I know well Basel for having spent 3 years there, as you know. I know nothing about Nyon and the French swiss culture. Any Nyonais would like to tell me?

Merci,

Nil

Are you contemplating returning, Nil ? You'd make a fine addition to the Mod team as well given your availability and seniority

Paging MusicChick and Mud ...

We wish to stay under the sun but we are looking into our possible options right now and I want to learn about what comes with them.

The French part is way better, people are friendly, to foreigners as well!

It's an absolutely lovely little town, only 30 minutes away in both directions from Geneva or Lausanne. There's a very large community of expats so the whole place is a mix of French and English. Only a hop away from France.

It's a beautiful Roman city, circa 2000 years old.
I do believe that you'd like it very much.

Whatyouwaitingfor?

Nyon is so close to Geneva by train (about 17 minutes). Skiing in France is about
35 minutes away. It's packed with foreigners so is pretty friendly. Packed in the Summer but quiet in the Winter. Generally a great place to live

35 minutes? by helicopter maybe...

I have never lived there (or anywhere in Switzerland ... I am a summer visitor) but my definition of Heaven is anywhere on the arc lémanique.

Of course my favorite area for summer visits is the valleys south of the Rhône, but they are obviously unsuitable for year round living.

I looked at pictures and I saw it is next to leman lake, this is a good thing. How it the culture? The local people? The schools?

Some older threads might also be useful.

Anyone regret living in Nyon?

Any Indoor play area or a group for mums and kids in NYON

Nyon Shopping hours

Living in Nyon Area

Where to live near Nyon

Anyone in nyon

Public School in Nyon

School Registration in Nyon

The Musée Romain is a nice place to visit and understand the Roman Colonia.

The Castle is also another attraction.
http://www.chateaudenyon.ch/

Nyon can be a dream place to be living in. Much nicer than noisy, car-stinky, crowded and dirty Geneva, for example! There are excellent local and private schools and the ambiance is truly international.

However, be aware that Nyon is growing into the north. The further away from the lake, the more ugly concrete blocks you will see and the less amenities you will find. The train line is the division line between the nice and less nice parts of the city. If you want to enjoy lake views, strolling the cute old town and be able to safely walk to the lake, stay south of the train line.

Alternatively you have the neighboring villages of Crans (nice) and Prangins (a real gem). Again, stay south of the train line.

The other villages in Nyon district are IMHO dull and/or way too far away from the lake.

Nil and France

I really like Nyon! well, I did my highschool there. So I have many friends from this area. this may help a lot... I have been in lausanne then in zurich for the last 5-6 years, and I can tell you that if I would live somewhere in the french part of switzerland it would be in Nyon. It is a quite international city (with foreigners living there), there is the lake, there is a concert place that is really cool (usine a gaz) and some nice bars (la parenthèse, fish...). and if you are bored you can go to geneva, it is 10 minutes away in train!

Thread seams dated, but since I live in Nyon I'll share my view.

I lived in the Zurich area before moving to Nyon so I'll give you my views based on that experience.

1. The Good:

a. Beautiful Views of Lake Geneva and Mountains.
b. The area sits close to may vineyards and small towns that add to the beauty. AWESOME to go bike riding though in the warmer months.
c. There is an international componant, many English-speakers.
d. Population is relaxed compared to Swiss German (which is good and bad).
e. Most amenities are accessible in the town (however, you need a car in this part of Switzerland)
g. Nice Castle, nice offering nice views of the old town and a bar if you go at the right time.
g. If one travels alot, then Nyon is well connected to GVA via train.
h. Proximity to France, one can get items a bit cheaper accross the boarder (Nyon and Vaud in general, I find way more expensive that Zurich Area, but that's personal opinion).

2. The Bad.

a. The nice part of the town is on the south side of the tracks. The other side where many residents are is relatively ugly and industrial.
b. The old town is clean however, outside that immediate area can be a bit dirty and not manicured (contrast to Swiss German areas).
c. There is crime and I don't recommend walking alone at Night. Emphasis on Night. The police are not effective on the "derelicts" as compared to thier Zurich counter parts. Police in general are useless here (I can comment more, but lets say a rookie NYPD cop will run circles around these retards).
d. Public works are OK, but not as good compared to Swiss German area. They move a bit slow and, well, not so "passionate" about doing a good job. Garbage/Cardboard pickup day is can be interesting to say the least.
e. Restaurant choices are limited and night life, just a few bars worth considering (in my opinion).
f. Rents are high and taxes are high too compared to other areas in CH. This is the Riveria after all. Make sure to bring up in Salary negotiations if moving from one canton to another (tax wise).
g. I find the other towns nearby boring with not much to see or rather much of the same. I feel as though there was more to do in the Zurich area in terms of towns to visit that kept my attention, i.e. Zug, Rappersville, Baden, Basel, Winterthur, etc. (but that's my opinion)
h. Compared to living in Zurich area, I feel trapped with respect to access to the rest of CH. Nyon is well in the Western reach of the country, look at the map..and to get anywhere in CH one must take that long ride on the A1, past Lausanne to get to the more interesting parts of CH (in my opinion).

So I tried to be balanced. All in all it isn't too bad at all considering both the good and bad. They need to be weighed and of course, its based on my having lived in Zurich, which I have a biased liking for! (hell, I even miss the orderly Swiss German at times).

But good quality of life can be had.

Enjoy and PM for any specific questions I can address.

you could almost say that nyon is the long island of geneva, no?
(of course without the gorgeous beaches...)

Haaa! True indeed. Gorgeous beachs? I can debate that.

I agree with you and I much prefer from Lausanne eastward. I spent some time working on a project in Nyon and the old town is lovely. Though it's very small so I wouldn't expect 1000 bars and restaurants. The commute to Lausanne was a headache and I think it's just gotten worse not better.

Not sure why you would expect the police from Small Town, CH to be anything like those of NYC, but having said that, I do agree the police in Switzerland are not prepared for the changes that are going on in the country and they need to get it together ASAP.

Personally though I'd much rather live in the French part than the German part. It's more laid back and that is a good thing.

BTW, the part you are talking about is "La Cote". "La Riviera" is from Vevey to Villeneuve.

i really thought that when i first visited it.

my mama is now on the island and lives on one of the most beautiful beaches i've ever seen, really. north shore, eastern li is really pretty. anyway, good info on nyon

Fellow Quebecois here, just moved to Nyon

I can't think of a nicer place in the summer. Lake with plenty of green space, with a village nestled in on the hillside, punctuated by a gorgeous castle overlooking the lake. The only mountain train into the Jura leaves from here, not to mention ferries that go to Evian and Yvoire (among others). Lovely markets, and one of the best ice cream shops around. Busy but not crowded. Active yet quiet and tranquil.

Winter's not bad either, but I'm counting down the days until summer

I respectfully disagree with the above points.