Budget Hotels Near Zurich Hauptbahnhof
Zurich has a reputation for being expensive, so a simple, budget-minded hotel close to the Hauptbahnhof is worth looking for. Five properties near the station describe themselves in those terms: Hotel Motel One Zürich, Hotel Marta in the Old Town, Hotel Limmathof, Hotel Arlette and Alexander Guesthouse. They are plain two- and three-star places, and the listings stress free Wi-Fi, central locations and in some cases breakfast. I recommend choosing by location and by the one extra that matters to you, such as breakfast or parking. Below I describe each hotel as its listing does, without quoting prices.
Zurich Hauptbahnhof stands beside the Limmat, next to the Swiss National Museum, and trains and trams leave from it to almost every district. The Old Town, Langstrasse and the lake are all within a short walk or a tram ride.
Choosing a budget hotel near the station
A budget stay near Zurich Hauptbahnhof is a question of small differences. Five simple hotels offer central locations, free Wi-Fi and, at Hotel Marta and Hotel Arlette, a complimentary breakfast, while Hotel Motel One Zürich adds a design touch and Alexander Guesthouse adds parking. I describe each as its listing does and quote no prices.
The five budget hotels near Zurich Hauptbahnhof are all straightforward, and the differences between them are in the details. Two are in or near the Old Town, with Hotel Marta and Alexander Guesthouse, one is a minute from Central at Hotel Limmathof, one is close to the Swiss National Museum at Hotel Arlette, and Hotel Motel One Zürich is the more contemporary design hotel. I recommend deciding which neighbourhood suits your plans first, then choosing the extra that matters to you, since the listings do not quote a price and the stars are close. Prices are not shown on this page, so the comparison rests on location and on the extras each hotel lists.
Hotel Motel One Zürich is the most contemporary of the group and the best rated, at 8.8 across more than twenty-five hundred reviews. It is a three-star hotel with contemporary rooms, some with balconies, a stylish bar, free Wi-Fi and air conditioning, and it describes itself as suitable for families and for guests who want a design hotel without paying for one. I would choose it for a short city break where the room and the bar matter more than a breakfast buffet or a restaurant on site. I would still confirm what each hotel's breakfast or parking includes, since a listing only says it exists.
Hotel Marta and Hotel Arlette both list breakfast, which is the most useful extra on a budget. Hotel Marta offers simply furnished, pet-friendly rooms in a 1950s building in the Old Town, with free Wi-Fi, a complimentary breakfast buffet and an on-site restaurant. Hotel Arlette offers low-key rooms a short walk from the Swiss National Museum, with complimentary continental breakfast and Wi-Fi, and it welcomes pets and children. I recommend Marta for the Old Town atmosphere and Arlette for being close to the station. Both are short walks from the station, which saves time and tram fares on a tight budget.
Hotel Limmathof and Alexander Guesthouse are the plainest options. Hotel Limmathof lists comfortable rooms, a dining room and free Wi-Fi, a minute's walk from Central, and it is pet-friendly. Alexander Guesthouse lists straightforward rooms with free Wi-Fi, parking and a kid-friendly atmosphere, a short walk from the Old Town. I would pick Limmathof for the location and Alexander for a family arriving by car. In both cases I would confirm the facilities with the hotel, since a short listing leaves questions open. That is the practical way to read a budget list: pick the location first, then the one extra you will use.
A traveler's perspectiveIf I were choosing a simple hotel in Zurich for a few nights, I would book Hotel Marta for its Old Town setting and complimentary breakfast buffet, or Hotel Arlette if I wanted to stay beside the Swiss National Museum. For a design-minded short stay I would pick Hotel Motel One Zürich, and for a family arriving by car I would choose Alexander Guesthouse because of its parking.
4.4Guest scoreBudgetHotel Motel One Zürich
Contemporary rooms and a stylish bar in a budget-friendly Zurich hotel
View hotel →Why guests love itContemporary rooms, some with balconies, make Motel One Zurich a pleasant surprise for a budget hotel, and I find it a sensible pick for families watching costs in an expensive city. Air conditioning helps in summer, Wi-Fi is free, the stylish bar works for a quiet evening drink, and pets are welcome. There is no full restaurant, so plan family meals out. An 8.8 rating across more than 2,500 reviews is excellent for the category.
4.3Guest scoreBudgetHotel Arlette
Budget-friendly rooms with free breakfast near the Swiss National Museum
View hotel →Why guests love itHotel Arlette is a down-to-earth two-star hotel with low-key rooms, a short walk from the Swiss National Museum. A complimentary continental breakfast and free Wi-Fi are included, and the hotel is described as pet-friendly and kid-friendly. The central position keeps the station and the old town within easy reach. Guests rate it 8.6 across more than 320 reviews, a strong score for a modest hotel, so I would book it for the free breakfast and the central location.
4.3Guest scoreBudgetAlexander Guesthouse
Budget-friendly rooms with free Wi-Fi near Zurich's Old Town
View hotel →Why guests love itAlexander Guesthouse is a budget two-star a short walk from Zurich's Old Town, which suits families who want to explore the lanes and the lakeshore on foot and keep costs down in an expensive city. Rooms are simple and clean, the property is smoke-free and kid-friendly, and free Wi-Fi helps plan train trips. Parking is available, rare this close to the centre. There is no restaurant on site, but the area has plenty of places to eat.
4.1Guest scoreBudgetHotel Marta - 1950’s architecture in Zurich’s vibrant old town, near main station
Budget-friendly stay with free breakfast in Zurich's Old Town
View hotel →Why guests love itHotel Marta is a budget-friendly two-star hotel in Zurich's Old Town, housed in a building with 1950s architecture, with simply furnished, pet-friendly rooms. Free Wi-Fi, a complimentary breakfast buffet and an on-site restaurant are included, and the main station and local attractions are within easy reach. Guests rate it 8.2 across about 600 reviews, a good score, so I would book it for the Old Town location and the included breakfast.
3.9Guest scoreBudgetHotel Limmathof
Comfortable, pet-friendly, and budget-friendly with a dining room
View hotel →Why guests love itHotel Limmathof is a straightforward two-star hotel one minute's walk from Zurich Central, with comfortable rooms, a dining room and free Wi-Fi. It is pet-friendly and budget-conscious, and the central position keeps transport simple for families with luggage. Guests rate it 7.8 across more than 530 reviews, a decent score for a modest hotel, so I would book it for the location and the price tier rather than for extras.
Local tips
- 1Choose by the extra that matters most: breakfast at Hotel Marta and Hotel Arlette, parking at Alexander Guesthouse, or a bar at Motel One.
- 2Hotel Motel One Zürich lists contemporary rooms, some with balconies, air conditioning and a stylish bar, which stretches a modest budget.
- 3Hotel Limmathof is described as a minute's walk from Central, a handy base for tram connections and the Old Town.
- 4Alexander Guesthouse lists parking and a kid-friendly atmosphere, a short walk from Zurich's Old Town, which suits a family arriving by car.
- 5Hotel Marta lists a complimentary breakfast buffet and free Wi-Fi, so the first meal of the day needs no extra planning.
- 6All five listed hotels describe pet-friendly or kid-friendly stays, but confirm the terms directly with the hotel before booking.