Where to stay in Zurich: The best places and Neighbourhoods
The best area for to stay in Zurich is the Altstadt .There are also other neighbourhoods which are a good option or even better depending on what you are looking for.The city is like something out of a fairy tale, with the medieval streets of its historic centre (), Lake Zurich reflecting the city as if in a static selfie, and the snow-covered peaks of the Swiss Alps forming the backdrop.
The city has a high standard of living for southern European standards. Despite its reputation as the centre of the most orthodox international banking and being the home of chocolate makers with a lot of history, Zurich is also a modern city whose slow pace seduces its visitors.
This Swiss city has an important cultural offer , of that there is no doubt, but its parks, its gardens, its near lakes, – the first one of Zurich, of course -, and even its river allow to interact in the city of a different form and almost to feel like a neighbor more.
There are the swimming pools along the river to go where people go, the bicycles for rent to trace routes and street in another way, and its green spaces to enjoy nature.Choose it for a trip and stay in Zurich a few nights to enjoy its charms is worth it.
The best areas to stay in Zurich
A key list of areas to stay in Zurich should include the districts of Altstadt, Seefeld, Enge, Langstrasse, Wiedikon and Sihlfeld, the West Zurich part, with the districts of Gewerbeschule and Escher Wyss and the Zurich Airport area.
The Altstadt area, the historic centre , is perhaps the best of all, allowing you to be close to the most outstanding attractions, door to door with the most important historic buildings, and to enjoy the most complete and varied offer of accommodation.From the cheapest hotels in the area around Hauptbahnhof station to the most exclusive five-star hotels that dot the streets.
The rest of the city centre districts ensure that you can stay in Zurich at more affordable prices, especially if you are looking for two- and three-star hotels. The distances , which are not very large , are perfectly saved by the bus and tram services which work, of course, like Swiss watches.
The apartments are quite expensive and there is not much choice for the more common ones, although it is advisable to explore the holiday rental apartments (especially in the case of families with children or groups of friends) in each of the districts and check their location against the combined transport options.
Let’s go through the different neighbourhoods, looking at what there is to see in each one, what the accommodation is like to stay in Zurich in each district and what transport options are available, starting with the historical centre.
1.Altstadt
The Altstadt is the district of the historical centre of the city of Zurich.
Lindenhof and Rathaus correspond to what was once the medieval city , to the left and right of the river Limmat.City and Hochschulen form the modern part of Zurich, to the east and west of the medieval walls.The centre of Zurich is paved with cobblestones, perfect – and safe – for walking at any time.
The key to getting in, out and around in the centre is the Munster Bridge which allows you to cross the river.
The Altstadt is a eminently commercial zone and is specialized in the tourist services.
A perfect environment – it must be said again – to sleep in Zurich if you want to be near the attractions worth visiting.
Two shopping streets are especially recommended in the old town, Bahnhofstrasse , where you can buy top brands and fashion, the other, or rather, the others are arranged around Niederdorf area that will leave a good memory in the retina, it is a series of streets full of alternative shops and clothing boutiques very curious.
In the area of Rathaus , you should not miss the same building of the Zurich City Hall, built in the 1690s, and especially the two iconic cathedrals of the city, the Fraumünster , the Church of Our Lady, medieval, and the Grossmünster , built in Gothic style later.
You should also make time to visit two of the best permanent exhibitions in Zurich, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Swiss National Museum .
The Zurich tram system is the most recommended way to get around the city.In the Altstadt area, a key intersection is the Bellevueplatz, which connects with the routes of lines 2, 4, 5, 8, 11 and 15, as well as having the 912 and 916 buses nearby, which make connections with the rest of the city’s areas and other municipalities easier to visit.
– Accommodation in Altstadt
2.Seefeld
The Seefeld district is located in the south of Zurich, in a residential area , which includes the Hafen Riesbach , a private marina on the river between the Seefeldquai and Blatterwiese areas.
The Seefeld area has many public parks that combine tastes and designs from different historical periods. A moment to visit them, of course, in the spring. One that must be seen is the Chinese Garden Zürich
It is also advisable to eat at the restaurant that occupies the place of the old and popular Lido, a historical kiosk, converted into a pavilion and a very chic restaurant space.
If you are looking for curiosities on the street, then you should look for a key stone, never better than Klaus Stud , which originally served to mark the medieval boundary of the city of Zurich.
For art lovers, the road map for a trip to Zurich includes the sculpture by Henry Moore called Sheep Piece (1976) and the Pavillon Le Corbusier , the headquarters of the former Le Corbusier Centre – Heidi Weber Museum, a permanent exhibition dedicated to Franco-Swiss artists (also located between Seefeld Quai and Blatter Wiese).
If you have more time, you can include a visit to the Suchard Museum and the Bellerive Museum , the spas located on the shores of Lake Seebad, the Utoquai and the Strandbad Tiefenbrunnen, as well as the Botanical Garden of the University of Zurich.
And more, the spectacle of some large family houses with history of the area and the Mühle Tiefenbrunnen , a brewery and a mill converted into a very popular cultural center. In the neighborhood there are also a significant number of delicatessen shops.
This is a residential area, yes, very popular, but if you are looking for an apartment to stay in Zurich, no, it is not a recommended place because of the high prices of this type of accommodation in this area.
About mobility in the area, public transport is concentrated around the Tiefenbrunnen railway station where you can take the S6 and S16 suburban lines to move around Zurich.
The tramway lines 2 and 4 provide access to other districts and the tramway line 33 and the bus lines 912 and 916 provide access to other nearby districts.
– Accommodation in Seefeld
3.It is a residential area where you can find mid-range hotels ideal for staying in Zurich and for those who want to save money on a trip to Switzerland.
A little history as an introduction Enge was originally built on a group of small islands around Sechseläutenplatz.Remains of that past are the prehistoric settlements of Kleiner Hafner and Grosser Hafner which can be seen in a pavilion on the shore of the lake in the same area.
Two places worth seeing in Enge are the Synagoge Zürich Löwenstrasse and the Israelitische Cultusgemeinde Zürich (ICZ) , a temple and a library which are references for the Jewish community in Switzerland.
The Arboretum Zürich in Enge is a catalogued space with remarkable plant species that is part of the inventory of protected gardens in Switzerland and should be seen in spring or early summer.
To move around the area, the Zurich Enge train station which has a Zurich S-Bahn suburban train stop, lines S2 , S8 , S21 and S24.The buses are also recommended.
– Accommodation in Enge
4.Langstrasse
Langstrasse is the most dynamic district of Zurich in what was once the red light district of the city.
But Langstrasse, literally ‘the long street’, is a prime nightlife area where you can find bars, nightclubs, fast food restaurants for eating out or takeaways that don’t close all day
Over time, the district has gained considerable popularity with the settlement of groups of young art and fashion designers and creative restaurant owners.
If you’re visiting Zurich and want fun , keep an eye out for the calendar of events in the district, one of which is the Langstrasse Fest which has been held every two years since 1996.At times, it has been attended by more than 250,000 people.
In the years when this event is not held, the Longstreet Carneval takes place.Another festival is the Caliente , which is the most important of all the Latin festivals in Europe. For film lovers, every summer between July and August, there are open air screenings in Kanzleiareal, not far from Helvetiaplatz.
To get around in the area, look out for bus lines 31 and 66 and tram number 7, which guarantee connections to other districts of the city of Zurich.
– Accommodation in Langstrasse
5.Wiedikon and Sihlfeld
Wiedikon is a district of the city of Zurich situated south-west of the city centre and is a quiet and predominantly residential The centre of the district is the Buehl, a collection of streets and buildings situated at the top of a small hill.
The church, the Bühl Kirche , is
situated on this height, in a neo-Gothic style and was built in 1896. Nearby is the headquarters of the Wiedikon University, divided into two buildings, one old and one new.
Historical sites that can be admired
in the area are the eight churches of the district, all built in recent times, but charged with great significance for the community they attend.
Nor should one miss a very interesting museum in the area, that of Rietberg , specialized in oriental, pre-Columbian and African art.The main building is surrounded by a green environment that invites you to relax (Glaber Strasse, 15).
In the area, it is possible to find apartments for sleeping in Zurich , although their prices are not exactly low. To move from and to Wiedikon, you can use the tram service and lines 2, 3, 5, 9, 13, 14 and 17 that connect with any other district of Zurich, as well as bus lines 32, 33 and 72.
The Sihlfeld district is located to the west of the city centre, with the Sihlfeld Cemetery , which is the largest green space in the city.
There are a lot of unique trees, unique tombs and a lot of wildlife, including foxes, squirrels and woodpeckers.The cemetery is home to some of the most famous figures in Swiss history, such as Henry Dunant, the founder of the Red Cross.
To get to the cemetery and connect with other parts of Zurich, you have to use the bus, line 72, and the trams on lines 2 and 11.
– Accommodation in Wiedikon and Sihlfeld
6.West Zurich, the Gewerbeschule and Escher Wyss districts
The Gewerbeschule district is a business and service area of Zurich located immediately north of the historic centre.It is a perfect place to stay in Zurich because it offers a wide variety of accommodation , especially medium, three and four star hotels, which are close to what y
ou have to see in the city.
In the restaurants in the area, you will be seduced by what the inhabitants of Zurich bring to the table and it is part of their culinary culture , a reference, the surroundings of the Gasometre Strasse.
What is said, for breakfast, the muesli bowls of varied and healthy cereals.The bread from the city’s bakeries is a delicacy, and at lunchtime you should choose Zürigschnätzlets, a meat dish made with a thick cream and a special wine sauce.
Grilled wurst is also popular and is usually served with a kind of crispy potato omelette.In the international-style restaurants in the Gewerbeschule area, Italian and Turkish dishes are typical because of the influence of the migrant population.
The district of Escher Wyss is north of the historic centre.The district is entirely residential and takes its name from the company Escher Wyss & Cie which was once based in the district.the former Schiffbau of the company or shipbuilding space of the firm is now a theatre whose programme is coordinated by the Schauspielhaus Zurich.
A landmark in the area, the Technopark Zurich was built between 1989 and 1993 on the site occupied by the company Escher Wyss & Cie.
The district has three Zurich tramway lines, 4, 13 and 17, which link Escher-Wyss-Platz to the centre of Zurich.Zurich’s trolley bus lines 33 and 72 run through the quarter on the elevated Hardbrücke road over Escher-Wyss-Platz.
– Accommodation in West Zurich
7.Zurich Airport
Kloten Airport is Zurich’s airport of reference, just ten kilome
tres from the centre of the city .In the vicinity of Kloten, there is a shopping centre, the Einkaufszentrum Glatt, which has a range of leisure and restaurant facilities that can be adapted to the travel needs of families and couples.
About 7 kilometres from Kloten and the airport is the Zurich Zoo, which is also recommended for young and old.
The airport is connected to the capital by SSB trains, which run between 6am and 10pm every day of the year, as well as by other rail services such as EuroCity, Intercity, InterCity Neigezug, regional InterRegio and local trains S16 and S2.
– Accommodation at Zurich Airport
Zurich for an adventure in the heart of Switzerland
Zurich for a travelling heart that’s always beating And to make your trip around Switzerland a success we recommend, in addition to this article on , the best places to stay in Zurich : Where to stay in Geneva
What is the best area to stay in Zurich?
The biggest city in Switzerland and the one with the biggest train station have in their historical center, also known as Lindenhof or City, the best area to stay. In the old part of this beautiful city with a medieval air that has the Alps as a backdrop, there are numerous luxury hotels and many tourist attractions, such as the town hall, St. Peter’s Church (Peterkirche), the oldest in the city, the Fraumünster Church, the beautiful Grossmünster Cathedral and even Lenin’s House.
West of and adjacent to Zurich’s charming old town is the Aussersihl district, which is home to many other luxury hotels and is well served by tram and bus from the historic centre.The same goes for the Enge district, located south of the historical centre, by the spectacular Lake Zurich, one of the wonders of the beautiful city.
If you are interested in knowing where to sleep in Zurich , you may also be interested in knowing where to stay in Geneva or where to stay in Basel.
The historic centre of Zurich, the best place to stay
Located by the Limmat River, the city of Zurich mixes the charm of traditional, cobbled streets and medieval houses with the modernity of one of the most important commercial and financial centres in Europe.
The Old Town is the best option for booking a hotel if you spend a few days in the city, as it brings together the best hotel establishments and allows you to enjoy the tourist attractions, its exquisite restaurants, its international and other exclusive shops, as well as its busy nightlife.The tower of the ancient Fraumünster church (built in 853) stands out from the city skyline, with its characteristic blue spire and spectacular stained glass windows, while Grossmünster Cathedral is an old church-monastery converted into a Protestant church, with its twin bell towers, an icon of the Swiss city.Fraumünster is located on the Münsterhof square, a regular meeting point, full of renowned cafes and restaurants, and a place that hosts open-air shows and public events.Another of Zurich’s most important churches is St. Peter’s (Peterkirche), which is not only the oldest but also has the largest clock tower in Europe (8.7 metres in diameter).
Grossmünster is also surrounded by shops of the most advanced designers, such as the exclusive Gaito Luxury Goods, cultural venues such as the Winkelwiese Theatre and even the House of Lenin, which, although it cannot be visited, has a plaque hanging from its façade certifying that the leader of the Russian Revolution lived there for just over a year (from 1916 to 1917, when that revolution began).The Renaissance-style town hall (Rathaus) is also located on the right bank of the Limmat River, as is the Zurich Opera House, located 10 minutes from the town hall and restored after it was destroyed by fire.
But the most luxurious part of the city is on Bahnhofstrasse, a kilometre-long avenue just a few steps from Peterkirche where the most exclusive jewellery shops, the shops of the most prestigious designers and even an exquisite confectionery store are concentrated.At the end of this long street you can reach the spectacular Lake Zurich, where you can rent a boat and take a stroll on its calm waters while discovering other beautiful spots far from the city centre.
And, north of the historic centre and situated next to Zurich’s main railway station (Hauptbahnhof) is the Swiss National Museum of Zurich, one of the most important art and history museums in Europe.Housed in a neo-Romantic castle, the museum contains an extensive and varied collection covering hundreds of years of history of Switzerland and the region, including various clocks, period clothing, silverware, rooms decorated in the Baroque and Rococo styles, and an excellent archaeological collection housing a large number of Roman finds in Zurich.
The Aussersihl and Enge districts, another excellent option for accommodation
Aussersihl
West of Zurich, touching the City, is Aussersihl, a district that houses a large number of hotels at a more affordable price than those in the historic centre (considering the high standard of living in the city and these accommodations).This is a good option to enjoy a privileged location and a fast and effective transport network that places you in the heart of Zurich.And there’s no need to go downtown at night, as there are numerous restaurants and a few places to drink, such as Flamingo, an exclusive nightclub.
Enge
And, south of the historic centre, on the western side of Lake Zurich, is District 2, which includes the Enge district, where there is a good range of hotels, cafés and restaurants.In this area, which is adjacent to the old town and very well connected to it by train (Enge station) and bus, there are also some tourist attractions, such as Sihlberg Castle, a beautiful building from which you can see the city, many restaurants, bars, clothing stores and even the headquarters of Google in Zurich.
