Vienna is once again #1 on Mercer’s list of cities with the highest living standards in the world. What to say? Vienna is pretty awesome!
Zurich made #2 this year. It’s only a short flight from Vienna to Zurich, so why not check it out?

The morning flight leaves Vienna at 6:50 am and gets you to the heart of the city of Zurich by around 9 am, a short train ride included.

So, how do these two cities compare? For starters, Zurich is much smaller, a bit more laid back and a lot richer. No shortage of Maseratis and Mercedes S class on the street. You see them in Vienna too, but the density is much higher in Zurich. Combine that with the number of banks and jewelry stores, and you’ll easily think that every Swiss person is born with 2 kg of gold under their pillow. Well, that’s taking it a bit too far, but you get the idea.

Looking beyond the surface though, you see a very colorful city, in some regards even more colorful than Vienna, with a lot of expats, immigrants and everything that comes with them: diversity, great food, a feeling of belonging which comes easy to everybody. Vienna is actually quite homogenous compared to Zurich, which seems, at least at first sight, to be – and this may come as a surprise – more open.

I explore the area around Hardbruecke, which offers a great variety of eateries, bars and generally cool places. After that, I go on a short trip to Langstrasse, which is very colorful and diverse and turns into a red-light district / all night party in the evening.

Then a stroll through the old town, around Paradeplatz and on to the lake, from where you get an amazing panorama view of lake, mountains and beautiful old houses – pretty much all you expect Switzerland to be.

The Dolder Grand
A grand name indeed, and a grand place too. On the hill overlooking the lake and city is the beautiful and traditional 5* Hotel, which is definitely in a high price-class, but you get what you pay for. If you don’t want to spend the night, they have a wonderful restaurant and a great day spa.
After a stroll in the woods surrounding the hotel, it’s back down the hill by the old and very enjoyable Dolder-Bahn, to one of the nicest and most expensive districts of the city. It’s all villas, opera house, lake-views and nice bars, and it’s easy to believe, that – with the matching income – this is a fabulous place to live indeed.

I’m back in Vienna around 11 pm and I feel happy. Zurich is no doubt one of the most beautiful cities in the world, but Vienna is just special and it’s good to be back. As they say: “Wien ist anders”.