Sydney’s CBD (Central Business District) is a popular area with business travellers, with an array of international brand-name hotels, many of them a stone’s throw from Sydney Harbour. Choose from the classically elegant Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel near the Sydney Opera House or the sky-scraping InterContinental Sydney, just a two-minute walk from Circular Quay.

Families staying near Darling Harbour, on the western edge of the CBD, won’t be short of things to see and do, with plenty of family-friendly sights, such as the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium and Wild Life Sydney Zoo. Accommodation here includes the Adina Apartment Hotel Darling Harbour, with family-friendly conveniences including an outdoor pool, BBQ patio and restaurant delivery service.

For great deals on budget hotels in Sydney, Kings Cross is the place to be. This inner-city area, east of the CBD, offers good-value rooms and a lively nightlife. It’s part of the suburb of Potts Point, an affluent area with more midrange options to tickle your fancy. A good choice here might be the Song Hotel Sydney.

For a taste of romance and old-world charm, you can’t go wrong with the Rocks, an historic area brimming with trendy boutique hotels. With the city centre just a short walk or ferry ride away, it’s a great option for couples seeking a more intimate vibe.

Australia’s popularity as a backpacking destination means Sydney has plenty of cool hostels that won’t break the bank. Party over the city skyline at Bounce Sydney, whose rooftop bar and buzzing location opposite Central Station make it an ideal base for a night out. Or relax and soak up the views at the Sydney Harbour YHA, located in the Rocks, near the Opera House and just a short walk from Circular Quay.

FAQs when booking Sydney accommodations

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Sydney’s Kingsford Smith International Airport is ringed with good-quality hotels, many of them offering a free shuttle service to and from the airport. Cool off in the rooftop pool of the 5-star Stamford Plaza Sydney Airport in Mascot after a long flight, or relax at the 4-star Mercure Sydney in Wolli Creek, which is set against the lush backdrop of Cahill Park.

The CBD’s Regent Street, on the western side of Sydney Central Station, has some great 4-star hotels, including the smart-looking Mercure Sydney and decidedly retro Great Southern Hotel. You’ll find cheaper hotel deals east of the station in Surry Hills, an artsy area bustling with hip bars and cafes.

Stretching some 3km through the CBD, George Street is dotted with shining shopping centres and stained-glass Victorian-era arcades. Hotels around here frequently boast 5 stars and include the Shangri-La Hotel soaring high above Circular Quay and the quirkily-stylish QT Sydney boutique hotel on Market Street.

Sydney’s sprawling, state-of-the-art Olympic Park lies west of the city centre in a suburb of the same name. Hotels around it include midrange international chains, including the Novotel Sydney Olympic Park and the adjacent Ibis Sydney Olympic Park, with both hotels sharing their facilities.

Sydney’s legendary Bondi beach is an irresistible draw for many travellers to Australia and certainly caters to them well, with chic beach-themed hotels and comfortable serviced apartments within strolling distance of the beach. Those craving a quieter stretch of shoreline should search for hotels in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, around less crowded beaches like Bronte, Clovelly and Coogee.