Living in Nyon

Accomodation, House and Garden
1
Believe me, I have read most if not all threads about living in Nyon vs. living in Lausanne or Geneva, but please bear with me as I feel I need some advice!

I landed in Switzerland exactly two days ago. I will be working in Gland, and as I am a 29-year-old who has only ever lived in large cities (Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Seoul), I felt I should look for apts in either Geneva or Lausanne, which are quite small in comparison to world cities but should still offer the comfort, familiarity, and amenities of city life. In the past I have commuted 45ish minutes to work, so I don't necessarily see the commute to Gland as a huge problem.

I went with my relocation consultant to see apartments in Lausanne today. I really loved Lausanne, by the way. Had a healthy city vibe to it, loved the hills and views. We saw three, all had their merits and downsides, of course. Ideally I'd like: a balcony with a view. Open kitchen. A 2-3 room apt or a spacious "studio" with some slight demarcation in living space. An easy walk to the train station so as to commute to Gland. Some of the apartments had some of these qualities, but of course none had them all.

I also went to see an apartment in Nyon, that I absolutely loved. While there is no balcony, there is a terrace of sorts, of course with a great view. A loft-like space, perfect for just me but also accommodating of guests. Nyon is close enough to bike/walk to Gland in good weather or take an easy train when I feel like it. Furnished, with a washing machine and closet space! So I loved the layout, the apartment itself.

I'm just a little iffy on actually living in Nyon. Now, don't get me wrong, its a lovely and absolutely adorable town. But I'm 29 years old, and have no spouse or kids. Most of what I see in Nyon are families and adolescents. Not that I don't like families, but walking through hordes of teenagers all the time just doesn't seem very fun. Am I misrepresenting Nyon?

On the other hand, maybe I'll be so busy working that not living directly in Lausanne or Geneva doesn't matter all that much, and a easy commute is better. And at least in Nyon I'll be relatively close to both cities, rather than living in Lausanne and being super far from Geneva, or vice versa. So I'll have more options on the weekends.

Now I know every person is different and has different priorities and opinions. I myself am trying to sort through what exactly is the most important thing to me. But in your experience, EFers, is it better to hold out for the "perfect" apartment (in terms of the layout/space+amenities+price+ city location), or would it be wiser to take this less-than-"perfect" apt in Nyon (well, perfect in practically everything minus location)?

I hear Nyon actually has a healthy expat community, so maybe it wouldn't be too bad. But are there any singly, young people that live there? Help me out, EFers! Maybe this time in Switzerland is the time for me to transition from city life to village life? Sometimes I feel like Seoul tired me out, it's a great city full of nightlife but maybe as I'm transitioning to my 30s it's time to quiet down. At the same time, I don't want to isolate myself from potential friends (who would most likely live in Lausanne or Geneva).

So there is my plight. Thank you to anyone for any advice you may have!

2
Take the train and live in Lausanne or Geneve. You are young and there is not alot of nightlife in Nyon. (I am assuming that you want to go out at night after 10:30 p.m.)

Just my humble opinion, but I have 3 kids in their 20's and 30's and when they come to Switzerland to visit, they are extremely glad that we live in Lausanne and not in a smaller place.

3
True. Nyon is quiet. The work commute would be 3 mins, but you'd spend weekends crashin on friends' sofas in LS and GE.

4
I'd LOVE to live in Nyon...but I am in my late forties! Does it answer your question?

5
Lausanne or Geneva. Do not live in Nyon. You'll be sad.

And just come to terms with the fact that you will not get everything in one apartment. You'll get less of what you want in an apartment in Geneva.

Personally, I've always preferred Lausanne. But there are many more expats, events, bars, etc etc. in Geneva

6
Nyon is beautiful but quiet and family-like, stay in Lausanne or Geneva for a bigger city. Not that they're anything like what you're used to anyway, CH is not known for its wild nightlife.

7
Lausanne is much better known for its nightlife than Geneva.

8

How true! The whole of Switzerland, including its "bigger" cities, is sedate when you come from Nottingham, where nightlife is REALLY wild (a bit too wild for my liking!). I was in Geneva old town last night with family and friends wondering if there had not been a nuclear alert and an announcement to run to the shelters...this part of town was deserted!

9
Come on, people, it is not...ehm...ott boring boonies. It's for childless folks as well, especially if they need a pleasant place after intense studies or a heavy work day, it's perfect for people with a heavy agenda. But not exactly social life hub, or inspiring hopping modern place with creative hip mindets. Not that it would be easy to find in CH, but more so in GE or LS, where it is easier to live, practicality wise, too.

10
Nyon is great. If you want expat contact there's The Fisherman's Pub down by the lake, there's a Les Brasseurs on the main pedestrian shopping street, a Manor, a small shopping center and just up the road a larger shopping mall. It's very well connected by train, with 5 every hour to Geneva (15 minute ride) and 4 to Lausanne (about 30 minutes). There's a film festival every year, lots of little town festivals especially during the warm months, the huge Paleo music festival, and more.

It doesn't have a big city feel at all , but it is so well connected to Geneva and Lausanne, it's about like living in a quiet beautiful neighborhood of a big city. Getting from one end to the other of Munich or Prague etc. will take you a good 30 minutes...

The hitch is, like most anyplace with good transport connections on Lac Leman, finding an apartment is quite difficult. But you've already done that!

11
It's lovely. But really it's worse if you have a "heavy agenda" because then you really can't be bothered to go anywhere. If you have a "heavy agenda" you want to be close to places to get out easily and have to make a huge effort else be stuck alone in the house.

12
I looked into the same options when I was looking for an apartment in the region.

Would suggest to follow your gut instinct for the bigger city. Even if it is sometimes a pain to change apartment and town in Switzerland if you really feel you want to go smaller then you can always move later...Just try to stick with same canton since if you decide to move between cantons you will be faced with a paperwork as big as moving between two countries.

Nothing against Nyon, its a lovely little town and livelier than many others of its size but if you want even the fraction of the liveliness of the cities you used to live then head for Lausanne or Geneva

And welcome to Switzerland!

13
Yeah, it's true. I am a hermit, aside of the muzzak. And that's undeniably better in GE and LS. Both GE and LS are more alive, each great for different things. GE Gland is a better, shorter commute. LS is more accessible in terms of social life, and cheaper. Though if OP managed to find a place in Nyon, which is a really impossible task, I wouldn't just throw it away because it might actually suit, late on, after the innitial party year...I am stuck in a house and with a heavy agenda, but local and foreign friends and really great neighbors make it a really pleasant compromise, we are always somewhere. I also don't work in my home town, it is very frequent to spread your social and professional time between LS and GE, la Cote in general, everybody here moves around a lot, I like it.

14
Sincere thanks to everyone for the advice. I have thought it over and decided to do as many of you recommend. I will continue to search for apts in Geneva or Lausanne, rather than take this lovely apt that I feel I should take. Wish me luck!

15
Hello, how is your apartment search going? Perhaps you can spend a few days and nights in both Lausanne and Genè€ve to see what sort of vibes are you getting? I'm in my 20's and enjoy living in Lausanne. It has a vibrant social and night life due to a sizeable and cosmopolitan student population. Nyon, on the other hand, seems like a tranquil residential neighborhood with fewer choices in terms of entertainment, shopping, or food.

While all three places you're considering in Switzerland are very far from LA or Seoul, I hope you'll be able to find the right match that fits your needs. By the way, my best friend and college classmate is from LA and she liked Lausanne when she visited it

Really, best of luck in finding the place that feels right.

16
I have lived in Nyon for the last 7 years. I agree with what everyone else is saying.

I would say if you want the city and nightlife try Lausanne.

You can always try moving this way in about 10 years or so when life takes you that way.

Nyon is a great place to live. We picked it purely because my Wife works in Geneva and I needed to find work and between the two cities was a good spot for a commute.

Love the town, the people are quite friendly, when you get past the Swiss wall of silence. Lots of great festivals.

If you can get a ticket make sure you get down to the Paleo music festival next month in Nyon you'll love that.

Good luck with your search, Lausanne should be a slightly easier market to find something than Geneva. Although prices don't change that much. Lausanne used to be cheaper than Geneva, but from what I hear it is pretty much even these days.