Making Friends in Italy: Best Tips for Expats

by Adriana ruiz

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Building a Social Circle in a New Country

Moving to Italy is an exciting adventure filled with incredible food, historic charm, and a vibrant lifestyle. However, settled life in a new country can quickly feel lonely without a supportive network of friends. Whether you are moving to Rome for work, study, retirement, or remote work, making friends in Italy from scratch takes time, effort, and a bit of local strategy.

Italians are famously warm, animated, and hospitable, but local social groups (called comitive) can often be tight-knit, formed during early childhood or university years. The good news? Between Italy’s welcoming culture and thriving international communities, there are endless opportunities to make lifelong friends—both local and expat.

1. Master the Italian Social Rituals

The single easiest step toward making friends in Italy is aligning with local daily routines. Italian social culture revolves around shared public spaces and time-honored rituals.

🍹 Embrace Aperitivo Culture: Between 6:30 PM and 8:30 PM, locals gather at neighborhood bars for a drink and light bites. It is one of the most relaxed, low-pressure environments to strike up casual conversations with baristas and regular patrons.

☕ Become a Regular at Your Local Bar: Pick one neighborhood cafe for your morning espresso. Greeting the staff daily in Italian quickly turns you from an anonymous tourist into a recognized local neighbor.

🏛️ Piazza Life: Italian social life happens outdoors. Spend your late afternoons sitting in active public squares, reading, or people-watching rather than staying indoors.

2. Learn the Language (Even Just the Basics)

While many young professionals and expats in major cities speak English, making a genuine effort to speak Italian opens up deeper, more authentic connection opportunities.

🏫 Sign Up for Language Classes: Enrolling in local language courses improves your vocabulary while placing you in a classroom filled with fellow international expats navigating the exact same transition.

🗣️ Attend Language Exchange Meetups (Aperitivo Incontro): Language exchanges pair native Italian speakers who want to practice English with foreigners learning Italian. It is a fun, social environment specifically designed for making new acquaintances.

3. Join Interest-Based Clubs & Sports

Shared hobbies bypass language barriers effortlessly. Getting involved in structured activity groups helps you build friendships around shared passions.

🏃 Running & Fitness Clubs: Join local running groups, yoga studios, or outdoor fitness classes in city parks. Physical activities break the ice naturally without requiring long, formal conversations upfront.

🍷 Cooking & Wine Workshops: Food is central to Italian identity. Joining pasta-making workshops, wine-tasting clubs, or local market tours provides immediate shared experiences.

🌱 Volunteering & Local Projects: Offer your skills to local community initiatives, animal rescue shelters, or urban environmental cleanups to connect with community-minded residents.

4. Say “Yes” to Invitations & Be Patient

In the beginning, your social calendar might feel sparse, but building genuine trust in a new country takes consistency and openness.

☕ Accept Casual Invites: If a coworker, neighbor, or classmate invites you for a quick coffee (un caffè) or a afternoon walk (la passeggiata), always make an effort to accept.

⏳ Understand the Timing: Italian friendships develop organically over long conversations and shared meals. Do not worry if initial interactions feel polite; deep loyalty follows once rapport is established.

🍕 Host Casual Gatherings: Inviting acquaintances over for home-cooked meals, wine, or aperitivo is an easy way to deepen relationships in a cozy setting.

5. Connect with the Local Expat & International Scene

While integrating with Italian locals is rewarding, having a supportive network of fellow expats who understand the challenges of living abroad is equally crucial for your peace of mind.

🌍 Leverage Established Expat Organizations: Community groups host regular social events designed to help newcomers network, make connections, and exchange relocation insights.

📱 Join Neighborhood Interest Groups: Look for community WhatsApp channels, expat social clubs, and digital nomad meetups in your specific city or neighborhood.

Building a meaningful social network when making friends in Italy doesn’t happen overnight, but every small step adds up. From greeting your local barista to attending your first international meetup, staying proactive is the secret. Be patient, embrace local life, and remember that everyone around you was once looking for community too.

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