Where To Stay In Zurich, Switzerland – The BEST Areas & Hotels

Looking for where to stay in Zurich Switzerland?

Although Zurich attracts mainly business visitors, there are many reasons to come and experience the city as a tourist.

Once you’ve set eyes on Lake Zurich, the cobblestone streets of the old town, and the fabulous backdrop of the Swiss Alps, you’ll know why so many people come to experience Zurich.

I’ve put together this guide to help you find the best hotels in Zurich for your budget, whether it be a luxurious stay or something on the cheaper end, there’s something for everyone in this city.

Quick Picks: Where To Stay In Zurich – The 3 Best Hotels

If you’re in a hurry and don’t have time to read this full guide, these are the 3 best hotels in Zurich to suit all budgets.

Where To Stay In Zurich – FAQ

Before I dive into all the best places to stay in Zurich, here are some quick answers to the most frequently asked questions from first-time visitors.

Where is the best area to stay in Zurich?

Zurich City Center is the best place to stay overall, although prices may be a little higher, you will save time and money getting around the city when sightseeing.

Where to stay in Zurich for one night?

Zurich City Centre is also straightforward to get to from the airport, other cities in Switzerland, and beyond.

Zurich HB train station is well-connected and conveniently located in the city center.

Where to stay in Zurich for families?

South of Zurich’s city center, Enge, or District 2, is a lush and leafy neighborhood that’s great for families visiting Zurich.

Ideally situated along the western shores of Lake Zurich, there’s plenty to do for families of all ages and there’s a very safe feeling in this part of the city.

Where to stay in Zurich for nightlife?

Just northwest of Old Town, next to Zurich Main Station, Langstrasse is the best place to stay in Zurich for nightlife.

With hip hotels, thumping nightclubs, and wild casinos, Langstrasse is a hotspot for revelers, it was after all once the red-light district of Zurich.

What is the best place to stay in Zurich on a budget?

A former industrial area, Zurich West is one of the trendiest neighborhoods in town and the best place to stay in Zurich on a budget.

It used to be characterized by abandoned warehouses and dilapidated factories, but it’s now home to budget hotels, great restaurants, and cafes.

Is Zurich expensive to stay in?

It’s true that Switzerland is known to be one of the most expensive countries in the world, and Zurich is no different.

While there are cheap options in the city, expect to pay more than standard European prices for accommodation and dining out.

 Best Areas To Stay In Zurich

The majority of the hotels in Zurich can be found in these five main tourist areas.

• Zurich City Center – Best area to stay in Zurich overall
• Enge – Best place to stay in Zurich with family
• Riesbach – Best views of the city
• Langstrasse – Where to stay in Zurich for nightlife
• Zurich West – Best area to stay in Zurich on a budget

Below you will find my personalized recommended places to stay in Zurich in each of these main areas including budget hostels, mid-range hotels, and luxury hotels in Zurich.

Zurich City Center – Best Area To Stay In Zurich For First-timers

No trip is complete without a visit to Zurich’s lively and charming Old Town, easily one of the best places to stay in Zurich. 

Known as District 1, the Old Town is actually broken down into several different areas – the medieval streets, squares, and cathedrals of the Niederdorf area and Altstadt.

The luxury shopping mile and high-end boutiques of Bahnhofstrasse. And the popular Lindenhof Hill, with views across the Limmat River.

Of course, the other main attractions are here, as well as Zurich’s main train station for added convenience.

Ready to read about the best Zurich hotels in the city center? Here they are, from luxury hotels to relatively cheap hotels.

Best Luxury Hotel In Zurich City Center: Baur au Lac

The 5-star Baur au Lac is one of the best hotels in Zurich with scenic views over Lake Zurich and the Alps, and a central location.

With a limousine service, a concierge, a valet, an on-site garage, and a wine boutique, you will have everything you need.

Boasting two renowned and award-winning restaurants, it’s not just the modern rooms that attract guests from all over the world.

Keep active in the top-floor fitness center, with high-end facilities like medical massages and physiotherapy. There’s also a hair and beauty salon for those who like to be pampered.

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Best Mid-Range Hotel In Zurich City Center: Hotel Adler Zürich

Hotel Adler is a beautiful hotel situated in the heart of Zurich’s Old Town, the historic building dates back to the 16th century.

Everything about this hotel in Zurich gives you an insight into Swiss history and traditions.

The in-house “Swiss Chuchi” restaurant serves traditional cuisine where you can sample time-honored recipes such as the “Adler Cheese Fondue” or the tasty “Rösti” potato pancakes.

Adler is just a 5-minute walk from the Bahnhofstrasse shopping street and is close to the city’s main sights like Zurich Lake, as well as the Town Hall.

Interested in culture? The Cabaret Voltaire art center is just steps away, which is fantastic. Plus the railway station is just 2 tram stops away.

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Best Budget Hotel In Zurich City Center: Friendly Hostel Zürich

If you’re looking for a cheap place to stay in one of the best areas in Zurich, Friendly Hostel is a great option.

Choose between 3, 4, or 8-bed dorms, all clean, modern, and full of thoughtful touches. There are shared bathrooms with showers, and a kettle in each dorm. Some rooms also come with views of the city.

The hostel is in the perfect location just 350 yards from Bahnhofstrasse and around 450 yards from Grossmünster.

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️

Enge – Best Area To Stay In Zurich For Families

Leafy and lush Enge (District 2), is popular with families, nature lovers, and the active crowd.

Explore Rieterpark, the largest landscaped park in all of Zurich, and from its hilltop vantage point, you can get stunning views of Lake Zurich and even the Glarner Alps.

You can also visit Belvoirpark, Zurich’s first landscaped gardens, and the ever-popular Seebad Enge, an outdoor bath with a bar and wood decking area.

Best Luxury Hotel In Enge: Neues Schloss Privat Hotel Zurich

For a real touch of luxury, the boutique Neues Schloss hotel is the perfect escape from busy city life.

They offer a highly personalized service that makes them stand out from the crowd when it comes to choosing the best hotels in Zurich.

The hotel is beautifully designed with selected artwork throughout and the rooms are furnished with walnut wood, leather, and granite.

Expect to find your very own Nespresso coffee machine and tea facilities to cater to your caffeine needs. While the unique Neues Schloss Privat Hotel Sleep Experience Bed will take care of the relaxation.

In the evening, the on-site restaurant impresses with its fusion dishes, combining the flavors of Southern Europe with the culinary diversity of Zurich.

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Best Mid-Range Hotel In Enge: Engimatt City & Garden Hotel

The perfect backdrop to a family holiday, the Engimatt City and Garden Hotel has a beautiful garden, with its very own private tennis court.

There’s free Wi-Fi access to keep the kids busy in the rooms and cable TV with over 100 international channels. The stylish rooms also have beautiful balconies that overlook the gardens and beyond.

In summer, make the most of the weather by dining in Hotel Engimatt’s garden. The Leafs Restaurant is designed as a ‘winter garden’ and serves Swiss and international cuisine.

This family hotel in Zurich is just a 15-minute walk from the Old Town, Bahnhofstrasse street, and Paradeplatz Square.

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Best Budget Hotel In Enge: Residence Mutschellen

For families on a budget, Residence Mutschellen is the perfect choice for where to stay in Zurich.

The air-conditioned studios and apartments all come with free Wi-Fi. The shared laundry facilities and the garden (with a furnished terrace), make for an easy stay for young families.

Everything you need is within walking distance, including restaurants, cafes, groceries, and the Sihlcity Shopping Centre.

It’s also convenient to get around town from here. Residence Mutschellen is just a 5-minute walk from the Zürich-Brunau Train Station and a 10-minute walk from the banks of Lake Zurich.

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Riesbach – Best Place To Stay In Zurich For The Views

Riesbach, also known as Seefeld or District 8, is a scenic residential area close to Lake Zurich.

Right on the opposite side of the river, it shares many of the same characteristics of family-friendly Enge.

Popular outdoor spots include the Seefeld lakeshore parks, Zurich’s Chinese Garden, Zurichorn Park, the casino, and an outdoor cinema.

Although Riesbach is mainly residential, the quaint Mühlebach quarter has cultural venues like Theater im Seefeld and Heimatschutzzentrum, an exhibition space housed in a villa.

Best Luxury Hotel In Riesbach: La Réserve Eden au Lac Zurich

On the lakeshore along Zurich’s elegant Utoquai, La Réserve Eden au Lac Zurich has been hosting international guests since 1909.

Grab a long lingering drink at the rooftop bar ‘La Muna’, it’s open all summer. The bar comes alive at night, attracting music lovers from across the city. 

For dinner choose between a host of internationally acclaimed wines at Eden Kitchen & Bar, along with some uniquely Swiss gastronomical delights.

This 5-star retreat offers a stylish refuge with historical charm, designed by Philippe Starck.

But it’s the views that make this one of the best areas to stay in Zurich, here you can look out from your cozy rooms to the distant snow-capped Alps.

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Best Mid-Range Hotel In Riesbach: Boutique Hotel NI-MO

Explore the many boutiques, cafés, and restaurants in Zurich’s Seefeld district from the ideally situated Boutique Hotel NI-MO.

Light and airy tones give the hotel a fresh, open feel. With design highlights like original parquet flooring, Scandi furniture, and clean lines.

The included buffet-style breakfast features homemade bread and yogurt, fresh fruit, croissants, Swiss cheese, and dried meats.

Stadelhofen Station is just 450 yards away from the hotel, and you can reach Central Station by tram in about 10 minutes.

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Best Budget Hotel In Riesbach: Aparthotel Familie Hugenschmidt

This charming family-run Aparthotel offers a choice of modern en-suite rooms or fully equipped self-catering apartments.

It’s a great budget hotel in Zurich, just a 3-minute walk from the green banks of Lake Zurich promenade with free WiFi access throughout the property.

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️

Langstrasse – Where To Stay In Zurich For Nightlife

The trendy, revitalized area of District 6 is home to long-standing dance clubs, newly opened bars, and just about everything in between.

Hotspots include the Plaza Club, Zukunft, and for rock and indie tunes the Gonzo Nightclub.

Although a lot more savory than it once was, it’s best to still play it safe in this edgy part of town.

RELATED GUIDE: Things To Do In Lauterbrunnen

Best Luxury Hotel In Langstrasse: 25hours Hotel Langstrasse

One of the coolest and most unique places to stay in Zurich, 25Hours Hotel Langstrasse is ideally located right in the heart of the city.

This modern and trendy hotel includes a sauna and fitness center, an onsite restaurant, and a bar.

There is funky decor and a cool vibe, as well as a great bar area and restaurant.

Rooms have all of the finer things included, each is air conditioned and fitted with a flat-screen TV with satellite channels included.

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Best Mid-Range Hotel In Langstrasse: Boutique Hotel Helvetia

Immediately clean and comfortable, this stylish and quirky boutique hotel in Zurich is a great mid-range option in the trendy Kreis 4 district.

The friendly and helpful staff will make you feel right at home, while the restaurant impresses by combining haute cuisine and traditional Swiss dishes.

And to work off that hangover, guests can enjoy free access to the Indigo fitness club. Work out at the gym, or indulge in a steam bath or a sauna, it’s just a 2-minute walk away.

The main train station, Stauffacher Tram Stop, and the Selnau S-Bahn stop (local trains) are all close by.

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Best Budget Hotel In Langstrasse: Hotel Gregory

If you’re looking for a place to stay in Zurich on a budget, but still want to be at the center of the action, Hotel Gregory is the place to be.

On the corner of Militarstrasse and Langstrasse, it even has its very own in-house pub called the “Old Gregory Pub”.

The bright and airy rooms are basic but comfortable. Explore the city by foot right from the door, or hang out at the hotel in the evenings and sing karaoke at the bar.

The reception is open 24 hours, and there’s free wifi throughout.

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️

Zurich West – Best Place To Stay In Zurich On A Budget

 Zurich’s newest trendy neighborhood is the ex-industrial area of Zurich West.

Browse the shops and eateries of Im Viadukt, sample delicious tapas, and seafood at Les Halles, and eat home-style cuisine in the outdoor urban garden at Frau Gerolds Garten.

Best Luxury Hotel In Zurich West: FIVE Zurich – Luxury City Resort

Set in the Wiedikon district, the 5-star FIVE Zurich Luxury City Resort offers a bar, as well as an indoor pool and a hammam.

Make use of the hotel’s free bikes, seasonal outdoor swimming pool, hot tub, sauna, and fitness center.

The in-house restaurant offers a buffet or à la carte breakfast, but for those on a stricter budget who want to prepare their own meals, certain rooms are equipped with a kitchen with a dishwasher, an oven, and a stovetop.

Expect all of the rooms to have air conditioning, a seating area, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a kettle, a safety deposit box, and a private bathroom with a shower, bathrobes, and slippers.

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Best Mid-Range Hotel In Zurich West: The Henry

Tucked away on a quiet side street in Zurich West, The Henry is one of the best places to stay in Zurich.

This unique hotel features rooms based on different film and television scenes. Themes range from The Great Gatsby, futuristic designs from Avatar, historical tv shows like The Crown, or fantasy films like Alice in Wonderland.

Rooms are well set up and come with cable TV, box-spring beds, a kitchenette, a flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi, and a hairdryer.

The old town, main shopping centers, and the Limmat River are only a few minutes away. It’s easy to get around the city from the nearby Limmatplatz tram stop.

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Best Budget Hotel In Zurich West: Hotel Saint Georges

The location makes this budget hotel in Zurich one of the best.

Only a 10-minute walk from the Bahnhofstrasse shopping street, and just 350 yards from the Zürich-Wiedikon Train Station.

Single rooms with shared bathrooms are the cheapest option, but other rooms with private bathrooms are also available.

The lobby area is also suitable for holding small meetings, great for those who work remotely.

A good breakfast is served every morning, and there are lots of options for places to eat nearby in the evenings.

Hotel Saint Georges is a really great value-for-money hotel by Switzerland standards.

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️

Best Hotels Near Zurich Airport

If you are catching an early or late flight you may want to stay near Zurich Airport.

It’s not one of the best places to stay in Zurich in general, but there are some good options for airport stays.

Best Luxury Hotel Near Airport: Kameha Grand Zurich

This 5-star luxury hotel is located a 6-minute drive from Zurich Airport, and just 15 minutes from the historic Old Town.

Highlights are a 60°C sanarium, state-of-the-art workout equipment, a steam bath, and relaxing beds on the rooftop terrace.

Tram line 10 gets you directly from the airport to the hotel, alternatively, a limousine service is available on request.

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Best Mid-Range Hotel Near Airport: Hotel Allegra Lodge

This mid-range hotel in Zurich offers a restaurant with a buffet breakfast, a fitness center, a business center, a bar, and a terrace.

Rooms with kitchen facilities are available, and Zurich Airport is just 1.9 miles from Hotel Allegra Lodge.

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Zurich Accommodation Map

To find more of the best hotels in Zurich, here is an interactive map of all the available accommodations.

Simply enter your dates of stay below and hit the search button!

Booking.com

Best Tours In Zurich

Things To Know Before You Go

Now that we’ve covered the best hotels in Zurich old town and beyond, as well as the best locations near tourist attractions like the Zurich Opera House, let’s elaborate on common FAQs for first-time visitors.

Main Tourist Attractions In Zurich

While Lake Zurich attracts tourists and photographers, there are other attractions worth visiting, both in Zuirch’s city center and around, and these are:

• Zurich Town Hall
• FIFA World Football Museum
• Swiss National Museum
• Zunftstadt History Museum
• Zurich Botanical Garden
• Zurich Christmas Market

Apart from that, be sure to check out my most popular Switzerland Travel Guide to help you plan your trip!

READ NOW: 8-DAY SWITZERLAND ITINERARY

What To Pack For Zurich

When visiting Zurich, here is a list of items I highly recommend bringing with you.

Summary – Where To Stay In Zurich Switzerland

While Zurich certainly isn’t the cheapest city to visit, there are lots of options to choose from when it comes to accommodation.

Whether it’s a night or two in a friendly hostel or a luxurious family stay in a leafy suburb, I hope you’ve found the best hotel in Zurich for your trip.

If you have any questions, please leave me a comment below this post and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

For a quicker response, be sure to join Jonny Melon’s Travel Tribe on Facebook and post your questions or recommendations to our awesome community.

Travel Resources For Your Next Trip

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or it’s your first trip overseas, here are some useful travel resources to help you kick-start your next adventure!

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