We'd like to visit 2 or 3 towns over a 3 week period before we settle down. Cost of living is not a big factor although we wouldn't want to be in the absolute center of Zurich. Could anyone recommend some town/s that you think satisfy our criteria?
We're a young British couple currently living in Berlin (Prenzlauer berg) and planning to move to Switzerland in October. I work online so we are free to live anywhere with Internet access. Our world revolves around our 2 year old boy and love that in Berlin there are so many playgrounds and 'kindercafes' where my wife can spend her time meeting other moms etc. We also love that there are many expats here so we don't feel totally isolated although we always make an effort to integrate.
Personally I ́d say none but it might help if you would mention what area in Switzerland you want to move to? Zurich?
Prenzlberg is crowded, overrun and full of helicopter parents :-)
Thanks. We don't really have any preference at this time. Bern and Lucerne looks nice but then so do another dozen small towns. To be honest we're partly being driven by our fear of terroism in Germany so are just looking for someplace safe similar to Prenzlberg since we do love it here. Do you have any suggestions outside of Switzerland but within the EU?
We've only been here for a year and havn't found it crowded, in fact our only criticism is that its a bit boring compared to its neighbor friedrichshain. And I think we may be helicopter parents I just cant dump an 18 month old kid in the playground and walk off for a beer. He recently injured his spine after being pushed off a ledge onto his head. But I'm trying to stick to the sidelines
That is not what in Germany a helicopter parent is, that is common sense. :-)
Basel is probably a more friendlier city than Zurich, with easy access to France and Germany for shopping, and EasyJet flights to the UK.
Usually there is a correlation between taxes & the price of apartment rentals. taxes vary from village to village.
Try and read this book before you come here, be prepared as it is different to Germany here,
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb...nd%2Caps%2C339
- buy a recent edition, as the laws do change every year.
Wetzikon is quite nice, the schools i found are very good with the children and they do all sorts together, swimming, walking adventures picnics ect. Theres a huge swimming pool and ice skating rink between Wetzikon and Hinwil and we are lucky enough to have a big lake perfect for cycling, walking your dog or just chilling out, theres also jucker farm a cute farm kids love, its got petting goats areas to play. Ive lived in Weidikon, wallisellen, zug, oerlikon and now here, IMO i would recommend Zug or Baar, i really struggled keeping my daughter entertained there, but now here shes got a better social life than me, always busy doing something, anyway all the best i hope you find a nice place to live
We are a British Family and live in Eschenbach SG. We have 2 children, 3 & 4 years old. It is more of a farming town, but I love it. There are loads of outdoor walks around, 15 minutes from a small ski place and within an hour from larger ones, and several great pools and outdoor swimming places nearby. Rapperswil, a lovely historical town, is just 15 minutes on bus. Views from home are of mountains and local school is very friendly. I highly recommend if you are looking for a quietter place to live.
There are a sheer endless number of towns that fit our description, but unless you are employed by a Swiss employer, I don't think you can just simply move here. Maybe I am wrong?
If the OP finds Prenzlauer Berg "not crowded" will he not be happy in any of those villages... and he said he enjoys a certain amount of expat population...
1. Zürich, "Gold Coast" (the eastern coast of lake Zürich going from Zürich Seefled all the way to Herrliberg. Seefeld = Hipsters, the more you get out of the city the more families you will find...)
2. The opposite side of lake Zurich from Küsnacht to Horgen.
I personally live a little further out which is both tax efficient and pretty, but probably very rural for somebody used to Berlin.
You're wrong. As long as he is an EU national and makes enough to support himself and his family, it should be fine.
Though personally although there are quite a lot of nice places in Switzerland, it sounds like they have a nice set up where they are.
Maybe it's easier to list the town/cities were not to bring up children?
Switzerland is surprisingly big with lots of variety, but TBH most people who come from abroad and don't intend to work here choose their place of residency based on the tax brackets offered.
But if you're going to press me for a city name for kids... Winterthur
A British couple that says Mom? Really??
Does it have to be in the German-speaking part?
I would recomend Thalwil. Very small and decent town with very good connection to Zurich. Many shops, schools are here so no problems with
day to day tasks.
What's your opinion on having 5-year-olds walk alone to and from school? Asking because that is standard practice here. You can expect to walk with him for the first several weeks of kindergarten, after that you will be discouraged in progressively stronger language.
There are playgrounds everywhere, even in little mountain villages, and children are welcome (even if not specifically catered for) in most restaurants too. Having said that, in terms of daytime meetups with fellow expatmums, availability of soy lattes or farmers' markets or whatever else, you are likely to need a city.
(As an aside, I reckon the term "small town" is misleading to people here, if what you really mean are places like Bern, Luzern etc. Those are classed as cities here. A town would be somewhere like Einsiedeln or Stein am Rhein.)
In Zürich I could see the district Wipkingen being a good fit - fairly central but still a nice mix of families, students and arty types.