In the heart of Zurich’s trendy district 4, Pension fürDich is both a simple and stylish option located above a family-run café of the same name. The 18 rooms are bright, colourful but sparsely decorated with basic furniture and bathrooms are shared. It’s on the more expensive side of budget hotels, but this is made up for with the level of comfort on offer.
Zurich Youth Hostel is great for meeting other travellers, getting some cheap food and a decent night’s sleep all for a price that won’t make your eyes water. Unlike many youth hostels around the world, the rooms here are quite comfortable if slightly spartan. The building is modern and there are plenty of open spaces to relax and chat. The Youth Hostel is 20 minutes from the city’s main train station and city centre, and just 10 minutes from Lake Geneva.
A 15 minute walk from Zurich’s main train station lies EasyHotel, the go-to choice for a no-frills stay. Besides its low prices there is free wifi, en-suite bathrooms and soundproofed windows. Ideal for a good night’s sleep and easy access to the main sights of Zurich.
If you are looking to cut costs and have a unique experience, head to Fischers Fritz, Zurich’s only camping ground which sits directly by the lake. If you didn’t bring your own tent don’t fret as you can rent a safari or hanging tent, or splurge a little on a caravan. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is also available from an on-site restaurant, where the specialty is fish straight from Lake Zurich.
If you don’t mind a little commuting then Guesthouse Oerlikon may be for you. It takes around 15 minutes to get from Zurich’s city centre to this simple but comfortable set of apartments that won’t break the bank. All rooms come with free wifi and a private bathroom, but that’s all in the way of extras. There’s also a nice little Thai restaurant on-site.