Meeting new people is awkward. There, someone said it. You show up somewhere new, you don't know anyone, and every conversation feels like a job interview you didn't prepare for.
The good news: Bern has a real culture of connection, and you don't need to be extroverted, fluent in the local language, or already know someone to build a social life here. You just need the right starting points.
1. Language Exchange (The Best-Kept Social Secret in Bern)
Language exchange — also called a language tandem — is one of the most natural ways to meet people in a new city. The idea is simple: you meet someone who speaks a language you want to learn, and they want to practice yours. You spend half the time speaking one language, half the time the other. What makes it so effective for making friends isn't just the language practice. It's the built-in reason to keep talking. There's no awkward "so... what do you do?" moment. You have a shared goal, a structure, and an excuse to meet again next week.
How to find a language partner in Bern:
The easiest way is through our platform, which is built exactly for this. You can find a compatible partner based on your native language, the language you're learning and your common interest. You can meet for coffee, do a video call.
2. Language Meetups — Meet Multiple People at Once
One-on-one language exchange is great. But if you want to expand your social circle faster, language meetups are the move. These are group events where people come specifically to practice languages and meet new people. A typical meetup might rotate between tables speaking different languages, run structured conversation rounds, or simply be a relaxed evening at a café where everyone's open to talking.
Sprachtandem.ch is regularly hosting meetup events. Check out Meetup.com and join our group to stay up to date with the latest events.
3. Expat and International Community Events
Switzerland has an active expat community, and it tends to organize itself. Facebook groups, Meetup.com, and platforms like Internations host regular events specifically for internationals living in the city — brunches, hikes, pub nights, cultural events.
These can be a great bridge while you're still finding your feet. The conversations tend to naturally cover the shared experience of being new somewhere: where to find the good grocery stores, how the bureaucracy works, what to actually do on weekends.
Search for "Bern expats," "Bern internationals," or "Bern newcomers" on social platforms to find active groups.
4. Volunteering
Volunteering is an essential part of Swiss culture - there are around 100,000 non-profit associations in Switzerland. If you want to meet locals — not just other expats — joining one of these associations is one of the most reliable ways to do so. You work alongside people who care about something, which gives you immediate common ground beyond your job title or country of origin.
Look for volunteer opportunities through local NGOs, community gardens, food banks, or cultural organizations in Bern. Many welcome international volunteers and run in multiple languages.
