Cheap hotels near Botanical Gardens in Zurich, Switzerland

Established in 1976, Zurich’s enormous Botanical Gardens features more than 9,000 plants and animals (singing frogs too!) that are allowed to roam freely and grow as they like. No systematic beds here and no real structural landscape; just a bunch of beautiful and interesting stuff allowed to bloom.

The gardens encompasse a major patch of land in the Weinegg quarter (district 8) of Zurich, just east of Seefeld. The space is replete with a tranquil pond, a smattering of green houses and a big meadow too. Bring a blanket and settle in, folks!

And here’s the clincher: The Botanical Gardens were once someone’s own private garden, although it’s now owned and cared for by the University of Zurich.

The grounds are open from April through September, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and from October through March, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Shorter hours on the weekends.

Note that this newer, and much more substantial garden, should not be mistaken for the older and smaller Alter Garten that’s located closer to the city’s center in Hottingen. This tinier version is also owned by the University of Zurich. For more information on that garden, head here.

Hotels near Botanic Gardens: The hotels we list here are primarily in Hottingen, near the city’s main university and close to transportation links. While you’ll find the sleeps here are on the more expensive side, one- and two-star places are peppered throughout nearby Seefeld.