The family palace that has looked out over Lake Zurich since 1844 without ever changing hands.

Baur au Lac

★9.2

From

867.375 €

“Private 4,000 m² park planted with centenary trees, between the lake and Bahnhofstrasse.”

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The Baur au Lac has belonged to the same family, the Krachts, since its opening in 1844. We enter via a park planted with centenary trees, a rare thing two minutes from the Bahnhofstrasse. The score of 9.2/10 from 414 reviews confirms what the Swiss reputation already suggests: millimetre-perfect service, without show. The rooms look out either over the lake or the park, never the street. The price, from 867 € per night, places the address in the category of the most expensive European palaces, without skimping on the experience. The fitness centre remains modest compared to the sprawling spas of other 5-star hotels in Geneva or Paris. We come here for the address and the history, not for a deluge of facilities 😌

Who is it for?

Who we recommend it to

We recommend the Baur au Lac to business travellers negotiating near Paradeplatz who want to walk back. It is also an address for couples and families seeking a discreet palace rather than a flashy one, with family rooms and pets accepted. Lovers of centenary hospitality, passed down without interruption for six generations, find here a rarity that few palaces can claim.

The building

Architecture and interiors

Building founded in 1844, enlarged and renovated over the decades while keeping its original lakeside position. The style remains that of the classic European palace: sober façade, hushed interiors, noble materials without decorative excess. The scale stays human for an urban 5-star hotel, with a private park that visually isolates the property from the street.

Highlights

Owned by the same Swiss family since 1844, a rare case in Europe
Private 4,000 m² park in the heart of Zurich
Score 9.2/10 from 414 reviews, among the highest rated in the city
Private parking on site, a rare asset in the historic centre
Family rooms available, pets accepted

Location & access

Where the hotel sits in Zurich

The Baur au Lac stands on Talstrasse, on the edge of Lake Zurich, a few minutes' walk from the Bahnhofstrasse and its luxury boutiques. The financial district of Paradeplatz is reachable on foot, convenient for business travellers. The main station is ten minutes away, Zurich airport thirty. The area remains chic and orderly, lively by day, quieter in the evening once the offices close.

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