Travel guide · Updated October 2026
How to meet locals when travelling
The quickest way to meet locals is to find people who share your interests, close to where you are. Brane puts the people, Crowds and events around you on a map, and you can start looking before your flight lands.
Free on iPhone, Android and the web. No phone number needed.
✓ People who share your interests
✓ Local Crowds
✓ Events within 100km
✓ No phone number needed
The short answer
Set up a Brane profile with your interests, use Brane Teleport to look around your destination before you go, then turn on location when you land. Message people who share your interests, join a local Crowd and go to an event nearby, so you arrive already talking to people.
Three ways in
People, Crowds and events
People who share your interests
Search by interest and Brane sorts your matches nearest first. Open a profile and tap Message, or send a wave if you would rather not think of an opening line.
Crowds, the local group chats
A Crowd is a public group chat for a place or an interest, like a run club, a language exchange or a city's newcomers. Anyone can find one and join it in a tap.
Events happening nearby
Events Near You lists what is on within 100km. Every event has its own chat, so you can say hello before you turn up.
Before you go
Look around before you land
Brane Teleport moves your search to any city in the world, so you can find people and Crowds at your destination while you are still at home. It changes what you see, not where other people see you.
Tap Search Globally on the Explore map, enter your destination, and the map and your results move there.
Join a Crowd early. Ask where to eat, which neighbourhood to stay in, or who is around the week you arrive.
Three teleports are free. Brane Premium makes them unlimited, and Return Home puts you back whenever you like.
When you land
Turn on location and open Explore
Brane uses your phone's location to put the people, Crowds and events around you on the map. Turn it on when you arrive and the map fills in.
The People tab sorts your interest matches nearest first, and the filter sets the distance and age range.
The Crowds tab shows the local groups and events, from sport and food to languages and nightlife.
Events Near You lists what is on within 100km, with a badge for Now, Today or Tomorrow.
Keep in touch
Swap a link, not a phone number
Every Brane profile has its own web address. Share it with the people you meet, or put it in your bio. One tap on Message Me opens a chat with you right in their browser, so they can reach you without installing anything, and every conversation lands in one place.
brane.im/u/your-username
Organising a group trip or a meetup? Every Crowd has a link too, at brane.im/c/your-crowd-name.
Step by step
Your travel plan in four steps
01
Add your interests
Pick what you are into when you sign up. It is how locals with the same interests find you.
02
Teleport ahead
Look around your destination before you go, and join a Crowd or two.
03
Land and open Explore
Turn on location and see who and what is around you.
04
Share your link
Give the people you meet your brane.im link, so they can message you without the app.
Meet with confidence
Good habits for meeting new people
Talk first, meet later
Chat on Brane until you are comfortable, and meet somewhere public the first time.
Keep your number to yourself
Brane never asks for a phone number, so you can talk to anyone without handing one over.
Block and report
Anyone you would rather not hear from can be blocked from their profile, and you can report anything that is not right.
Common questions
What is the best app to meet locals when travelling?
Look for one that finds people by shared interest and by distance, and lets you start before you arrive. Brane does all three: interest matches sorted nearest first, local Crowds and events on a map, and Brane Teleport to search your destination from home. It is free, and it is not a dating app.
Can I meet people before I arrive?
Yes. Brane Teleport moves your search to any city. Three teleports are free, and Brane Premium makes them unlimited.
Is Brane a dating app?
No. There is no swiping and no matching on looks. Brane is for finding people to talk to about the things you are into.
Do I need to install an app?
No. Brane works in any browser at brane.chat. The iPhone and Android apps add push notifications, so you hear about replies while you are out exploring.
Is Brane free?
Yes. Brane Premium is optional, and adds a Blue Tick and unlimited teleports.
How do I keep in touch with people I meet?
Share your brane.im/u/your-username link. It opens your profile in any browser, and anyone can message you from there without the app.
Your next trip starts with a hello
Free on iPhone, Android and the web.