Where to stay · Zurich · Switzerland
Where to stay in Zurich
7 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Roland zh, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Niederdorf. Pedestrian lanes of the right-bank Old Town with bars, guild houses and small hotels. Best alternatives — families: Seefeld; budget: Langstrasse.
Key facts
- First visit
- Niederdorf
- Families
- Seefeld
- Budget
- Langstrasse
- Nightlife
- Niederdorf
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Niederdorf | Pedestrian lanes of the right-bank Old Town with bars, guild houses and small hotels |
| Families | Seefeld | Upmarket lakeside district of the Opera House, promenades and the Zürichhorn park |
| Couples | Niederdorf | Pedestrian lanes of the right-bank Old Town with bars, guild houses and small hotels |
| Budget | Langstrasse | Zurich's grittiest, most diverse district of bars, kebab shops and budget hotels |
| Luxury | City and Lindenhof | Left-bank Old Town, banks and luxury shops along Bahnhofstrasse |
| Nightlife | Niederdorf | Pedestrian lanes of the right-bank Old Town with bars, guild houses and small hotels |
| Food lovers | Zurich West | Former factory district of railway arches, design stores, clubs and the Prime Tower |
| Solo travellers | Zurich West | Former factory district of railway arches, design stores, clubs and the Prime Tower |
| Shopping | City and Lindenhof | Left-bank Old Town, banks and luxury shops along Bahnhofstrasse |
| Quiet stays | Seefeld | Upmarket lakeside district of the Opera House, promenades and the Zürichhorn park |
Zurich neighbourhoods in detail
$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife, couples and culture
Niederdorf
The Niederdorf, on the east bank of the Limmat, is the livelier half of the Old Town, with the car-free Niederdorfstrasse running from Central to the Grossmünster past restaurants, bars and shops. Side lanes such as Spiegelgasse, where the Cabaret Voltaire gave birth to Dada in 1916, climb towards the university. It is the most atmospheric base, though noisy on weekend nights.
- Good
- Historic setting with everything walkable; Lively restaurants and bars; Close to the main station
- Watch out
- Weekend noise until late; Rooms in old buildings can be small
- Nearby
- Grossmünster, Cabaret Voltaire, Polybahn, Central
$$$$ · Best for luxury, shopping and first-timers
City and Lindenhof
West of the Limmat, the Lindenhof hill, St. Peter's church and the Fraumünster sit on quiet medieval lanes, while Bahnhofstrasse and Paradeplatz hold the banks, watchmakers and department stores. Grand hotels face the river and lake. It is central and calm in the evenings, with the main station and lake both a short walk away.
- Good
- Central and quiet at night; Top-end hotels and shopping; Short walk to the lake
- Watch out
- Very expensive; Fewer casual restaurants
- Nearby
- Lindenhof, Fraumünster, Bahnhofstrasse, Paradeplatz
$$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers, solo travellers and shopping
Zurich West
Kreis 5, west of the main station, was Zurich's industrial heartland and is now its creative quarter. The arches of a railway viaduct hold shops and a food hall (Im Viadukt), the Freitag bag flagship is built from stacked shipping containers, and the Prime Tower, Frau Gerolds Garten and former breweries host bars and clubs. Trams and S-Bahn trains reach the centre in a few minutes.
- Good
- Design hotels and creative energy; Best area for clubs and late bars; Good tram and S-Bahn links
- Watch out
- Few historic sights; Some streets feel corporate or industrial
- Nearby
- Im Viadukt, Freitag tower, Prime Tower, Frau Gerolds Garten
$$ · Best for budget, nightlife, food lovers and solo travellers
Langstrasse
Kreis 4, around Langstrasse just south-west of the main station, is the city's most multicultural and least polished neighbourhood, with late bars, international food, small clubs and the more affordable hotels and hostels. It is also Zurich's red-light area, so some streets are seedy late at night, but it is within walking distance of everything.
- Good
- Lowest prices near the centre; Diverse, inexpensive food; Late-night bars
- Watch out
- Seedy corners at night; Street noise
- Nearby
- Helvetiaplatz, Zurich main station, Zurich West
$$$$ · Best for families, couples, quiet stays and luxury
Seefeld
Seefeld (Kreis 8) runs along the eastern lakeshore from Bellevue and the Opera House to the Zürichhorn, with leafy residential streets, the lake baths at Utoquai and the long lakeside promenade. It is peaceful, family-friendly and well connected by tram to the Old Town and main station.
- Good
- Lakeside walks and swimming; Quiet, safe-feeling streets; Trams to the centre in minutes
- Watch out
- Expensive; Few hotels compared with the centre
- Nearby
- Zürichhorn, Opera House, Seebad Utoquai, Bellevue
$$$ · Best for quiet stays, families and culture
Enge
Enge (Kreis 2) lines the western shore of the lake south of the city centre, with the Arboretum and lakeside parks, the Museum Rietberg in its villa park, the FIFA Museum and the Thermalbad in the former Hürlimann brewery nearby. Enge station has fast S-Bahn links, and Paradeplatz is a short tram ride away.
- Good
- Calm and green; Lake baths and parks; Quick S-Bahn connections
- Watch out
- Quiet in the evenings; Fewer restaurants
- Nearby
- Museum Rietberg, FIFA Museum, Seebad Enge, Thermalbad & Spa Zürich
$$ · Best for budget and first-timers
Oerlikon
Oerlikon (Kreis 11) is a busy secondary centre north of the city, built around one of Switzerland's largest railway stations, with modern business hotels, shopping streets and the Hallenstadion concert arena. Trains reach the airport and the main station in under ten minutes each, making it a practical, slightly better-value base for short stays.
- Good
- Fast trains to the airport and centre; Better-value hotels; Modern facilities
- Watch out
- Little historic character; A train ride from the lake and Old Town
- Nearby
- Hallenstadion, Zurich Oerlikon station, MFO-Park
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Niederdorf | $$$ | Grossmünster, Cabaret Voltaire, Polybahn, Central |
| City and Lindenhof | $$$$ | Lindenhof, Fraumünster, Bahnhofstrasse, Paradeplatz |
| Zurich West | $$$ | Im Viadukt, Freitag tower, Prime Tower, Frau Gerolds Garten |
| Langstrasse | $$ | Helvetiaplatz, Zurich main station, Zurich West |
| Seefeld | $$$$ | Zürichhorn, Opera House, Seebad Utoquai, Bellevue |
| Enge | $$$ | Museum Rietberg, FIFA Museum, Seebad Enge, Thermalbad & Spa Zürich |
| Oerlikon | $$ | Hallenstadion, Zurich Oerlikon station, MFO-Park |
Getting to your hotel
Zurich Airport is about 10 km north of the city. Trains run to Zurich main station every few minutes and take about 10–15 minutes; tram 10 is a slower but scenic alternative. Taxis are expensive.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Zurich for first-time visitors?
Niederdorf. The Niederdorf, on the east bank of the Limmat, is the livelier half of the Old Town, with the car-free Niederdorfstrasse running from Central to the Grossmünster past restaurants, bars and shops.
+Where should families stay in Zurich?
Seefeld: Lakeside walks and swimming.
+Which area of Zurich is best for a budget stay?
Langstrasse ($$): Zurich's grittiest, most diverse district of bars, kebab shops and budget hotels.