To meet people within 24 hours
- Pub crawl: the most direct option for a first night; see pub crawl in Berlin and Berlin at night.
- Guided walking tour: a small group gives you an excuse to chat; see guided tours in Berlin.
- Cooking class or workshop: you cook together, then eat together; see workshops in Berlin.
- Hostel: pick one with a bar and organised evenings; see hostels in Berlin.
For friendships that last
- Language exchanges: German and English conversation evenings recur weekly in bars; look for them on language-exchange apps.
- Sport and the outdoors: the Tempelhofer Feld (running, skating, kites) and neighbourhood clubs.
- Apps: Meetup for themed groups, plus friendship apps; there are many expat groups.
- Coworking: if you work remotely, see coworking in Berlin.
Where to mix spontaneously
The beer gardens have long shared tables, and the Mauerpark flea market on Sundays draws an international crowd. Say "Hallo" and a word of German: it opens conversations.
