New in Switzerland? Discover the best Meetups in Switzerland – from expat groups and language exchanges to outdoor clubs in Zurich, Basel, Bern, and beyond. Your social life starts here.
Whether you’re a freshly arrived expat, a global professional, or just someone looking to expand your social circle, joining a Meetup group in Switzerland is one of the easiest ways to get started.
From hiking in the Alps to after-work drinks and language exchanges, Meetups in Switzerland cover every interest – and they’re especially welcoming to newcomers. We’ve curated a list of top groups across major Swiss cities that are active, inclusive, and known for creating real connections.
Ready to meet like-minded people? Here are the best Meetup and hobby groups in Switzerland – and how to join them.
💬 Focus: Social gatherings, cultural events, and networking for expats and locals.
📍 Citywide
👉 Great for: Expats in Zurich looking for casual drinks, dinners, and weekend meetups.
🥾 Focus: Weekend hikes, nature walks, and mountain day trips.
📍 Greater Zurich region and beyond
👉 Great for: Outdoor lovers, beginners to seasoned hikers.
💡 Tip: Many hikes are public-transport friendly!
💻 Focus: Talks, networking, and coworking sessions for developers, tech enthusiasts, and founders.
📍 Zürich, Technopark & coworking spaces
👉 Great for: Digital nomads, engineers, and curious minds.
⛺ Focus: Weekend outdoor activities: hiking, cycling, swimming, and skiing.
📍 Basel & Jura region
👉 Great for: Making friends in nature, especially in spring and summer.
🍻 Focus: After-work drinks, city hangouts, themed dinners.
📍 Central Basel
👉 Great for: Young professionals and expats who want a regular social rhythm.
💬 Language: Mostly English
🗣️ Focus: Multilingual meetups, language tandems, and cultural exchange.
📍 Bern old town cafés & bars
👉 Great for: Practicing German, Swiss German, French, Spanish, English
💬 Super relaxed, no pressure environment.
🥾 Focus: Nature walks, forest hikes, and community potlucks.
📍 Around Bern & Gantrisch Nature Park
👉 Great for: Friendly locals and expats, ages 25–50
🌍 Focus: International socializing: apéros, day trips, cultural events.
📍 Geneva city & lakeside
👉 Great for: UN employees, expats, and students
💡 Bonus: Often collaborates with other global expat groups.
🎨 Focus: Museum visits, gallery tours, art workshops.
📍 Geneva & Carouge
👉 Great for: Creatives, photographers, and anyone who wants deeper cultural connection.
📱 Focus: Curated events to meet people in your city – not just in Zurich or Geneva, but also in places like Lucerne, Lausanne, and St. Gallen.
👉 Great for: Expats, students, and open-minded locals who want to make friends without the awkward DMs.
💡 Events include: hikes, brunches, game nights, international dinners.
✅ Show up consistently – friendships form over time
✅ Don’t worry about language – most groups are multilingual or English-friendly
✅ Say hi first – everyone’s there to meet people
✅ Try one event per week – it builds momentum fast
Whether you’re based in Zurich, Basel, Bern, or Geneva – or even a smaller city – Meetups in Switzerland are your shortcut to connection, community, and fun.
and discover your next event today.
