Ask any multinational executive why he or she is in Geneva and one of the reasons inevitably mentioned will be “…and because it’s a great place to live!” This subjective evidence has been backed up officially by the famous survey carried out by Mercer Consulting that ranked Geneva the Number One city worldwide in terms of quality of life – two years in a row!

What makes for Geneva’s high quality of life? First, Geneva’s natural beauty. Set on the vast expanse of Lake Léman - the Lake Geneva, an inland sea of freshwater dotted with sailboats, and surrounded by snowy mountains on three sides, including breathtaking views of Mont Blanc to the south, Geneva has physical presence in spades. Its attractive inner city shopping areas and well-preserved Old Town with boutiques, galleries, cafés and restaurants make for lively street life. So lively, in fact, that the casual visitor, impressed with Geneva’s cosmopolitanism, may never realize that this “city” is, in fact, largely rural: some 45% of Geneva’s surface is reserved for agricultural land (vineyards, orchards, grazing, vegetables and cereals, forest). Indeed, Geneva is said to have two trees for every inhabitant and you never have to go far to find fresh farm produce or, for that matter, to find a farm for children to visit. (Be prepared to catch sight of a small herd of American bison grazing near the Geneva International Airport!) Greater Geneva, in fact, is a city surrounded by a series of picturesque villages and communes: so, you can enjoy the quiet of village life and still work in the city center.

And that’s possible because, secondly, Geneva is small, with Europe’s shortest commuting time from office or home to airport (only four km from airport to downtown). The ordeal of business travel is no big deal when you can get this easily to and from your home airport. This convenience is all the better thanks to a public transport infrastructure of trains, trams and buses that can get you across town (and on to anywhere else in Europe, for that matter) with ease. Although it is pleasant to have a car in Geneva for all those weekend outings advantage of, it is no necessity. Indeed, the city encourages the use of Geneva’s many bike trails and walking routes by publishing free maps and guides.

Geneva’s small size also translates into a greater sense of community. Whether you live in a village or inner neighborhood, you are never lost in big city anonymity. If you have school children, you may soon find yourself drawn into local activities in a way you would never have believed possible for a newcomer. This sense of community, added to Geneva’s low crime rate, make it one of the most secure cities in the world.

Geneva’s mosaic of nations generates a range of cultural activities. Whether it’s the largest Fourth of July celebration in Europe (not just attended by the American community, either), Chinese New Year festivities or the Indian Diwali festival of lights, Geneva’s cultural calendar is full. And that doesn’t begin to mention the many public events featuring African, Cuban, South American or Asian music, and cinema, dance, theater from the world over. Geneva’s 1200 restaurants cater to its many communities with cuisine from all over the world.

Culture with a big “C” is present in every form. Geneva’s Opera House and Grand Théatre, Art & History Museum, Rath Museum, Ariana Ceramic Museum, Patek Philippe Watch Museum, and Red Cross Museum are “musts” on the European cultural tour. But Geneva also has an exuberant “alternative” cultural scene with its own clubs, bars, theatres and exhibition spaces.