Neighborhood 48H guide
Zürichberg & Hottingen: Where to Stay & What to Do in 48 Hours
The Kunsthaus, the Dolderbahn and Masoala’s rainforest.
Above the old town, Hottingen and Fluntern climb the wooded Zürichberg, from the Kunsthaus on Heimplatz up to the Dolder Grand and the zoo.
Photo gallery
Photo: Roy Egloff · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Wendelin Jacober from Luzern, Schweiz · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Roland zh · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Why stay here
Forest, views and space, with trams down to the old town in minutes.
Who it's for: Families, art lovers and spa-goers.
Pros
- Kunsthaus nearby
- Forest walks
- Zoo
Cons
- Uphill
- Spread out
- Few bars
48H on the Zürichberg
Art, a funicular, a rainforest.
10:00 – Kunsthaus Zürich
Major Swiss art museum; closed Mondays.
14:00 – Dolderbahn
Rack railway from Römerhof up to the Dolder.
Day 2 – Zoo Zürich
Start in the Masoala Rainforest hall.
Named recommendations
Real places with links to their official site or a Maps place page. We do not invent hours, prices, or ratings.
See / do
See / do
Kunsthaus Zürich
Heimplatz 1
Old masters to Munch and Giacometti, plus the Chipperfield extension.
Photo: Roland zh · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons Official site / map →See / do
Zoo Zürich
Zürichbergstrasse 221
A large zoo with the Masoala Rainforest hall.
Photo: Wendelin Jacober from Luzern, Schweiz · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons Official site / map →
Outdoors
Outdoors
Dolderbahn
Römerhofplatz
The rack railway up to the Dolder, every 10 minutes.
Official site / map →
Where to stay
Specific named properties—not vague city-wide searches. Expedia stays use tracked Creator links; others open the hotel's official site.
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Hotel · Expedia
The Dolder Grand
Kurhausstrasse 65
Hilltop grand hotel with a big spa, art collection and Michelin dining.
Check rates on Expedia →
Vacation rentals
Prefer an apartment or whole home in this neighborhood? Browse Vrbo listings for Zürichberg & Hottingen.
Zurich adds a city tourist tax per night. Check whether the listing’s price includes it.
Browse vacation rentals in Zürichberg & Hottingen on Vrbo →Other ways to spend 48 hours in Zurich
- Altstadt (Lindenhof & Fraumünster) — Chagall’s windows, the Lindenhof lookout and Bahnhofstrasse.
- Niederdorf — The Grossmünster, Cabaret Voltaire and cheese fondue.
- Bürkliplatz & Lakefront — Lake boats, Sprüngli on Paradeplatz and the Saturday flea market.
- Seefeld — The Opera House, the Chinagarten and Le Corbusier’s last building.
- Zurich West — Im Viadukt’s arches, Frau Gerolds Garten and dinner atop Prime Tower.
- Langstrasse — The Landesmuseum, Cinchona bar and Kreis 4 nights.
- Uetliberg — The top of Zurich, the Planetenweg and a cable car down.
- Lucerne (day-trip stay) — Chapel Bridge, the Lion Monument and the Transport Museum.
- Rhine Falls & Schaffhausen (day-trip stay) — Boats to the rock, Schloss Laufen and the Munot fortress.