How to Find Friends in Germany: Practical Ways for New Residents

Finding friends in Germany is easier if you do not look for just “people in general,” but for recurring situations where the same people meet several times: interest-based clubs, Stammtisch gatherings, language meetups, sports, volunteering, city events, and expat communities. In German culture, friendship often develops more slowly, but consistency and reliability are valued very highly.

Start with a Stammtisch

Stammtisch is a regular gathering of people united by a shared topic: language, profession, board games, entrepreneurship, international exchange, a neighborhood, or a city. These meetings take place in bars, cafes, cultural centers, libraries, universities, and coworking spaces.

How to search:

• enter this in search: Stammtisch + your city + topic;
• check city websites, Volkshochschule, universities, and local clubs;
• look at Meetup, Eventbrite, Nebenan, Facebook groups, and notices in libraries;
• if the gathering is open, send the organizer a short message and clarify the format.

You do not need perfect German for the first meeting. It is enough to understand the topic in advance, arrive on time, and be ready to keep a simple conversation going.

Join a Verein

Vereine are German clubs and associations built around shared interests. This is one of the most stable ways to find friends because meetings happen regularly and participants do something together.

Popular options:

• sports: football, running, swimming, climbing, dancing, yoga;
• music and choir;
• board games and chess;
• gardening, urban initiatives, ecology;
• volunteer fire brigades and volunteer organizations;
• professional and student associations.

Search for Verein + interest + city or Vereine + city. Many clubs offer a trial session or the option to attend as a Gast. The membership fee may be small, but it is better to check membership terms, Kündigung conditions, and the schedule in advance.

Use expat and international communities

If you have just moved, international communities help you get through the first months without feeling isolated. It is easier there to meet people who are also looking for new contacts and understand the difficulties of relocation.

Useful options:

• Girl Gone International for local communities for women in different cities;
• InterNations for an expat platform with events and interest groups;
• university international clubs and buddy programmes;
• local groups for newcomers, expats, and language exchange.

Check whether the group is active in your city specifically: some communities have strong local chapters, while others meet irregularly or in a neighboring city.

Look for city events for new residents

Many cities publish selections of activities for people who have recently moved: tours, neighborhood walks, cultural events, language cafes, sports days, volunteer fairs, and meetings at the Bürgerzentrum.

What to search for:

• Neu in + city;
• Willkommen + city + Veranstaltungen;
• Sprachcafé + city;
• Ehrenamt + city;
• Freizeit + city + neu zugezogen.

Also check the websites of the Rathaus, Stadtbibliothek, Volkshochschule, and local cultural centers. These places often provide a calmer entry point into socializing than parties or large networking events.

Find language meetups

Language exchange works well if you want to practice German and meet people at the same time. Formats vary: Tandem, Sprachcafé, conversation club, or an international evening at a university.

To keep the meetup from turning into only a lesson, choose a format with a shared activity: a walk, board games, quiz night, cooking evening, or book club. That way, conversation starts more naturally.

Use study, work, and your neighborhood

If you are a student, start with the university environment: Fachschaft, Hochschulsport, AStA, Erasmus Student Network, tutor groups, study groups, and events for Erstsemester. Even if you are not a first-year student, many activities are open to everyone.

If you work, use softer formats: lunch with colleagues, after-work drinks, company sports, and professional meetups. In Germany, the boundary between work and private life can be more visible, so friendship with colleagues often develops gradually.

For the neighborhood, these can help:

• neighborhood groups and notices;
• Nebenan and local building chats, if they exist;
• Sommerfest, Flohmarkt, and cleanup events;
• short everyday contacts: say hello, help with a parcel, ask about the area.

How to behave at the first meeting

German social environments are often built on clarity and respect for boundaries. That does not mean people are cold. It simply means that getting closer can take more time.

Practical rules:

• arrive on time or let people know if you are late;
• do not start with overly personal topics;
• ask specific questions about hobbies, the city, studies, or the event;
• after the meeting, send a short message if you want to continue communicating;
• suggest a specific next step: coffee, a walk, a workout, or an exhibition;
• do not take one rejection as a personal failure.

Checklist for the first 30 days

1. Choose two formats, for example a Verein and a Sprachcafé.
2. Find 5 to 7 events or groups in your city.
3. Message organizers where an RSVP is required.
4. Attend at least three meetings before drawing conclusions.
5. Repeat the best format 2 to 3 times: friendship rarely appears after one evening.
6. Exchange contacts with the people you connected with easily.
7. Suggest a simple next meeting without pressure.

Common mistakes

Looking only for Russian-speaking circles

Russian-speaking contacts can be a major support after moving, but if you limit yourself only to them, integration will slow down. It is better to combine a familiar language environment with German and international formats.

Waiting for an invitation

In many groups, it is normal to show initiative: message the organizer, attend a trial session, or suggest meeting again. This does not look pushy if the suggestion is specific and respectful.

Changing formats too quickly

If the first meeting felt awkward, that does not mean the format is wrong for you. In Germany, many connections are built through repetition: people start opening up when they see you more than once.

FAQ

Where can you find friends in Germany the fastest?

Regular formats usually help the most: a Verein, sports, a language club, a Stammtisch, or volunteering. One-off events are useful, but repeated meetings give you better odds of building friendship.

Do you need to know German well?

Not always. In international communities and expat groups, English is often enough. But even basic German helps in Vereine, city events, and neighborhood communication.

How can you tell whether a group is active?

Look at the date of the latest events, the number of participants, the comments, and whether there are fresh announcements. If there is little information, write to the organizer and ask when the next meeting will take place.

What if it is a small town and there are few events?

Search not only by city, but also by district, Kreis, and nearby university towns. Another effective route is to choose an activity with a regular schedule: sports, choir, a VHS course, or volunteering.