Olten is compact and quietly likeable, an old town on the Aare that happens to be one of Switzerland's most important railway junctions. That means cheaper rents than the big cities while everywhere else is a short train ride away, and a busy FHNW campus right by the station keeps a student presence in town. It suits anyone who wants calm and a strategic base rather than big-city buzz.

• One of Switzerland's most central rail hubs, so Zürich, Bern and Basel are all around 25–30 minutes away
• Cheaper than the big cities, with a lively FHNW campus right by the station

Olten is small, so a lot of student life is tied to the FHNW campus and its bars, with the wider nightlife found on quick train hops to Zürich, Basel or nearby Aarau. Locally, the old town's cafés and riverside spots by the historic wooden bridge are where you'll meet people. It is a place to make close friends rather than lose yourself in crowds.

• Meet people through FHNW campus events and the bars around the station
• Head to Aarau, Basel or Zürich by train when you want bigger nights out
• Ask the Olten Studcasa group how other students split their social life between town and the cities

Olten is more affordable than Switzerland's big cities, though still pricey by international standards, so budget around €1,400–2,100 a month. Rents in particular are noticeably lower than in Zürich or Geneva, which is much of the appeal. A Halbtax or GA travelcard pays for itself fast given how much you'll take the train.

• Rooms run roughly CHF 550–900 a month, well below Zürich prices
• Consider a GA season ticket if you'll commute daily, or a Halbtax to halve fares
• Shop at Aldi, Lidl and Migros and cook at home to keep food costs down

With a smaller market, rooms in shared flats turn up around the old town, near the station and in the surrounding neighbourhoods, and you can often find better value than in the cities. Because it is a commuter town, some students base themselves in Olten and study elsewhere, or the reverse. View places in person where you can.

• Search WGZimmer.ch, Students.ch and Ronorp for rooms in and around Olten
• Living near the Bahnhof puts every train line at your doorstep
• Ask the Olten Studcasa group whether basing here and commuting suits your university

Olten's whole identity is the railway, so intercity trains fan out to Zürich, Bern, Basel and Lucerne with remarkable frequency. The town itself is small enough to cover on foot or by bike, with local BOGG buses for the rest. The historic covered wooden bridge over the Aare links the old town to the station side.

• Use the frequent SBB intercity trains from Olten's station to reach most of the country
• Walk or cycle the compact town, and use BOGG buses for outlying areas
• Cross the Alte Holzbrücke, the old covered wooden bridge, between the old town and the station

Olten's academic life centres on FHNW, the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, whose business and applied-psychology schools sit right by the station. Larger universities in Bern, Basel and Zürich are all a short commute away, so many students combine an Olten base with study elsewhere. FHNW terms run mid-September to December and February to June.

• FHNW's Olten campus is strong in business, economics and applied psychology
• Its position means you can easily reach universities in Bern, Basel or Zürich by train

Switzerland is in Schengen but not the EU, so your process depends on nationality. EU/EFTA students do not need a visa; you enter freely and then register with your local commune (Gemeinde/commune) within 14 days of arrival to get a residence permit, showing enrolment, funds and insurance.

Non-EU students must apply for a national (D) long-stay visa at a Swiss embassy before travelling, then convert it to a residence permit at the local commune after arrival. You will need your acceptance letter, proof of sufficient funds, accommodation and health insurance. Processing can take eight to twelve weeks, so apply as early as possible. Everyone must sort mandatory Swiss health insurance or get an exemption using EHIC or equivalent cover.

• EU/EFTA: no visa; register with your local commune within 14 days
• Non-EU: apply for a national D visa at a Swiss embassy before arrival
• Bring acceptance letter, proof of funds, housing and insurance
• Sort health insurance early, it is mandatory or needs a formal exemption
• Start non-EU applications 3+ months ahead; processing is slow

Olten offers small-town Swiss life: cafés under the old-town facades, riverside walks along the Aare, and regional treats like the hazelnut Solothurn torte from the surrounding canton. For bigger cultural outings you're minutes from Aarau or half an hour from three major cities. Sundays, as everywhere in Switzerland, are sleepy and shops closed.

• Sample a Solothurner Torte, the hazelnut-and-buttercream speciality of the region
• Wander the pedestrian old town and the Aare riverbanks on a sunny afternoon
• Do your shopping on Saturday, as everything closes on Sunday

This is a small town, so distinctions are modest: the compact Altstadt sits on the west bank of the Aare, the station quarter and Säliquartier lie opposite, and quieter residential streets and the neighbouring town of Trimbach ring the centre. Most things are within a walk or short cycle.

• The Altstadt for old-town charm right on the river
• The station side for the shortest commute and the FHNW campus
• Outlying streets or nearby Trimbach for quieter, cheaper rooms

Being a rail hub turns Olten into a day-trip machine. Zürich, Bern and Basel are each around half an hour, Lucerne and its lake about forty-five minutes, and the baroque town of Solothurn twenty minutes up the line. The Jura hills above town, including the Born ridge and the Säli castle ruin, are on your doorstep for a quick hike.

• Reach Zürich, Bern or Basel in around half an hour for a change of scene
• Visit baroque Solothurn (twenty minutes) or Lucerne's lake (about forty-five)
• Hike the Jura hills and the Sälischlössli ruin straight from town

Olten's superpower is its trains, so invest in the right travelcard early and treat the whole country as your backyard. Don't expect big-city nightlife on your doorstep; instead enjoy lower rents and hop on a train when you want more. Get comfortable with Swiss German, and remember Sundays shut everything down.

• Buy a GA or Halbtax card early and use Olten's connections to explore widely
• Embrace the small-town calm and take the train out for bigger nights
• Stock up on Saturday, since shops close on Sundays