5 Best Hotels in Zürich, Switzerland

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. 

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.

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.

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.