Finding Your Place in Nyon This Autumn
- Seema
- Sep 13
- 4 min read
Nyon in September is an interesting time. The kids are back at school, the heat of the Summer sun is fading fast, and we begin the shift into Autumn mode. The last music festivals wrap up just as wine festivals begin, evenings grow cooler, and the vineyards start to glow gold. There’s a quieter kind of energy in the air and for newcomers, arriving in this season can feel lovely, though the fresh start often comes with a mix of excitement and uncertainty.
Adjusting to a new place isn’t always smooth. Some people settle quickly, finding their rhythm in no time, while for others it takes a little longer. Just when you feel like you’ve started to build a circle, friends move away, routines change, and you’re back to square one. It can feel unsettling, but it’s also part of living in a town that’s constantly moving and evolving. The good news is, it gets easier.
Here are some ways to go from feeling like an outsider to feeling at home in Nyon.
A Quick Snapshot of Nyon
Nyon is home to about 23,500 residents (as of June 2024), made up of long-time locals, Swiss newcomers, and many international arrivals. Almost 40% of the town are foreign nationals, which means there’s a rich mix of cultures, languages, and stories.
Here at Living in Nyon, we are an association for people in Nyon and the surrounding areas who want to connect, share, and support one another. Through writing, events, our Sponsors and growing Member Directory, we aim to highlight local businesses, bring people together, and make things for any newcomers and long term residents just that bit easier.
Find Your People
Building connections from scratch has its challenges, especially when summer slows down. But there’s no shortage of opportunities.
Try joining a class; French, yoga, Pilates, dance, or even improv classes. Watch for local happenings like walking tours, pop-ups, seasonal exhibits at the Musée romain, Château de Nyon, or Musée du Léman.
Don’t wait for someone else to say hello. An invite for coffee, a walk by the lake, or even a simple greeting can open doors. I’ve made some of my closest friends that way. Over time, you’ll find your people, and you’ll be the person that new residents turn to for help and support.
2. Get Out & Explore Local Life
Nothing makes a place feel more like home than getting out and walking its streets. Take a day trip to Lausanne or Geneva, discover a favourite spot by the lake, or join in the events like the upcoming Wine Festival (Fête de la Vigne, 3-4 October).
Nyon has over 230 associations and foundations, covering everything from sport, arts and culture, to social causes and politics including us. Joining a group isn’t just about hobbies; it’s a way to share interests, find familiar faces, and build community. Go once, you might go back, and before you know it, you’ve got regular faces around you.
It’s also the small moments, the bread from the bakery, the views from the castle, the cool sky at in the early evenings that will make Nyon feel like yours. The more you wander, the more those small routines turn into something meaningful.
Expect the Ups and Downs
Some days you’ll feel like you’ve cracked it; scheduling appointments, speaking bits of French, navigating local shops.  Other days, you’ll feel like packing your bags and moving somewhere easier (where Sunday shopping is actually a thing!).
A big part of settling in is wrestling with paperwork; permits, insurance, health forms, often in a language you’re less confident in. It’s not always fun. But every form you manage, every question you understand, builds something: confidence and that sense of belonging so acknowledge the hard days and celebrate these small wins.
Learn Some French (Even Just a Little!)
Switzerland is wonderfully multilingual, and in Nyon you’ll catch snippets of Spanish, Portuguese, English, German and more in a single day.  You can get by without French, but even simple phrases go a long way.
Learning how to confidently order a more complicated coffee drink (decaf oat milk latte) or order some antihistamines from the pharmacy without switching to English? That’s a small but satisfying win. Perfect grammar isn’t the goal, it’s the willingness to try. If full-on classes sound too daunting, try a casual conversation group instead.
Give It Time
Becoming local doesn’t happen overnight. It’s about showing up. For that lakeside walk, language exchange, or just stopping to chat with your neighbours. Before you know it, you’ll have your favourite cafés, your go-to weekend hikes, and the realisation that, somehow, Nyon has become home.
Also: Our LIN Member Directory
We’re growing our LIN Member Directory. A space where local businesses, services, and community makers can be found. If you run something (teaching, coaching, crafts, cafés, you name it), or if you want to look up who and what is around, it’s there for you. Interested in being included? Just get in touch.
Welcome to life in Nyon! Now, go grab that apéro, you’ve earned it.