So you are headed to Sydney, Australia for a holiday and you are wondering where you will stay. You want to see all the sights – the Sydney Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and swim at Bondi Beach. Well you can see all of Sydney’s world-famous landmarks by ensuring your Sydney accommodation suits your needs and budget. In this article I will share some of the best places to stay in Sydney.

Sydney is a large city, so choosing the best place to stay in Sydney for your visit can be overwhelming. Particularly if you aren’t familiar with what accommodation is available and the different areas you can find it in. This accommodation in Sydney guide will cover those two main things. Yep, I’ve done all the research for you – well I did live there! The guide covers the type of accommodation in Sydney available and the different areas of Sydney. Then you will know what is available and where. This will help you to choose the best accommodation for your Sydney holiday.

Whether you are a solo traveller to Sydney, in a couple on a Sydney romantic trip, with friends ready to party in Sydney, on a family holiday with kids to Sydney or a working holiday maker to Australia starting in Sydney, there is accommodation that will suit your Sydney holiday. Read on to find out some great Sydney accommodation!

Types of Accommodation in Sydney

plenty of Sydney accommodation options have views over the harbour – this is from the YHA rooftop

Firstly, you will be pleased to know that Sydney has a huge variety of accommodation available. There are backpacker hostels, budget-friendly hotels, boutique hotels, family-friendly holiday units and five star hotels with fabulous views over Sydney Harbour. And if you are bringing your accommodation with you, there are places on Sydney’s outskirts to park up your van and pitch your tent. Depending on the type of trip you’re having in Sydney, you should be able to find accommodation in Sydney that suits you and your budget.

Backpacker Hostels

There are plenty of backpacker hostels in Sydney. Over the years many have improved and offer the visitor to Sydney not only budget accommodation but lots of services. These include access to fully equiped kitchens, coffee shops, wifi and co-working areas for digital nomads to Australia. Many are even offering single, twin and double rooms. Two of the best are run by YHA (Youth Hostels Association). The YHA City Central hostel is positioned for excellent access to the city. While YHA Sydney Harbour in The Rocks has fabulous views over Sydney from the rooftop.

Hostels can provide cheap accommodation because you will share a room and facilities. Even though you can now get single, double and family rooms, most beds will be in a dormitory (dorm). Dorms vary from 4, 6, 8 to more people in a room. The beds are usually bunk beds and the more people in a room, the cheaper the nightly cost.

To find a hostel check out HostelWorld. Or if I sold you on the views over the harbour at the Rocks, get pricing and availability here.

Hotels

There are many hotels in Sydney ranging from budget, boutique to five star hotels with fabulous views over Sydney Harbour.  Most offer a bed in your own room with an ensuite. Depending on where you choose to stay in Sydney, the accommodation may provide many other services. Parking, free wifi, tea and coffee making facilities. But it will depend on your budget.

To get the best deal on a Sydney Hotel, get pricing and availability here.

Holiday Units and Apartments

If visiting Sydney with kids, in a couple or just like to stay in a unit, there are plenty available offering kitchen and bathroom facilities. They can be found all around Sydney and vary in price. If you are trying to keep your visit to Sydney as economical as possible, staying in a unit will allow you to cook your own meals. Doing this, will help to reduce costs of your holiday in Sydney.

To get the best deal on a Sydney unit, get pricing and availability here.

Caravan Park

On the outskirts of Sydney you will find caravan parks where you can park up your van, pitch your tent or rent a cabin. You will then need to catch public transport into the city, to see everything you want to see.

House Sitting

Depending on your length of stay in Sydney, you could consider house sitting. House sitting is when you look after a person’s home while they go away on holiday. In return for free accommodation, you look after the house and any pets, water the plants, collect any post and maybe put the bins out. I cannot guarantee where the house sitting gigs will be in Sydney as it will depend on who is going away. Check out Trusted Housesitters to register if housesitting is of interest to you. 

Recap of Sydney Accommodation

Hostels are best for backpackers and budget travellers. Though many now offering single and family rooms.
Hotels are best for solo travellers, couples, friends, business people and families to Sydney.
Holiday units and apartments can be best for families and people who want access to cooking facilities to reduce food costs.
Caravan Parks are best for those towing a van, car camping and pitching a tent.

Now you know what type of accommodation is available in Sydney, you need to know what suburbs it is in. Then, you can find the best accommodation for your Sydney visit.

How Much Does it Cost to Stay in Sydney?

The cost of accommodation in Sydney will depend on the style of accommodation you have chosen to stay in. The cheapest stay in Sydney will be a dorm bed in a hostel which can cost from $30 to around $70 per night. Private rooms in a hotel can start at around $100 per night in a budget hotel to over $1,000 per night in one of the most luxurious hotels with views of Sydney Harbour. And there is plenty of accommodation in between these prices just mentioned. 

Where to Stay in Sydney Map

Best Places to Stay in Sydney Guide

So, what is the best part of Sydney to stay in? As you can see from the map, I have highlighted the best areas with accommodation to stay at while on your Sydney holiday. The best suburb to stay in Sydney will obviously vary depending on how many people are in your party and the type of trip to Sydney you want. Someone wanting to visit the harbour area will want to stay close to there. While someone wanting to spend time at the beach will want to stay close to one of those. This section of my post breaks down where to stay in Sydney for different traveller types.

Best Place to Stay in Sydney for First-Time Visitors and Tourists

If this is your fist time to Sydney you will want to be as close to the action of what you want to see and do in Sydney as possible. I say this because even though public transport in Sydney is great, you will do a lot of walking. And at the end of a long day of sightseeing you will not want a major hike back to your accommodation. 

Discovering Sydney Harbour around The Rocks area, Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House are usually the first places any first-timer and tourist to Sydney want to see. So the prime locations for getting here quickly is in the areas around these major sites. The prime locations to stay aare The Rocks, CBD (Central Business District), Darling Harbour, Barangaroo and North Sydney.

The Rocks

The Rocks area is the oldest area in Sydney. Built by the first convicts it is home to colonial-era pubs, quaint 19th-century buildings amongst modern buildings and many cobblestone laneways. It is a top destination for tourists to Sydney with many shops, restaurants and history. The Rocks is right next door to Circular Quay where you will find the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. So staying in The Rocks will mean you are within easy walking distance to these iconic structures. And other areas of Sydney are an easy train or bus ride away.

Check out accommodation for The Rocks, Sydney here.

Views of Sydney Harbour Bridge from The Rocks 

Sydney CBD

A short distance from the water is where you will find Sydney’s main business centre known as the Central Business District or the CBD. In the CBD you will find many government buildings, skyrise office buildings and plenty of shopping areas, including Pitt Street Mall. If you choose to stay in Sydney CBD you will be able to walk to most of Sydney’s main attractions including Sydney Harbour. The area is well serviced by buses and trains making it easy to get to and from the airport and other areas in Sydney. The only downside of staying in the CBD is that you won’t get the fabulous water views like you do in other Sydney accommodation areas. Your view will most likely be at other buildings or over the street your hotel is on. Also, after hours and on weekends, the city can be a little quiet.

For accommodation options in Sydney CBD check out these.

Barangaroo

The area now known as Barangaroo is an area next to the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It is an area where there are many shipping wharfs. After sitting idle for a long time, in 2003 the NSW Government decided to redevelop this area to provide commercial office space and recreational areas. Now you will find plenty of restaurants and accommodation options in easy walking distance of the Sydney Harbour, the CBD and Darling Harbour.

Check out accommodation options for Barangaroo here.

Darling Harbour

Darling Harbour is a great area of Sydney to stay in. About 30 or so years ago it was redeveloped from an old dock into an entertainment area. It provides a huge choice of waterfront eateries and is close the SEALIFE Sydney Aquarium and Madame Tussauds Sydney. There are also plenty of bars and clubs if you are planning to party at night in Sydney. And is an easy walk to other areas of Sydney including down to Circular Quay and Chinatown. There are often lots of activities happening in Darling Harbour and it is a great place attracting families visiting Sydney.

Check out accommodation options for Darling Harbour here.

North Sydney

North Sydney is not often recommended as one of the best places to stay in Sydney on a Sydney holiday. But a quick train ride across the Harbour Bridge will see you in North Sydney. And the train ride in itself is spectacular as you get fabulous views from the train. North Sydney is home to Luna Park which is a fun place to visit on any Sydney holiday. You will also find many retail outlets and cafes and restaurants to enjoy along with some pubs. North Sydney offers some great accommodation options for your stay in Sydney with some having views of Sydney Harbour. And the accommodation here can be a little cheaper than staying in The Rocks or the CBD, yet still with views.

Check out accommodation options for North Sydney here.

Bondi Beach

take a dip at Bondi Beach every morning before sightseeing!

Bondi is a perfect place to stay in Sydney if wanting to be close to the world famous Bondi Beach. There is a variety of different accommodation available including plenty of backpacker hostels where many working holiday makers to Australia first set up. Apart from accommodation, there are plenty of restaurants with beach views to get your first hospitality job in Australia. Bondi Beach is about a half hour bus ride into Sydney’s CBD so you will need to travel if you want to do some sightseeing, shopping or working in Sydney.

Check out accommodation options for Bondi here.

Manly

Another popular beach destination for visitors to Sydney is Manly. It is located north of the harbour and has a variety of accommodation for all sorts of travellers. It is a laid back beach suburb of Sydney and the gateway to other beaches on the North Shore. If you are a fan of the TV show ‘Home and Away’ you can catch the bus from Manly to the filming location in Palm Beach. You can take a bus ride of about 45 minutes from Sydney’s CBD to reach Manly. Or, you catch the Manly ferry that runs between Manly and Circular Quay taking 30 minutes or so. The ferry is a great way to see Sydney Harbour from the water and get a different perspective. However, if your time in Sydney is limited and you want to see all the top Sydney tourist spots choosing to stay in The Rocks, CBD or Darling Harbour may be better options.

Check out accommodation options in Manly here.

Where to Stay in Sydney Recap

Best place to stay in Sydney for backpackers and working holiday makers – YHA Sydney Harbour, The Rocks, Sydney CBD.
Beach lovers to Sydney will want to stay in Bondi or Manly.
Only one day in Sydney stay in The Rocks or CBD so you are close to Sydney’s sightseeing hotspots around Sydney Harbour.
Families to Sydney might want to choose a unit in the CBD or The Rocks. Perhaps a place by the ocean in Bondi or Manly.
Couples on a romantic Sydney getaway might want a place in The Rocks, Darling Harbour or Barangaroo that offer views over the city while enjoying some champaigne!
Friends to Sydney to party will want to stay near the nightlife in The Rocks, Darling Harbour or in Manly or Bondi.
First timers to Sydney might want to be near Sydney Harbour so stay in The Rocks, CBD or North Sydney.

Are You Ready to Visit Sydney?

Now you know the types of accommodation available and where the best places to stay in Sydney are, it is time to plan what to see and do in Sydney during your stay. And I hope you have the best time on your Sydney stay. Have you been to Sydney? Where do you stay?