18 Best Hotels in Zürich, Switzerland

Richard Wagner premiered the first act of his Die Walküre here, accompanied on the piano by his father-in-law, Franz Liszt. Kings and queens, empresses and dukes took turns visiting (and let's not forget Arthur Rubinstein, Marc Chagall, Henry Moore, and Plácido Domingo), making this hotel a truly upper-crust establishment from the time it opened its doors in 1844. This is still one highbrow patrician—it even goes so far as to turn its broad back to the commercial center; its front rooms overlook the lake, the canal, and the manicured lawns of its own private park. Upstairs, the rooms are individually decorated in a mix of styles that range from art deco to English Regency to contemporary. Meals are served in the glassed-in pavilion along the canal.

Zürich's most captivating hotel was created when nine adjacent medieval houses were gutted and combined—now steel fuses with ancient stone and timeworn wood. Behind every door is a fascinating mix of old and new: a guest room could mix restored 17th-century frescoes and stone floors with a leather bedspread and halogen bell-jar lights. Set in the heart of Zürich's historic quarter, many of the houses look out into a communal courtyard, and others flaunt views of the Rennweg or the Augustinerkirche. The library with Eames chairs is a lovely touch, and gallery-worthy pieces by artists such as Andy Warhol hangs throughout. 

This wedding-cake hotel just across the Zürich’s iconic Seebad Utoquai public bath reopened in 2020 after a head-to-toe refurbishment by designer Philippe Starck. The design evokes yacht club vibes, an apt fit for the lakeside locale. Much like a yacht’s berth, rooms—available in eight categories, many with views from the balcony—are compact but whimsical with animal prints and mirrored disco bathrooms. There's a secret fumoir and a ground-floor lounge and restaurant strewn with leather, wicker, and wooden chairs that’s elegant and clubby but still Swiss and cozy.

Located in the heart of the cobblestone streets of Old Town, this boutique hotel smartly blends its 15th-century history with modern minimalism. The rooms vary in size and are individually decorated, but all are done in a pared-down style with lots of white linen and pale wood. Bathrooms are sleek with rain showers and loaded with products by the Swiss natural brand Soeder. Downstairs is IGNIV restaurant.

Located on a residential street near the leafy Schanzengraben canal opposite the Old Botanical Gardens, this 394-room hotel, one of Zürich’s largest, occupies a former beaux arts post office. It has a colorful, spacious lobby with blue Danish egg chairs, an original Boesch model boat, and especially friendly service.

The wide-open spaces of Zürich’s first American-style luxury hotel play out elegantly a few blocks from both the lake and city center. Buttercream neutrals are accented in black marble, rich maple, and lots of gleaming glass, as well as a 90-strong chunk of the Hyatt art collection. Glimpse up at Sol le Witt’s rainbow-colored mural in the lobby, painted to the same surface area as a standard Park Hyatt double, to see why rooms feel so spacious. All room categories are comfortable, featuring parquet floors with soft carpets, Italian-made beige furnishings with earthy green accents, and floor-to-ceiling windows with fresh-air panels onto a surprising amount of greenery. Bathrooms are so huge and luxurious—with deep baths, rain showers, and Le Labo toiletries—you'll want to take one home with you. . . . Actually, you might not want to go home at all. The restaurant is excellent; the lobby lounge with its low-slung sofas and all-day menu hums with comings-and-goings (and serves a mouthwatering afternoon tea of handmade pastries); and the bar, where businesspeople collect for after-work drinks, is styled in rare pale onyx and does its own gin.  

The central location of this airy 660-year-old structure—tucked between the Fraumünster and Kirche St. Peter on the gull-studded bank of the Limmat River—is stunning. Rebuilt in 1939 and renovated in 2016, the modern hotel is impeccable and intimately scaled. It has warmly appointed rooms, some with French windows that open over the water, and plenty of marble offset by a mauve and soft gray palette. Deluxe corner rooms, with views toward both river and lake, are worth fighting for, as are seats at the terrace café, where dessert is the panoramic vista of the Altstadt. It feels slightly Venetian to arrive by 15-minute boat ride from the main station to the hotel's pier. 

Set atop the Zürichberg mountain with the best view in Zürich, this sprawling resort hotel, which began life as a Victorian-era Kurhaus (health spa resort), blends the Corinthian capitals and crystal chandeliers of the original structure with two modern glass-and-steel wings that mirror the natural surroundings. The sumptuous guest rooms, some with hardwood floors, are complemented by an extravagant in-house spa offering everything from soothing massages to cosmetic surgery. Architect Norman Foster designed the hotel's newest wing. The restaurant has two Michelin stars, and the downstairs piano bar is locked in another era. It also has its own historic wooden funicular, connecting to Römerhof for Tram 3 or 8 to the city center, and one of Europe's largest open-air ice rinks (October to March). What more could you want in a hotel?

This youthful hotel in the heart of trendy Züri-West is awash with color and original design elements, and although the address screams hip-appeal, the rooms are fresh and quiet, with smooth, flowing lines and a subtle palette. Behind the refreshment–breakfast area there is even a small park with a playground. Even with a clear design goal, Swiss practicality is not forgotten; the desks provide plenty of space to work, and you are provided with a stylish bag to borrow for city shopping trips. You can even hire one of two Minis to take a spin around the city, and there's a sauna with a view for kicking back at the end of the day. 

Quaint and charming, this vine-laced art nouveau villa in a leafy residential area, steps from the lake and a few blocks from the Old Town, charms with pastel tones, candy pinstripes, sculpted ceilings, and shuttered windows. There's also everything you need for a comfortable overnight—soft box-spring beds and blackout blinds—as well as a kitchen for guest use, a roof terrace for yoga, and a lovely rose garden. The property opened as a women’s boarding house in the 18th century and holds true to an impressive social ethos: the parent company provides training and part-time, assisted employment to women struggling to enter the workplace; breakfast is largely organic; and the hotel operates on reduce, reuse, and recycle principles. Bathrooms, for example, are 20 years old but are polished and in great condition. The spa on the fourth floor, offering a steam room, sauna, massages, and yoga, is for women only; access costs CHF38.  

This former brewery turned hotel, spa, and thermal bath melds its industrial past with a sleek modern design. The lounge–breakfast room offers snacks throughout the day and has a 30-foot-high ceiling with bookshelves to match. The room’s vast chandeliers are made out of metal contraptions that were once used to dry beer bottles. The Hürlimann Suites, designed as duplexes, are housed where the beer was once fermented. This is where the old industrial building is most visible, because rooms here have been built inside the shell of the original structure. Guests have specially timed exclusive access to the thermal baths.

Dutch chain citizenM, known for budget prices and artsy, designer spaces, opened this 160-room hotel complete with a lively bar, bakery, and canteen in 2019 in a 1950s building. There are several SocietyM meeting rooms and a lofty reception area. Rooms come in just one category; they are compact with large, fluffy beds and big windows with blackout blinds.

Smack in the middle of Niederdorf, this is a smart, state-of-the-art hotel where, from the gleaming lobby to the sleek, modular rooms, the ash-and-granite decor makes the most of tight spaces. There are nice touches, too: all rooms have AC, which is unusual for the city, and hand-painted murals of local landmarks remind you that you're in Zürich. The restaurant off the lobby, Swiss Chuchi, is known locally as a great year-round place for fondue.

Part of the Autograph Collection, this intimate hotel in the business district, a few minutes from Paradeplatz and a block from the Tonhalle, melds its 1930s heritage with contemporary design. Rooms are handsome in deep gray and beige, accented by dark oak, buttery leather, and modern art. For something extra special, book a rooftop suite with private views over the surrounding district and lake. The restaurant is Mediterranean-influenced, serving seafood, meat, and vegetables in dishes such as venison ravioli with morel sauce or fried sea bass with blood-orange risotto.

Lording over town, this stark hotel tower offers rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, dark-wood floors, separate shower areas, and neutral color schemes with purple accents. Walls are adorned with contemporary art that speaks to the neighborhood's industrial past. Touch-screen monitors in the lobby can direct you to local attractions. A tram station offers direct access to the city's main train station.

This no-nonsense base in Zürich has modern interiors accented in the brand's signature plum color and a convenient location for visiting the universities. Rooms come with box-spring beds and coffee machines, but not all have air-conditioning—a point to check if you're booking for the summer. Zürich main station is within walking distance, a journey made quicker by heading three stops north on Tram 7 or 15 to Central. It has no restaurant, but snacks are available.

This relaxed, contemporary hotel in the charming Altstadt is draped with living plants, neon art installations, wicker chairs, and hanging lanterns. The 46 rooms come in 11 varieties, including doubles, singles, and suites with kitchenettes, kid’s rooms, and terraces.

The leafy, panoramic setting this hotel enjoys at the top of Zurich, near the zoo, is something to behold—and at affordable rates, too. The trade-off is that it's about 5 km (3 miles) outside the city center—a change-of-pace place—but Tram 6 heads straight from the hotel to the Hauptbahnhof in 20 minutes. The building dates from the 1900s, and rooms weave this classic styling into a modern aesthetic of polished wood and neutrals. It's worth requesting a room with a lake view, but they're all thoughtfully detailed, with kettles and bathrobes to make your stay cozy, and they even come with a laptop backpack for day trips. The restaurant, decorated in juicy hues of raspberry and teal, has a panoramic terrace, and from its open kitchen serves seasonal fare like venison with creamy juniper sauce or fish of the day from a Swiss lake with boiled potatoes. There's also a bar and, from October to February, a fondue chalet.