Before you can think of teaching in Switzerland, you must have a visa, which can only be applied for by your employer. This makes working in Switzerland possibly a little more complicated than in other countries, but it is certainly worth the effort. Not only is it a staggeringly beautiful country, the schools are often very exclusive - the finishing school is still alive and well and flourishing in Switzerland. The standard of living is also very high and these factors make all the extra trouble more than worthwhile. Salaries for teaching jobs vary enormously depending on the type of school, but the state schools pay well and have long holidays and good pensions, so if you intend to stay longer in this lovely country, that might be something to consider when making your choice. The two main cities of Switzerland are Geneva and Zurich. Geneva is right on the border with France and the main language, unsurprisingly, is French. Zurich, further North and East is German speaking, but of course all Swiss are pretty much multilingual. Geneva can get cold in winter and its summers are not usually very hot, but it doesn't rain that much and being on the shores of the lake keeps the climate very pleasant and healthy. The city is a financial centre primarily and not known for its nightlife. Despite also being a financial centre, Zurich is much busier in the evenings and has more to offer culturally, although both cities are very lovely, with a lot of incredible architecture, both modern and older. The cost of living in Switzerland is quite high, but the standard of living matches it and of course you will be receiving a salary with this in mind, so you should manage well. If you are sporty, Switzerland has some of the best skiing in the world and it is all very accessible no matter where you are based. With generous holiday allowances, you should be able to make the most of the snow and if you are a novice then this is definitely the time to learn. Skiing is a sport which suits all ages and levels of fitness so you might well be setting yourself up with a sporting interest for life. The scenery for the non-skier is reason enough to travel to the mountains. From Geneva you can see Mont Blanc, which has to be one of the most spectacular city views in the world. Switzerland is a very law abiding and safe country, so you won't have to worry about where you go - there are really no areas which are off limits. But on the other side of the coin, the laws which protect you are also strict in the other direction, so you must make sure that you always have the correct paperwork with you and that you can produce it if requested. The penalties can be quite severe if you don't stick to the rules.