Hi,

I currently live in London and have to relocate to Switzerland for work and have been given the choice between Lausanne or Zurich.

I know the Lausanne region but do not know Zurich at all.

Can anyone give some insight as to which part is better to live in: Lausanne or Zurich? I am talking housing, social life etc

In terms of Zurich, what would be a good part/area to rent a flat in?

Thanks for any insight!

It's quite simple really - if you want to live in a big city, choose Zurich. If you prefer a small town then Lausanne would be better.

Alternatively, do you speak French, or German?

As Ace1 says, do you speak any French or German? What sort of salary are you being offered for the move? Zurich will be more expensive than Lausanne, although rents will be cheaper outside the main cities anyway, but it's something you need to think about. Also what sort of sports/activities do you like doing? One site might be better for these than the other. Are any of your work colleagues also making the move and if so, to which city? If they are and you all go to the same place, then you probably have a headstart on getting your new social life up and running.

On my side I really prefer Zürich. Even if it is not a big city like London (400'000 inhabitants only), it still have the flare of an international capital with all the advantages, but a a better quality of life. You will get to know a large expat communities and there are many things to do.
On the reverse Lausanne is so boring.

As for a place where to live, Zürich has a very convenient public transportation system, so everything is close by. You should decide based on your budget and your preferences:
- If you like to be downtown, I would advise the old town (8001) or Seefeld (8008), but they are expensive.
- Zürich West is trendy, they are currently building high-rise buildings there
- For a nice quite place nearby the lake, you can even go as far as Küsnacht.

Lausanne. The German part of the country is crazy! :P

Good luck with your move!

So many things to consider...you got to give us some more details.