Hotel Otter

Straddling the Limmat and Sihl rivers in Kreis 1, the medieval Old Town can be traced back to the pre-Roman days. At its center is Niederdorfstrasse, a pedestrian street bustling with pricey shops, street cafés and restaurants, where you’ll likely witness jean-clad students rushing by and hear the click of a society lady’s couture shoes on the cobblestones. Scenic views of the river and Lake Zurich can be had a block west on the Limmatquai.

Oberdorfstrasse, which runs along the east side of the Limmat River, is sprinkled with shops and restaurants. The area is marked by the iconic Grossmünster, a 12th-century Romanesque church, and the Hechtplatz Theater and Kunsthaus art museum, are both within easy walking distance. Two funicular lines, part of the public transit system, take off at Tannenstrasse, and the shopping district, Bahnhofstrasse, is located across the river, within walking distance (across the Munsterbrucke and Quaibrucke's bridges).