections, just because people are amazed you had the skill and determination to learn a language with a totally different alphabet.
Salsa Classes


Dancing is a great way to meet other expats, and learn another skill. Unfortunately, for now, these events are mostly in Bangkok. So, if you’re in any other city, I’m sorry, I don’t think they run any Salsa or Bachata events.
If you are based in Bangkok I would highly recommend latin socials such as RUM Puree, BOM (Bachata on Mondays) and Te Amo Bangkok (picture above are from Te Amo).
This is a great way to meet new people, and learn a new skill. Because of the closeness of it, and the vulnerability (e.g. you being bad or the other person nervous), you form some great friendships here while getting to know some moves!

I’m Harry – and I was tired of the same old “10 best places I’ve never been but I’m writing about for some reason” blog posts. So… I’m a young traveller on a mission to travel the world and share my true, unfiltered experience, including all the gristly details. From packing my life into one bag for a year, to traveling Vietnam by motorbike, to sorting out Visas for specific countries – I’ve done it all, am doing it all and only give my advice on things I have done – not regurgitated cr*p from another source *cough* most publications *cough*. So bear with us! This project will take some time to grow, and will take a fair bit of money. But I’m determined to make it the single best source of information about traveling on the internet.