Where to Stay in Zurich: A Neighbourhood Guide for Business Travellers and Expats
Where to stay in Zurich: by the lake, near the universities or at a business address? The city is small enough to find your way around quickly, and large enough that your choice of neighbourhood makes a real difference. CITY STAY operates in several very different parts of the city. Here is an honest overview of which neighbourhood suits which kind of stay.
Julian Tacke4 min readSeefeld (District 8): elegant and close to the lake
Kieselgasse and Lindenstrasse sit in the middle of Seefeld, one of Zurich's most sought-after neighbourhoods. The Chinawiese lawn on the waterfront, the Tiefenbrunnen lake baths and the boutiques and cafés along Seefeldstrasse set the tone. Bellevue is a few minutes away by tram, the main station about a quarter of an hour.
Suits: executives and families looking for a quiet, upmarket setting with short distances to the lake, and who see the stay as more than working hours.
Langstrasse and Aussersihl (District 4): urban and central
Our Zeughausstrasse location is in District 4, within the orbit of Langstrasse. Once a working-class quarter, today it is one of the liveliest and most diverse parts of the city, with bars, restaurants and the Kaserne complex. The main station is a few minutes on foot.
Suits: anyone who wants to be as central as possible, is out and about a lot, and values nightlife on the doorstep. If you need quiet in the evenings, District 7 or 8 will serve you better.
Unterstrass (District 6): close to the centre and quiet
Unterstrass lies around Nordstrasse, between the city centre and the Zürichberg hill. The neighbourhood is considered calm and residential, with the Letten river baths and the Niederdorf old town within easy reach. The universities in the centre are walkable or a short tram ride away, which is why many researchers and visiting lecturers live here.
Suits: anyone who wants to be near the centre without the nightlife. A good compromise between District 4 and the Zürichberg.
Hottingen (District 7): green and upmarket
Forchstrasse in District 7 runs through one of Zurich's wealthiest neighbourhoods: quiet, green, close to the Zürichberg. The university's Botanical Garden and Stadelhofen station are both a few minutes away, and from Stadelhofen the S-Bahn runs in every direction.
Suits: families and longer stays as part of a relocation, where an upmarket, green setting and nearby schools matter.
Oerlikon (District 11): dynamic and business-focused
Franklinstrasse is in Oerlikon, the city's most populous district and one of its most important business and trade-fair locations. Oerlikon station is a few minutes' walk away, and from there both the main station and Zurich Airport are under ten minutes.
Suits: business travellers with appointments at Messe Zürich or the congress centre, and anyone who flies often. Not a neighbourhood for sightseeing, but unbeatable when it comes to connections.
And if you would rather stay outside the city?
Alongside its city locations, CITY STAY also operates apartments in the wider region, for anyone looking for more space and quiet while staying well connected. You will find an overview on our location pages.
CITY STAY at a glance
CITY STAY has operated serviced apartments in Zurich since 2012 and today runs nine locations with 257 apartments in the city of Zurich, Oberengstringen, Brüttisellen and Cham near Zug. All apartments are fully furnished and have a fully equipped kitchen. Utilities, internet and weekly cleaning are included in the price, and there is no credit check. Any length of stay from one night to a year can be booked; the nightly rate falls as the stay gets longer. Stays of up to 90 nights can be booked directly on citystay.com with no deposit. From 91 nights a stay counts as long-term: at the lowest rate across all locations, with monthly payment and a deposit equal to 30 nights, and you can register at the address with the municipality. Self check-in is available around the clock. For long-term and corporate enquiries, email reservation@citystay.com.
Frequently asked questions
Which neighbourhood works best for a short business trip?
Zeughausstrasse in District 4 or Franklinstrasse in Oerlikon. Both are minutes from a long-distance railway station, and Oerlikon is also close to the airport.
Which neighbourhood is best for families?
Hottingen in District 7 and Seefeld in District 8 are considered particularly family-friendly: quiet, green, and close to parks, schools and the lake.
How do I find the right neighbourhood for my workplace?
The most reliable method is to enter your work address into the ZVV or SBB journey planner and compare travel times to each CITY STAY location. In Zurich, the public transport connection almost always matters more than the distance on a map.
How far in advance should I book?
During trade fairs and in the summer months, the central locations fill up early. For short-notice enquiries it is worth contacting us directly, as we can see availability in real time.
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You may also like Living in Zug and Cham on a temporary basis, if you are also considering the region south of Zurich.
