How to make friends in zurich

Making friends as an adult in Zurich can feel like trying to break into the Swiss banking system - intimidating and seemingly sealed shut.

Here’s a cheeky little cheat sheet for finding your people, backed by actual psychological studies.

1. Be a Regular 👯‍♀️

Ever notice how a song grows on you the more you hear it? That’s the Mere-exposure effect, and it works on people, too. The more often people see your face, the more they subconsciously like and trust you. So instead of one-off events, commit. Show up to the same yoga class, the same café on Saturday mornings, or the same Playhard events. Familiarity creates comfort, and comfort is the way to real friendship.

2. Find Your Niche niche ✨

The Similarity-Attraction Theory is just a fancy way of saying we vibe hardest with people who are like us. Stop wasting energy trying to fit in everywhere. Instead, find spaces where everyone already shares your energy. If you'd rather talk about life's big questions than the weather, find a community that values deep conversation. At Playhard, we always suggest newbies to find 2-3 of their fave event types - book club, padel, brunches, arts - and become regulars there. This is your fast track past the awkward “so, what do you do?” phase and straight into the stuff you actually like.

3. Dare to Share (Just a Little) 🤫

Small talk is cute, but science says vulnerability is hotter. According to the Vulnerability Loop, opening up to someone encourages them to open up back to you, creating a rapid feedback loop of trust and connection. You don’t have to spill your deepest secrets, but sharing something real gives others permission to do the same. That’s how acquaintances blossom into soul friends.

4. Make the First Move 👉

That split-second of hesitation before you ask someone to hang out? That’s the Liking Gap in action. Studies show that we consistently underestimate how much the other person liked us and enjoyed the conversation. So, send the damn “wanna grab coffee?” text. Chances are, they were secretly hoping you would.

The Takeaway?

Making friends is a skill, not luck. And if you want a place to practice all of the above in a fun, supportive environment, well... you know where to find us. 😉