Switzerland may be the Playground of Europe, but its largest city puts in the work. A #5 Labour Force Participation ranking places Zürich among the most prosperous cities on the continent, winning on Internet Infrastructure (#17), Standard of Living (#18) and the third-highest University ranking. Extra credit to ETH Zürich and a cadre of fellow higher-ed institutions for that one.
Naturally, Zürich tops Smart City rankings with aplomb – most recently with IMD International in 2025. The new Swiss Games Hub, which upgraded offices last year, proves this brainy streak isn’t stopping.
Off the clock, Zürchers enjoy one of the best street-level experiences in Europe. Zürich is a mobility marvel, ranking #1 for Biking and #2 for Walkability. A new cycling tunnel provides 440 metres of bike-only roadway beneath the main railway station. It arrives just as Switzerland is experiencing a 50-year tourism high, with Zürich’s numbers continuing to ascend since Covid. The city welcomed a roster of new hotels in 2025, and more are on the way, including its first Moxy and an Aloft in the historic Karaköy building. The skyline is getting an upgrade, too: Zürich will welcome the world’s largest wooden skyscraper, at 108 metres, in 2029.