Arriving in a new city can be thrilling—and completely overwhelming. The smells, sounds, side streets, and signage are unfamiliar. You may not know a single soul. But as a digital nomad, you learn that settling in quickly isn’t just helpful, it’s essential. Feeling at home fast helps you stay productive, balanced, and open to what the city has to offer.
Here’s how to start building a sense of comfort and connection within your first seven days, no matter where you land.
1. Get the Lay of the Land on Day One
Don’t spend your first day holed up in your Airbnb or hotel. Drop your bags, freshen up, and walk the neighborhood. Find your nearest grocery store, coffee shop, pharmacy, and coworking space. Make mental notes of where locals gather and how the city moves.
Use Google Maps to pin useful spots, or try apps like Citymapper (if available) to get the hang of the public transport system. If walking isn’t practical, take a short guided tour or hop-on/hop-off bus to orient yourself.
2. Create Micro-Routines Immediately
Routines ground you—especially when everything else is new. Even small habits help, like going to the same café each morning, or walking a specific route for an afternoon break. These rituals build familiarity fast and help your brain adapt to the new environment.
Buy groceries and prepare your own meals, if you can. Cooking for yourself in a new place instantly makes it feel like home. Don’t wait for comfort to find you—create it.
3. Join a Local Event or Meetup
Many cities have thriving digital nomad, expat, or hobbyist communities. Browse platforms like Meetup, Eventbrite, Facebook groups, or even coworking bulletin boards to see what’s happening locally.
Attending just one event during your first week—even if it’s a casual coffee meetup—can lead to valuable local tips and friendships. If large groups feel too much, reach out to one or two people individually for a low-pressure connection.
4. Learn 5–10 Key Phrases (If There’s a Language Barrier)
You don’t need to be fluent, but knowing how to say “hello,” “thank you,” and “do you speak English?” goes a long way. Locals often appreciate even a small effort to connect in their language.
Apps like Duolingo, Google Translate, or Memrise can help, but so can signage. Pay attention to what you see around you—it can give useful context for everyday words like entrance, exit, discount, or restroom.
5. Start Working Right Away (Even a Little Bit)
Even if you’re not fully back into work mode, logging in to your remote job or doing a few freelance tasks helps bring back structure. It gives your day purpose and reminds you that you’re not just a tourist—you live here now, even if temporarily.
Choose a coworking space or a focused café and make it your “office.” Working where other remote professionals gather makes the adjustment smoother.
6. Prioritize One Local Experience
Instead of trying to see everything, pick one cultural experience—like a food tour, a traditional market, a historic site, or a museum—and do it properly. This creates a personal story tied to your new location, helping you form a deeper connection.
Even a single shared moment—like learning how to order local street food or attending a traditional dance night—can create a strong emotional anchor.
7. Keep a Simple Journal or Daily Log
Tracking your feelings, wins, and even awkward moments can help you process the change and notice your progress. It might be just a few bullet points at the end of the day or a quick voice note to yourself.
Reflecting on your first impressions—what feels foreign, what feels exciting, what you’re grateful for—can ease anxiety and keep you grounded.
8. Be Kind to Yourself if You Don’t Click Right Away
Some cities feel like home instantly. Others take time. If you’re not vibing with your new destination after a few days, don’t panic or judge yourself. Sometimes it takes getting lost, trying a new routine, or meeting the right person to flip the switch.
Give yourself permission to adjust slowly, and remind yourself that you’re capable of adapting—because you’ve done it before, and you’ll do it again.
Home isn’t just a place—it’s a rhythm, a sense of belonging you can create intentionally. With the right mindset and a few proactive steps, you can start to feel at home almost anywhere within just a few days. And once you feel grounded, the adventure really begins.