The Airbnb with Incredible Hospitality
The Short Version
EMA House was a great choice for our family trip to Zurich, offering the space and comfort of a two-bedroom Airbnb with the added convenience of hotel-style service. I'd happily stay again, especially when traveling with family or planning a longer visit.
Location: Zurich, Switzerland
Sleeps: Up to 4
Layout: Two bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, an open living and dining area, and a view of Zurich.
Perfect for: Families, business trips and extended stays.
Highlights: Cozy interiors, optional housekeeping, and a lovely residential neighborhood within walking distance of Zurich's Old Town.
In March of 2025, my parents and I traveled to Switzerland and Germany to celebrate my dad's 60th birthday. Our first stop was Zurich, where we arrived after an overnight flight from Charlotte, connecting through London. It was cold, dreary, and a little rainy, which wasn't exactly the welcome we'd hoped for, but we knew visiting Switzerland in March was a gamble when it came to the weather.
We took public transportation from the airport to our Airbnb in Unterstrass, checked in, made ourselves some Nespresso, and immediately headed back out to explore. My family has a pretty firm approach to jet lag: keep moving until it's time for bed. So, despite the weather, we made our way toward Zurich's Old Town to see what we could find.
Fortunately, we'd booked a pretty cozy place to come home to.
The Apartment
Our Airbnb was managed by EMA House, a company that operates serviced apartments throughout Zurich. Rather than renting from an individual host, we were staying in a professionally managed building with staff available to help with check-in, answer questions, and provide additional services. They even offered daily housekeeping for an additional fee, just like a hotel. We didn't take advantage of that, but I loved having the option. It's a nice compromise between staying in a traditional Airbnb and having the conveniences of a hotel.
The apartment itself was cute, cozy, and had everything we needed for our stay. There were two bedrooms and one and a half bathrooms, with my parents taking the primary bedroom and its attached bathroom. My room had two beds, which would make the apartment especially convenient for a family traveling with children.
The kitchen opened into a small dining area and living room, giving us somewhere to spend time together without having to sit on our beds. I love traveling with my parents, but I also appreciate having a little space to myself, so this layout was perfect for the three of us.
The Location
One of the things I really enjoyed about staying in Unterstrass was walking through the neighborhood on our way into Zurich's historic center. The streets were lined with beautiful old homes, and I loved getting to see a more residential side of the city before reaching the busier streets near the Limmat River.
We did quite a bit of exploring on foot, including visits to the Old Town, flea markets, restaurants, and some of Zurich's best viewpoints. We also took a day trip by train to Stein am Rhein and Rhine Falls, which ended up being one of my favorite excursions from Zurich.
After spending so much time outside in the cold, it was wonderful having a warm apartment to return to. One evening, we came back from our day trip to freshen up before heading to dinner at Haldenbach, a neighborhood restaurant we all loved. On another day, after hours of wandering around the city and visiting flea markets, I ordered Japanese food from Kokoro and took an Uber back to the apartment because I was determined to eat it while it was still hot. Having our own living and dining space was especially nice on evenings like that.
Would I Stay Again?
Absolutely. I would definitely book with EMA House again, particularly for a family trip or an extended stay. I loved all of the special touches - a personal welcome from one of their staff members, our last name on the apartment buzzer, and branded welcome materials on the dining room table.
I also think their serviced apartments would be a great option for someone traveling to Zurich for work. Having a kitchen, separate living space, and professional management available when needed would make a longer stay considerably more comfortable than a traditional hotel room.
For our first stop in Switzerland, it was exactly what we needed.
Book this EMA House Airbnb here.