A great place to live

What do you look for when deciding where to live? Many people never move from their home town, of course. Others move because of a job. Some, though, think carefully about the lifestyle they are looking for. It may be somewhere affordable or a place with a vibrant arts and music scene. They may want an iconic skyline or narrow cobbled streets and small local shops. Would you prefer clean air or a bustling cosmopolitan city? Amazingly, whatever your tastes or desires, you may be surprised to learn that Zurich, in Switzerland, has all these things and more. That’s why, in many surveys, it comes first in the list of best cities in Europe in which to live and is only just behind Melbourne, Australia, as the best city in the whole world. Better even than traditionally popular cities such as Vancouver, Singapore and Montevideo. Zurich is Switzerland’s largest city with a population of about 400,000. However, 30 percent of the population were born overseas so it is a very multicultural city. People from abroad are attracted by the job opportunities, high salaries and low rates of taxation, the world class schools and universities and the overall high standard of living. Of course, this is Switzerland so prices are high, and finding affordable accommodation in the city centre may be difficult. However, the city has excellent public transport and, as it isn’t too sprawling, it is easy to get from one part of the city to another quickly and comfortably. Therefore residents can take advantage of lower accommodation costs further from the centre. Zurich is also a very green city with many parks and breathtaking views of the Alps in the distance. Between the city and the mountains there are lakes where you can swim, sail or go kayaking in safety. It should be no surprise that Zurich has some excellent shops, which are modern and clean. There are also restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets. Culture lovers will be impressed by the huge variety of cultural institutions in the city including opera, ballet, theatre, museums, art galleries and concert halls. There are also attractions for young people with many clubs and a thriving alternative music scene. Not many people realise that Europe’s biggest techno event is held in Zurich as is the Caliente Festival, the largest Latin cultural event on the continent. So, are there any drawbacks to living in the city at all? Some parts of the city have a reputation for crime although the levels are high only in comparison with the rest of the city. It is still much safer than other big cities in Europe. Drivers also complain that the roads are very congested but public transport is so efficient that there is really no need to drive in the city at all. In fact, traffic is slow because, unlike in other cities, trams, cyclists and pedestrians are given priority over cars – making life even easier for non-car drivers. That’s probably why the percentage of the population who don’t have a car has risen from 40 percent to 45 percent in the last decade. All in all, you can find a great standard of life in Zurich.