Hotels in Sydney

Staying in Sydney

The harbour organises the city. Circular Quay, with the Opera House on its eastern point and the bridge to its north, is the natural centre for a visitor; The Rocks and the main shopping streets rise behind it, and Darling Harbour lies a walk to the west. Bondi and the eastern beaches are a separate world to the south-east, Manly sits across the water on the northern side, and the North Shore suburbs climb the hills beyond the bridge. Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport is south of the centre at Mascot, on the shore of Botany Bay, and the road into town runs through the inner southern suburbs. Most arrivals head for the city hotels; those bound for the beaches or the North Shore usually book a car, and airport services can be added on AI Concierge when you reserve the room. Choosing comes down to what you want to wake up to. A room near Circular Quay or Darling Harbour puts the sights and the ferries on foot. Surry Hills and Potts Point trade that for cafes and smaller hotels a short ride away. The beaches mean a longer trip into town but the sea outside the window. If you have an early flight, the hotels around Mascot spare you the drive the next morning.