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Which is the Best Swiss City to Move to?
Switzerland is an extremely popular country to move to. Along with Australia, it has the highest proportion of immigrants in the Western world. Around one in four of the 8.7million people who currently live in the European country were born elsewhere.
But what is the best place in Switzerland to move to? Hamiltons Removals, who can offer high-quality removals to Switzerland, provide some answers.
For the Student
If you’re a student looking to study abroad (either for undergraduate or post-graduate studies) Zurich is probably the standout – the University of Zurich covers all the main subjects. Although the undergraduate courses are mainly taught in German, the Masters subjects are all taught in English.
Although the University has a good reputation, it’s not as good as that of ETH Zurich, which consistently tops international surveys. The ETH (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule, which translates as Federal Institute of Technology) was founded in 1855 as the Federal Polytechnic School and has become one of the world’s most prestigious science and technology universities.
If the prices of Zurich are expensive, then St Gallen (near the Swiss-German border) should be more affordable – and it has an excellent business school as well.
For the Cost of Living
When it comes to removals to Switzerland, high prices could be an issue for many people, not just students – although this is counterbalanced by an excellent welfare state.
However, if you want somewhere with a lower cost of living, and still want to live in a city, then you could be looking at Winterthur – the Switzerland’s sixth largest city which is less than 20 minutes from Zurich by train, so it may be worth commuting in. Accommodation costs are noticeably cheaper here, and there’s a large expat population too.
However, as with most countries, bear in mind that the rural areas rather than the big cities are cheaper to live in, if moving to a city isn’t a necessity for you.
For the Scenery
If money is less of a problem, then removals to Geneva will bring the advantage of Lake Geneva, pictured, which the city borders – not just for the scenery but the chance for some fun on the water.
Living in Geneva, you will have the option of a ferry trip or a private boat – or more active pursuits such as canoeing, windsurfing and kayaking, although there are restrictions on when and where you can do these.
If mountains and winter sports, particularly skiing, is more of a priority, then moving to Zurich may be a better choice. There are plenty of Alpine ski resorts within relatively easy reach which makes the city a top choice for snow sport enthusiasts.
For the Work
Hospitality jobs are widely available across the country, thanks to the tourism industry. However, competition for higher-paid jobs can be fierce, and it helps if you are highly skilled (and can speak French and German as well as English).
It’s important to remember that Switzerland is not part of the EU, but is part of the single market, so Swiss nationals and EU members may be regarded as more employable than UK residents after Brexit.
If you have a background in finance, insurance and economics, then Zurich has the best job prospects. And, if you have experience in the chemicals and pharmaceuticals field, then Basel has the most thriving sector.
For the Culture
It’s worth considering removals to Berne, because of the historic Old Town which has its own distinct character – the sandstone buildings (which were built to replace parts of the city lost in a 1405 fire) survive to this day. Many of the stone arcades are now a feature of the city’s shops.
Basel has the highest number of museums in the country, including the Kunstmuseum, which houses the largest collection of public art in the country, and one of the oldest in the world.
However, Zurich probably has the biggest and best nightlife, with plenty of bars, restaurants and clubs.
Removals to Switzerland with Hamiltons Removals
At Hamiltons, we can offer domestic and commercial removals to Basel, Berne, Zurich, Geneva and all parts of Switzerland. We can just transport your goods to your new Swiss home, or offer additional services including packing and unpacking, and having your old and new homes professionally cleaned.
If you would like to know more about any of our removal services to Switzerland, follow this link or call us on 01379 855203.
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