26 Cantons
4 official languages (German, French, Italian, Romansh
Not in the EU, but is in Schengen
Population ~9 million; foreigners ≈ 25 %
Safe and politically stable
Zurich (finance & tech)
Zurich-specific guide is in the works and will be linked here later
Geneva (UN hub)
If you are interested in helping us create a guide for Geneva, let us know! (create a new leaf and invite @switzerland as a writer to chat about it).
Bern (laid-back capital)
Basel (pharma & art)
Basel-specific guide
Lausanne (students, sports)
Lugano (Italian vibes)
Punctual trains, spotless streets, rules are NOT to be broken
Sunday shops closed (restaurants often open)
People are friendly, bur private. Learning the language and joining social/hobby clubs helps a lot with integration
Lots of outdoor fun. Especially hiking and skiing.
High salaries
Public transport is amazing! Buy a halb-tax if you are staying for at least a week (50% discount on all transport)
Great cycling infrastructure throughout the country
Roads high quality and — especially in the Italian part — stunning views. Judge for yourself:
Super safe for kids. Playgrounds everywhere, good 'kitas' and public schools. But... childcare generally costs a lot here
Visas & Permits
Sort your permit or 90-day work notification asap
Housing
Hunt early and have paperwork ready!
Health insurance
Buy within 3 months of arrival
Register at your commune within 14 days
