How to Make Friends in Germany: 9 Practical Ways
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Making friends in Germany is easier if you do not wait for chance encounters but show up regularly in places where people already share a common interest: courses, clubs, work, volunteer projects, Stammtisch gatherings, and local meetups. Friendship in Germany often develops more slowly than newcomers from more outgoing cultures expect, but steady contact, punctuality, and a sincere interest in the language help noticeably.
The main strategy is this: choose 2-3 ways to socialize, stick with them for several months, and do not judge the result by the first meeting. In Germany, an acquaintance often starts as polite contact, then turns into familiar interaction, and only later becomes friendship.
Why it can be hard to find friends in Germany
Many newcomers notice that Germans can be friendly but do not immediately move to close personal relationships. That is not necessarily coldness. People often already have a circle of friends from school, university, work, or their Verein, and personal time is planned in advance.
There are several typical reasons why the process goes slowly:
- people are more careful about the distinction between acquaintances and friends;
- spontaneous last-minute invitations work worse than plans agreed on in advance;
- without German, part of local life remains inaccessible;
- friendship is more often built around repeated activities than one-off meetings;
- in big cities, it is easier to find international contacts, but also easier to stay stuck only in the expat circle.
The good news is that this repeatability makes integration more predictable. If you see the same people every week at training, a course, volunteering, or a language exchange, the chance of normal social contact grows naturally.
Three rules that help you get closer to Germans
1. Learn German at least to a conversational level
Perfect German is not necessary, but the attempt to speak the country’s language is almost always seen positively. Even an A2-B1 level already helps you hold a simple conversation with neighbors, colleagues, a coach, or club members.
For a start, apps for learning German, conversation groups, courses at the Volkshochschule, and grammar books such as textbook roundups can help. What matters more than flawless accuracy is your willingness to speak and ask again.
2. Think long term about socializing
If nobody invited you home or on a weekend outing after the first meeting, that is not a failure yet. In Germany, friendship often grows through consistency: you came to practice again, helped at an event again, and kept the conversation going over coffee again.
Do not pressure the other person or demand immediate closeness. It is better to suggest a specific and simple next step: coffee after class, a walk together, lunch with colleagues, or meeting again at the next Stammtisch.
3. Keep your word and give notice early
Reliability strongly affects trust. If you agreed to come, arrive on time. If you got sick or your plans really changed, let the person know as early as possible and suggest a new date.
For many Germans, a sudden cancellation without explanation does not look like a small thing but like a sign that the person cannot be trusted in future arrangements.
9 ways to make friends in Germany
1. Start with work or studies
Work and study give you the main advantage: you see the same people regularly. Use short, low-pressure formats: coffee in the kitchen, a lunch break, a walk after class, or going together to a professional event.
If you work remotely, you can suggest a virtual coffee or a meeting in a coworking space if your colleague lives nearby. Do not start with overly personal topics. Neutral questions usually work better: neighborhood, hobbies, sports, weekend plans, local events.
If you are only looking for work and worry about the language, this article may help: Can You Work in Germany Without Knowing German?.
2. Look for local groups on Facebook and in messengers
In large and medium-sized cities, there are often groups for expats, parents, students, runners, dog owners, freelancers, board games, item swaps, and neighborhood initiatives. These groups are useful not only for questions but also for offline meetings.
How to search:
- city name + expats, international, new in town;
- district + Nachbarschaft or Kiez;
- hobby + city, for example hiking Düsseldorf or board games Köln;
- groups of your university, employer, or professional community.
Check how active the group is: recent posts, real meetups, and clear moderation rules. If a group consists only of advertising, it is better to look for another one.
3. Use Meetup for interest-based events
Meetup remains a convenient way to find local events: language exchanges, professional meetups, walks, board games, IT communities, sports, and cultural activities. In Germany, the platform includes both English-speaking and German-speaking groups.
It is better to choose events that happen regularly. A one-off meeting can be enjoyable, but for friendship it is more important to see people again. After the event, send a short message to the person you enjoyed talking to and suggest meeting again at the next event.
4. Go to a Stammtisch
Stammtisch is a regular informal gathering in the same place: a bar, cafe, club, university, or public space. The format varies: language practice, a professional community, board games, a political discussion, or a neighborhood residents’ meetup.
You can search for it with Stammtisch + city + topic. For example: Deutsch Stammtisch Hamburg, international Stammtisch München, Brettspiel Stammtisch Leipzig. For a newcomer, this is a good format because you do not need to be a close friend right away: it is enough to show up, introduce yourself, and join the conversation.
5. Get to know your neighbors
Neighborly relations in Germany are often reserved, but a friendly introduction after moving in is appropriate. It is enough to say hello briefly in the hallway, introduce yourself, and mention that you have recently moved in.
Simple reasons to start talking work well:
- ask about house rules, trash, the basement, or bicycle parking;
- warn them about a little noise during moving or renovation;
- offer to help an elderly neighbor with heavy bags;
- join a Hoffest, Hausfest, or neighborhood initiative if there is one.
Not all neighbors will want closer contact, and that is normal. But a good first interaction reduces the distance and helps you feel at home.
6. Join a Verein
Verein is a club or association built around a shared interest. In Germany, this is one of the strongest social channels: sports, choir, hiking, gardening, volleyball, football, table tennis, cycling clubs, theater, chess, volunteer fire brigades, and cultural initiatives.
The advantage of a Verein is regularity. You do not just meet people; you do something together every week. This is especially helpful for people who find it hard to start a conversation without context.
Usually, a club has a membership fee, but the amount depends greatly on the city, the type of activity, and the infrastructure. Before joining, check whether there is a trial session, what the cancellation rules are, the cost, the insurance, and what participation in club events is expected.
7. Sign up for a course at the Volkshochschule
Volkshochschule or VHS is a network of public adult education centers. They offer language courses, cooking, drawing, fitness, photography, programming, exam preparation, and classes for adults.
VHS courses are often good for integration because the group meets regularly and the participants come with a similar goal. You can look for your local school through the official portal volkshochschule.de or by searching Volkshochschule + city.
For meeting people, it is better to choose in-person classes where there is conversation or shared practice. In a large lecture-style course, there is usually less contact.
8. Learn a new skill at a private school or studio
If a Verein feels too formal, try private classes: dancing, yoga, ceramics, cooking, drawing, improvisation, climbing, or music. These courses can be more expensive than VHS, but the schedule is often more flexible and the atmosphere can be more international.
Choose a format where people interact with each other rather than silently listen to the instructor. Partner dancing, team sports, conversation clubs, and workshops with collaborative work are usually better for meeting people.
9. Become a volunteer
Volunteering helps you meet people through a shared cause. You can help at city events, social projects, environmental actions, cultural festivals, sports clubs, libraries, migrant support organizations, or neighborhood initiatives.
Platforms such as vostel.de help you find projects, including options that do not require fluent German, but the conditions depend on the specific organization. It is also worth checking city websites, district centers, universities, religious communities, and local Facebook groups.
Before joining, clarify the working language, shift length, insurance, the contact person, and whether prior training is required.
What to choose depending on your situation
| Situation | What to try first |
|---|---|
| You do not speak German well | international Meetup, language exchange, volunteering in English, A2-B1 courses |
| You want a German-speaking environment | Verein, VHS, Stammtisch, neighborhood initiatives |
| You work remotely | coworking, professional meetups, sports after work |
| You are a student | university groups, campus sports, dorm life, Erasmus/International Office |
| You moved with family | parent groups, children’s activities, Kita/Schule events, neighborhood celebrations |
| You are an introvert | a small course, board games, a regular club, a volunteer role with a clear task |
Common mistakes
- Going to one meeting and immediately deciding that “nothing works.”
- Socializing only with expats when your goal is to understand Germany better.
- Waiting for invitations without suggesting anything yourself.
- Canceling plans at the last minute without a clear reason.
- Avoiding German because you are afraid of making mistakes.
- Choosing a format that is too general instead of a specific interest.
FAQ
Can you make German friends without fluent German?
Yes, especially in big cities and international fields. But German greatly expands your social circle: neighbors, clubs, local initiatives, and many everyday conversations become more accessible.
Is it easier to meet Germans or other foreigners?
Usually, it is easier to start with other foreigners because you share a similar relocation experience. But for deeper integration, it is worth gradually moving beyond the expat circle through work, language, a Verein, neighborly life, and volunteering.
How long does it take to make friends?
It is normal if the first stable contacts appear after a few months. Speed matters less than regularity: the same place, the same people, a clear shared interest.
The key point
To make friends in Germany, do not look for the “perfect place to meet people” but for a recurring environment: a course, a club, volunteering, work, a Stammtisch, or a neighborhood community. Be punctual, keep your agreements, learn German, and give relationships time. That is how acquaintances gradually become people you genuinely want to stay in touch with.
