Hotel Alexander is a practical, well-placed three-star hotel on the Niederdorfstrasse, the main lane of the Niederdorf and the beating heart of the east-bank Old Town. It has 41 rooms, which puts it in the small, personal range rather than the large business-hotel range, and the address is the reason to book it: you step out of the door into a pedestrian street lined with restaurants, bars, bakeries and small shops, with the Grossmuenster, the Limmat and the Zurich Opera within a short walk. Zurich Main Station is about 450 metres away, which is a stroll of a few minutes, so arrival and departure by train are easy and the trams are close. The rooms have air conditioning and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, there are lifts, and pets are allowed, which is not true of every Old Town address. There is no in-house restaurant, but you will not need one: the Niederdorf has everything from casual fish and burgers to long-established Swiss tables within a few steps. It suits couples on a city break, first-time visitors who want to walk everywhere and travellers who prefer a central location and a fair price to a long list of services. Expect a simple stay, and book early for weekends and for the Christmas market season, when the Old Town fills up.
What the rooms are like
Expect straightforward, comfortable rooms in a historic neighbourhood, with air conditioning, which is useful in the hot summer weeks. Because the building stands on a lively pedestrian street, noise at weekends is a consideration, so ask for a room on a higher floor or at the back if you are a light sleeper, and bring earplugs in summer when windows are open. Some rooms are compact, as is usual in the Old Town, so check the room size and bed type when you book, and ask about family arrangements if you are travelling with children.
Eating and drinking
The hotel does not have its own restaurant or bar, so breakfast arrangements depend on your rate and are worth checking at booking. The surrounding lanes make up for it, with a wide choice of places to eat within a few metres, and the Cha Cha Cha bar and fish and burger restaurants are right nearby.
For a traditional Zurich dinner, book a table in one of the guild-house restaurants on the Limmatquai in advance. Cafes open early for breakfast and the bakeries along the Niederdorf are a good way to start the day on a budget.
Location and who it suits
The hotel is in the Old Town, about 450 metres from the main station and well placed for the Grossmuenster, the Lindenhof, the Bahnhofstrasse and the lake. It is a good base for first-time visitors, couples and solo travellers who want to be in the middle of the action. Indoor and outdoor parking exist, but a car is unnecessary in this part of town, and parking in the Old Town is difficult.
Pets are welcome. Zurich is an expensive city, and a three-star in the Niederdorf is a sensible way to keep the cost down while staying at the heart of it. Pair it with a walking tour and a lake cruise.
Why stay here
- ✓41 rooms
- ✓On the Niederdorfstrasse in the Old Town
- ✓About 450 metres from the main station
- ✓Air conditioning
- ✓Free Wi-Fi throughout
- ✓Lifts
- ✓Pets allowed
- ✓Indoor and outdoor parking
Good questions
Where is Hotel Alexander?+
On the Niederdorfstrasse in the Old Town, about 450 metres from Zurich Main Station and close to the Grossmuenster and the Limmat.
Does the hotel have a restaurant?+
No. It has no in-house restaurant or bar, but the Niederdorf has many places to eat within a few steps. Check what your rate includes for breakfast when you book.
Is the hotel quiet?+
The Niederdorf is lively at weekends, so ask for a higher floor or a room at the back if you are a light sleeper.
