Relocation Zurich

Zurich, Limmat riverZürich/Zurich

WELCOME TO ZURICH! The city of Zürich lies in northern Switzerland in a beautiful setting. On a clear day there is an absolutely stunning view of the alps and mountain ranges in the distance. Zürich is a bustling cosmopolitan city, offering a range of cultural events and is, moreover, an international business centre. The city lies 408m above sea level at the northern end of Lake Zürich. Its highest point is the Uetliberg or Uto Kulm at 871m. Zürich comprises 12 districts or “Kreise” which vary immensely in their atmosphere.

 

Zürich is undoubtedly a fabulous city to live in and has been a consistent front-runner in the Credit Suisse Mercer quality of life awards over the past few years. The criteria evaluated include employment, housing, educational facilities, personal safety, medical care, transportation and recreational facilities. In addition, political stability, the low crime rate and high wages are all contributory factors in making Switzerland a very attractive place to live and Zürich excels in all of these categories. Once you have experienced life here, you may not want to leave.

 

English is widely spoken and understood by shop owners and restaurant staff alike, but it is of course beneficial to learn at least some words of German so that you can order your drinks in the local language and the Swiss appreciate every small effort to learn their language. Beware that road signs are not written in English, so be careful when driving.

 

The city of Zürich has a very good public transport system with a wide variety of bus and tram routes – the roads can become blocked at peak periods, so it is advisable to use public transport where possible. The system is outstanding and the dense rail network means that travelling times are kept to a minimum.

 

With the Uetliberg to the west, the Pfannenstiel to the east and the Bachtel in Zürich’s highlands to the south-east of the city – there are endless hiking and walking possibilities at all seasons of the year. The Alps aren’t far away either – an hour by car or train – so proper hikes as well as all of the winter sport activities are available almost on your doorstop.

 

Population

Zürich is one of the most densely populated of Switzerland’s 26 cantons. The city has a population of around 390,000 and the whole Canton of Zürich just over 1,900,000 inhabitants. It is Switzerland’s largest city and an important economic and cultural centre. Zürich is one of the world’s leading financial centres with banking and insurance featuring high on the list of companies. However it is not only a business centre; it is also a cultural metropolis and offers a large selection of theatres, museums, art galleries, cinemas, concerts, clubs, exhibitions and restaurants. We are sure you will enjoy your time living in Canton Zürich and are certain you will appreciate Zürich as a lively, cosmopolitan city, one that people quickly feel at home in.