Chur, Switzerland

Capital City

With a population of just 39,177, Chur may seem quaint, but the reality is a bureaucratic headache. The tax burden is heavy and the crime rate is slightly higher than the national average, driven by a persistent drug problem. On the plus side, the city's location in the Swiss Alps provides a stunning natural backdrop, with summers that can be warm and winters that hover around freezing. Overall, Chur caters best to those seeking a quiet, traditional Swiss lifestyle, rather than an urban, cosmopolitan experience.