Niederdorf / Old Town

Marktgasse Hotel Zurich

★★★★★

The Marktgasse Hotel is the most characterful mid-to-upper-range stay in Zurich's Old Town, and the one we recommend for travellers who want history and good design without the price of the grand lakeside hotels. The building, on the Marktgasse in the Niederdorf, was first mentioned in writing in 1291, the year of the Swiss Confederation's founding legend, and has served as a guest house for centuries, which makes it one of the oldest in the city; it is now a listed building and a member of Swiss Historic Hotels and Historic Hotels of Europe. A thoughtful renovation kept the bones, the thick walls, timber beams, vaulted spaces and old staircases, and added a calm, contemporary look of pale wood, natural fabrics and good lighting, so the house feels both old and fresh. There are 39 individually designed rooms, in categories that range from tiny rooms and singles, ideal for solo travellers on a budget by Zurich standards, through double rooms and large double rooms to the historic double rooms, which keep original features such as beams, panelling or vaulted ceilings and are the ones to book for atmosphere. Food is a strength: the house has two restaurants and a bar, among them IGNIV Zurich, a sharing-plates restaurant and bar concept, and a casual all-day counter for breakfast and light meals. There are also two seminar rooms, a salon and a library. The location could hardly be better for exploring on foot: the lanes of the Niederdorf are outside the door, the Grossmuenster and the Limmat are two minutes away, the Rathaus tram stop is right outside, and the main station, the Kunsthaus and the lake are all within a fifteen-minute walk. The trade-offs: rooms in a medieval building are not large, especially in the lower categories, the Niederdorf is lively at night with bars and restaurants, and prices, though fair for the quality, are still Zurich prices.

Room advice: choose a historic double room if character matters most, or a large double room for more space; the tiny rooms are a smart choice for solo travellers who will be out all day. Ask for a room facing the inner side if you are a light sleeper, as weekend nights in the Niederdorf can be noisy until late. Breakfast is served in the house and is worth adding on a first morning.

Location logic: everything in the Old Town is walkable, from the Grossmuenster and Fraumuenster to the Lindenhof and the Bahnhofstrasse. The Kunsthaus is up the hill, the lake and boats at Bellevue a short walk south, and the main station, with trains to Lucerne and the mountains, about fifteen minutes on foot or a few stops by tram. In Advent, the Niederdorf Christmas market is literally on the doorstep.

Who should stay: couples and design-minded travellers who want a stylish base in a real historic building, foodies drawn by the restaurants, and solo travellers who can use the compact rooms. Families needing space or travellers wanting a spa or a lake view should look at larger hotels.