Hi everyone! I'm so happy to have found this website with great advice (in english)! I have a query for the group - I will be moving from San Francisco to the Geneva area in April for about 6 months. I will be working in Morges and originally thought that I'd like to live in Geneva and take the train to Morges daily. I have recently found out from the attorney processing my visa that because I will be working in Vaud, my work/residence visa will be good for Vaud only. That means I can't live in Geneva My question is - What are desirable areas to live in Vaud? I know Lausanne is there and supposed to be quite nice, but I'd like to have a bit of advice before making a decision.

I will not have a car so being close to the train is important for commuting to Morges. I'd like to live somewhere that has good restaurants, shopping, bars - something lively. It would also be nice to have outdoor areas and parks for hiking/biking.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

Now, I'm a Vaud girl so I'm a bit biased. But Lausanne is much better anyway. Much much prettier and more activites. Geneva is not pretty on a whole (matter of fact I compare it to the ugly part of Detroit). But it has it's cute parts.

I would look to live in Morges. It's fabulous there! Less than 10 min by train right to the city center (it's also major train stop). Quite a large area. Decent shopping. Beach. Lakefront. And not quite as hilly as Lausanne. You also may be more lucky to find a place there as well. And walking to work is always a bonus. No commute time!

Lausanne is very pretty too. Both are located more central in Switzerland anyway for those weekend trips you'll want to take!

If your hellbent on living in Geneva. Try Nyon. Just about 10 minutes from Geneva. But in canton Vaud. Also a great city like Morges. Has the same to offer.

Don't forget this isn't the US. It's a teeny tiny country. Everything is ridiculously close here.

And as I tell every American who moves here. Don't forget your stock of favorite medicines and toiletries (i.e. toothpaste, deodorant, etc.) Either it's not to be found here, or the price is literally 3-4x's more than back home. (It is the only thing I complain about here) Spend your money on fun and weekend travel!

I agree with LaurenM -- Morges and Nyon are both wonderful places to live, and you'll still be close enough to Lausanne and Geneva to enjoy all the good things those cities have to offer. If you're going to be working in Morges then that's where I would start looking.

On a more practical note, if you're arriving next month and need accommodation for 6 months only, you better start making arrangements asap. The rental market here is incredibly tight, and short term rentals are even harder to come by -- but then again I suppose the company you'll be working for will help you in your search. It might not be a bad idea to broaden your search a bit to Nyon and Lausanne as well.

Either way, I'm sure you'll enjoy spending the summer here. It's a lovely area, and a great base for day trips into Switzerland, France and Italy.

If you compare Geneva with the ugly part of Detriot, you know nothing about GVA. Also Both Morget and lausanne are NOT central Switzerland.

You can try www.anibis.ch for temporary sublets. I recall seeing some there recently. www.homegate.ch is also another good site. Furnished temporary housing in Lausanne is quite limited though, I would act quickly. Good luck!

If you live in Morges, you can go out in Geneva or
Lausanne in the evening. Morges is perhaps 25 min
from Geneva and 15 from Lausanne.

Three things.
1. I do think it's ugly. You cannot dispute opinion. It's not a fact. And I did say it has it's nice parts too.
2. I didn't say it WAS central. I said it was more central. Than Geneva of course.
3. This person posted asking for answers. Not smart remarks. So unless you have something useful or factual to dispute. Get over it.

As a SF/Sausalito>>>Zurich resident, I will not comment on where to live and leave that to those who know the area better.

...I will second the idea of bringing over toiletries and if you like Mexican food, bring over a quart sized bottle of Tapatio (or other favorite hot sauce) and enough taco/burrito seasoning to make your own for a while. I go back to the US a few times a year and stock up on everything. Corn tortillas, as well. They keep in the freezer!

Good luck with the move.

fduvall

Geneva has been on the list of top ten cities in the world in the past several years. IT IS NOT UGLY...MAYBE YOU SEE IT UGLY...
You get over with it.... and if you don't like it, you may go back to DETRIOT...

Lausanne is a nice city, I'm there for four years. Most places in Lausanne are close to the train station look for a postal code 100something ie 1004/1005. It is easy to get to Morges (15mins on regular trains), which is also nice but a lot smaller.

The Ouchy area of Lausanne is also nice, well connected to the station by metro (but walkable in 10/15 minutes) and many apartments have lake views.

If you really want a quiet life, then Nyon is the place for you. Very small town, much less to do than in Lausanne or Geneva, but it has its' pluses.

The real question is whether sfgal will enjoy Lausanne more than Morges/Nyon, not where we would rather live.

I am assuming that Geneva was her first choice because it is a big (by Swiss standards) city, so to me it seems obvious that Lausanne would be a better fit for her than the much smaller towns of Morges or Nyon.

Thanks all for your comments and advice!

RetiredInNH is correct, I wanted to live in Geneva because it is the biggest city - I've lived in San Francisco for 9 years so moving to a small village wouldn't suit me very well.

I've been to Morges, but mostly within 10 minute walking distance to the office and found it very quaint, but very slow. Seeing it on the map, I know there's alot more that I haven't seen.

Based on the feedback and what I've read in other places, I think Lausanne might be a good place for me.

Also, great advice on the toiletries and mexican food! I can't live without some of my beauty products and burritos!

Geneva is not really beautiful, but it is not bad either. There are nice
opportunities to be in nature.

I have yet to understand how Geneva can lack nature activities, though I have seen it mentioned by a few? I mean Annency and the French alps are literally right there. Mont Blanc, anyone heard of it?

If only Detroit was as nice as Geneva......

Who said Geneva lacked nature activities?

The only thing Geneva lacks compared to Detroit is murders.

Based on what you've told us I think Lausanne is the only place for you.

Don't know, but I have read it a few times here?

hi there, i moved from Sydney Australia to Switzerland last year. I live in Lausanne and thought by living in the centre of the city would be really cosmopolitan. I was sort of wrong. You can't really compare the Lausanne and Geneva to San Fran or in my case Sydney. Totally different and no even close to being a bustling city. Alot slower but on the good side, you cannot beat the view of the mountains (make sure you get an apartment with a view) and the relatively quick commute to work.

Don't move to Morges, too quiet, Lausanne is bigger. Good luck!

I would also suggest Lausanne. It's a much softer landing coming from SF, which is where we moved from too.

Lausanne is prettier, has better nightlife, and better transportation connections than Geneva. Morges is also really nice, but much smaller.

On the other hand do also consider Vevey which is beautiful.