Making friends
Germans are often reserved with strangers but loyal friends once close. Friendships grow through regular, shared activities, not one-off chats: - Vereine (clubs): sports, choirs, hiking, volunteer fire brigades, gardening (Kleingarten) — there are over 600,000 in Germany. Membership is cheap, and they're the classic way into local life. - Volunteering (Ehrenamt): food banks (Tafel), refugee support, sports coaching. Find opportunities at your city's volunteer agency (Freiwilligenagentur). - Language exchanges (Sprachtandem), Meetup groups, international or expat Stammtische (regular pub meet-ups), and university and VHS courses. - Colleagues: join lunches, after-work drinks and team events, especially early on.
Social codes
- Punctuality for private invitations too — up to 10 minutes late is fine for dinner parties, and you message if later.
- Shoes off in many homes — watch what the host does.
- Bring a small gift (flowers, wine, chocolates) when invited to dinner.
- Toasting: look the person in the eye when clinking glasses ("Prost!").
- Say hello in small shops, doctors' waiting rooms and lifts ("Guten Tag"), and goodbye when leaving.
- Directness and privacy: personal questions about salary or politics come later, if at all.
Traditions by season
Karneval/Fasching (Rhineland, southern Germany, February), Easter, May Day, beer gardens and summer festivals, Oktoberfest (Munich, late September), St Martin's lantern processions (11 November, children), Advent and Christmas markets (late November–December), Silvester fireworks (31 December).
Integration support
- Migrationsberatung für erwachsene Zugewanderte (MBE) and Jugendmigrationsdienste (under 27): free advice on permits, jobs, housing and language courses.
- Integrationskurs (Chapter 37), with its "Leben in Deutschland" module and test, which is required for settlement and citizenship.
- Migrant and diaspora organisations, religious communities, and city integration offices (Integrationsbeauftragte).
- Political participation: EU citizens can vote in municipal and European elections. Everyone can join parties, unions and residents' councils (Integrationsbeiräte).