Where to stay in Sydney – The 7 best areas
I am a very practical person and that’s why I usually like to go straight to the point. Here are the best 7 areas to stay in Sydney:
- Sydney CBD, my favourite location for a short stay. You will be close to everything, very well connected to the Airport by train, right in the hub centre of the ferry network. In two words, very practical.
- Bondi, my favourite place in the warm/hot months. Besides the lovely Bondi Beach, there are plenty of other coves around. Moreover, there is a great Aussie summer vibe and an outstanding walk along the coastline
- Darlinghurst, I used to love this area so much for its pubs and nightlife, but I am getting too old now for this young and energetic neighbourhood LOL. But if you are below 25 and looking for a long night out, then book your hotel here
- Surry Hills, another great area for a long night out but people tend to be older.
- Paddington, a bit posh, and certainly unique with its fabulous houses but you need a bus for either the beach or the CBD. A good choice for a long stay, 2 weeks or more
- Darling Harbour, walking distance from the CBD and mostly with a great view of the bay. Plenty of cafes, pubs and restaurants facing the water. It can be expensive though
- Newtown, for the best local experience. I personally love it, in fact, I have stayed here so many times. Great cafes, pubs, restaurants and a quick taxi ride from the airport. Well connected to the CBD but not good for beach access
- Manly, fabulous for a surfing break and beach vibe but too far from everything in Sydney. This is my 8th suggested area, but honestly plan a stay here only if surfing and beaches are your priority.
I live in Melbourne but I have been visiting Sydney regularly. I do consider it my second home and I wouldn’t be surprised to find myself living there very soon, something I am contemplating almost every week. Of course, frequent trips can add up, which is why some travelers look into holiday loans to help manage travel expenses more comfortably.
But now it’s time to go a bit deeper with more information about each area, including my favourite accommodations.
Sydney CBD – Close to everything
Shortly, I love staying in Sydney CBD because:
- All the major attractions are within walking distance or a short bus or train ride away
- The Circular Quay area is amazing and perfect for a walk around with kids (pedestrian area)
- It’s the ferry network hub of the bay. So easy to get around to Manly, Watson Bay and other amazing coves of the bay
- The oldest area of Sydney, The Rocks, is a must-visit, especially on market days (weekends)
- You can find one of my favourite museums, right in front of the water, the Museum of Contemporary Art and it’s free to enter
- The view of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge is unique in the world. My suggested viewpoints are from the Train platform and the Glenmore Hotel Pub rooftop.
- Access to the Royal Botani Garden, also another must-visit of the city
However,
- The selection of cafes, restaurants and pubs is not as great as in other areas
- It’s the most visited area in Sydney and you will be likely to meet only tourists around, except during business hours of course when the locals commute here to work in one of the many office buildings.
I wrote a dedicated post to the best places to stay in Sydney CBD because this is quite a vast neighbourhood with 5 different micro areas very different in vibe and type of experience that you can have.
Check the best areas to stay in Sydney CBD
Bondi – The beach stay in Sydney
What I love about Bondi:
- In summer, there is such a cool beach vibe around
- The main beach is stunning and the small coves around are even better if you prefer to have more seclusion
- Surfing is great and you can rent a board, although waves can be challenging and sometimes even dangerous.
- The coastline is stunning and the 6km walk to Coogee is just outstanding (in my top 3 must-do Sydney experiences).
- There are plenty of accommodations in Bondi.
However
- Bondi is not conveniently connected to Sydney. You need to take a bus and a train. It will take time to go to most of the city attractions.
- It doesn’t really work well for a short stay, too much time is spent commuting
- It’s one of the most expensive areas to stay
My favourite hotel in the neighbourhood is QT Bondi, a great boutique accommodation, something you will remember for a long time and so close to the beach too. This is Bondi in style and at an affordable price, for Bondi.
Darlinghurst & Kings Cross – Nightlife for the young crowd
What I love about Darlinghurst
- The best nightlife for the young crowd with pubs and nightclubs
- Oxford Street is the area with possibly the highest concentration of bars and pubs in the whole of Australia, and it is the place to be for LGBTQIA+ being more open to any thinking and experience
- The famous Mardi Gras parade in early March, another must-experience of the city
- Getting lost in the peaceful alleys and lanes between Oxford Street and Kings Cross, beside the amazing restaurants and trendy eateries.
However
- It can be noisy, almost loud, so be selective on where you stay (my suggested accommodations below are great for a quiet sleep)
- Definitely not the place for a family stay
In this area I suggest the Indigo Hotel, so close to bars and restaurants but still very quiet. The rooms are spacious and a few have balconies as well (see photos here)
The Ovolo Hotel in Woolloomooloo, an amazing quiet gem not to be missed and just a few hundred meters from the nightlife. It is in one of the old pier, formerly a woollen dock, fully refurbished and redesigned (see photos here)
Stunning position, just minutes away from the CBD and the Botanical Garden, the Ovolo offer complimentary breakfast. And in 15 minutes walking, you are the heart of Darlinghurst.
Surry Hills – A romantic stay for couples
What I love about Surry Hills
- A great local vibe
- So many lovely cafes and bars around, together with parks and leafy streets.
- Romantic restaurants for couples
- Nice nightlife for a more mature clientele
- A Multitude of art centres and art exhibitions. If you can make it to one of the openings (usually on Thursdays) you will be suddenly immersed in the local underground art community
- Within walking distance of the CBD and the Central Station (direct train to the Airport)
However
- there are not as many available accommodations
The 57Hotel and the Little Albion Guest House are two amazing boutique and romantic accommodations
In Surry Hills, you can also find one of the best value accommodations in Sydney, the Best Western Plus Hotel Stellar. It’s meters away from Hyde Park, the CBD and plenty of cafes and restaurants.
Newtown – Experience the cool local life
What I love about Surry Hills
- You will hardly experience any tourist here. This is the place to experience the local Sydney life.
- Lots of pubs, restaurants, cafes, design shops and much more.
- It’s around 4 km from the CBD however it is very well connected with frequent trains that will take you to Circular Quay in minutes.
- The airport is so close that you better take a taxi, it’s much quicker and cheaper too.
- Live music is a constant presence in the area with bands in pubs, mostly in the weekends, and theatres with a great line-up of famous names.
However
- Going to the beach is not easy and it takes time
- It’s not a great place for kids. It’s more for an adult experience
The Sydney Park Hotel is one of the hidden secrets of Newtown. Amazing interior design that can take you back in time. Bathrooms are shared but believe me, there is great attention to the cleanliness. Price wise…unbeatable for Sydney!
Check the price at the Sydney Park
Paddington – A unique long stay in Sydney
What I love about Paddington
- It’s a fascinating area of well-refurbished terrace houses, trendy boutiques, cosy restaurants and cafes, niche art galleries and a few bookshops
- There is the biggest park in Sydney, the Centennial Park, and leafy streets everywhere.
- Home to the unmissable Paddington Market on Saturday morning
- Fabulous for a long stay with your partner and/or kids
However
- Paddington is probably one of the least convenient neighbourhoods for transportation. You will need one or more buses to Bondi and CBD (you are in the middle between the city and the beach)
- Avoid for a short 2-3 days stay, especially during the week when traffic can become intense
Mrs Banks Hotel is one of my favourite boutique accommodations in the city, so unassuming from the outside, so beautiful inside.
The interior design is absolutely gorgeous (see photos here) and the service is really outstanding.
Manly – For a real Australian beach stay
What I love about Manly
- There is a surf beach on the ocean side for some action and there is a quiet calm beach on the bayside for some easy time and swimming, perfect for the kids.
- Manly has such a village cooled-down surfing attitude that you immediately feel miles away from the business area. You feel on vacation, more than any place in Sydney
- There are some of the most beautiful walks, inside the Sydney Harbour National Park, with spectacular views of the city and the bay
- Restaurants, bars and cafes with a good range of quality and prices.
However
- Very far away from the airport, impossible for a short stay
- You need the ferry to go to the CBD. There is a speed ferry that takes just 15 minutes (expensive) or, alternatively, the public ferry in 30 minutes. It can be a bumpy ride on windy days.
The Manly Paradise is one of the best value accommodations in Sydney. It’s right in front of the beach with a nice pool and a sea view from a few rooms (see photos here).
It works as a motel, however, it does have also a few apartments that work great for families.
This is a quick list of my 5 favourite boutique hotels in Sydney, organised thanks to my 20 years of regular trips to Sydney
Hotel Woolstore 1888 – Handwritten Collection – Darling Harbour
This is a little gem in Darling Harbour (it is actually in Pyrmont, but literally 2 minutes walking from the water). The rooms are nicely and carefully furnished keeping the historical building as a continuous reference. Breakfast is to die for!
QT Sydney – CBD
A beautifully designed hotel right in the middle of the CBD (city centre) and next to all you need, from business to restaurants, bars, public transportation, Hyde Park for a walk and 200m from the Botanic Garden if you like some jogging. When you arrive in your room you will feel like stepping back in time to the gold era but in today’s style. The restaurant is an experience by itself, famous in the city for its meat dishes
Hughenden Hotel – Paddington
A lovely boutique hotel in the fabulous area of Paddington, meters away from the famous Saturday market and 1 minute from Centennial Park, a fantastic place to have a walk, enjoy the life passing by or have a run. When you enter the Hughenden you may think you are in an 18th-century movie set with the leather sofa, the bookcases, the lovely rags and I could go on forever. The rooms are really cosy and breakfast is included in the price.
Hotel Indigo – Potts Point
A fantastic hotel with a lovely contemporary design located right in the centre of Kings Cross (Potts Point). Great location, just 2 minutes from the train and meters away from all the bars and restaurants that Kings Cross can offer. Some of the rooms have a fantastic view of the CBD skyline and/or the bay. Do not miss ice cream at the ever-popular Gelato Messina, along Victoria Street. Buffalo dining is one of my favourite informal options with mozzarella and prosciutto imported from Italy and Spain
Park Hyatt Sydney – CBD
This is the hotel with the best location in the city and with a swimming pool with an amazing view of the bay, the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, just meters away. It’s positioned in The Rocks, right in the old town of Sydney where it all started. If you are after a special and unique stay then this is the place to book also because the freshly baked breakfast is to die for 🙂
Hello Andrea,
Just wondering if you’ve done a helpful guide such as this for Auckland? My husband and I are going to be in Sydney for a few days for our first time and the guide was very informative! We will be spending the remainder of our week in Avalon before we head to Auckland.
Thank you,
Christine
Hi Christine,
thanks for your feedback, really appreciated. I have the guide of Auckland in the pipeline but it’s not quite there unfortunately. As you can imagine, it takes time to build a city guide 🙂
If I can give you a quick suggestion I would say:
> Stay in the CBD if it’s your first visit to Auckland. This is the area with the most of the attractions and it’s very easy to walk through it. Plenty of restaurants and cafes. Easy connections to the airport, other areas and the islands. My personal hotel choice goes to the City Lodge, for a very affordable price, or otherwise the MGallery by Sofitel, absolutely gorgeous
> Ponsonby, a bit hipster a bit high-class. Lots of nice restaurants and cafes and close to the city. It does not have really attractions, it’s more about experiencing the local life,including the great nightlife
> Parnell, more of an upper class area, with good restaurants, similar to Paddington in Sydney. A few galleries, great if you are into art
> Mt Eden, more to visit for the historical buildings and a nice walk 😉
I hope I was able to help 😉
Cheers
So helpful! You may want to update your post though, just checked Sea Life in Manly and it’s been closed since January. So sad because we were thinking about going to Manly and spending a few hours there!
Thanks so much Britni
So sad to hear about the Sea Life in MAnly. It was actually a great place to spend some time. I knew they were suffering the own competition (Sea Life is also in the Darling Harbour) but not at that extent.
Thanks for letting me know. I am already updating the guide accordingly
Cheers
Hey Andrea, great post. Apologies for repeating the question. My wife and I would be traveling to Sydney from India in mid-October 2018 for just 2 days (short on time) before moving to Melbourne for another 2 days. I am really confused on where to stay both in Sydney as well as Melbourne. It would really be a great help if you could suggest some areas to stay. For background, we would just be doing the regular touristy stuff in both the places and we are looking for budget hotels.
Hi Mayank,
indeed 2 days are quite short and you do not want to mess around with travelling time.
For both Melbourne and Sydney I suggest staying in the CBD area. In both cases, the trip from the airport is so much easier (direct train or bus) and moving around the city is definitely quicker.
About SYDNEY
I suggest a hotel close to Circular Quay. This will allow you a good number of the attractions which are a stone away, like the Rocks. The train station is meters away and you can also take a ferry from there to visit the bay (a must do). Hotels I would suggest:
>> Park Hyatt hotel, the best view and a great hotel, however it comes at a high price tag
>> The Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel is another option, again with an amazing view and at a lower price tag
>> The Russell Hotel is a great value for money, especially considering the location, right in The Rocks
About MELBOURNE
The CBD works great. It has most of the attractions, the best restaurants, lots of characteristic lanes, cafes, beautiful bars etc. Really all you need for the day and night.
You can read more on Where to stay in Melbourne here. Below I add 3 quick options.
>> Ovolo Hotel, my favourite. A great boutique hotel in a typical Melbourne lane. Possibly the best value in Melbourne
>> The Lindrum is one of the oldest building and most characteristic in Melbourne. The location is great if you like to have early walks in the nearby park
>> The Victoria Hotel is another great value place. Great price for what you get.
Have a great trip!!
Hi Andrea,
Thank you for taking the time to make this extremely helpful and detailed post.My husband and 10 yr old daughter are accompanying me on our 1st visit to Australia.We are planning on spending 5 days in Perth and 5 days in Sydney.
My daughter’s requests are whale watching,seeing kangaroos and holding a koala bear.
Hubby wants to relax and enjoy wine and views.
My interest is in visiting the major attractions and a day trip to the beach.
We are flying in from Middle east so its an 8 to 10 hours journey.Would The Rocks be a good place to base ourselves? Is it easy to reach from the airport?
Thanks
San.
Hi San,
so glad you found useful this guide.
The Rocks is a great place, the oldest part of Sydney, with lots of character. It’s an ideal place for what you are after. Lots of restaurants and cafes, plus a few meters from the main ferry station and the train station too (Circular Quay). The major attractions are all around or reachable by a short train ride. If you get the right hotel then your view will be just magnificent.
The Park Hyatt Sydney is my favourite. Amazing position and best view in Sydney.
The Harbour Rocks Hotel is another great option.
Whales and dolphins watching are usually organised at Circular Quay, based on the season.
For the Kangaroos I suggest also a visit to Rottnest Island, a day trip from Perth. You will see there a unique species of tiny ones, so cute. You will be more likely to see wild animals around Perth than around Sydney.
In Perth, I suggest staying in the Fremantle area. The city tends to empty after business hours. Have a look to the Be Fremantle, great serviced apartments at a bargain price and what a view!
Enjoy your trip!!
I am interested in a recommendation on an area to stay in Sydney. There will be 5 of us all around 50 years old. It’s our first trip to Australia, and we are planning on spending 4 nights in Sydney before moving on to Cairns and the Sunshine Coast. We aren’t planning on renting a vehicle in Sydney, but would like to visit the Bridge, opera house, blue mountains, have restaraunts and pubs within walking distance. What area would you recommend?
Hi Beverly,
being the first time I would suggest to stay around the CBD area. That would give you easy access to all of the attractions, either by ferry, train or bus. The closer you are to the Rocks/Circular Quay the better. There are more pub/restaurants, not too far also from Darling Harbour (an amazing area for drinks and food) and a step away from the bay and all the ferries (my favourite way to visit the city).
Here 3 options, however, there are many others, it just depends on the budget and period of the year.
– Park Hyatt Sydney: for the best location of Sydney, unique view
– the Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel: less expensive, still good view
– Sydney Hotel CBD: for a great value accommodation, however more in the city
Most of the trips to Blue Mountains leave from the CBD (the main station or the hotel)
Enjoy Australia!!!
Hi Andrea, thank you for the great guide
I am coming for the Gay Parade weekend in February next year.
Do you have any tip on where to stay in Sydney trying to be close to the party area but still far enough to have a quiet night.
Danke!!
Hey Otto,
my choice would go to a couple of areas:
– the CBD, try to stay on the east side of it, close to Hyde Park. The Parade starts from the Liverpool/Oxford Street intersection
– Surry Hills, however far from Oxford Street where the party keeps going till late in the night
CBD has more hotels options.
I hope I was able to help 🙂
Have fun
thank you so much, so many information here.
I come to Sydney in summer, maybe January or February, is it too hot that time of the year?
where is better to stay in Sydney, close to the beach or in the city centre?
I am worried that is too hot for me
Thanks
No worries Lauren,
January and February are usually the hottest months. Temperature can go up to 40 degrees, but just for a few days.
I would personally book a place in Manly or Bondi, at least you can spend some time at the beach too.
– in Manly you can catch a ferry to the CBD (15 minutes, for the expensive quick service, or 30 minutes)
– in Bondi you can catch a bus, around 30 minutes, however avoid the business hours as the road can get really busy
Enjoy your trip!!
Great post Andrea, I was wondering where to stay in Sydney for the NYE.
Do you have any special suggestion? I will be there only for 3 days and I would like to experience the most of the attractions of the city.
Many thanks!
Thanks Jilly,
the biggest event is in Darling Harbour with the greatest fireworks in Australia I believe. It’s right in the centre of the bay and it usually starts at 9pm. Big tip here, get there before 730 to get a spot. Last year I arrived there at 830pm and they closed the gates so I had to quickly find another point.
There is a hotel with a fantastic view, the Novotel Sydney on Darling Harbour. Of course, rooms tend to be booked out for that night but worth a try.
Enjoy!!
Great post Andrea! Just starting my travel planning for about 12 nights in Australia with 5-6 nights in Sydney during the last week of Sept this year. It’ll be our first visit. Very helpful and thorough descriptions of the different neighborhoods. This trip will be for my wife and I (59 years young and active) and my sister and Mom (64 yrs and 86 yrs). Thinking about The Rocks area to stay. Was wondering if this is a good area for my Mom who at 86 loves travel and food and holds up fairly well. Are there any special events happening in and around Sydney at that time?
Thanks Peter!! Really appreciated.
That sounds like a great family trip, I am sure you will love it 🙂
And great to hear about your mom. 86 years wow 😮 and still in great shape.
The Rocks is a touch hilly but it has the great benefit of an amazing place to be obviously. Right in the art of the city, close to the train and ferry station too and with plenty of food options. The weekend has also the famous street market, which is a fantastic plus.
In that area I may suggest :
> Park Hyatt Sydney : it’s the best however it does not come cheap. I see it for that special days. It’s right on the water, so no climbing. The view is unique, in the world. Even for one night stay
> Holiday Inn Old Sydney, again fantastic view, great location, meters from the water, no climbing involved
> Harbour Rock Hotel – MGALLERY BY SOFITEL, one of my favorite building in the area. So much character. You will feel back in the 1800s, really fascinating.
I may also add some spots you may want to visit/enjoy:
– Museum of Contemporary Art : they offer free daily tours. Times vary based on the day. Really worthy, I had personally a great time.
– La Renaissance Patisserie : the risk is to go back every day haahah, right meter from all of the hotels listed above
– The Glenmore Hotel: there is a bit a climb (see map here), however the view from the rooftop is amazing
– Susannah Place Museum: a tiny house depicting the life the people living in the area till from 1850. Really interesting. There are few stairs to go up but nothing dramatic.
September events mhmhmhhm thinking thinking …… the Festival of the winds in Bondi and the Surry Hills Festival, really nice. The Cabramatta Moon Festival is also on (huge street festival in John Street)
Enjoy!!!
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Hello, thanks for a very detailed post. Helped me a lot in deciding where to stay in Sydney. My family and I will be in Sydney and Melbourne this April. Just wondering if you have the same detailed info’s for Melbourne? Thank you!
Many thanks Sarah for your comment. Believe it or not I am just writing the Melbourne one and it will be published soon, however probably not in time for your trip, sorry for that 🙁
I will keep you updated
Cheers