Zurich Hotels

Arguably one of Zurich's best hotels, Baur au Lac is situated in its own private park on the shores of Lake Zurich, at the head of the fashionable Bahnhofstrasse. The same family has owned the hotel since 1844. All 125 rooms and suites are different, while a rooftop gym offers great views of the lake and the Alps. During summer, meals (including breakfast) are served al fresco in the garden or in the glass pavilion beside the canal. The restaurant Pavillon boasts a Michelin star.

The location of this luxury residence couldn't be any better: The Dolder Grand offers its guests great panoramic views over the Lake Zürich, the city and over the mountains. It features all amenities you might expect from such an award-winning 5-star-hotel with a long history: rooms and suites with selectable butler service, spas, a pool called Aqua Zone, saunas, a fitness centre, state-of-the-art business facilities, meeting rooms, several lounges, two restaurants (one of which has earned two Michelin stars), a bar and a lobby, a ballroom and a car park.

Composed of eight adjoining medieval houses, the Widder Hotel is named after a 13th-century Augustinian monastery that used to exist here. The 35 individually decorated rooms and 14 suites (four with private roof terraces) all combine the old and new, with features including 17th-century frescoes and old wooden floors. The Widder Bar has long been an important jazz venue - its 'Library of Spirits' offers several hundred single-malt whiskies.

The B2 Boutique Hotel + Spa which is housed in the former power house of a brewery boasts with 51 individually designed rooms in a unique setting. It features a thermal bath and a spa, meeting rooms for up to 18 people, a fitness centre, a rooftop pool and a wine library, in which guests are served regional wines and Swiss specialities while being surrounded by 33,000 books.

Located close to both the opera and the lake, this hotel in Zurich occupies a 1930s townhouse but offers a modernised interior. It's good value for money, although in some cases the bathrooms are rather small. Artwork and photographs by local artists decorate the walls and a bar with an excellent selection of wines adds to the atmosphere.

Built in 1883 with an impressive period facade, the Central Plaza has 105 air-conditioned rooms and suites, all fully soundproofed against traffic noise; many have views of the River Limmat and all have modem points. Highlights include a piano bar-cafe and the King's Cave restaurant. A terrace garden with illuminated waterfalls is open in summer. It's also said that the piano bar of this Zurich hotel was a favourite meeting place for Cold War spies.

Conceived in 1994 when eight women decided to create a female-exclusive hotel in what was formerly a finishing school for country girls, Lady's First is a boutique design hotel housed in an elegant 19th-century building. This Zurich hotel is no longer, however, exclusively for women - men are welcome too. A good-natured atmosphere characterises this establishment, which also offers its guests free Wi-Fi, a wellness centre and a roof terrace. There are 28 rooms.

Just a five-minute walk from the city centre, the Leoneck Swiss Hotel is an official Swiss Alpine Club SAC partner with over 80 air-conditioned rooms, a restaurant, free Wi-Fi and a free smartphone in every room. For just CHF 20, guests can have breakfast at the hotel buffet which includes a range of egg dishes, coffee and fresh croissants and fruits.

The Walhalla Hotel is located directly at Zürich's main railway station. All its 48 modern and comfortable rooms are equipped with a tablet and have complimentary WiFi access. The hotel features six conference rooms which can accomodate up to 50 people, business facilities in its Business Corner and a breakfast buffet.