Nearby Traveler

When CouchSurfing slowed due to covid, millions of travelers lost the best tool they had for meeting real locals. Dating apps aren't the answer. Facebook groups are a mess. There's been nothing that actually fills that gap. Nearby Traveler is built for that exact void. You create a profile, pick your interests, and instantly get matched with locals and travelers nearby who share them. Not algorithmically curated strangers — people you'd actually want to grab coffee or go hiking with. What makes it different: Available Now — tell the community you're free right now or already out somewhere, and let people join you in real time City Chatrooms — every city has its own chatroom so travelers can instantly connect with the local community the moment they arrive Events — locals create real events, travelers discover them, everyone shows up City Match — before you travel, see what's happening in your destination and connect with people who want to do the same things No swiping, no algorithms — interest-based matching that actually makes sense Built by Aaron, who hosted 400+ travelers from 50 countries out of his home in Los Angeles. He got tired of watching travelers sit alone in hostels staring at their phones when there were locals 5 minutes away who would love to show them the city. Right now: Live at nearbytraveler.org Installable as an app directly from your phone browser (no App Store needed) Push notifications LA is the beachhead — expanding city by city If you've ever landed in a new city and wished you knew someone local — this is for you.