SWAS by Livingdowntown

SWAS by Livingdowntown Overview

First Impressions

Walking into SWAS by Livingdowntown, you immediately get the sense that someone put real thought into this place. It’s not trying to be flashy or pretentious — just clean, modern, and surprisingly sophisticated for a three-star property in Zurich. The lobby has this understated Swiss efficiency that I actually found refreshing after dealing with some of the more stuffy hotels in the city center. You know what struck me most? The staff genuinely seemed to care about making sure everything ran smoothly, which honestly isn’t always a given at this price point.

The Altstetten Advantage

Here’s the thing about staying in Altstetten — most tourists overlook this area completely, but couples seem to have figured out its secret (they rate the location 8.7, and I can see why). You’re about 15 minutes from Zurich’s main station by tram, but the neighborhood has this authentic Swiss residential feel that you just don’t get in the tourist zones. There are actual bakeries where locals grab their morning bread, and the Limmat River is right there for evening walks. Plus, and this is huge for Zurich, SWAS has private parking on-site. I mean, try finding that in the city center without paying through the nose.

The Rooms

The rooms at SWAS by Livingdowntown are what I’d call intelligently designed — nothing fancy, but everything works exactly as it should. The beds are genuinely comfortable (not just hotel-marketing comfortable), and there’s enough space to actually unpack your suitcase without playing Tetris with your belongings. The bathrooms are compact but well-planned, with decent water pressure and those little touches that show someone was thinking about the guest experience. What I appreciated most was how quiet everything was — thick walls and good windows that actually keep the street noise out.

Getting Around

The tram connections from this part of Zurich are actually better than you’d expect. Line 2 gets you to the Hauptbahnhof in about 15 minutes, and from there you can reach pretty much anywhere in the city or catch trains to other parts of Switzerland. Having that parking spot means you could easily do day trips to places like Lucerne or even venture into the Alps without the headache of finding somewhere to leave your car. The Hohlstrasse location puts you close enough to everything that matters, but far enough out that you’re not paying city-center prices for every meal.

Why Guests Love It

What really sets this place apart is that it delivers exactly what it promises without any unpleasant surprises. The 8.7 rating isn’t an accident — it’s what happens when a hotel focuses on doing the basics really well rather than trying to impress you with amenities you don’t actually need. For couples especially, there’s something appealing about having a comfortable, well-located base that doesn’t eat up half your travel budget. You’ll spend your money on experiences in Zurich instead of just having a place to sleep, and honestly, that’s probably the smarter approach in a city this expensive.

SWAS by Livingdowntown Accommodations

Reviews of SWAS by Livingdowntown

• Great Stay and definitely recommending this for friends – Ammar from Canada (9/10)

  New property compared to other places, great location where the bus stops in steps, and very helpful staff.

• I definitely would book it again if I come back to Zurich – Hamad from Lebanon (9/10)

  Very nice clean and neat close to supermarket and shopping center and restaurant

• Pleasant stay and will return. – Stephenvdw from South Africa (9/10)

  Property is close to Zurich HB and has a bus station right outside. The kitchen is well stocked. Staff were friendly and accommodating.

• Wonderful – Angelo from Italy (9/10)

  Perfectly clean, big rooms, new furniture. Everything ready and great attention to details. Super easy check-in and check-out

• Perfect for our two day visit to Zurich. Close to the city and we could cook easily in the apartment – Kareena from Australia (9/10)

  We were welcomed in person

• Satisfied – Argelis from Germany (9/10)

  It’s my second visit with them and can just rectify my previous evaluation, it is an excellent place, compared to others in Zurich, it is in a good location, excellent price and unquestionable quality. 100% recommended.

• Will go again – Richard from United Kingdom (9/10)

  The property had good facilities to use such as an oven and was also comfortable. Also it was very quiet inside even while being next to a main road which was impressive.

• Very Good – Shoab from United Arab Emirates (8/10)

  The apartment was clean, good size, and was conveniently located for bus stop. Price was also reasonable.

• Wonderful – Kulapathi from Sri Lanka (9/10)

  All the amenities in the room for independent people
  Close to a shopping centre
  5m walk to bus stop
  Clean apartment

• Very Nice and Clean Apartment close to transportation – Tiffany from United States of America (8/10)

  The apartment overall was very clean and nicely decorated. Very nice and modernized bathroom. 2 huge windows that fully opened. And a large patio door. Extra hot water no matter the time of day / Great shower. Nice patio area. Very quiet.
  The kitchen was fully stocked with everything you would need, dishes, pots etc. the bus stopped right in front and you're only like 20 minutes from the main train station. ZURICH HB, if I'm not mistaken. The price was decent. There's a COOP supermarket about a 10 minute walk from the apartment.

Facilities