11 Life-Changing Trips That Will Finally Keep Extroverts Entertained

The Irish are famously a friendly lot, and your average extrovert is likely to have a fine old time exploring some of Dublin’s 1,000 or so pubs and chatting to people along the way. There’s also a plethora of pub crawls if you’re after something more organised, themed around everything from the city’s literary tradition to music. Either way, you’ll be interacting with lots of different people and working the crowd.

Couchsurfing is ideal for extroverts: it’s all about making connections with other people, you get to spend a ton of time socialising, and you can move right along and stay with someone else if you’re not having fun. Having that experience in a city like Bogotá, a vibrantly engaging place great for discovering new music and nightlife, would be a fabulous experience.

Ah, the city that never sleeps. It comes equipped with determination, entertainment and a 24 hour public transport system, meaning you can keep going until you pass out with tiredness. Many restaurants are open all night, standard bar closing time is 4am and you can even get your hit of culture when the sun is asleep, with the Empire State Building viewing platform open until 2am and the Brooklyn Museum staying open until 11pm on the first Saturday of the month.

The cultural and sporting capital of Australia, Melbourne was voted the world’s most liveable city by the Economist Intelligence Unit annual global liveability survey. Inherently artsy and bohemian, there’s a strong culture of good food and delicious coffee, and plenty of opportunities to get chatting to new people in cosy bars or in the queue to try next big pastry trend.

One of the world’s most stunning urban landscapes, Rio has every activity you could wish for – sailing, surfing, hang-gliding, cycling and volleyball among them. Hang out on the beaches to meet people, chill out and sink into the fabric of the city. Make it to the annual carnival celebrations, held yearly before Lent, and you’ll see how much this city loves to party. There’ll be dancing, costumes and tradition galore.

The city of Whitewater in Wisconsin was discovered to be the most extroverted city in the States, so gregarious types should fit right in. While there are activities such as skiing, hiking and lots of independent shops, the city is ideal for those who want to get to know new people and make new friends, thanks to its outgoing, hospitable nature.

This is one of the ultimate extroverted activities. With the entire rail network of Europe open you can travel to your heart’s content. Whether you meticulously plan your route or go where the mood takes you, wherever you go you’ll meet like-minded people who are up for a good time. Interrailing provides ample opportunity to connect with both people and places, and to be stimulated by the ever-changing threads of energy around you as you travel.

Holi starts here. Every year thousands of Hindus travel to these small villages to participate in a celebration of the arrival of spring, which happens to involve brightly coloured powders, dyes and flower petals being thrown at each other. A loud and joyful occasion, it’s the perfect place to feel the spirit of fun, love and equality that the festival brings.

This city will slap your senses wide awake with one of the biggest array of smells and sights that you’ve ever experienced. Prepare to haggle your way to a bargain and to get lost in streets that seem to have no end. With plenty of historical wonder and culture around you, you’ll find plenty to keep your buzzing mind occupied.

Uganda was named as one of the friendliest countries in the world, according to a BBC survey, so extroverts should head here to enjoy amazing landscapes and year-round good weather. A dynamic city of contrasts, Kampala has both a busy central area and greener spaces further out.

This street-life centric destination is the most visited city in the world, attracting approximately 20.2 million international visitors a year. There’s so much to see and do here that it’s almost overwhelming, from having your mouth zing with the flavours of the world-renowned street food to exploring the maze-like streets and finding temples that are hundreds of years old. Friendly conversation, haggling and the egalitarian nature of the city’s 50,000 places to eat means you’ll be sure to find someone to chat to.

Not a extrovert? Try our introvert’s guide to travel.