Hi All!
First-time poster. Ok, I have a chance of moving to Geneva for work and I would really like some opinions on the matter.
I have heard the city being described by people as ‘boring’. Can anyone elaborate, and in what way exactly?
I know of the pros, such as money, safety, cleanliness etc., but to be honest, I’m not that pushed on living somewhere just because it’s clean, safe and orderly. I have studied in Zurich before, so I know all about that!
How is the city for a single male in his early 20s?
Also, is it really that difficult to find accommodation in Geneva. I know that Zurich was indeed a challenge, but I’ve heard Geneva is even worse….is this true??
This in mind, I have offers to work elsewhere too, so Geneva is not my only available option . I’m just scared of being drawn in to Geneva just because of a generous salary, but then finding myself bored and miserable in the place (a real money trap)!

Anyway, cheers to you all, responses and opinions are most appreciated!!
Thanks.

You may want to write a short intro on the forum first, if you are hoping to get constructive replies ...

Hello my name is...........

Boring compared to what?

Well, Geneva doesn't have much night life.

It is not a bad place to live for sure, but I think Zürich
has a bit more to offer.

Do you speak French or German already? If so, it might
be easier to integrate depending on your answer.

Geneva lies on one of the most active examples of a Murgatroyd Temporal Rift on the entire continent. This means that the city is subject to frequent temporal spasms, resulting in the ejaculation of haemophagic transdimensional entities at a rate of at least three a week.

These entities create all kinds of problems for the residents of the city, not least the necessity of permanently sealing properties known to be the sites of ejaculatory nodes of the rift, resulting in very few properties being available for rent or purchase (to date, approximately 60% of the buildings in Geneva are sealed to prevent the egress of the entities).

Moreover, the entities have begun to take over the city from their headquarters in the Palace of Nations. They are indistinguishable from the carnal inhabitants of the city, owing to their shapeshifting tendencies, so it is impossible to say how large a proportion of the population they make up, but official estimates suggest that as many as 80% of the residents of Geneva are 'les vampires', as they are known to the natives.

As these parasitic entities live entirely by sucking the blood out of human beings and their pets, and contributing nothing in return, it should come as no surprise to discover that most people in Geneva are a bit sick of the situation, and would like to leave as soon as they are able. Unfortunately, there is a waiting list of about fourteen months to leave the city, during which time most applicants have ended up desiccated and replicated by the entities, meaning that, in reality, almost nobody ever leaves. Ever.

Welcome to the forum, by the way. The search function in the top right hand corner is great for finding opinions and facts about Geneva written by people who live there.

Are you bored again?

Gearing up, old chap. Gearing up.

cleanliness? safety? In Geneva?? You gotta be kidding me!

Get a copy of Bill Bryson's book "Neither Here Nor There" and read the chapter on CH. It didn't inspire me to visit Geneva .. so I haven't.

Maybe a weekend in Geneva would be a good idea? And you might be able to attend an EF event too, and get to speak to some locals.

Good luck with your decision.

I'd defo take the train and spend at least a long week-end there before making any decision. Try to meet up for a drink with other EF'ers too.

LoL wished I could thank people!

As for the first forumer, I guess that very much depends too on where are you living right now, and even then it is a very personal issue. For example, do you speak german or french? if you have already been to zurich and learned german then, personally, I would return there... the city is as much beautiful but it has more "vibe" and it is larger. Geneva is 20% french, BTW, so it has 20% the normal amount of shit as in french cities, which is still IMHO too much. The best part of Geneva in comparison with Zurich is 1. the french language (I find it much easier than german, not to mention swiss german) and 2. it being close to Lausanne

Well, it's a beautiful city, with a beautiful lake,but...
Based on what I have read ,in the past few months,in the news and here on the EF, I would most definitely vote 'NAY' !!

Very expensive housing,
difficult to find housing
flats ain't well-maintained,
high crime rate,
lack of General cleanliness etc etc

It's good for just a visit (wallet in front-pockets please), I'd say!!

You're better-off in Zurich!!

All the best!!

Nothing like a good objective opinion formed personally in situ, isn't it!

Christ. Haven't you read it on here that they now burn people alive in Zurich!

Compared to what?

compared to anywhere else in Switzerland

It depends on your budget - even the local population is often forced to move to the Canton de Vaud up to Lausanne or to neighboring France as far as Annecy.

Yup indeed, there's nothing like an "objective opinion". Well, not unless it's based on "subjective facts".


Anyhoozer... as someone else suggested, a visit to Geneva to get a feel for the place would make sense.

The OP should spend a week there one afternoon.

Other people here are in a better position to tell you what Geneva is actually like, so I can't give you any recommendations. If you've studied in Zurich, you know firsthand about the language barrier, and if you can learn German you can also learn French. But I just have one suggestion for you. If you are on the verge of accepting a great job in a new city, and the absolute WORST thing about this place is that it's a boring city, I strongly suggest that you accept the job.