By the Where to Stay in Switzerland editorial team · Updated November 5, 2026
The Short Answer
Stay in the Old Town, the lanes on both banks of the Limmat between the main station (Zurich HB) and the lake. Everything a short trip needs is within a 15-minute walk, and trains to Lucerne, Bern and the mountains leave from the station. Our pick is Storchen Zürich, on the river facing the Grossmünster.
The west bank (Lindenhof, Augustinergasse, Bahnhofstrasse) is quieter and more polished. The Niederdorf on the east bank is livelier, with more bars and restaurants. Stay by the lake for the grand hotels, in Kreis 4 behind the station for nightlife and lower prices, or at the airport only for a late arrival or an early flight.
Zurich's Areas Compared
| Area | Best for | To Zurich HB | Downsides |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Town, west bank | First visits, quiet lanes, shopping | 5–10 min walk | Pedestrian zones; few hotels with parking |
| Niederdorf (east bank) | Restaurants, bars, character | 10 min walk | Weekend noise on the main lane |
| Lakefront | Grand hotels, lake walks | 15 min walk or tram | The priciest part of town |
| Kreis 4 / Langstrasse | Nightlife, value, easy trains | 5 min walk | Gritty in places, noisy at night |
| Zürichberg | Spa stays, views over the city | Tram, then the Dolderbahn rack railway | Not walkable to the center |
| Airport | Late arrivals, early flights | 10–15 min by train | Nothing to see |
Map of Zurich Hotels
The main station is at the top of the Old Town; the Limmat runs south from it to the lake.
Map prices come from Booking.com and other partners through Stay22. Enter your dates on the map to see live rates.
Search all Zurich stays →Best Splurge Hotels
Three on the river or the lake in the center, and one resort on the hill above it.
Storchen Zürich
Weinplatz, on the Limmat in the Old Town, Zurich
Our top pick: right on the Limmat in the Old Town, with a riverside terrace facing the Grossmünster and a rooftop bar.
Best for: First-time visitors
- On the river in the Old Town
- Riverside terrace restaurant (May to October)
- Rooftop bar
More about this hotel
A 64-room hotel right on the Limmat in the Old Town, with a riverside terrace facing the Grossmünster and a rooftop bar. The main station is about a 10-minute walk away.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Roland zh, CC BY-SA 3.0
Baur au Lac
Talstrasse, at the lake end of Bahnhofstrasse, Zurich
The classic grand hotel, in its own park where Bahnhofstrasse meets the lake.
Best for: Classic luxury by the lake
- Family-run since 1844
- Private park by Lake Zurich
- Marguita restaurant with lakeside terrace
More about this hotel
Run by the same family since it opened in 1844, Baur au Lac sits in its own park where Bahnhofstrasse meets the lake. Rooms look over the lake and Alps, the park or the city, and the Old Town is a short walk away.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Roland zh, CC BY-SA 3.0
Widder Hotel
Rennweg, Augustiner quarter of the Old Town, Zurich
Nine historic town houses turned into one design-minded hotel, just off Bahnhofstrasse.
Best for: Design-minded couples
- 49 rooms across nine historic buildings
- About 650 m from the main station
- Three restaurants and the Widder Bar
More about this hotel
Nine historic town houses joined into one hotel of 49 rooms and suites, on a pedestrian street just off Bahnhofstrasse. The main station is about 650 meters away, and the hotel has three restaurants and the Widder Bar.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Adrian Michael, CC BY-SA 3.0
The Dolder Grand
Adlisberg hillside above the city, Zurich
A resort with a big spa on the hill above the city, reached by rack railway.
Best for: Spa stays and city views
- 4,000 m² spa with a 25 m pool
- Junior Suites with Alps views
- Rack railway from the city to the door
More about this hotel
A grand resort on the wooded hill above the city, with a 4,000 m² spa and a 25-meter pool. You get there by tram and the Dolderbahn rack railway, whose top station is next to the hotel, or in about 20 minutes by car from the airport.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Whgler, CC BY-SA 4.0
Best Mid-Range Hotels
Three historic Old Town hotels and one design hotel by the station.
Marktgasse Hotel
Niederdorf, Old Town (east bank), Zurich
A restored 15th-century inn in the Niederdorf with a well-known restaurant.
Best for: Mid-budget Old Town stays
- 15th-century building in the Old Town
- IGNIV restaurant by Andreas Caminada
- Casual pinseria downstairs
More about this hotel
A restored 15th-century inn in the Niederdorf with 39 individually styled rooms, from tiny singles to large historic doubles. It is home to IGNIV, Andreas Caminada's sharing-plates restaurant, and a casual pinseria.
Hotel Kindli
Pfalzgasse, by the Lindenhof (west bank), Zurich
Just 20 rooms by the Lindenhof, with a classic Zurich restaurant downstairs.
Best for: A quiet Old Town base
- Only 20 rooms
- Steps from the Lindenhof
- Classic Zurich restaurant
More about this hotel
A 20-room hotel in a building first recorded in 1474, steps from the Lindenhof viewpoint over the Old Town and the Limmat. Its restaurant is known for Zürcher Geschnetzeltes with rösti.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Andrzej Otrębski, CC BY-SA 4.0
Hotel Adler Zürich
Rosengasse, Niederdorf, Zurich
Family rooms and a fondue restaurant in the middle of the Niederdorf.
Best for: Families in the Old Town
- In the Niederdorf pedestrian zone
- Three types of family room
- Fondue restaurant downstairs
More about this hotel
An air-conditioned Old Town hotel at Hirschenplatz in the Niederdorf, about 570 meters from the main station. Its Swiss Chuchi restaurant bills itself as the Old Town's first fondue restaurant, and there are three types of family room.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Archaeaoris, CC BY-SA 4.0
25hours Hotel Zürich Langstrasse
Langstrasse, Kreis 4, behind the main station, Zurich
A design hotel with a rooftop sauna, a short walk from the back of the main station.
Best for: Nightlife and easy trains
- Short walk from Zurich HB
- Rooftop sauna and outdoor deck
- City bikes to borrow
More about this hotel
A 170-room design hotel at Europaallee, a short walk from the back of the main station, with a seventh-floor sauna looking over the tracks. The NENI restaurant serves Eastern Mediterranean sharing plates and breakfast.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: UCaetano, CC BY-SA 3.0
Budget Hotels and the Airport
Budget in Zurich means a value chain or a hostel; the airport hotel is for flight times, not savings.
Motel One Zürich
Stockerstrasse, near Paradeplatz, Zurich
Small, dependable rooms near Paradeplatz for less than most central hotels.
Best for: A good-value city base
- About 600 m from Paradeplatz
- Kids up to 12 free in parents' room
- Lounge bar
More about this hotel
A dependable chain hotel with compact 16 m² rooms, a short walk from Paradeplatz and Bahnhofstrasse. Breakfast is an organic buffet, and children up to 12 stay free in their parents' room.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0
Zurich Youth Hostel
Wollishofen, south of the center, Zurich
The budget choice for families, by the lake in quiet Wollishofen.
Best for: Budget travelers and families
- Family-friendly hostel
- 24-hour reception
- Restaurant and bar
More about this hotel
Swiss Youth Hostels' Zurich hostel is a modern building in quiet Wollishofen, near the lake, with a restaurant, bar and 24-hour reception. It is about 3.5 km from the main station, so plan on a tram or S-Bahn ride into the center.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Kelson, CC BY-SA 3.0
Radisson Blu Hotel Zurich Airport
At the terminals, Zurich Airport
For a late arrival or early flight: direct access to the terminals.
Best for: Early flights
- Direct access to the terminals
- About 2 minutes' walk to the airport station
- Family rooms
More about this hotel
The hotel with direct access to Zurich Airport's terminals and railway station, so it suits a late arrival or an early flight. Trains to Zurich main station take 10 to 15 minutes.
Zurich Hotels at a Glance
Prices change by date and room type, so check your own dates on Booking.com before you decide.
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Storchen ZürichWeinplatz, on the Limmat in the Old Town, Zurich · SplurgeFirst-time visitorsCheck prices -
Baur au LacTalstrasse, at the lake end of Bahnhofstrasse, Zurich · SplurgeClassic luxury by the lakeCheck prices -
Widder HotelRennweg, Augustiner quarter of the Old Town, Zurich · SplurgeDesign-minded couplesCheck prices -
The Dolder GrandAdlisberg hillside above the city, Zurich · SplurgeSpa stays and city viewsCheck prices -
Marktgasse HotelNiederdorf, Old Town (east bank), Zurich · Mid-rangeMid-budget Old Town staysCheck prices -
Hotel KindliPfalzgasse, by the Lindenhof (west bank), Zurich · Mid-rangeA quiet Old Town baseCheck prices -
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25hours Hotel Zürich LangstrasseLangstrasse, Kreis 4, behind the main station, Zurich · Mid-rangeNightlife and easy trainsCheck prices -
Motel One ZürichStockerstrasse, near Paradeplatz, Zurich · BudgetA good-value city baseCheck prices -
Zurich Youth HostelWollishofen, south of the center, Zurich · BudgetBudget travelers and familiesCheck prices -
Radisson Blu Hotel Zurich AirportAt the terminals, Zurich Airport · Mid-rangeEarly flightsCheck prices
| Hotel | Location | Price level | Best for | Prices | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Storchen Zürich
Riverside boutique hotel
|
Weinplatz, on the Limmat in the Old Town, Zurich | Splurge | First-time visitors | Check prices |
|
|
Baur au Lac
Grand hotel
|
Talstrasse, at the lake end of Bahnhofstrasse, Zurich | Splurge | Classic luxury by the lake | Check prices |
|
|
Widder Hotel
Boutique luxury
|
Rennweg, Augustiner quarter of the Old Town, Zurich | Splurge | Design-minded couples | Check prices |
|
|
The Dolder Grand
City resort and spa
|
Adlisberg hillside above the city, Zurich | Splurge | Spa stays and city views | Check prices |
|
|
Marktgasse Hotel
Boutique hotel
|
Niederdorf, Old Town (east bank), Zurich | Mid-range | Mid-budget Old Town stays | Check prices |
|
|
Hotel Kindli
Historic small hotel
|
Pfalzgasse, by the Lindenhof (west bank), Zurich | Mid-range | A quiet Old Town base | Check prices |
|
|
Hotel Adler Zürich
Old Town hotel
|
Rosengasse, Niederdorf, Zurich | Mid-range | Families in the Old Town | Check prices |
|
|
25hours Hotel Zürich Langstrasse
Design hotel
|
Langstrasse, Kreis 4, behind the main station, Zurich | Mid-range | Nightlife and easy trains | Check prices |
|
|
Motel One Zürich
Value chain hotel
|
Stockerstrasse, near Paradeplatz, Zurich | Budget | A good-value city base | Check prices |
|
|
Zurich Youth Hostel
Hostel
|
Wollishofen, south of the center, Zurich | Budget | Budget travelers and families | Check prices |
|
|
Radisson Blu Hotel Zurich Airport
Airport hotel
|
At the terminals, Zurich Airport | Mid-range | Early flights | Check prices |
Hotel details checked on November 5, 2026.
Getting Around Zurich
- From the airport: trains to Zurich HB take 10 to 15 minutes and run several times an hour. If you are heading straight to Lucerne, it is about 1 hour from the airport by train.
- In the city: the Old Town is best on foot, and trams cover the rest. Zurich does not give hotel guests a free transport card, so buy tickets or the Zürich Card if you plan to ride a lot. A Swiss Travel Pass covers city trams and buses.
- Onward by train: about 45 minutes to Lucerne, about 1 hour to Bern, about 2 hours to Interlaken and Lugano, and about 3 hours to Geneva.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to help you choose where to stay.