Zurich tops most “liveable” city poll

Switzerland's financial capital has again scored well when it comes to rankings of the world's best cities to live in – this time taking first place in a survey by Monocle magazine.

The results, published in the weekend edition of the Financial Times, place Zurich ahead of last year’s best place to live – Copenhagen. The next Swiss city on the list is Geneva in 24th position.

Zurich moved into top spot thanks to “outstanding and still improving public transport…ample leisure activites…environmental activism in setting new emission targets; [and a] good business culture”, wrote Monocle’s editor-in-chief and founder, Tyler Brulé.

Brulé, a self-confessed fan of Switzerland and Swiss products, said new factors added to the poll’s metrics helped Zurich move to the head of the class.

These included the ease at which small business owners can start operations in the city and how well residents and visitors can navigate their way around town.

In the 2009 survey by the consulting company, Mercer, Zurich came second, behind Vienna and ahead of Geneva.

Zurich is further down the list of the Economist’s “most liveable cities”. According to the magazine’s Intelligence Unit, Vancouver is number one while Zurich is only ninth best – and does not even come top among Swiss cities. Geneva has that distinction, ranking eighth.

swissinfo.ch