Here are my picks for the 18 best things to see and do in Zürich, with prices, opening hours and tips on getting around. Prices are given in Swiss francs, and 1 franc is roughly 91p. Let me be honest from the start: Zürich is expensive, even by Swiss standards. That’s why I’ve also noted for each sight what’s free and where it pays to use an ordinary tram ticket instead of a tourist pass. Most museums are closed on Mondays, so plan your museum days for midweek.

1. Altstadt and Lindenhof

Zürich’s Old Town lies on both sides of the Limmat, and the west bank is the quiet, elegant side. Here you’ll find Augustinergasse with its colourful oriel windows, St. Peter with Europe’s largest church clock face, and Schipfe down by the river, the city’s oldest quarter. The streets are narrow and cobbled, and you can walk the whole area in an hour.

The highlight is Lindenhof, a small hill with lime trees where the Romans had a fort in the 4th century and where Charlemagne’s grandson later built a royal palace. Today it’s a green viewpoint where locals play chess under the trees and you look straight across to the Grossmünster, the town hall and ETH. On the way up stands a copy of a gravestone from the year 180 bearing the inscription Turicum, the first written mention of the city’s name. It’s free, and it’s the best place to start.

My tip is to head up to Lindenhof early in the morning before the groups arrive, then take Augustinergasse and Schipfe down towards the river afterwards. The Old Town is also the first area in my guide to where to stay in Zürich, and you can see hotels in the Altstadt here.

Book a guided walking tour of Zürich’s Old Town here.

2. Niederdorf and the Polybahn

Niederdorf is the eastern and livelier half of the Old Town. The whole quarter is car-free, and Niederdorfstrasse and Rindermarkt are lined with bars, small restaurants and shops. This is where the evenings happen, and it’s also where most of the city’s cheap places to eat are. Lenin lived on the side street Spiegelgasse in 1917, and a few doors away Cabaret Voltaire opened in 1916 as the birthplace of Dadaism.

Walk Niederdorf to its northern end and you’ll reach the square Central, where the little red Polybahn runs up to the Polyterrasse in front of ETH. The funicular opened in 1889, takes 100 seconds and runs every five minutes. A ride costs CHF 1.20 (around £1), but your ordinary ZVV ticket for zone 110 is also valid, so you don’t need to buy anything extra. It runs Monday to Friday 6.30am-9pm, Saturday from 7.30am and Sunday from 9am.

Up on the Polyterrasse you get one of the city’s best free views over the rooftops, the Limmat and the lake, with students sitting on the steps with their coffee. Niederdorf is ideal if you want to stay in the middle of the nightlife, and you can see hotels in Niederdorf here.

Book a guided Old Town tour including a ride on the Polybahn here.

3. Grossmünster and Karlsturm

The twin towers of the Grossmünster are Zürich’s landmark, and it was from here that Huldrych Zwingli launched the Swiss Reformation in 1519. The church is Romanesque and rather bare inside, which is precisely the point, but look out for the modern stained-glass windows by Sigmar Polke and the crypt, where the original Charlemagne statue from the south tower stands. The crypt is free but closes on rainy days to protect the wall paintings.

The church itself is free, while climbing the Karlsturm costs CHF 5 (around £4.50) for adults and CHF 2 (around £2) for young people aged 6 to 16. The church is open Monday to Saturday 10am-6pm in summer and 10am-5pm in winter, and on Sunday only from 12pm after the service. The last ascent of the tower is an hour before the church closes, and the tower may have limited opening days at times, so check the website before planning around it. A combined ticket for both the Grossmünster and the Fraumünster costs CHF 8 (around £7) instead of CHF 10.

The view from the tower over the Old Town, the river and the lake is the best in the centre, and it’s worth the money. Arrive right at opening time, as the staircase is narrow and queues build quickly. The cloister, the Kreuzgang, is just round the corner and open every day.

4. Fraumünster and the Chagall windows

Just across the Münsterbrücke from the Grossmünster stands the Fraumünster with its slender green spire. The church was founded as an abbey in 853, but what people come for dates from 1970: the five stained-glass windows in the choir that Marc Chagall created at the age of 83. Each window has its own colour and its own biblical theme, and they’re at their best when the sun is on them. In the north transept there’s also a large window by Augusto Giacometti from 1945.

Admission is CHF 5 (around £4.50), which also covers the crypt museum and an audio guide in the app, while under-16s get in free. Opening hours follow the Grossmünster: Monday to Saturday 10am-6pm in summer and 10am-5pm in winter, Sunday from 12pm. Tickets are only sold on site, so you can’t buy them online, and they give you CHF 5 off at the Kunsthaus. You’re allowed to take photos without flash for private use.

My tip is to do the Fraumünster and the Grossmünster the same morning on the combined ticket and start here, as the groups from the boats and coaches usually arrive late in the morning. Münsterhof in front of the church is one of the finest squares in the city, and enjoying it costs nothing.

5. Bahnhofstrasse and Paradeplatz

Bahnhofstrasse runs 1.4 kilometres from the Hauptbahnhof down to the lake and is one of the world’s most expensive shopping streets. Watches, jewellery, Louis Vuitton and Gucci sit side by side, and at Paradeplatz halfway along, the two big Swiss banks have their headquarters. It’s not where you’ll do your shopping, but it’s fun to walk it and window-shop, and it ends at Bürkliplatz with views over Lake Zürich and the Alps.

On the corner of Paradeplatz is Confiserie Sprüngli at Bahnhofstrasse 21, the place to try Luxemburgerli, the small, airy macarons that are Zürich’s best-known sweet treat. The first-floor café is pricey, but a small box of Luxemburgerli from the shop, eaten on a bench by the lake, is one of the better buys in the city.

If you’re on a budget, walk the whole way and spend your money down at Bürkliplatz instead. Trams run the length of the street, so you can always hop on if your legs get tired.

Book a chocolate walking tour of Zürich with tastings here.

6. Boat trip on Lake Zürich from Bürkliplatz

Lake Zürich is 40 kilometres long, and the ZSG boats depart from Bürkliplatz at the end of Bahnhofstrasse. The classic trip is the Kleine Rundfahrt, which takes an hour and a half, cruising past the villas of the Gold Coast and back again. It costs CHF 9.40 (around £8.50) in 2nd class, and it’s actually just a standard ZVV ticket for zones 110, 140 and 150. A one-hour mini cruise costs CHF 7.20 (around £6.50), and the grand four-and-a-half-hour round trip to Rapperswil costs CHF 28 (around £25).

The best money-saving tip in Zürich is the river boat on the Limmat. It runs from the Landesmuseum through the Old Town and out onto the lake in about an hour, and it costs the same as a single ticket for zone 110, which is CHF 4.70 (around £4.30). If you have a 24-hour city pass, it’s included in the price. The Limmat boats only run in the summer season, so check the timetable before you head down there.

The Zürich Card covers the mini cruise, the Kleine Rundfahrt and the Limmat boat. Sit on the upper deck on the starboard side on the way out, and you’ll have the Alps and the Gold Coast in front of you the whole way.

Book a city tour by bus with a boat trip on Lake Zürich here.

7. Opernhaus and Sechseläutenplatz

On the other side of the Quaibrücke from Bürkliplatz stands the Opernhaus Zürich from 1891, a white neo-Baroque building with angels on the roof, regarded as one of Europe’s finest opera houses. In front of it spreads Sechseläutenplatz, the city’s largest square, paved with quartzite from Vals. This is where Zürich burns the snowman Böögg every April at the Sechseläuten spring festival, and according to tradition, the faster his head explodes, the better the summer will be.

Opera tickets are usually expensive, but there are ways in. For the so-called Volksvorstellungen, tickets cost from CHF 15 to CHF 75 (around £14 to £70), students can buy leftover tickets for CHF 22 (around £20) an hour and a half before the performance, and twice a month same-day tickets are sold at half price. There’s no dress code. Every summer, an opera is also shown for free on a big screen on the square during Oper für alle.

In summer, the square and the Utoquai lakeside promenade just behind it are one of the best places to sit with an ice cream. Right behind the opera house begins Seefeld, the city’s smartest residential area with the lake as its neighbour, and you can see hotels in Seefeld here.

8. Badi culture: Seebad Enge, Utoquai and Flussbad Letten

A badi is one of the city’s public open-air baths, and they’re the most local of all the things to do in Zürich. Seebad Enge is a wooden pontoon out on the lake by Mythenquai, where you swim with views of the Alps and have a beer at the bar in the evening, and in winter it becomes a sauna. Entry is CHF 8 (around £7). On the other side of the lake is Seebad Utoquai from 1890, with two-storey wooden decks and similar prices.

Frauenbad Stadthausquai on the Limmat, right by the Fraumünster, is women-only during the day, but in the evening it turns into the Barfussbar, where everyone is welcome as long as they take their shoes off. If you want to swim for free, head to Flussbad Oberer Letten north of the Hauptbahnhof, where entry is free and you let the current of the Limmat carry you down a long swimming channel before walking back and doing it all again.

The bathing season runs from mid-May to mid-September, and the lake water is over 20 degrees in July and August. Pack your swimming things in your bag, even when you’re just out sightseeing, because this is where the city is at its best on a warm day.

9. Uetliberg

Uetliberg is Zürich’s very own mountain, about 870 metres above sea level, and it’s so close that the S10 S-Bahn train runs directly from the Hauptbahnhof to the station at the top in about 20 minutes. From the station, it’s a 10-minute walk up to the viewpoint, where the whole city, the lake and the Alps spread out in front of you. On a clear day, you can see from Säntis in the east to the Bernese Alps in the west, and there’s an observation tower if you want to go even higher.

The train is covered by the Zürich Card, which also gives you free public transport and free entry to many museums. If you’re travelling on a standard ticket, check the zones in the ZVV app, as Uetliberg sits on the edge of the city zone. The mountain itself is free, and you can walk back to the city along the forest paths in just over an hour.

My tip is the Planetenweg, a two-hour walk along the ridge to Felsenegg through a model of the solar system, where one metre equals one million kilometres. From Felsenegg, a cable car runs down to Adliswil, from where the S-Bahn takes you back to the city. In autumn and winter, Zürich often lies under a blanket of fog while Uetliberg pokes up into the sunshine, and it’s a sight that’s hard to forget.

Book a city tour with a train ride to the top of Uetliberg here.

10. Kunsthaus Zürich

The Kunsthaus is Switzerland’s largest art museum, and since David Chipperfield’s new building opened opposite the old one on Heimplatz, it’s also one of Europe’s largest. The collection spans the Middle Ages to the present day, with the largest Munch collection outside Norway, an entire room devoted to Alberto Giacometti, Monet’s enormous water lily paintings and Swiss art from Hodler to Fischli and Weiss. The Chipperfield building also houses the controversial Bührle collection of French Impressionism.

Entry to the collection costs CHF 24 (around £22), but on Wednesdays the collection is free for everyone. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday 10am-6pm and until 8pm on Thursdays, and it’s closed on Mondays. The audio guide is free if you buy your ticket online, and the Zürich Card gives free entry to the collection. Trams 3, 5, 8 and 9 stop right outside at the Kunsthaus stop.

My advice is to plan the Kunsthaus for a Wednesday and head straight for Giacometti and Munch if you only have a couple of hours. The art garden by the Chipperfield building is open all day and free.

Buy a ticket to the Kunsthaus Zürich collection here.

11. Landesmuseum Zürich

The Swiss National Museum sits like a fairy-tale castle, all towers and turrets, right next to Hauptbahnhof, and it’s the best place to understand how a small country with four languages became Switzerland. The exhibitions take you from archaeology and the Middle Ages to banking secrecy and neutrality, and the modern concrete extension is a sight in its own right.

Admission is CHF 13 (around £12), and children and young people up to 16 get in free. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday 10am-5pm and closed on Mondays, and the Zürich Card gives you free entry. It’s a two-minute walk from the platforms, so it’s perfect if you have a couple of hours before your train leaves.

Behind the museum is Platzspitz park, where the rivers Sihl and Limmat meet. It’s free and a good spot to sit with a sandwich from the station, and the river boat on the Limmat stops right here.

Buy tickets for Landesmuseum Zürich here.

12. FIFA Museum

FIFA has its headquarters in Zürich, and the museum on Tessinerplatz by Bahnhof Enge is built for fans. Across three floors you’ll see the original World Cup trophy, more than 1,000 objects from football history, the shirts of all 211 member nations on a single wall and a giant pinball machine you play with your feet. It’s interactive enough to keep children entertained for a couple of hours.

Admission is CHF 26 (around £24) for adults and CHF 15 (around £14) for children aged 7 to 15, while children under 7 get in free. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday 10am-6pm and closed on Mondays, and entry is free with the Zürich Card. Take the S-Bahn two stops from Hauptbahnhof to Bahnhof Enge, or tram 7 from Paradeplatz.

If you’re not into football, skip it, as the price is steep. If you are, combine it with Museum Rietberg, a ten-minute walk away in Rieterpark.

Buy tickets for the FIFA Museum here.

13. Museum Rietberg

Museum Rietberg is Switzerland’s only museum dedicated to art from Asia, Africa, the Americas and Oceania, and it’s housed in two historic villas in Rieterpark, the city’s most beautiful park, on the hill above Bahnhof Enge. Richard Wagner lived in Villa Wesendonck in the 1850s, and today Tibetan thangkas, Japanese woodblock prints and African masks hang where he worked on Tristan and Isolde. The green glass pavilion, Smaragd, leads down to the underground exhibition halls.

Admission costs CHF 18 (around £16), and the museum is open Tuesday to Sunday 10am-5pm, with late opening until 8pm on Thursdays. It’s closed on Mondays, and the Zürich Card gives you free entry. Tram 7 stops at Museum Rietberg, and it takes about 15 minutes from Hauptbahnhof.

Rieterpark itself is free and one of the best picnic spots in the city, with views over the lake between the old trees. I think it’s Zürich’s most overlooked museum, and it’s rarely overrun.

14. Zürich West

Zürich West in Kreis 5 was the city’s industrial quarter, with a shipyard, a brewery and engineering works, and today it’s the district for design shops, galleries and nightlife. Its landmark is Prime Tower, a 126-metre office tower with the restaurant Clouds at the top, where a coffee at the bar is the cheapest way to get the view. At its foot is Frau Gerolds Garten, an urban garden built from shipping containers, which is a terrace restaurant in summer and a fondue hut with fire pits in winter.

The best thing about the area is Im Viadukt, where the old railway arches are filled with shops and places to eat. Markthalle is open Monday to Saturday 9am-8pm, and it’s the place to buy Swiss cheese, bread and lunch at an affordable price. Trams 4, 13 and 17 stop at Löwenbräu, and the old brewery buildings now house Kunsthalle Zürich and the Migros Museum of contemporary art.

Come out here in the late afternoon, start at Markthalle, wander beneath the arches and finish at Frau Gerolds Garten as the sun goes down. The area has several of the city’s newer design hotels, and you can see hotels in Zürich West here.

15. Zoo Zürich and the Masoala Rainforest

Zoo Zürich sits up on the Zürichberg and is one of Europe’s best zoos. The main attraction is Masoala, a rainforest hall covering more than a hectare, where lemurs, chameleons and birds from Madagascar roam freely among the trees, and where you walk around in 25-degree heat and high humidity. On top of that there’s the Kaeng Krachan Elephant Park with an indoor bathing pool and the Lewa Savanna with giraffes and rhinos.

Adult admission is around CHF 32 (around £29), and prices vary by day, so check the current price when you buy your ticket online. The zoo is open daily 9am-6pm from March to October and 9am-5pm from November to February, and Masoala opens at 10am. The Zürich Card gives you a 10 per cent discount. Tram 6 runs from Bahnhofplatz by Hauptbahnhof to the Zoo terminus in about 20 minutes.

It’s expensive, but it fills a whole day, and it’s the best rainy-day plan in the city because Masoala is indoors. Arrive early, as the lemurs are most active in the morning.

16. Lindt Home of Chocolate in Kilchberg

Lindt has been making chocolate in Kilchberg, south of the city, since 1899, and next to the factory is the Lindt Home of Chocolate museum. The entrance hall is dominated by a chocolate fountain more than nine metres tall, with 1,500 kilos of chocolate circulating through it, and the exhibition takes you from the cocoa plantations through the history of Swiss chocolate to a test kitchen where you can watch the chocolatiers at work. And then there are the tastings, which are unlimited.

Admission is CHF 17 (around £15) for adults and CHF 10 (around £9) for children aged 8 to 15, while children under 8 get in free. The museum is open daily 10am-7pm, but the timed tickets often sell out day by day, so book online well in advance. Take the S8 or S24 from Hauptbahnhof to Kilchberg and walk ten minutes, or take bus 165 from Bürkliplatz, which stops right outside.

My tip is to skip lunch before you come. The tastings are generous, and the shop afterwards is the cheapest way to buy Lindt chocolate in Switzerland.

Buy tickets for the Lindt Home of Chocolate here.

17. Day trip to the Rhine Falls at Schaffhausen

The Rhine Falls are Europe’s largest waterfall by volume of water, and they’re just an S-Bahn ride from Zürich. The Rhine plunges 23 metres over a 150-metre-wide rock ledge, and in spring and early summer, when the snow melts in the Alps, several hundred cubic metres of water thunder past you every second. You feel it in your body before you see it.

The best view is from Schloss Laufen on the south side, where the Känzeli and Belvedere platforms jut out over the water. Entry costs CHF 5 (around £4.50) for adults and CHF 3 (around £2.70) for children aged 6 to 15, and the ticket also covers the small Historama exhibition. From the north side at Schlössli Wörth in Neuhausen, the view is free around the clock, and from here boats head out to the rock in the middle of the falls, where you can stand with spray in your face.

The S12 runs directly from Zürich Hauptbahnhof to Schloss Laufen am Rheinfall station in about 50 minutes, and it stops right by the castle gate. Combine the trip with Schaffhausen’s Old Town or the medieval town of Stein am Rhein, and you’ve got a full day.

Book a half-day trip from Zürich to the Rhine Falls here.

18. Day trip to Lucerne and Rigi

Lucerne is less than an hour by train from Zürich, and it’s Switzerland straight off a chocolate box: the Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke), the covered wooden bridge from the 1300s with its water tower in the middle of the River Reuss, the Lion Monument carved into the rock, and the Musegg Wall (Museggmauer), where you can climb several of the towers for free in summer. The bridge and the Old Town cost nothing, and you can see the town in a morning.

If you want to head up into the mountains, take the boat from Lucerne to Vitznau and ride the cog railway up to Rigi Kulm. Opened in 1871, it was Europe’s first mountain railway, and from the summit at almost 1,800 metres you look out over Lake Lucerne and the Alps. A return ticket from Vitznau costs CHF 84 (around £75), half price with the Halbtax card, and children up to 15 travel free with an adult. The trip is included with the Swiss Travel Pass.

It’s a long and expensive day, so I’d catch an early train and buy the tickets online in advance. If you’re thinking of staying a few nights in Central Switzerland rather than going back and forth, I’ve put together my picks in the guide to where to stay in Switzerland.

Book a day trip from Zürich to Rigi and Lake Lucerne here.

Practical travel tips for Zürich

Zürich is small enough for you to walk between the Old Town, Bahnhofstrasse and the lake, and ZVV’s trams, buses, S-Bahn trains and boats handle the rest on a single shared ticket. The whole city is zone 110, which counts as two zones. A single ticket costs CHF 4.70 (around £4.30) and is valid for an hour, while a short trip of up to five stops costs CHF 2.80 (around £2.50). If you’ll use public transport more than twice in a day, buy a 24-hour pass for CHF 9.40 (around £8.50), which also covers the Polybahn and the river boat on the Limmat. Tickets are sold at the machines or in the ZVV app, and there’s no validating, so you just need to buy your ticket before you board.

The Zürich Card costs CHF 29 (around £26) for 24 hours and CHF 56 (around £50) for 72 hours, and children aged 6 to 15 pay CHF 19 (around £17) and CHF 37 (around £35). The card covers all 2nd-class transport including the airport, Uetliberg and the short boat trips, and it gives free entry to the Kunsthaus collection, the Landesmuseum, the FIFA Museum and Museum Rietberg. My rule is that the card pays for itself if you visit two museums and take a boat trip on the same day, but remember that the museums are closed on Mondays, so don’t buy it for a Monday.

The airport is ten minutes by train from Hauptbahnhof, and that’s by far the easiest way into the city. All the options, prices and which zones you need a ticket for are in my guide to getting from Zürich Airport to the city centre.

The best time to visit is from May to September, when the lidos (Badis) are open, the boats are running and you can sit outside in the evening. December is a lovely alternative, with Christmas markets in Hauptbahnhof and on Sechseläutenplatz, but expect cold days and fog, which Uetliberg often pokes up through. Have lunch at Markthalle in Zürich West or from the station supermarkets if you’re watching your budget, because an ordinary restaurant dinner can easily cost twice what it would back home.

If you need the full range of hotels, you can see all hotels in Zürich on Booking.com. If you’re travelling on northwards, Munich is just four hours away by direct train, and you’ll find my picks of neighbourhoods and hotels in the guide to where to stay in Munich.

The post 18 Things to Do in Zürich: Old Town, Chagall Windows & the View from Uetliberg appeared first on Destination Well Known.

The quick answer is therefore the train, which is also the cheapest option. Tram 10 is a good alternative if you’re staying in Oerlikon or near Central, and a taxi costs around 65 francs. Here you’ll find all the options with prices, journey times and stations, plus how to travel straight on to Lucerne, Bern and Interlaken. All prices are in Swiss francs (CHF).

If you’d rather drive yourself from the airport, you can compare prices on rental cars at Booking.com.

Quick overview

• Train to Zürich HB: around 7 francs (around £6), 10 to 13 minutes, runs roughly every 10 minutes from about 5am until just after midnight.
• Tram 10: around 7 francs (around £6), about 35 minutes to Bahnhofplatz/HB via Oerlikon and Central, runs every 7 to 8 minutes during the day from about 5am until just before midnight.
• Night bus N10: around 7 francs (around £6), about 27 minutes to Bahnhofplatz/HB, runs only on weekend nights, roughly every half hour.
• Bus 768: around 7 francs (around £6), about 16 minutes to Zürich Oerlikon, runs roughly every 10 minutes during the day.
• Taxi: around 65 francs (around £60) to the centre according to the airport, 10 to 20 minutes without traffic.
• Uber and private transfer: the price is shown in the app or when you book, and the driver meets you at the airport.
• Direct onward trains: about 1 hour 10 minutes to Lucerne, about 1 hour 15 minutes to Bern and about 2 hours 15 minutes to Interlaken with a change in Bern.

How to find the transport at the airport

You’ll come out into one of the two arrivals halls, Arrival 1 or Arrival 2. From either one, follow the signs for the train and the Airport Center, the large building between the terminals with shops, a ticket office and the entrance to the station. The station itself, Zürich Flughafen, is underground beneath the Airport Center, and you take the escalators or lift down to the platforms.

Trams and city buses stop at Zürich Flughafen, Bahnhof by the bus terminal in front of the Airport Center, so you head the same way and follow the signs for tram and bus. Taxis wait in the innermost lane in front of Arrival 1 and Arrival 2. If you book an Uber, go up to the departures halls, Check-in 1 or Check-in 2, where the driver waits in the bays marked “Limousine Taxi”, and the app shows you the way. The airport has all its information on trains, trams and buses on its public transport page.

1. Train from Zurich Airport to the city centre (Zürich HB)

The train is the fastest way into town. Both S-Bahn and long-distance trains run from Zürich Flughafen to the main station, Zürich HB. The fastest get there in 9 to 10 minutes, while the S-Bahn trains take 10 to 13 minutes. The S-Bahn lines are the S2, S16 and S24, and the InterCity and InterRegio trains towards Bern, Geneva, Basel and Lucerne also stop at Zürich HB on the way. You can take the first train heading for Zürich HB, whatever type of train it is.

According to the airport, there’s a train to the main station every 10 minutes. On weekdays the first leaves at around 5am and the last just after midnight, usually around 12.45am. If you land later, your options are tram 10, the N10 night bus at weekends, or a taxi. The timetable changes every December, so check departures in the SBB timetable before you travel.

Luggage costs nothing extra, and every train has racks for suitcases. The pitfall is the direction, because some trains run the opposite way towards Winterthur and St. Gallen. Look for Zürich HB on the departures board or on the platform screen before you board.

Fares and tickets

The journey is covered by the ZVV transport network, which uses zones. The airport is in zone 121 and the city in zone 110, which counts double, so you need a three-zone ticket. It costs around 7 francs (around £6) in 2nd class and 11.80 francs (around £11) in 1st class. The ticket is valid for an hour, so you can switch to a tram or bus in the city on the same ticket.

If you’re travelling there and back on the same day or getting around the city, a 24-hour pass for the same three zones costs 14.40 francs (around £13), the same as two single tickets. Children aged 6 to 15 and travellers with the Swiss Half Fare Card pay 3.60 francs (around £3) for a single, and children under 6 travel free. ZVV adjusts its fares when the timetable changes in December, so check the price with ZVV.

If you have a Swiss Travel Pass, it’s also valid for the journey from the airport, as is the Zürich Card, which I cover in the practical tips at the bottom.

Where to buy your ticket

The easiest way is the SBB Mobile app or the ZVV app, where you pay by card and keep the ticket on your phone. You can also buy tickets from the machines at the station, which take bank cards, or at the counter in the SBB ticket office in the Airport Center. Choose Zürich HB as your destination and the machine will find the right three-zone ticket for you.

Buy your ticket before you board. You can’t buy one on the train, and if you’re caught without a ticket, you’ll pay a penalty fare on top of the ticket price.

Where should you get off?

Zürich HB: The main station is at the end of Bahnhofstrasse, so if you’re staying around Lindenhof and Bahnhofstrasse, you’re almost there. Niederdorf in the Old Town is about a 10-minute walk across the River Limmat, and the area around Langstrasse is 10 to 20 minutes on foot. If you’d like to stay close to the station, you can see hotels near Zürich HB here. I go through the neighbourhoods in my guide to where to stay in Zurich.

Zürich Oerlikon: Most trains towards Zürich HB stop at Oerlikon, and the journey takes just 4 to 5 minutes. The district is the cheapest place to stay with short journeys to both the airport and the centre, and you can see hotels in Oerlikon here.

Zürich Hardbrücke: The S16 runs directly from the airport to Hardbrücke in about 9 minutes before continuing to Zürich HB. The station is in Zurich West, so this is the train for you if you’re staying in that area. The S16 runs once every half hour.

Zürich Stadelhofen: The same S16 continues from Zürich HB to Stadelhofen, which you reach in about 16 minutes from the airport without changing. From here you can walk to Seefeld, the opera house, the lake and the eastern end of the Old Town.

2. Tram 10 to Oerlikon, Central and Zürich HB

Tram 10 runs from the Zürich Flughafen, Bahnhof stop through Glattbrugg and Oerlikon, then down through the university quarter to Central and Bahnhofplatz/HB in front of the main station. The whole journey takes about 35 minutes, so it’s three times slower than the train, but it goes right into the centre with no stairs or changes.

During the day on weekdays it runs every 7 to 8 minutes, with longer gaps in the evenings and at weekends. The first tram towards the centre leaves at around 5am, and the last leaves the airport just before midnight. Tram 12 also runs from the airport, but it goes to Stettbach on the eastern edge of the city and is rarely useful for tourists.

The tram suits you if you’re staying in Oerlikon, the university quarter or near Central at the northern end of Niederdorf. It’s also a good choice if you have a heavy suitcase and don’t fancy walking from the main station. The pitfall is time: if you’re just going to Zürich HB, the train is much quicker.

Fares and tickets

The tram uses the same ZVV tickets as the train, so a three-zone ticket costs around 7 francs (around £6), and the 24-hour pass costs 14.40 francs (around £13). Buy your ticket from the machine at the stop or in the app before you board, as you can’t buy one from the driver. The Swiss Travel Pass and Zürich Card are also valid on the tram.

Where should you get off the tram?

Zürich Oerlikon, Bahnhof Ost: The stop by Oerlikon station is about 13 minutes away. From here you can walk to the hotels around the station and Marktplatz.

ETH/Universitätsspital: The stop by the ETH university and the university hospital is about 30 minutes away. From here it’s a few minutes’ walk down to Niederdorf.

Central: The Central square by the river is at the northern end of Niederdorf, and you’ll get there in about 33 minutes. It’s the best stop if you’re staying in the Old Town on the east side of the Limmat, and you can see hotels in Niederdorf here.

Bahnhofplatz/HB: The terminus is on the square in front of the main station, about 35 minutes from the airport. From here you can walk to Bahnhofstrasse and Lindenhof.

3. Night bus N10 and the bus to Oerlikon

There’s no regular city bus from the airport to the centre during the day, as the train and tram take care of that. At weekends, the N10 night bus takes over at night. It runs from the Zürich Flughafen, Bahnhof stop on Friday and Saturday nights, roughly every half hour from about 1.40am to 3.40am, and the last departures before the morning services begin only go as far as Oerlikon.

The N10 runs through Glattbrugg and Seebach to Oerlikon, then follows the same route as tram 10 via Central to Bahnhofplatz/HB. It takes about 11 minutes to Oerlikon, about 25 minutes to Central and about 27 minutes to the main station. Night buses no longer require a night supplement, so the regular three-zone ticket for around 7 francs (around £6) is enough. On other nights of the week there’s no night bus from the airport.

During the day, bus 768 runs from the airport to Zürich Oerlikon, Bahnhof in about 16 minutes. It runs roughly every 10 minutes and uses the same ticket, but the train is quicker to Oerlikon, so the bus is only an alternative if the train is cancelled. The many other buses from the airport serve the suburbs and the towns around Kloten and Bülach.

4. Taxi, Uber and private transfer

The airport only recommends the official taxis, which are marked Airport Taxi. They wait in the innermost lane in front of Arrival 1 and Arrival 2, and according to the airport a ride to the centre costs around 65 francs (around £60). You can pay by card in the car, and you can also book the taxi in the company’s app. Find out more on the airport’s taxi page.

Taxis run on the meter, so the fare depends on the address and the traffic. Zürich Tourism estimates 45 to 70 francs (around £40 to £65) and 10 to 20 minutes to the centre, and there may be a surcharge for lots of luggage. It’s expensive, so a taxi makes most sense when you land after the last train, or when there are several of you with plenty of luggage. The comparison is on the Zürich Tourism website.

Uber also operates from the airport. The price is shown in the app before you book, and it rises when demand is high. The driver waits at the departures halls, Check-in 1 and Check-in 2, not at arrivals, and Uber’s Zurich Airport page explains how to get there.

Private transfer

If you’re landing late with children, or you simply want everything sorted in advance, you can book a private transfer from Zurich Airport to your hotel here. The driver helps with your luggage, and the price is agreed before you land.

Travelling on around Switzerland straight from the airport

If you’re not staying in Zurich, you don’t need to go into the city first. According to the airport, direct long-distance trains run from Zürich Flughafen to places including Bern, Basel, Lucerne and St. Gallen, and several continue to Geneva and Lausanne. If you can’t find a direct departure, take the first train to Zürich HB and change there, as trains run from there to the whole country.

Lucerne: There are one or two direct InterRegio trains an hour, and the journey takes about 1 hour 10 minutes. Otherwise, change at Zürich HB and you’ll arrive at almost the same time. Lucerne’s main station is by the lake, a few minutes’ walk from the Kapellbrücke, and you can see hotels in Lucerne here. If there are several of you with lots of luggage, you can also book a private transfer from the airport to Lucerne here.

Bern: There are usually two direct InterCity trains an hour to Bern, and the journey takes about 1 hour 15 minutes. From Bern station you can walk into the Old Town in a few minutes.

Interlaken: From the airport you’ll usually need to change in Bern, so take the train to Bern and change to the train towards Interlaken Ost, which also stops at Interlaken West. With the change, the journey takes about 2 hours 15 minutes. Alternatively, you can go via Lucerne and take the scenic Luzern-Interlaken Express, but then allow a good 3 hours. There’s frequent engineering work on the lines towards Bern and in Interlaken, so check your journey in the SBB app before you set off.

At full price, a 2nd-class single from the airport to Lucerne costs around 32 francs (around £30), and it’s quite a bit more to Bern and Interlaken. If you buy early in the SBB app, you can often get a Supersaver ticket, which is tied to a specific train, or a Saver Day Pass, valid for a whole day across the country. If you have a Half Fare Card or a Swiss Travel Pass, it’s valid from the airport too. If you’re visiting several cities, you can read my guide to where to stay in Switzerland.

Getting back to the airport

Trains run from Zürich HB to the airport several times every quarter of an hour, and the journey takes 9 to 13 minutes. On weekdays the first leaves at about 4.30am and the last at around 12.15am. Trains to the airport leave from many different platforms at the main station, both above ground and below the station, so find your departure on the board and choose a train that stops at Zürich Flughafen. The ticket is the same as on the way in: three zones for around 7 francs (around £6).

On weekend nights SBB runs an extra early train from Bern via Olten, Zürich HB and Oerlikon, which reaches the airport shortly after 4am, so you can catch the first flights in the morning. Tram 10 runs from Bahnhofplatz/HB from about 5am to around 11pm and takes about 33 minutes. On weekend nights the N10 night bus runs from Bahnhofplatz/HB to the airport roughly every half hour.

If you’d like your car booked before you leave home, you can book a private transfer from your hotel to the airport here. If someone’s dropping you off, the first 5 minutes in the lane by the departures halls, Check-in 1 and Check-in 2, are free, and after that it costs 1 franc (around 90p) a minute. Prices are on the airport’s drop-off page.

Which should you choose?

Here’s my recommendation based on where you’re staying:

Lindenhof and Bahnhofstrasse: Take the train to Zürich HB. It’s the quickest and cheapest way, and you’ll be there in a quarter of an hour including the walk.

Niederdorf and the Old Town: Take the train to Zürich HB and walk across the river. If you have heavy luggage, tram 10 goes directly to Central at the northern end of Niederdorf.

Seefeld: Take the S16 directly to Stadelhofen, or take the first train to Zürich HB and change to an S-Bahn train towards Stadelhofen.

Zurich West: Take the S16 directly to Hardbrücke. If there isn’t one within a quarter of an hour, take the train to Zürich HB and a tram onwards.

Oerlikon: Take the first train that stops at Oerlikon. The journey takes just 4 to 5 minutes.

If you land at night: On weekend nights the N10 night bus runs to Oerlikon, Central and Bahnhofplatz/HB roughly every half hour. On weekdays a taxi for around 65 francs (around £60) is the only option once the last trains and trams have gone.

If there are three or four of you: Four train tickets cost 28.80 francs (around £25), so the train is still cheaper than a taxi. The taxi takes you to the door, but it’s rarely faster.

If you’re travelling on: Take the direct trains to Lucerne and Bern, and change in Bern if you’re heading to Interlaken.

Practical tips for getting from Zurich Airport

Buy your ticket before you board. No tickets are sold on trains or trams, and inspections are common. With the SBB app you can skip the machines.

Make use of the hour on your ticket. The three-zone ticket is valid for an hour, so feel free to change to a tram or bus at Zürich HB without buying a new ticket.

Consider the Zürich Card. The card costs 29 francs (around £25) for 24 hours and 56 francs (around £50) for 72 hours for an adult. It gives you free 2nd-class travel by train, tram, bus and boat in the city and surrounding area, including to and from the airport, plus free entry to many museums. Prices are on the Zürich Tourism website. If you mostly get around on foot, a 24-hour pass from ZVV for 14.40 francs (around £13) is often enough.

Leave your luggage at the station. SBB has luggage lockers at the airport that are open around the clock, so you can explore the city before an evening flight home.

Book long-distance trains early. If you’re heading on to Lucerne, Bern or Interlaken, Supersaver tickets are often much cheaper than full price, but they disappear as the trains fill up.

If you’re not sure which neighbourhood suits you, read my guide to where to stay in Zurich. It also shows which areas have the shortest journey to the airport.

The post Zurich Airport to the City Centre – Transport Guide appeared first on Destination Well Known.

On the other hand, Switzerland is expensive, and that’s especially true of the hotels. That’s why it matters a lot where you spend your nights. Here are my recommendations for seven good towns to stay in, with hotels in several price ranges.

The Best Towns in Switzerland

• Zurich - best city for arrival and city life
• Lucerne - best town for first-time visitors
• Interlaken - best base for the Jungfrau Region
• Grindelwald - best town for hiking and mountain views
• Zermatt - best town for the Matterhorn and a car-free mountain holiday
• Montreux - best town on Lake Geneva
• Lugano - best town for an Italian feel and a mild climate

Below, I’ll take you through the seven towns one by one, with hotels in different price ranges, so you can find the base that suits your trip. Prices in Switzerland are in Swiss francs (CHF), and 1 CHF is worth roughly £0.90, so I’ve converted the hotel prices into pounds for you.

1. Zurich - best city for arrival and city life

• Distance from the centre: The hotels below are in or close to the Old Town and no more than about a quarter of an hour’s walk from the main station, Zurich HB.
• Transport: Trams and buses cover the whole city, and direct trains run from Zurich HB to Lucerne, Bern and Lugano, among other places.
• Time from Zurich Airport: 10 to 15 minutes by train to Zurich HB. Trains run every 5 to 10 minutes for most of the day.
• Price range: €€€ to €€€€. The three hotels below cost around £200 to £730 a night when I searched for a weekend in September.
• Safety: Zurich is a very safe city. As always, keep an eye on your bag around the main station and in the nightlife of Niederdorf.

Zurich is Switzerland’s largest city, and for most visitors it’s where the trip begins. The train from the airport gets you to the main station, Zurich HB, in a quarter of an hour, and from there direct trains run to large parts of the country. That makes the city a good place to stay for your first or last nights, even if the mountains are the real goal.

The best base is the Old Town on both sides of the River Limmat. On the east side is Niederdorf with narrow streets, bars and restaurants, and on the west side you’ll find Bahnhofstrasse and the Fraumünster and St. Peter churches. From here, you can walk to both the lake and the station.

If you want a view over the city and the lake, you can take the train up the city’s own mountain, Uetliberg, in about 20 minutes from Zurich HB. In summer, boats sail out on Lake Zurich from Bürkliplatz at the end of Bahnhofstrasse. If you buy the Zürich Card, you’ll travel free on the city’s public transport, including the train to and from the airport.

See hotels in Zurich here.

Zurich is one of Europe’s most expensive cities, and you’ll notice it in both the hotels and the restaurants. In return, you get a well-run city where everything’s close by, and in summer you can swim in both the lake and the river from the city’s lidos.

If you’ve got more than a couple of nights in the city, I’ve written a full guide to where to stay in Zurich, with more neighbourhoods and even more hotels. If you’re heading on towards Germany, there are also direct trains from Zurich to Munich, and my guide to where to stay in Munich can help you with your next stop.

Places to Stay in Zurich

Storchen Zürich - best luxury hotel by the river in the Old Town

Storchen is on Weinplatz right down by the Limmat and has one of the best locations in the city, about ten minutes’ walk from the main station. The hotel has a restaurant, and the terrace sits right on the river. The price is the big downside, as it was one of the most expensive hotels in my Zurich search, and guests mention it too.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “Excellent location, lovely and helpful staff and an exceptional hotel.”

See photos and book Storchen Zürich here.

Hotel St. Josef - best mid-range hotel with a top rating

Hotel St. Josef is on Hirschengraben on the Niederdorf side of the Old Town and had the highest guest rating of the three hotels here. It’s a three-star hotel with a restaurant and breakfast, and you can walk to both the river and the main station. Guests mention that the walk up from the station is steep and has steps, so bear that in mind if you’ve got heavy luggage.

One guest praises the staff on Booking.com: “The staff were extremely sweet, attentive and fun!”

See photos and book Hotel St. Josef here.

Motel One Zürich - the cheapest of my three picks in Zurich

Motel One is on Stockerstrasse in the Enge district between the main station and the lake, and it was the cheapest of the three when I searched. The rooms are modern and breakfast is served, but there’s no proper restaurant. It’s about a quarter of an hour’s walk to the main station, and several guests mention that it’s a long way with a suitcase.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The location was excellent, and everything we needed, food, drink and transport, was right outside the door!”

See photos and book Motel One Zürich here.

2. Lucerne - best town for first-time visitors

• Distance from Zurich: Under an hour by train from Zurich HB.
• Transport: The Old Town, the station and the lake boats are all within walking distance of each other. City buses run to the neighbourhoods further out.
• Time from Zurich Airport: Allow around an hour by train as a rough guide.
• Price range: €€€ to €€€€. The three hotels below cost around £190 to £940 a night when I searched.
• Safety: Lucerne is a calm and safe town. Watch out for pickpockets in the crowds around the Kapellbrücke in high season.

Lucerne is the town I’d recommend if you’re only going to one place in Switzerland. It sits on Lake Lucerne with the Pilatus and Rigi mountains close by, and the covered wooden Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke) from the 14th century is one of the country’s best-known sights.

The Old Town is on the north side of the River Reuss, with painted façades, small squares and a long stretch of the old city wall. On the south side are the station and the KKL concert hall, and you can cross the bridges between the two in a few minutes.

Boats leave from the quays in front of the station, and you can combine a cruise with a cogwheel railway up one of the mountains. Rigi is included in the Swiss Travel Pass, and you’ll get a discount on many other mountain railways, so check SBB’s page on the Swiss Travel Pass before you buy tickets.

See hotels in Lucerne here.

Lucerne is also a good hub for the rest of the country. The town’s tourist office has an overview of both boat trips and mountain railways, and the Luzern-Interlaken Express panoramic train runs once an hour to Interlaken in just under two hours.

The downside is that Lucerne is one of the most visited towns in the country. In summer, it’s crowded around the Kapellbrücke and in the Old Town, and the lakeside hotels are expensive. Book well ahead if you’re travelling in July and August.

The most popular day trip is the round trip to Pilatus. In the summer half of the year, you can sail from Lucerne to Alpnachstad, take the world’s steepest cogwheel railway up to the top and ride the gondola down to Kriens, where the bus runs back into town. It takes a whole day, but you’ll see the lake, the mountain and the town from above.

Places to Stay in Lucerne

Hotel Schweizerhof Luzern - best luxury hotel on the lake

Hotel Schweizerhof is on Schweizerhofquai facing the lake, about ten minutes’ walk from the station, and had the highest guest rating of my three picks in Lucerne. It’s a classic grand hotel with a spa, a gym and a restaurant. The price is high, and a few guests feel the breakfast buffet could be better, especially for vegetarians.

One guest describes their stay like this on Booking.com: “The hotel is exceptional. Every single detail has been thought through, so you feel that you’ve been thought of.”

See photos and book Hotel Schweizerhof Luzern here.

Boutique Hotel KARL - best mid-range hotel by the river

Boutique Hotel KARL is on St. Karliquai by the River Reuss at the western end of the Old Town, about 12 minutes’ walk from the station. The hotel doesn’t have a restaurant but serves a breakfast buffet, and guests particularly praise the staff and the location. A few guests had expected a more exclusive boutique experience for the money.

One delighted guest writes on Booking.com: “I loved everything about this hotel! The staff, the room, the location and the breakfast were all absolutely amazing.”

See photos and book Boutique Hotel KARL here.

Ambassador Self Check-in Hotel - the cheapest pick close to the Old Town

Ambassador is on Zürichstrasse just north of the Old Town and was the cheapest of my three picks in Lucerne. The hotel has self check-in, so don’t expect the same service as at a classic hotel. Guests mention that the street can be noisy in the morning and that the room temperature can be hard to control.

Another guest sums it up like this on Booking.com: “The location is good (although the street can be noisy in the morning).”

See photos and book Ambassador Self Check-in Hotel here.

3. Interlaken - best base for the Jungfrau Region

• Distance from Zurich: Around two hours by train from Zurich HB.
• Transport: From Interlaken Ost, the train runs to Lauterbrunnen in about 20 minutes and to Grindelwald in about 30 minutes.
• Time from Zurich Airport: Allow around two and a half hours by train as a rough guide.
• Price range: €€ to €€€€. The three hotels below cost around £250 to £1,440 a night when I searched, and the luxury hotel pushes the top end up considerably.
• Safety: The town is safe. If you’re going hiking or trying activities, check the weather, as it can change quickly in the mountains.

Interlaken sits between Lake Thun (Thunersee) and Lake Brienz (Brienzersee) and is the classic base for the Jungfrau Region. The town itself isn’t the prettiest in Switzerland, but the location is hard to beat. From here, trains run up towards Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen and Wengen, and boats sail out on both lakes.

The main street, Höheweg, runs along the large lawn of the Höhematte, where you can see the Jungfrau on clear days. The town has two stations, Interlaken West and Interlaken Ost, and it’s from Ost that you take the train on into the mountains. So I’d stay in the eastern half of town if you’re planning lots of day trips.

The big excursion is the trip to Jungfraujoch, Europe’s highest railway station at 3,454 metres. The journey takes about an hour and a half each way from Interlaken Ost via Grindelwald and the Eiger Express gondola, and the ticket is expensive, so pick a day with clear weather.

See hotels in Interlaken here.

Interlaken is also a good choice if you’re travelling with children or want to try paragliding and rafting, as there are lots of operators here. The town has more restaurants and supermarkets than the villages up in the valleys, which makes it a little easier to stick to your budget.

The downside is that you won’t wake up with the mountains right outside your window. If that’s what you want, Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen is a better choice, while Interlaken gives you the best connections to both the mountains and the lakes.

If the weather’s too poor to go up high, you can sail on Lake Brienz to villages such as Iseltwald and Brienz, or take the funicular up to the Harder Kulm viewpoint close to Interlaken Ost. The boats mostly run in the summer half of the year, so check the timetable if you’re travelling out of season.

Places to Stay in Interlaken

Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa - best luxury hotel with views of the Jungfrau

Victoria Jungfrau is on Höheweg facing the Höhematte and is the town’s classic grand hotel. You get an indoor pool, a spa and several restaurants. It was the most expensive hotel in this entire guide when I searched, and some guests don’t feel the service quite matches the price, so it’s a place for a really special occasion.

One guest describes the hotel on Booking.com: “A truly beautiful and grand hotel with a strong sense of history.”

See photos and book Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa here.

Hotel Interlaken - best mid-range hotel close to Interlaken Ost

Hotel Interlaken is on Höheweg, about eight minutes’ walk from Interlaken Ost, and has a very high guest rating. There’s a restaurant and a garden, but no spa or pool. Some guests mention that in certain rooms you have to stand in the bath to take a shower.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “Beautiful hotel with a great location. The staff were excellent, and the small room with a balcony was very cosy.”

See photos and book Hotel Interlaken here.

Adventure Guesthouse Interlaken - good budget pick near Interlaken West

Adventure Guesthouse is on Helvetiastrasse, about six minutes’ walk from Interlaken West, and was the cheapest of the three when I searched. The breakfast gets good reviews, and there’s free parking if you’re coming by car. The rooms are small, so it’s best suited to couples who’ll be out most of the time.

One guest highlights the breakfast on Booking.com: “Our room was very comfortable. The breakfast was always excellent.”

See photos and book Adventure Guesthouse Interlaken here.

4. Grindelwald - best town for hiking and mountain views

• Distance from Zurich: Allow around two and a half hours by train via Interlaken Ost.
• Transport: The train from Interlaken Ost takes about 30 minutes. Sit at the back of the train, as it splits along the way and the front part goes to Lauterbrunnen.
• Time from Zurich Airport: Allow around three hours by train as a rough guide.
• Price range: €€€ to €€€€. The three hotels below cost around £250 to £460 a night when I searched.
• Safety: The town is very safe. Stick to the marked trails, and check the forecast before you head up high.

Grindelwald sits at the foot of the Eiger and is the town in the Jungfrau Region where the mountains feel closest. From many of the hotels, you can look straight up at the famous North Face, and the town is the starting point for some of the best-known hikes in Switzerland.

In summer, you take the gondola up to First, where you can walk to the Bachalpsee lake, and the Eiger Express runs from Grindelwald Terminal towards Jungfraujoch. The trip from Grindelwald Terminal to the top takes about 45 minutes, so you save time compared with staying in Interlaken.

The town is built along one long main street, Dorfstrasse, with hotels, sports shops and restaurants. It’s on a slope, so expect hills as you walk around, and it’s worth choosing a hotel close to the station if you’ve got heavy luggage.

See hotels in Grindelwald here.

I’d choose Grindelwald for an active holiday where you’ll be hiking most of the day and want mountain views in the evening. In winter, the town is also a ski resort, and prices go up then.

The alternative is Lauterbrunnen in the next valley, with its many waterfalls. From there, you can get up to the car-free villages of Wengen and Mürren, while Grindelwald has the biggest choice of hotels and restaurants. The downside of both places is that the evenings are quiet and you’re further from the rest of Switzerland than in Interlaken.

If you’re coming by car, Grindelwald is also easier than Wengen and Mürren, as those two villages are car-free and you’ll have to park in Lauterbrunnen. From Grindelwald, on the other hand, you can take the train over Kleine Scheidegg to Wengen and Lauterbrunnen and do a loop of the region in one day.

Places to Stay in Grindelwald

Belvedere Swiss Quality Hotel - best hotel with a pool and spa

Belvedere is on Dorfstrasse, about 300 metres from the station, and has an indoor pool, a spa and a restaurant. It was the most expensive of my three picks in Grindelwald but also had the highest guest rating, and guests particularly praise the view. Several guests feel the restaurant is pricey, so it pays to eat out on some evenings.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The hotel is fantastic. The view is magnificent.”

See photos and book Belvedere Swiss Quality Hotel here.

Hotel Cabana - best mid-range hotel with personal service

Hotel Cabana is also on Dorfstrasse, about 400 metres from the station, and is a smaller hotel with a sauna and breakfast. There’s no restaurant in the evening, but you’ve got plenty of places to eat within walking distance. The hotel isn’t fully accessible for wheelchair users, so check that if it matters to you.

One guest describes the place on Booking.com: “Everything about the place felt warm, personal and incredibly well run.”

See photos and book Hotel Cabana here.

Hotel Hirschen Grindelwald - good budget pick in the middle of town

Hotel Hirschen is on Dorfstrasse, about five minutes’ walk from the station, and was the cheapest of the three when I searched. The hotel has a restaurant and a sauna, and guests particularly praise the staff. The lift is small, which some guests mention when they’ve got a lot of luggage.

One guest singles out the staff on Booking.com: “The staff were all very nice and eager to help and make sure we enjoyed our stay.”

See photos and book Hotel Hirschen Grindelwald here.

5. Zermatt - best town for the Matterhorn and a car-free mountain holiday

• Distance from Zurich: Allow just over three hours by train from Zurich HB, usually with a change in Visp.
• Transport: The town is car-free. If you’re coming by car, you park in Täsch and take the shuttle train, which runs about every 20 minutes.
• Time from the airport: About three and a half hours from Zurich Airport and around four hours from Geneva Airport.
• Price range: €€€ to €€€€. The three hotels below cost around £210 to £630 a night when I searched.
• Safety: The town is very safe. The biggest risks are the weather and the altitude, so bring proper clothing when you head up the mountains.

Zermatt is the car-free mountain town at the foot of the Matterhorn, and it’s one of the places in Switzerland where you really get the feeling of being in the High Alps. Private cars can only go as far as the neighbouring village of Täsch, and from there you take a shuttle train up to Zermatt in 12 minutes. In town, you get around by electric bus and electric taxi or on foot.

The big highlight is the Matterhorn. The cogwheel railway up to Gornergrat and the cable cars towards Matterhorn Glacier Paradise give you the view up close, and in summer there are hikes of every difficulty level.

I’d choose Zermatt for a trip where the mountains are the main event and you want to stay several nights in the same place. The town is at the end of a long valley, so it’s a poor base for day trips to the rest of the country.

See hotels in Zermatt here.

Zermatt is expensive, even by Swiss standards, and that goes for the hotels, restaurants and mountain railways alike. On the other hand, there are lots of smaller family-run hotels, and the best of them have top guest ratings. See Zermatt’s official page on getting there for parking in Täsch and train connections.

Choose a room with a view of the Matterhorn if your budget allows. It’s the view most people come for, and far from every room in town has it.

The Gornergrat Railway leaves from a station right opposite Zermatt’s main station, so you can be on your way up towards the glaciers shortly after breakfast. In winter, Zermatt is one of the country’s biggest ski resorts, with pistes reaching right over the border into Italy, and prices rise even further then. So compare prices for your exact week, as they vary a lot between the seasons.

Places to Stay in Zermatt

THE OMNIA - best design hotel with views over the town

THE OMNIA sits on a rock above the town, about ten minutes’ walk from the station, and has an indoor pool and a spa. It’s a modern design hotel with a top guest rating. A few guests feel the bathrooms are small, and the price was well above the other two hotels in my Zermatt search.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The staff were so friendly and attentive that they couldn’t have done more for us.”

See photos and book THE OMNIA here.

Welschen Hotel - highest guest rating in the whole guide

Welschen Hotel is on Wiestistrasse, about seven minutes’ walk from the station, and had the highest guest rating of all the hotels in this guide when I searched. It’s a four-star hotel at a mid-range price, and guests are especially happy with the staff. Some guests mention noise from neighbouring rooms.

One guest describes the hotel on Booking.com: “It’s a truly fantastic hotel, not only because of the high quality but also because the warm and welcoming staff make it something special.”

See photos and book Welschen Hotel here.

Hotel Walliserhof Zermatt - good budget pick close to the station

Hotel Walliserhof is on Bahnhofstrasse, about 200 metres from the station, and was the cheapest of the three when I searched. The hotel has a restaurant and a high guest rating for the price. A few guests feel the breakfast could be more varied.

One satisfied guest writes on Booking.com: “The hotel staff couldn’t have been nicer, and they did everything they could to help.”

See photos and book Hotel Walliserhof Zermatt here.

6. Montreux - best town on Lake Geneva

• Distance from Zurich: Allow around three hours by train from Zurich HB. From Interlaken, the GoldenPass Express takes just over three hours.
• Transport: Public transport in the region is free with the Montreux Riviera Card when you stay at accommodation in the area.
• Time from Geneva Airport: Just over an hour by direct train.
• Price range: €€ to €€€€. The three hotels below cost around £160 to £500 a night when I searched.
• Safety: Montreux is a quiet town. During the jazz festival it gets very busy, so keep a close eye on your belongings.

Montreux is on the French-speaking side of Switzerland on Lake Geneva, and the town has a mild climate with palm trees and flower beds along the lakeside promenade. It’s known for its annual jazz festival, and behind the town the mountains rise up, with a lovely view across the lake to the French Alps on the other side.

Along the lake, you can walk about three kilometres to Chillon Castle, which stands on a rock out in the water at Veytaux. On the other side of town are the vineyards of Lavaux, which are on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, and you can take the train or the boat between the small wine villages.

If you stay at a hotel in the area, you’ll get the Montreux Riviera Card, which gives you free public transport in the region and half-price entry to Chillon, among other places.

See hotels in Montreux here.

I’d choose Montreux over Geneva if you want the lake and the mountains without the big city. Geneva is expensive and dominated by business travellers, while Montreux is more relaxed and still has direct trains to Geneva Airport.

Montreux is the end of the line for the GoldenPass Express from Interlaken, so the town works well as the last stop on a tour of the country. If you’re heading on to France, it isn’t far from Geneva to Lyon, and my guide to where to stay in Lyon can help you choose a neighbourhood.

If you want to go up high, the cogwheel railway runs from Montreux up to Rochers-de-Naye, with views over the whole of Lake Geneva, and you’ll get a discount on the trip with the Montreux Riviera Card. There are also direct trains along the lake to Lausanne and Geneva, so you can see both cities on day trips and still sleep in Montreux every night.

Places to Stay in Montreux

Fairmont Le Montreux Palace - best luxury hotel on the lake

Fairmont Le Montreux Palace is a large grand hotel facing the lake, about 400 metres from the station. There are both indoor and outdoor pools, a spa and several restaurants, and many rooms have views over Lake Geneva. Some guests feel the rooms are small for the price.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The room was lovely. It was clean and comfortable, with a fantastic view from the balcony.”

See photos and book Fairmont Le Montreux Palace here.

Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic - best mid-range pick right by the station

Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic is on Avenue des Alpes right opposite the station, and many rooms have lake views. There’s a restaurant with a terrace facing the water, but no pool. A few guests mention that the shower layout isn’t ideal and that the balconies don’t offer much privacy.

One guest sums up their stay on Booking.com: “Everything was top notch at this remarkable hotel.”

See photos and book Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic here.

Tralala Hotel Montreux - the cheapest pick in Montreux’s Old Town

Tralala Hotel is on Rue du Temple in Montreux’s Old Town, up the slope, and was the cheapest of the three when I searched. The rooms are small, and it’s a bit of a walk down to the lake, but guests are very happy with the hosts. It suits couples who want to stay cheaply and don’t need a lake view.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The hosts were very accommodating and friendly.”

See photos and book Tralala Hotel Montreux here.

7. Lugano - best town for an Italian feel and a mild climate

• Distance from Zurich: Under two hours by train from Zurich HB through the Gotthard Base Tunnel.
• Transport: The station is above the centre, and the Sassellina funicular links it with Piazza Cioccaro in a few minutes.
• Time from the airport: About an hour from Milan Malpensa and around two and a half hours by train from Zurich Airport.
• Price range: €€ to €€€€. The three hotels below cost around £210 to £520 a night when I searched.
• Safety: Lugano is a safe city. As always, keep an eye on your bag in the busy squares and along the lakeside promenade.

Lugano is in the canton of Ticino, where Italian is spoken, and the town feels more like Italy than the rest of Switzerland. There are piazzas with cafés, palm trees along the lake and a climate that’s milder than north of the Alps.

The centre is compact, gathered around Piazza della Riforma and the lakeside promenade, and boats sail out on Lake Lugano from the quays. You can take the mountain railways up Monte Brè and Monte San Salvatore for the view over the lake.

If you stay overnight in Ticino, you’ll get the Ticino Ticket, which gives you free public transport throughout the canton and discounts on mountain railways and boats. That makes day trips around the lake and in the rest of Ticino quite a bit cheaper.

See hotels in Lugano here.

Lugano is close to the Italian border, and the train to Milan takes around an hour. Have a look at my guide to where to stay in Milan, or head on to Lake Como, which is just on the other side of the border.

If you’re flying into Milan Malpensa, the TILO S50 train runs once an hour between the airport and Lugano. In my guide to Malpensa Airport, you can see the other ways of getting from the airport.

The downside is that you’re a long way from the big mountains of the Bernese Oberland and Valais. Lugano works best at the start or end of a tour of the country, or for a holiday where sun and lake matter more than glaciers.

A classic day trip is to take the mountain railway up Monte San Salvatore, walk down to the small village of Morcote on the lake and sail back to Lugano. In the evening, life gathers on the piazzas and along the promenade towards Parco Ciani, the city’s park right down by the water.

Places to Stay in Lugano

Grand Hotel Villa Castagnola - best luxury hotel on the lake

Grand Hotel Villa Castagnola is in Castagnola, east of the centre, about 1.5 kilometres from the station. The hotel has an indoor pool, a spa, a garden and its own beach on the lake, and it had the highest guest rating of my three picks in Lugano. Several guests are annoyed about paying extra for things like breakfast and drinks at a five-star hotel.

One guest writes briefly on Booking.com: “The suite was amazing.”

See photos and book Grand Hotel Villa Castagnola here.

Hotel Walter Au Lac - best mid-range pick on the lakeside promenade

Hotel Walter Au Lac is on Piazza Rezzonico facing the lake in the heart of the centre, about seven minutes’ walk from the station, and many rooms have views over the water. It’s an older hotel with a restaurant and staff that guests are very happy with. Guests also mention that the building is showing its age, especially in the bathrooms.

One guest highlights the location on Booking.com: “Fantastic location and very friendly and lovely staff!”

See photos and book Hotel Walter Au Lac here.

Continental Parkhotel - good budget pick with a pool close to the station

Continental Parkhotel is on Via Basilea close to the station and was the cheapest of the three when I searched. The hotel has an outdoor pool in the summer season, a restaurant and free parking, and you can see the lake from some of the rooms. On the other hand, it’s up above the centre, and some guests miss being able to make tea and coffee in the room.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive.”

See photos and book Continental Parkhotel here.

Where should you avoid staying in Switzerland?

I wouldn’t stay at Zurich Airport unless you’ve got a very early flight. The train to the centre only takes a quarter of an hour, so you don’t save much by staying out there, and you won’t get any of the city.

Geneva isn’t my first choice as a base either. The city is expensive and it’s a long way to the big mountains, so if you land in Geneva, I’d carry on to Montreux or Zermatt the same day.

Don’t stay in Zermatt either if you want to see a lot of the country. The town is at the end of a long valley, and every day trip costs you hours on the train. The same goes for Täsch, where the hotels are cheaper but you’ll have to take the shuttle train every time you want to go up to Zermatt.

If it’s your first time in Switzerland, I’d stay in Lucerne and add a couple of nights in Interlaken or Grindelwald, so you get lake, town and high mountains. If the Matterhorn is your goal, give Zermatt at least two nights, as the clouds can hide the summit for a whole day.

Montreux and Lugano are the best choices for a calmer trip with a lake and a mild climate. Wherever you stay, compare a Swiss Travel Pass with the Swiss Half Fare Card before you buy train tickets. A three-day Swiss Travel Pass in 2nd class costs around 250 CHF, roughly £230, while the Half Fare Card costs quite a bit less and gives you half price on most trains, boats and mountain railways for a month.

If you’d like to continue east, Austria isn’t far, and my guide to where to stay in Salzburg is a good place to start. To the south, Lake Garda and the Dolomites are waiting if you want even more lakes and mountains.

The post Where to Stay in Switzerland? The 7 Best Towns & Places to Stay appeared first on Destination Well Known.

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.

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.

See hotels in Seefeld here.

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 plenty of takeaways and 24-hour shops. 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.

See hotels in Oerlikon here.

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. And if you’re travelling on around the country, my guide to where to stay in Switzerland covers Lucerne, Interlaken, Zermatt and four other good bases.

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