subject: Taking A Look At Switzerland's Three Most Popular Cities [print this page] In many respects, Switzerland is a country that is as close to perfection as any will ever get.
Having never declared war on a country (or had war declared against it) for nearly 200 years, the country has one of the highest overall GDP figures of any country in the world, has a number of headquarters of globally important companies within its border, most prominently the World Trade Organization, the Red Cross and FIFA and Switzerland also boasts some of the world's best cities.
Looking at this last point in particular, of the three countries listed here, two of them are regularly voted some of the most liveable anywhere in the world and show just how fantastic of a country Switzerland is.
1. Zurich - the largest city in Switzerland, housing 7.78 million people in 15,940 square miles of land, it's also the most popular and the first city on this list to be classed as one of the most liveable in the world (the Quality of Living survey carried out by Mercer in 2009 ranked Zurich as second in the world), Zurich is one of Switzerland's most important cities.
Known as city of particular financial power and strength, many of the world's leading financial organisations are based in Zurich, partly because of its power and partly because of the low tax rate.
As a varied city, its popularity with every different type of audience can be seen by the city's Street Parade, an annual techno music event that attracts up to one million people every year, all of whom take to the streets of Zurich to showcase their adoration for techno and dance music on the second Saturday in August.
2. Geneva - Switzerland's second largest city and the second to be classed as one of the most liveable in the world, Geneva is, like Zurich, one of the world's most important financial cities.
However, Geneva is also known around the world as a particularly peaceful and diplomatic city, with the headquarters of the United Nations being located within the city and it is also popular for the fact that it is the city in which the Geneva Conventions were created and signed in 1949.
The city of Geneva may not be one that you initially think to visit for a holiday for the simple fact it is so popular as a financial and economic centre, but the truth is that should you visit, it would be wise to consider car hire Geneva to help you take in the many different sights and attractions that the city and surrounding area boasts.
3. Basel - located at the joining point of Switzerland, Germany and France, Basel, like Zurich, is a city where German is the most widely spoken language (the people of Geneva speak French).
Heavily influenced by a number of different cultures, Basel is regarded as one of Switzerland's most important and interesting cultural cities, boasting a vast array of different museums and sights of cultural importance that can be enjoyed by people with various different interests.
Easy to travel to thanks to the Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg airport, Basel has a fantastic public transport system, making it easy to travel around the city and take in the sights at your leisure.
