Forbes magazine has identified the top ten European cities to live in. As Turist.ru notes, UK cities are not included in the list. The ranking is based on Mercer Consulting's annual review of quality of life by international standards.
1. Zurich (Switzerland) became the leader. Population of Zurich – 376,815 at the end of 2007. Zurich has one of the lowest taxes in the country and no inheritance tax. The only thing that mars the beautiful landscapes and tax haven is the cloudy weather and heavy traffic.
2. Vienna (Austria) – is the political, economic and cultural center of Austria. The city has many UNESCO World Heritage cultural sites. Vienna offers excellent education and also has great infrastructure.
3.Geneva (Switzerland) – it turns out that 50% of the city's population hold foreign passports and work in various international organizations. A cosmopolitan city with private banks, hospitals and international schools.
4.Düsseldorf (Germany) – the city has enormous infrastructure and is an international transport hub. The city, located on the banks of the Rhine, is considered Germany's fashion and shopping center. The city's economy is highly developed.
5.Munich (Germany) – the city's population is 1.3 million people. It is the largest city in this ranking. The city hosts the annual international beer festival. A thriving economy thanks to a developed IT and biotechnology sector. The city lacks universities and the air is polluted.
6.Frankfurt (Germany) – the financial capital of the country. A city with breathtaking architecture, an opera house and a cathedral. Frankfurt has many hospitals, shops and a developed economy. The downsides are a limited choice of hotels in the center and heavy traffic.
7.Bern (Switzerland) – according to the Mercer ranking, it is the second safest city in the world. In Bern, a string of shops stretches for 6 km – a paradise for shopaholics. There are no nightlife venues, but there are plenty of excellent hospitals.
8.Copenhagen (Denmark) – is called the city of roads. Copenhagen has 11 Michelin-starred restaurants, which will delight gourmets. The city has some of the best international schools in the world and private medical clinics. However, Copenhageners' love for bicycles makes traffic a bit difficult.
9. Amsterdam (Netherlands) – the red-light district and liberal policy on soft drugs do not create a decent impression for family living. But the stunning canals, parks, museums, and the best selection of international schools in Europe are definite pluses of Amsterdam. There is a problem of lack of hotels in the city center and polluted air.
10.Brussels (Belgium) – the administrative center of the European Union. Brussels has the best connections to other cities in Europe. It has a large number of schools where foreigners and immigrants can study. But there are many traffic jams and polluted air.