Zürich is Switzerland's largest city and the capital of the canton of Zürich, set on the northern tip of Lake Zürich where the Limmat river leaves the lake, with the Alps visible on clear days. It combines a medieval old town, world-class museums, lakeside swimming, and the luxury shopping of Bahnhofstrasse with famously punctual public transport and very high prices.
Accommodation overview
Zürich has a compact, rail-linked layout: the Altstadt (Niederdorf and Lindenhof) and the Hauptbahnhof/Bahnhofstrasse area put visitors within walking distance of the main sights, Seefeld and Enge suit lakefront stays, and Zürich West and Oerlikon offer newer chain hotels at lower rates. Prices are among the highest in Europe: dorm beds start around CHF 40-65 (approx $50-81), budget doubles run CHF 90-150 (approx $112-188), three- and four-star hotels CHF 160-450 (approx $200-565), and the grand lakefront houses such as Baur au Lac and The Dolder Grand exceed CHF 450 (approx $565) a night. Rates peak during the summer lake season, the Street Parade weekend in August and the Christmas market period, and trade fairs and conferences can raise prices at short notice, so booking several weeks ahead is advisable. A local tourist tax is collected by the hotel on top of the room rate.
- Budget
- CHF 40-150/night (approx $50-190): dorm beds from about CHF 40-45 at the Youth Hostel and MEININGER, budget doubles from about CHF 90-150 at Ibis Budget and Motel One
- Mid-range
- CHF 160-450/night (approx $200-565) for three- and four-star hotels in the Altstadt, Seefeld, Enge and Zürich West
- Luxury
- CHF 450-2000+/night (approx $565-2500+) at Baur au Lac, The Dolder Grand, Mandarin Oriental Savoy, La Réserve Eden au Lac and Widder
- Where to stay
- Altstadt (Niederdorf and Lindenhof) and the Hauptbahnhof/Bahnhofstrasse area for sights and transport; Seefeld for the lake and Opera House; Zürich West for design hotels and nightlife; Oerlikon for fairs and quick airport links
Hotels by budget
Find accommodation that fits your travel budget.
Budget-friendly
Fred Hotel Hauptbahnhof
Central hotel on Limmatstrasse a short walk from Hauptbahnhof.
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Budget hotel on Technoparkstrasse in Zürich West, near the Technopark and Hardbrücke station.
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Design budget hotel on Brandschenkestrasse near Bahnhof Enge and Paradeplatz.
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Young-oriented hotel on Badenerstrasse in Altstetten, west of the centre.
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Official Swiss Youth Hostel at Mutschellenstrasse 114 with about 76 rooms, offering dorm beds and private rooms, a short ride from Bahnhof Enge.
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Hostel-style hotel at Maneggstrasse 41 in the Green City district in southern Zürich, offering dorm beds and private rooms.
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Small hotel on Schöneggstrasse in the Aussersihl neighbourhood, close to Langstrasse.
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Three-star hotel with about 40 rooms on Friesenbergstrasse in southern Zürich.
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Quiet hotel on Hirschengraben near the university district and the Polybahn.
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AMERON Zürich Bellerive au Lac
Four-star superior hotel on the Utoquai lake promenade, a few minutes' walk from the Opera House and Bellevue.
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Upscale hotel with about 61 rooms on Stockerstrasse in Enge, near Bahnhof Enge and a short walk from the lake.
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Large city hotel with about 266 rooms on Neumühlequai on the Limmat, beside Hauptbahnhof and the Central tram stop.
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Four-star boutique hotel on the lane In Gassen near the Lindenhof and St. Peter church, on the Old Town's west bank, steps from Bahnhofstrasse.
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Four-star hotel on Sihlstrasse just off the Bahnhofstrasse and a short walk from Hauptbahnhof and Paradeplatz.
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Four-star hotel on Orellistrasse on the slopes of the Zürichberg near Zoo Zürich, reached from the centre by tram 6.
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Four-star boutique hotel with about 67 rooms on Universitätstrasse near ETH and the University, with the Polybahn funicular close by.
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Design hotel on Dufourstrasse in the Seefeld quarter, a few steps from the Opera House and Bellevue.
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Four-star boutique hotel on Falkenstrasse near the Opera House and Kunsthaus, between the Old Town and the lake.
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Small hotel with about 39 rooms on Dufourstrasse in the Seefeld district, a short walk from Bellevue and the lake.
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Boutique hotel on Schifflände beside the Limmat and Münsterbrücke, on the Old Town's east bank.
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Hotel with a garden courtyard on Sihlstrasse, minutes from the Bahnhofstrasse and St. Peter church.
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Three-star boutique hotel with about 64 rooms on Seefeldstrasse in the lakeside Seefeld district.
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Three-star hotel with about 41 rooms on Weinbergstrasse on the hillside above the main station.
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Three-star hotel with about 58 rooms on Zähringerstrasse at the edge of the Niederdorf, a short walk to the Limmatquai.
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Four-star superior hotel with about 138 rooms on the Bahnhofstrasse near Hauptbahnhof.
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Design boutique hotel on Plattenstrasse in the university district of Hottingen, uphill from Kunsthaus Zürich.
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Boutique and wellness hotel on Mainaustrasse in the Seefeld district, close to the lake promenade and Zürichhorn.
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Boutique hotel at Marktgasse 17 in the Old Town between Limmatquai and Niederdorf, in a medieval townhouse; also home of the IGNIV restaurant.
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Hotel with about 27 rooms on Niederdorfstrasse, the main pedestrian lane of the Old Town.
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Hotel on Rosengasse in the Niederdorf with the Swiss Chuchi restaurant serving fondue and Swiss dishes.
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Boutique hotel with about 25 rooms on Schützengasse, between Hauptbahnhof and the Bahnhofstrasse.
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Hotel on Pfalzgasse in the Old Town close to the Lindenhof.
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Boutique hotel on Zähringerstrasse near Central and the Niederdorf.
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Three-star hotel with about 25 rooms on Kirchgasse beside the Grossmünster in the Old Town.
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Four-star hotel on Schaffhauserstrasse in the Unterstrass district north of the main station.
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Four-star design hotel with about 87 rooms on Buckhauserstrasse in the Altstetten district, west of the centre.
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Compact design hotel with about 160 rooms on Talacker near Paradeplatz, with self check-in and an all-day canteen.
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Four-star design hotel on Pfingstweidstrasse in the Zürich West district, with a rooftop bar.
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Four-star hotel at Langstrasse 150 in the lively Kreis 4 quarter, a few minutes from Hauptbahnhof.
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Four-star hotel on Schiffbaustrasse in Zürich West next to the Schiffbau theatre.
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Four-star design hotel with about 178 rooms on Schulstrasse in Oerlikon, close to Oerlikon station and Messe Zürich.
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Aparthotel with about 74 studios and apartments on Tessinerplatz at Bahnhof Enge, with kitchenettes.
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Four-star hotel with about 167 rooms on Heinrichstrasse near Bahnhof Hardbrücke.
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Baur au Lac
Family-run five-star hotel founded in 1844 on the Schanzengraben canal where the Bahnhofstrasse meets Lake Zürich. Parkland gardens, the Pavillon and Baur's restaurants and a spa make it the city's traditional grand address.
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Five-star hotel on Poststrasse beside Paradeplatz, the Bahnhofstrasse's financial and shopping hub, and a few minutes' walk from the lake and the Old Town.
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Five-star hotel with about 138 rooms on Beethovenstrasse, a short walk from Paradeplatz and the lakefront, in a contemporary stone-and-glass building.
Check rates on Booking.comThe Dolder Grand
Landmark five-star resort on the wooded Zürichberg above the city, in a 19th-century building extended with a modern wing, with a large spa, gardens and views over the city and lake. The Dolderbahn cog railway runs up from Römerhof.
Check rates on Booking.comWidder Hotel
Five-star hotel assembled from adjoining medieval townhouses between Bahnhofstrasse and Lindenhof, combining preserved historic frescoes and beams with contemporary design.
Check rates on Booking.comHotel Storchen Zürich
Riverside hotel on Weinplatz directly on the Limmat in the Old Town. Rooms face the river or the Rathausbrücke, and it houses the La Rôtisserie restaurant.
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Small five-star lakefront hotel with about 40 rooms on Utoquai, next to the Opera House, with Lake Zürich views and the Eden Kitchen & Bar restaurant.
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Five-star hotel opposite Zürich Hauptbahnhof on Bahnhofplatz, convenient for arrivals by train and for the Bahnhofstrasse.
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Boutique hotel with spa in the converted Hürlimann brewery complex on Brandschenkestrasse, next to the Thermalbad & Spa Zürich.
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Lifestyle city resort on Döltschiweg on the slope of the Uetliberg, with a spa and award-winning dining.
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Choose your base based on your interests and travel style.
City Center
The heart of Zürich with easy access to main attractions, restaurants, and transportation.
Best for: First-time visitors, short stays
Old Town
Traditional architecture and local character. Walking distance to historical sites and authentic dining.
Best for: Culture enthusiasts, photographers
Our top picks
Handpicked recommendations for every type of traveler.
Baur au Lac
Family-run five-star hotel founded in 1844 on the Schanzengraben canal where the Bahnhofstrasse meets Lake Zürich. Parkland gardens, the Pavillon and Baur's restaurants and a spa make it the city's traditional grand address.
Check rates on Booking.comMandarin Oriental Savoy, Zurich
Five-star hotel on Poststrasse beside Paradeplatz, the Bahnhofstrasse's financial and shopping hub, and a few minutes' walk from the lake and the Old Town.
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Five-star hotel with about 138 rooms on Beethovenstrasse, a short walk from Paradeplatz and the lakefront, in a contemporary stone-and-glass building.
Check rates on Booking.comThe Dolder Grand
Landmark five-star resort on the wooded Zürichberg above the city, in a 19th-century building extended with a modern wing, with a large spa, gardens and views over the city and lake. The Dolderbahn cog railway runs up from Römerhof.
Check rates on Booking.comWidder Hotel
Five-star hotel assembled from adjoining medieval townhouses between Bahnhofstrasse and Lindenhof, combining preserved historic frescoes and beams with contemporary design.
Check rates on Booking.comHotel Storchen Zürich
Riverside hotel on Weinplatz directly on the Limmat in the Old Town. Rooms face the river or the Rathausbrücke, and it houses the La Rôtisserie restaurant.
Check rates on Booking.comBooking tips
Get the best deals and avoid common mistakes.
Zürich is a business and trade-fair city: weekday rates peak Monday-Thursday and during large fairs and conferences, while weekends in the Altstadt and Seefeld are often cheaper
Many hotels offer a Zürich Card or can book one at reception; the card covers public transport in the city zone and museum discounts, which can offset a stay outside the Altstadt
Cantonal public transport covers the whole city: stay near any S-Bahn or tram stop in Enge, Oerlikon, Hardbrücke or Altstetten to save 20-40 percent against the Altstadt
Book Dolder Grand, Baur au Lac and lakefront rooms well ahead for May-September and December; the Sechseläuten (April), Street Parade (August) and Christmas market weeks sell out quickest
Prices are in CHF; breakfast is often extra at budget hotels (about CHF 15-30) and included at many four-star hotels, so compare totals, and check hotel websites for direct-booking rates
Swiss Youth Hostel members get a discount at the Zürich hostel at Mutschellenstrasse 114; non-members pay the standard rate
Alternative accommodations
Beyond traditional hotels, consider these options.
Guesthouses
Family-run guesthouses offer authentic local experiences and often include home-cooked meals. Great for cultural immersion.
Serviced apartments
Ideal for longer stays or families. Kitchen facilities help save money and provide flexibility.
Hostels
Budget-friendly option for solo travelers. Dorms and private rooms available with social common areas.