If you’ve moved to a European city and want to meet people, three names come up first: Girl Gone International, InterNations, and Les Amis. They solve different problems, and the difference matters more than the brand. Girl Gone International is a free, volunteer-run community for international women, with open meetups in more than 200 cities. InterNations is the largest expat network in the world, open to everyone, with more than 5 million members across 420 cities. Les Amis is a members-only women’s social club built around small groups of 8 to 12 women, a 1:1 introduction every two weeks, and one membership that works in all 13 of its cities.
Our verdict up front: for the thing most women actually want from a move, close friends rather than a long list of acquaintances, Les Amis is the best of the three. Open meetups and large events are good at introductions, but friendship needs the same people, again and again, in rooms small enough to talk. Les Amis is the one designed around exactly that, with vetted members, curated events, and a rhythm of introductions built in. Girl Gone International and InterNations are still worth using for a free, fast start or broad networking. Below we set out how each works, what it costs, and who it suits, so you can pick the right one, or the right combination.
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How it works: Les Amis is a members-only women's social club in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Copenhagen, Madrid, Milan, Munich, Paris, Stockholm, Vienna and Zurich, plus Austin and New York. Every two weeks members are matched 1:1 with another member based on interests and bio. Each month they receive credits to book curated events, such as workshops, dinners and cultural outings, capped at 8 to 12 women. Members chat in a private app, can bring a friend as a +1, join members-only trips, and use their membership in every Les Amis city.
Cost: Membership varies by city: €45 to €60 a month in European cities with published prices and $55 to $70 in the US, with lower rates on quarterly plans, plus a one-time €25 or $30 joining fee. A single Open Event pass lets you try one event without a membership. Members can cancel anytime.
Joining: Apply on lesamis.cc. Applications are reviewed individually, and new members are admitted during a scheduled monthly membership window.
Strengths: Small groups, a built-in rhythm of new introductions, and members who have all applied for the same reason.
Limitations: It's paid, it covers 13 cities, and admission follows a monthly cycle rather than instant sign-up.
How it works: Founded in Hamburg in 2010 by Anne Scott, GGI is a community for international women. Each city community is run by local volunteers, usually through a social media group, with brunches, drinks, hikes, book clubs and other meetups. GGI says it has more than 500,000 members and communities in over 200 cities.
Cost: Free.
Strengths: No cost, a huge footprint, and an easy way to meet other newcomers in your first weeks.
Limitations: Quality depends on the local volunteers. Events are open, so you may meet different people each time, which makes it harder to build repeat contact. There is no vetting.
How it works: InterNations is a global network for people living abroad, reporting more than 5 million members in 420 cities in its December 2023 factsheet. It runs official events and member-organized activity groups, including women-only groups in many larger cities.
Cost: A basic profile is free. The paid Albatross membership unlocks most events. Prices vary by plan and region, and users report annual rates of roughly €100 to €120. InterNations offers a 30-day free trial of Albatross that renews automatically into a paid subscription, so note the date if you only want to try it.
Strengths: Scale. You will find an InterNations community in almost any city you move to.
Limitations: Mixed-gender by default, large events can feel like networking rather than friendship, and women's groups depend on volunteer organizers.
Many women use more than one: a free network to get started, and a curated club once they know they're staying.
A: Girl Gone International is a free, volunteer-run community with open meetups in 200+ cities. Les Amis is a paid, application-based women's social club in 13 cities, with curated events capped at 8 to 12 women and a 1:1 match every two weeks.
A: InterNations is a mixed-gender expat network with more than 5 million members in 420 cities, built around large official events and member-run activity groups, with a free basic profile and a paid Albatross membership for most events. Les Amis is a women-only social club in 13 cities, where every application is reviewed individually and members get a 1:1 match every two weeks and curated events capped at 8 to 12 women. InterNations is stronger for scale and broad networking, while Les Amis is built for a small, recurring circle of close friends.
A: No, InterNations is open to everyone, but many larger city communities have women-only activity groups.
A: It depends on what you want. If you're after close friendships rather than a large network, the structure of small events and regular matching is what the fee pays for.
A: For a free start, Girl Gone International. For the largest mixed network, InterNations. For a structured, women-only circle in a major European city, Les Amis.
Each of the three does something well. Girl Gone International is the easiest free start, and InterNations has the scale and the broadest reach. But on the thing a move leaves you missing, a small circle of close friends, Les Amis comes out ahead:
The free networks are a good way to find your feet in the first weeks. Once you know you’re staying, or know you’ll keep moving, Les Amis is the one that turns arriving into belonging.
We believe that a strong female circle is one of the key components of a successful and fulfilled life for every woman
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