Hangzhou is a big city built around a small lake, and where you sleep decides how much time you spend walking and how much in taxis. Most visitors need only a few areas. Here are the main choices, tied to five hotels from budget to luxury.
East shore and Wushan: best for first-timers
The streets between the lake and Wushan Hill hold the old street, the evening food and the shortest walk to the water. Sofitel Hangzhou Westlake stands here on West Lake Avenue, a four-minute walk from the lake and about ten minutes from Qinghefang old street, with an indoor pool, a spa and three restaurants. It is the easiest base for a short stay, and a wise choice for anyone who wants to leave the car and the taxis behind.
Near the railway station and Hefang Street: best for budget
The Shangcheng streets around Jiangcheng Road are practical and cheaper. Atour Hotel West Lake Hefang Street is a compact, sound-insulated hotel about a fourteen-minute walk from the old street and a similar walk from the station, with free parking and a gym. It is the budget pick for travellers who plan to spend their days out and want an easy arrival by train.
North-west lakeside: best for peace and temples
The quiet side of the lake, along Lingyin Road, has wooded hills, the botanical garden and the road to Lingyin Temple and the tea villages. Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake is the splurge here, a garden-style hotel with 78 rooms, a spa and boat transfers on the lake. It is the best choice for couples, for temple and tea days, and for anyone who wants a calm base, though it is further from the old street and the evening crowds.
Xixi Wetland: best for families and nature
In the west of the city, Sheraton Grand Hangzhou Wetland Park Resort sits a minute’s walk from the wetland park, with 380 refurbished rooms, an indoor pool, boating and bikes. West Lake is about fourteen minutes by car, so you will use taxis, but you gain space, a pool and a green setting.
City side and Xiacheng: best for value
North-east of the lake, Mercure Hangzhou West Lake offers 292 modern rooms at a fair price in a district with restaurants next door and a metro station about twelve minutes away. The lake is about eighteen minutes on foot, so it suits travellers who accept a short ride for a lower rate.
Which to choose
For a first visit of two or three days, stay on the east shore at the Sofitel, where everything is within a short walk. Choose the Four Seasons if your days centre on Lingyin, tea and quiet, the Sheraton if you have children or want a resort, the Mercure for value and the Atour for a plain, low-cost base near the station.
Practical tips
Book early for national holidays and for spring and autumn weekends, when rates rise sharply. Check what breakfast and parking cost, since several hotels charge separately. Save your hotel’s address in Chinese for taxis, and check the nearest metro station. Cooler months, including November, are quieter and often cheaper.
