We’re currently booked to visit Switzerland in September, but to be honest, I’m not sure if we’re going to make it. That said, I’m hoping for the best! So, I’m rebooking all of our hotels in Zurich for our new dates in case we are able to go. If we decide that it’s not safe to travel come September, we will cancel. But hopefully we will get the vaccine soon and trends will start moving in the right direction! And in that case, we want to make sure we have our dream hotels booked!
So I’ve started looking at hotels in downtown Zurich and have created the following shortlist. All of these hotels are in downtown Zurich within walking distance of Zurich HB (the main transportation hub in Zurich). They’re all 4 or 5 star hotels, and while none of these are “budget” hotels, I did try to stick to options that would at least be a realistic price for 1-2 nights.
A note on room recommendations
I provide room recommendations for each of the hotels on the list below. These are obviously just my preference and what I would book if I stayed at the hotel.
When making these selections I try to strike a balance between the cost of the room, how long we’re staying in Zurich, and the location of the hotel. For example, I might decide to splurge on a higher priced room if I feel the view is worth it, whereas I might go with a cheaper room if I feel like like the more expensive rooms don’t provide enough value to warrant the expense.
Storchen Zurich
The Storchen Zurich is so dreamy! Not only does it walk the line between clean and romantic, but it also has a beautiful restaurant with a terrace looking directly out onto the Limmat river plus several bars and a rooftop terrace. They have rooms with city and river views which all look beautiful! On top of all that, it’s only a 10-minute walk to Zurich HB.
Pros: Central location in old town, city and river views
Cons: Expensive
Room Recommendation: I would book the Riverside Queen Room. It makes this a more expensive stay than the city-view rooms, but I think the waterview is worth it in this case! Ideally I would go with the larger bed size, but considering I would already be splurging on the view, I would probably stick with the Queen in this case.
Location: Old Town Zurich / Limmat River
Address: Weinpl. 2, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
Hotel Rating: ★★★★★
Price Range: $420+ / night
Website: https://storchen.ch/en
Savoy Baur en Ville
Savoy Baur en Ville is another beautiful hotel located right in downtown Zurich. While the hotel is beautiful and well updated, the rooms seem a little beige. However, the beautiful city views add anything that might be lacking and make this a beautiful option! There are two restaurants and a bar in the hotel for your convenience.
Pros: Central location in oldtown, city views
Cons: Beige interiors
Room Recommendation: I would book the Classic Double Room. Since none of the double rooms promise city views, and the suites are so expensive, I would just go with the classic double room and then request a city view if possible. If you like the idea of having breakfast on your balcony, then upgrading to the Superior or Deluxe Double Room and requesting a balcony might be a good idea!
Location: Old Town Zurich
Address: Poststrasse 12, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
Hotel Rating: ★★★★★
Price Range: $400+ / night
Website: https://www.savoy-zuerich.ch/en
Sorrell Hotel St. Peter
I love that the Sorrell Hotel St. Peter is a bit more modern than many traditional European hotels, yet it still feels distinctly European. It offers breakfast, is located right downtown in a great location, and the rooms are just cool. It’s also a little less expensive which is always a plus!
Pros: Great location, lower cost for quality of hotel
Cons: No dinner restaurant onsite
Room Recommendation: I would book the Superior Double Room Twin. It’s a good room and upgrades don’t seem necessary in this case.
Location: Old Town Zurich
Address: In Gassen 10, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
Hotel Rating: ★★★★☆
Price Range: $360+ / night
Website: https://sorellhotels.com/en/st-peter/zuerich
Park Hyatt Zurich
The Park Hyatt is a modern hotel with larger rooms than you will find in many European-owned hotels. While it may not be as “charming” as some other options, there is familiarity to the Hyatt rooms that Americans might enjoy while traveling abroad. The hotel also boasts an onsite restaurant, a bar, and a café, along with room service. It is located a 20-minute walk from Zurich HB.
Pros: Large rooms
Cons: A little farther south than is ideal, most rooms don’t seem to have great views
Room Recommendation: I would book the 1 King Bed – High Floor. The Park Hyatt doesn’t have great views, but the higher floor gives you a better chance to see the charming Zurich rooftops!
Location: South of Old Town Zurich
Address: Beethovenstrasse 21, 8002 Zürich, Switzerland
Hotel Rating: ★★★★★
Price Range: $500+ / night
Website: Contemporary 5 Star Luxury Hotel in Zurich | Park Hyatt Zurich
La Réserve Eden au Lac Zurich
La Réserve has some of the most beautiful views of Lake Zurich and is a beautiful hotel with very modern finishings. It’s located a little farther south than is ideal, just south of the opera house on the east side of Lake Zurich. However, it’s only a 15-minute walk to Fraumünster Church in old town Zurich so it’s really not too far from downtown. The hotel also boasts several restaurant options and is really in just a beautiful building.
Pros: Beautiful views of Lake Zurich
Cons: Very expensive, located just barely outside of central Zurich (25-minute walk from Zurich HB)
Room Recommendation: I would book the Lake View Room. If I’m going to splurge on a stay at La Réserve, then I’m definitely getting a view of the Lake. Alternatively, I might consider booking a Corner Room and requesting a room with views of the lake. However, the price difference is minimal on a short stay, so I would probably just go with the Lake View Room. These rooms look really beautiful and I hope I get to stay here some day!
Location: Near Zurich Opera House
Address: Utoquai 45, 8008 Zürich, Switzerland
Hotel Rating: ★★★★★
Price Range: $700+ / night
Website: https://www.lareserve-zurich.com/
**Featured image by Claudio Schwarz
