Zurich sits where the River Limmat flows out of Lake Zurich, and the historic centre spreads across both banks of the river. The city is compact, so you can walk from the main station to the lake in around 20 minutes, and the trams take care of the rest.
It’s also expensive, and that’s why your choice of area matters so much. It decides whether you stay in the middle of the narrow lanes, by the water or ten minutes away by train at a lower price. Here are my six recommendations for where to stay in Zurich, with hotels in three price ranges.
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The Best Areas in Zurich
- Niederdorf - best area for first-time visitors
- Lindenhof & Bahnhofstrasse - best area for luxury and shopping
- Seefeld - best area for the lake and summer swimming
- Zurich West - best area for design, culture and more hotel for your money
- Langstrasse - best area for nightlife and restaurants
- Oerlikon - best area for lower prices and a short trip to the airport
Below, I’ll take you through the six areas one by one, with hotels in three price ranges. Two things apply wherever you end up. The first is your arrival: according to the airport’s own overview, trains run from Zurich Airport to the main station, Zürich HB, every 10 minutes, and the journey takes up to a quarter of an hour. The second is the tickets. The airport is in zone 121 and the city in zone 110, which counts double, so you need a ticket for three zones. According to ZVV’s overview of single tickets, it’s valid for an hour on all forms of transport and costs just over 7 Swiss francs. If you’re only getting around the city itself, the cheaper ticket for zone 110 is the one you need.
1. Niederdorf - best area for first-time visitors ⛪
- 📍 Distance from the centre: You’ll be staying in the part of the Old Town on the right bank of the Limmat. It’s 500 to 700 metres to the main station.
- 🚋 Transport: You can get to most things on foot, and the nearest tram stop is a few minutes’ walk from all three hotels.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: 10 to 15 minutes by train to Zürich HB, then just under ten minutes’ walk across the river.
- 💰 Price range: €€€ to €€€€. You’re paying for the location, and the rooms are often small.
- 👮 Safety: Safe, but lively and noisy until late at weekends.
Niederdorf is my first choice for a first trip to Zurich. The neighbourhood is the part of the Old Town, or Altstadt in German, on the right bank of the Limmat, and the locals simply call it Dörfli. Zürich Tourism describes Niederdorf as a pedestrian zone with shops hidden in the alleyways by day and bars and street performers in the evening.
Here, you’re a couple of hundred metres from the Grossmünster, whose twin towers are the city’s best-known landmark, and less than ten minutes’ walk from the main station. That means you can walk from the train to your hotel with your suitcase and reach most of the sights in the centre without buying a single ticket. Bahnhofstrasse and Lindenhof are just across the bridges.
To the south, Niederdorf runs into Oberdorf, and together the two neighbourhoods stretch all the way down to Bellevue, the square by the lake. You can walk the whole way through the pedestrian streets in about a quarter of an hour.
See hotels in Niederdorf here.
The price you pay is noise and a lack of space. The buildings are old, the rooms are small, and at weekends the alleyways are busy until late. The city also permits street prostitution in a defined area of Niederdorf between 10 pm and 2 am, as the City of Zurich’s overview of the zones shows. The area is north of Marktgasse, between Limmatquai and Seilergraben, and my three suggestions are in it or right next to it.
If you’re a light sleeper, I’d ask for a room facing the courtyard or on a high floor. If you’re travelling with small children or want real peace and quiet in the evening, Seefeld or the hotels west of Bahnhofstrasse are often a better choice, and you’re still only a short walk from Niederdorf.
Places to Stay in Niederdorf
Marktgasse Hotel - four-star boutique hotel in the middle of Niederdorf
Marktgasse Hotel is the most expensive of my three suggestions in Niederdorf. It’s on Marktgasse, around 200 metres from the Grossmünster and just over 700 metres from the main station, and it has both a restaurant and a bar.
The standard double rooms measure 20 m², and there are larger rooms of 33 and 40 m². It’s a hotel for anyone who wants to stay in style in the middle of the Old Town and can live with limited space in the cheapest categories. Several guests mention small rooms and very small bathrooms, and there’s no gym or spa.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Beautiful hotel, stylish, loved the decor and room style.”
See photos and book Marktgasse Hotel here.
Hotel Adler Zürich - three-star hotel with a Swiss restaurant on Hirschenplatz
Hotel Adler is on Hirschenplatz in the middle of the pedestrian zone, just under 600 metres from the main station. The hotel’s restaurant, Swiss Chuchi, serves traditional Swiss food, and breakfast is a buffet.
The standard double room measures 21 m² and the small one 18 m², and there’s a 41 m² family room for four. I’d choose it for a classic city break for two or for a family who want to stay centrally. You’re in the middle of the neighbourhood’s nightlife, so it can be noisy at night, and one guest was given a room on the first floor right above the kitchen.
One guest sums up their stay on Booking.com: “A perfectly located hotel with cosy, well-appointed rooms and an excellent breakfast.”
See photos and book Hotel Adler Zürich here.
Platzhirsch Zürich - small hotel with a restaurant and bar on Spitalgasse
Platzhirsch is usually the cheapest of the three, but it’s only cheap by Zurich standards. The hotel is on Spitalgasse, just under 600 metres from the main station, and has a restaurant and bar on site.
The smallest double room measures 18 m², and the 22 to 24 m² Superior rooms have air conditioning. It suits you if you mostly need the room as a place to sleep. Guests mention cramped rooms and doors slamming at night, and one guest doesn’t think the breakfast is worth the money.
One guest writes about the room on Booking.com: “Cute room that’s perfectly furnished with everything you need.”
See photos and book Platzhirsch Zürich here.
2. Lindenhof & Bahnhofstrasse - best area for luxury and shopping 🛍️
- 📍 Distance from the centre: You’ll be staying in the Old Town on the left bank of the Limmat, between the main station and the lake.
- 🚋 Transport: Zürich HB is at the end of Bahnhofstrasse, so you have trains to the whole country within walking distance. You can cover the rest of the centre on foot.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: 10 to 15 minutes by train to Zürich HB, then around ten minutes’ walk to all three hotels.
- 💰 Price range: €€€ to €€€€. Some of the city’s most expensive hotels are here.
- 👮 Safety: Safe. It’s quieter here in the evening than in Niederdorf.
On the left bank of the Limmat, the Old Town goes hand in hand with the city’s smartest shopping street. Bahnhofstrasse runs for 1.4 kilometres from the main station down to the lake, and Zürich Tourism calls it one of the world’s most expensive and exclusive shopping streets. Around Paradeplatz, the banks, watch shops and department stores sit close together.
A couple of streets towards the river, it gets quiet. Rennweg and Augustinergasse lead into the narrow streets around Lindenhof, a small park with trees on a hill right in the centre. According to Zürich Tourism, a Roman fort stood here in the 4th century, and today the view of the Grossmünster, the town hall and the river is free.
The churches are close together on this side of the river. The Fraumünster on Münsterhof is known for its stained-glass windows by Chagall, and according to Zürich Tourism, St Peter’s Church is the city’s oldest church and has the largest clock face on a church tower in Europe.
See hotels near Lindenhof and Bahnhofstrasse here.
This area is for you if you want everything close by and are willing to pay for it. The main station is at the end of the street, so both the train from the airport and day trips out of the city start a few minutes from your hotel. Niederdorf is just across the bridges.
The price is what counts against it. Some of the city’s most expensive hotels are here, and you won’t find the cheaper options in the lanes around Lindenhof, but a couple of streets west of Bahnhofstrasse. There, you’re in a business district of offices and shops rather than in the Old Town, but you can walk to Paradeplatz in around five minutes. That’s where you’ll find both my mid-range and my budget suggestion.
Places to Stay near Lindenhof & Bahnhofstrasse
Widder Hotel - five-star luxury hotel on Rennweg near Lindenhof
Widder Hotel is the place if you want to treat yourself in Zurich. It’s on Rennweg, just over 100 metres from Lindenhof and around 300 metres from Paradeplatz, and has a restaurant, a bar and a gym.
The smallest rooms measure 21 and 27 m², and from there it goes up to suites of 48 to 73 m² and apartments for six people. The price matches: Widder is among the most expensive hotels in this guide. There’s no pool or spa, and a few guests found that a request to the staff wasn’t followed up.
One guest highlights the interiors on Booking.com: “The design of the hotel’s interiors is beautiful and memorable.”
See photos and book Widder Hotel here.
Hotel Glockenhof Zürich - four-star hotel with a garden west of Bahnhofstrasse
Hotel Glockenhof is on Sihlstrasse, around 400 metres from Paradeplatz and just over 600 metres from the main station. The hotel has a restaurant, a bar and a garden with a terrace, and that’s a rare thing this close to Bahnhofstrasse.
The rooms are spacious by the city’s standards: the cheapest double room measures 23 m² and the others 26 to 33 m², and one guest praises the family room with its children’s corner. It’s a good option for a family or a couple who want space close to the shops. The breakfast gets mixed reviews, and one guest was given a room that didn’t look like the photos.
Short and sweet from one guest on Booking.com: “Lovely central hotel with comfortable rooms.”
See photos and book Hotel Glockenhof Zürich here.
citizenM Zürich - small design rooms and a big lounge at the lowest price in the area
The citizenM hotel is the cheapest of my three suggestions on this side of the river. It’s on Talacker, around 350 metres from Paradeplatz and just under 800 metres from the main station, and has a restaurant, a bar and a shared lounge.
All the rooms are the same: 14 m² with a very wide bed. One guest writes that you have to climb over your partner to get out of bed, and several find the room too small for two. Choose it if you’re out all day and would rather spend your money on the location than on square metres.
One guest mentions the communal area on Booking.com: “The lounge area is great to be in.”
See photos and book citizenM Zürich here.
3. Seefeld - best area for the lake and summer swimming 🏊
- 📍 Distance from the centre: Along the right shore of the lake, south of the opera house. From the hotels, it’s 1.5 to 2 kilometres to the main station.
- 🚋 Transport: Trams through the neighbourhood and S-Bahn trains from Stadelhofen Station, which is 250 to 500 metres from the hotels.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: Allow around half an hour: a train to Zürich HB, then a tram or the S-Bahn.
- 💰 Price range: €€€ to €€€€. A lake view costs extra.
- 👮 Safety: Safe and quiet, in the evening too.
Seefeld starts behind the opera house and follows the right shore of the lake to the south. Zürich Tourism describes the district as elegant, with a promenade, green spaces, shops and restaurants, and this is where I’d stay if the lake is the reason for your trip.
In summer, this is where Zurich goes swimming. The city’s open-air baths are called Badi, and Zürich Tourism has an overview of them. In Seefeld, you’ll find Seebad Utoquai, a wooden bathing complex from 1890 on the promenade between Bellevue and Zürichhorn, with sun terraces and diving boards. Further out, Strandbad Tiefenbrunnen is in a park by the water. Opening times follow the season, so check them before you head down there.
The promenade is also one of the city’s best walks. From Bellevue, you can follow the water past Seebad Utoquai and on to Zürichhorn park and the Chinagarten, a walk of just over one and a half kilometres. If you want to get out on the lake, the ticket office for the scheduled boats is at Bürkliplatz, at the end of Bahnhofstrasse.
I’d choose Seefeld for a summer holiday, for a quiet weekend for two or if you’ve seen the Old Town before. You can walk to the opera house and Bellevue in five to ten minutes and on to the Grossmünster in about a quarter of an hour, so you’re not far from the centre.
The downside is that the neighbourhood is quiet in the evening and that it’s further to the main station than from the other central areas. What’s more, the cheapest rooms at the hotels by the water face the city, and you pay extra to see the lake. In winter, you lose the swimming, and then you’ll usually get more out of staying in Niederdorf or near Lindenhof.
Places to Stay in Seefeld
La Réserve Eden au Lac Zurich - five-star hotel on the lakeside promenade
La Réserve Eden au Lac is on Utoquai facing the lake, around 100 metres from Seebad Utoquai and just under 300 metres from the opera house. It’s the area’s five-star hotel, with a restaurant, a bar and a terrace.
The smallest double room measures 23 m², most are 30 to 38 m², and the suites with a lake view are 57 and 77 m². If you want to see the water from your room, choose one of the categories with Lakeview in the name, and most of those have a balcony. The cheapest rooms face the city. It’s a hotel for a special occasion, and the price is right at the top of this guide.
Here’s how one guest describes the hotel on Booking.com: “Hotel was very clean and modern with nice touches.”
See photos and book La Réserve Eden au Lac Zurich here.
AMERON Zürich Bellerive au Lac - four-star hotel with a gym next to Seebad Utoquai
AMERON Zürich Bellerive au Lac is also on Utoquai, less than 100 metres from Seebad Utoquai and around 350 metres from the opera house. There’s a restaurant, a bar and a gym.
The Comfort rooms measure 20 m² and face the city, while the double room with a lake view is 25 m². There are also 47 m² junior suites. It’s the hotel for you if you want to stay by the water without paying five-star prices. One guest writes that the room was too warm and the temperature couldn’t be adjusted, and another was disappointed by the breakfast late in the morning.
One guest sums it up on Booking.com: “Wonderful hotel, tasteful decor which allows relaxation, friendly staff and quiet but central location.”
See photos and book AMERON Zürich Bellerive au Lac here.
Hotel Seehof - three-star hotel in a side street behind the opera house
Hotel Seehof is my budget suggestion in Seefeld. It’s on Seehofstrasse, around 150 metres from the opera house and just under 300 metres from both Seebad Utoquai and Stadelhofen Station. The hotel has a bar and a terrace.
The double rooms measure 18 m², and there’s a larger 29 m² room with a sofa bed and a 35 m² junior suite. It suits a couple who want a quiet place to stay and to be able to walk to both the lake and the Old Town. The rooms are small, and one guest writes that there was no air conditioning and that the room got very hot in summer despite two fans.
One guest praises the breakfast on Booking.com: “Breakfast is served in a lovely, cosy, and intimate setting.”
See photos and book Hotel Seehof here.
4. Zurich West - best area for design, culture and more hotel for your money 🎨
- 📍 Distance from the centre: Around two kilometres north-west of the main station, in the city’s former industrial quarter.
- 🚋 Transport: Trams to Escher-Wyss-Platz and S-Bahn trains from Hardbrücke Station. Zürich Tourism puts it at around 8 minutes to the main station.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: Allow 20 to 30 minutes by train, with one change on the way.
- 💰 Price range: €€ to €€€. Lower than in the centre, and the rooms are generally larger.
- 👮 Safety: Safe. The clubs around Hardbrücke draw big late-night crowds at weekends.
Zurich West is the city’s former industrial quarter, where ships and engines were once built. Today, the factory halls are filled with theatre, restaurants, design shops and clubs, and Zürich Tourism describes Zurich West as a neighbourhood full of contrasts with an unpolished charm.
Most of it is between Escher-Wyss-Platz and Hardbrücke. Under the railway arches of Im Viadukt, you’ll find design shops and a market hall, and Frau Gerolds Garten is an urban garden and a place to eat in one. In the Schiffbau, the former shipyard, there’s a theatre, a restaurant and a jazz club under the same roof. Above it all stands the 126-metre Prime Tower.
Schauspielhaus Zürich performs in the former factory halls, and according to Zürich Tourism, nightclubs, cultural institutions and universities are clustered around Prime Tower. So this is where to stay if you’re spending your evening at a show or a concert.
See hotels in Zurich West here.
For you as a hotel guest, the appeal is different: you get more hotel for your money. The hotels are large and modern, the rooms are generally bigger than in the centre, and the area’s five-star hotel often costs less than a good three-star in Niederdorf. That’s my honest answer to where you’ll find the cheaper beds in Zurich without moving far out.
What you give up is the atmosphere of the centre. Here, you get offices, new buildings and wide roads instead of alleyways, and you need a tram or the S-Bahn every time you want to go to the river or the lake. The journey is short, so it’s easy to live with. The area suits a long weekend with a concert or a play, and it suits you if your budget doesn’t stretch to the Old Town.
Places to Stay in Zurich West
Renaissance Zurich Tower Hotel - five-star high-rise hotel near Hardbrücke
Renaissance Zurich Tower Hotel is the area’s five-star hotel. It’s on Turbinenstrasse, around 300 metres from Prime Tower and just under 400 metres from Hardbrücke Station. There’s a restaurant, a bar, a gym and a sauna.
The rooms start at 26 m², most are 30 m², and there are categories on the top floors and with access to the club lounge. It’s the hotel to choose if you want large rooms and a view at a price that’s often below what mid-range hotels charge in the Old Town. Guests mention inconsistent service in the bar, and one guest finds the breakfast expensive for the quality.
One guest describes the room on Booking.com: “The room was spacious and beautifully designed, featuring a stunning view.”
See photos and book Renaissance Zurich Tower Hotel here.
25hours Hotel Zürich West - original design hotel with a sauna by Toni-Areal
25hours Hotel Zürich West is on Pfingstweidstrasse at the western end of the neighbourhood, with the Toni-Areal tram stop right outside the door. The hotel has a restaurant, a bar, a gym and a sauna.
The standard rooms measure 22 to 27 m², and there are suites and a room with bunk beds. It’s my suggestion if you want to stay at a hotel with personality and don’t mind taking the tram. It’s just under a kilometre to both Escher-Wyss-Platz and Hardbrücke Station, so you’re some way from most things. One guest found the breakfast so expensive that they ate out instead.
Here’s what one guest says on Booking.com: “A bright, original, comfortable and modern hotel.”
See photos and book 25hours Hotel Zürich West here.
ibis Zürich City West - simple chain hotel near Technopark and the Schiffbau
The ibis Zürich City West is my budget suggestion. It’s on Schiffbaustrasse, less than 200 metres from the Schiffbau and just over 400 metres from Hardbrücke Station. The tram stops around three minutes’ walk from the hotel, and there’s a restaurant and a bar.
The standard rooms measure 16 m², and the 25 m² family room sleeps four. You get a functional room at one of the lowest prices in this guide, but no more than that. Guests describe the hotel as a little impersonal and the rooms as compact, the breakfast selection is limited, and the reviews are a touch below those of my other suggestions.
One guest writes about the family room on Booking.com: “Family room is good size, good bedding, good bathroom, great view.”
See photos and book ibis Zürich City West here.
5. Langstrasse - best area for nightlife and restaurants 🍸
- 📍 Distance from the centre: Around a kilometre west of the main station.
- 🚌 Transport: You can walk to Zürich HB in 10 to 20 minutes, and there are buses and trams close to the hotels.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: 10 to 15 minutes by train to Zürich HB, then a 10 to 20-minute walk or a short bus ride.
- 💰 Price range: €€ to €€€. From simple apartment hotels to design hotels.
- 👮 Safety: The city’s nightlife district and former red-light district. Expect noise, drunk people and a rough street scene at night, especially at weekends.
Langstrasse is the street that never sleeps. That’s how Zürich Tourism itself describes Langstrasse, which links the districts of Kreis 4 and Kreis 5: international food and shops by day, bar after bar and clubs by night, and takeaways around the clock. If you want to go out to eat, drink and dance, this is where to stay.
According to Zürich Tourism, nowhere else in the city do so many different people and scenes come together, and there’s something going on here on weekdays as well as at weekends. The bars range from laid-back places to sweaty basement clubs.
You should also know the downside before you book. For many years, the street was the city’s red-light district, and that still leaves its mark on parts of the neighbourhood, even though street prostitution isn’t permitted here. On weekend nights, there’s noise, litter and plenty of drunk visitors.
See hotels near Langstrasse here.
That’s why I wouldn’t choose the neighbourhood for a family with small children or if you’re a light sleeper. Guests at the hotels here write about street noise at night, and a few have felt uneasy about the surroundings. If you take it for what it is, you get one of the city’s biggest choices of bars and places to eat right outside the door in return.
In practical terms, you’re well placed. It’s around a kilometre to the main station, so you can walk home from the train, and Zurich West lies just beyond the northern end of the street. Prices are usually lower than in the Old Town. If you want more peace and quiet, stay a couple of streets away from Langstrasse itself, as my mid-range suggestion does.
Places to Stay near Langstrasse
25hours Hotel Langstrasse - design hotel with a sauna on Langstrasse itself
25hours Hotel Langstrasse is on Langstrasse itself, just over 900 metres from the main station, and it’s the best-equipped hotel in the neighbourhood, with a restaurant, a bar, a gym and a sauna.
The Medium room measures 18 m², the Large 25 m² and the Extra Large 35 m². It’s the hotel for you if you want to stay in the middle of the nightlife and like a hotel to be a little offbeat. The price varies a lot with the date. Guests mention noise from the street and the bars, one finds the smallest room cramped, and another found the air conditioning too weak.
One guest puts it this way on Booking.com: “It’s not a boring hotel, but one you’ll remember.”
See photos and book 25hours Hotel Langstrasse here.
Greulich Design & Boutique Hotel - quieter design hotel with a garden west of Langstrasse
Greulich is on Herman-Greulich-Strasse, just over 500 metres west of Langstrasse and around one and a half kilometres from the main station. The rooms usually face an inner courtyard, and the hotel has a restaurant, a bar and a garden.
The small room measures 20 m², and the large 33 m² room has a sofa and a seating area. It’s a good place to stay if you want to go out on Langstrasse in the evening and sleep somewhere quieter afterwards. There’s no air conditioning, according to one guest who found it very hot, and another describes the neighbourhood around the hotel as a little rough.
One guest says on Booking.com: “I absolutely loved the design interior and the staff was super nice.”
See photos and book Greulich Design & Boutique Hotel here.
Numa Zurich Turi - studios with a kitchenette and digital check-in
Numa Zurich Turi is my budget suggestion. It’s on Schöneggstrasse, less than 200 metres from Langstrasse and just over a kilometre from the main station. It’s an apartment hotel with no reception: you check in digitally and get a code for the door.
All the studios have a kitchenette and measure 17 to 24 m², some have a balcony, and there’s a lift and a gym. The price is among the lowest in this guide. On the other hand, you’re in the middle of the nightlife, and guests write that the area can feel unsafe and dirty. Choose it if you know this kind of neighbourhood and mostly want a cheap, clean base.
One guest puts it briefly on Booking.com: “The room was exactly like in the pictures.”
See photos and book Numa Zurich Turi here.
6. Oerlikon - best area for lower prices and a short trip to the airport 🚆
- 📍 Distance from the centre: Around 3.5 kilometres north of the main station, in the Zurich Nord district.
- 🚆 Transport: Trains and trams from Zürich Oerlikon Station. Zürich Tourism puts it at around 10 minutes to the main station.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: Less than 10 minutes. Zürich Tourism gives 7 minutes between the airport and MFO-Park in Oerlikon.
- 💰 Price range: €€ to €€€. Even the area’s most expensive hotel often costs less than a mid-range hotel in Niederdorf.
- 👮 Safety: A safe, quiet neighbourhood of homes, offices and exhibition halls.
Oerlikon is in Zurich Nord, around 3.5 kilometres from the main station and close to the airport. It isn’t a neighbourhood you travel to for the sights. You choose it because you want to pay less for a better room, or because you have an early flight.
The transport is the reason it works. Zürich Tourism puts it at around 10 minutes to the main station and 7 minutes to the airport from MFO-Park in Oerlikon. The district is part of Zurich, so you travel to the centre on the ordinary ticket for zone 110.
There’s more to the neighbourhood than hotels and offices. MFO-Park is a park in the form of a steel hall on the site of the former machine factory, covered in climbing plants and with a sun deck on the roof. According to Zürich Tourism, there’s a market on Marktplatz behind the station on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, with bread, cheese, fish and flowers, and the Hallenstadion, with its big concerts and sports events, is also in the district.
The drawback is obvious: you’re not staying in the Zurich you’ve seen in the photos. Every trip to the river and the lake starts with a train, and it’s quieter here in the evening than in the centre. Oerlikon makes sense for a short trip with an early flight, for a concert at the Hallenstadion or for a trip where Zurich is mostly a base for train journeys around Switzerland.
Stay close to Zürich Oerlikon Station, and the train becomes the only transport you need to think about. All three suggestions below are no more than 400 metres from the station, and you can walk the longest stretch in five minutes.
Places to Stay in Oerlikon
Acasa Suites Hotel Zurich Oerlikon - suite hotel with kitchenettes, a sauna and a spa north of the station
Acasa Suites has the best reviews of my three suggestions in Oerlikon. It’s on Binzmühlestrasse, just over 300 metres from Zürich Oerlikon Station. The hotel has a restaurant, a bar, a gym, a sauna and a spa area.
The classic room measures 22 m² and the studio suite with a kitchenette 28 m², and there are 44 m² suites for four and two-bedroom suites for six. That makes the hotel an obvious choice for families and longer stays. One guest finds the food in the restaurant expensive, and another mentions that people can see in through the ground-floor windows from the courtyard.
One guest says of the room on Booking.com: “The room was incredibly spacious, modern, and exceptionally clean.”
See photos and book Acasa Suites Hotel Zurich Oerlikon here.
Mama Shelter Zurich - playful design hotel right by the station
Mama Shelter is on Schulstrasse, less than 100 metres from Zürich Oerlikon Station, so you can walk from the train to reception in a couple of minutes. There’s a restaurant, a bar and a gym.
The double rooms measure 19 to 20 m², and the 41 m² family room sleeps four. I’d choose it if you want a hotel with more life than a classic business hotel, and one guest with children praises the fun decor. The price is often close to my budget suggestion. A few mention that the carpets need replacing and that the breakfast could be better.
One enthusiastic guest writes on Booking.com: “Loved this hotel: amazing location, quiet rooms, comfy bed, fantastic shower.”
See photos and book Mama Shelter Zurich here.
Hotel Sternen Oerlikon - three-star hotel with a restaurant close to Marktplatz
Hotel Sternen Oerlikon is on Schaffhauserstrasse, just over 200 metres from Marktplatz and just under 400 metres from the station. The rooms have air conditioning, and the hotel has a restaurant and a bar.
The double room measures 16 m², and the 20 m² twin and triple rooms have a sofa bed. It’s a simple, well-kept hotel for anyone who just needs a clean room close to trains and flights. One guest points out that the restaurant and bar are closed at weekends, and another found the sofa bed hard.
One guest highlights the staff on Booking.com: “The hotel is spotless and the staff is polite and extremely helpful.”
See photos and book Hotel Sternen Oerlikon here.
Where should you avoid staying in Zurich?
I wouldn’t stay by the airport in Kloten or Glattbrugg unless you have a very early flight. The hotels there are often cheap, but you’re in a business area outside the city. In Oerlikon, you get roughly the same price and a proper neighbourhood with a short trip to both the airport and the centre.
I wouldn’t choose a hotel on price alone either. The cheapest deals in Zurich are often apartments with self-service check-in or very small rooms without air conditioning, and you’ll notice that on a hot summer’s day. Read the room sizes and the latest reviews before you book. And think twice before booking right by Langstrasse with children or with an early start in the morning: the neighbourhood is fun to go out in, but it isn’t quiet at night.
If I had to pick one area for a first trip, it’d be Niederdorf for the atmosphere and for having everything close by. Lindenhof and Bahnhofstrasse are the choice when the budget is big, and Seefeld is my suggestion for a summer trip with your swimming things in your bag.
For the best value, choose Zurich West or Oerlikon: the first has the most to do in the evening, the second is closest to the airport. Langstrasse is for you if you’re coming for the bars and restaurants and don’t go to bed early.
Consider the Zürich Card if you want to see a lot in a short time. The card is available for 24 or 72 hours. According to Zürich Tourism, it gives you unlimited 2nd-class travel by tram, bus, train and boat in the city and the surrounding area, including to and from the airport, plus free admission to many museums. If you mostly get around on foot, single tickets or a 24-hour pass from ZVV are often enough. A 24-hour pass costs the same as two single tickets.
The time of year matters for your choice too. According to Zürich Tourism, Zurich has four distinct seasons: in winter, the temperature occasionally drops below freezing, and on hot summer days it can climb above 30°C. Not all hotels have air conditioning, and several guests mention hot rooms in summer, so check if you’re travelling in July or August.
Zurich is easy to combine with other cities in Central Europe. I’ve written similar guides to where to stay in Munich and the best areas in Vienna if you’re staying north of the Alps. If you’re heading south, you can read about where to stay in Milan and the best towns on Lake Como.
Travel ressources & websites I use all the time 👇
• Booking.com has the best offers on hotels and unique places to stay
• GetYourGuide is the best place to book tours & activities with free cancellation
• Welcome Pickups is the best & safest place to pre-book airport transfers
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