A Guide to the Best Areas to Stay in Cairns

Discover the best hotels in Cairns, from luxury tropical resorts to affordable options in popular areas like Cairns Esplanade for waterfront dining and the lagoon, Cairns CBD for reef tour departures and shopping, and Edge Hill for trendy botanical cafes, and find the perfect place to stay for your trip.

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Top-Rated Hotels in Cairns with Prices and Guest Reviews

Find popular Cairns hotels frequently selected by travellers for business, leisure and family stays.

Ramada By Wyndham Cairns City Centre

Ramada By Wyndham Cairns City Centre

📍 6/12 Florence St, Cairns
★★★★ 8.2 (59 reviews)

"Very dated rooms. Clean but badly in need of a renovation. Certainly nowhere near the 4 stars advertised. Location is good but I would not stay again. Better value elsewhere"

AED 395 per night
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Caravella Backpackers

Caravella Backpackers

📍 149 The Esplanade, Cairns
★★ 8.5 (28 reviews)

"Very clean simple rooms, pool looked nice, great indoor/ outdoor kitchen well equipped. The staff were all exceptionally nice, had a great family feel. Towel included, no hidden fees for luggage storage or anything else, which is rare these days. Short walk into town, cafes nearby, right on the boardwalk. 10/10 would recommend."

AED 89 per night
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Cairns Colonial Club Resort

Cairns Colonial Club Resort

📍 18-26 Cannon St, Manunda
★★★★ 8.7 (140 reviews)

"Location close to city. When booking asked for easy access for my elderly mother, room was quite a walk for her to get to. Had to use the wheelchair, path was a little uneven. Apart from that everything else was good."

AED 419 per night
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Pacific Hotel Cairns

Pacific Hotel Cairns

📍 43 Esplanade, Cairns
★★★★ 8.6 (232 reviews)

Boasting a fantastic central location directly opposite the Reef Fleet Terminal, this contemporary hotel treats guests to stunning harbour views and exceptional Brazilian dining at its on-site restaurant.

AED 599 per night
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YHA Cairns Central

YHA Cairns Central

📍 20-26 McLeod St, Cairns
★★★ 8.9 (205 reviews)

"First time to stay in the hostel with random people, but it was okay. The bathroom was clean. I shared a room with six ppl but it wasn’t bad. It would’ve been better if there are more plugs in the room. There weren’t enough plugs and had to charge phone at the edge where is far from my bed room."

AED 90 per night
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The Benson Hotel

The Benson Hotel

📍 50 Grafton St, Cairns
★★★★ 9.0 (138 reviews)

"The room was spacious and well-equipped with a microwave, cutlery, and a fridge. It's super close to both the ferry terminal and Cairns train station. There's a breakfast spot right opposite the hotel and a supermarket nearby, perfect for grabbing bread to heat up in the microwave. The front desk staff were really helpful, even assisting us with booking a taxi. The laundry facilities were fantastic, with large washing machines and dryers. Just a heads-up, the hotel doesn't provide slippers or toothbrushes, so remember to bring your own!"

AED 656 per night
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Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns

📍 Pier Point Rd, Cairns
★★★★★ 8.6 (285 reviews)

Ideally positioned on the waterfront, this premier luxury hotel boasts stunning panoramic views of Marlin Marina and offers direct access to the Great Barrier Reef departure terminals.

AED 829 per night
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Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort

Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort

📍 122 Lake St, Cairns City, Cairns
★★★★ 8.8 (123 reviews)

"The environment is clean, and the breakfast buffet is delicious and varied. The location is just right, a 5-10 minute walk to the dining and entertainment streets in Cairns city center. Dinner at the coffee bar was also quite good."

AED 706 per night
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Cairns Queens Court

Cairns Queens Court

📍 167-171 Sheridan St, Cairns North
★★★ 7.5 (86 reviews)

A privately-owned, budget-friendly boutique property that offers a comfortable mix of traditional hotel rooms and self-contained studios within easy walking distance of the city centre.

AED 352 per night
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Compare Cairns Hotels by Cleanliness, Location and Service from real customers

8.9
Excellent community rating
Real & verified guest reviews from all over the world
G

Guest User

Solo traveler
Ramada By Wyndham Cairns City Centre ★★★★
"My bed was comfortable although the rooms and hotel overall is dated"
★★★★★
2025-06-10
G

Guest User

Solo traveler
Caravella Backpackers ★★
"Very good attitude"
★★★★★
2025-09-01
G

Guest User

Couple
Cairns Colonial Club Resort ★★★★
"Wonderful reception staff. Jason was great when helping us find a pouch that my girlfriend left an item in the room. Even though we only lodged the missing item report a week after checking-out, the item was still safely kept and returned to us within a day."
★★★★★
2026-06-24
R

Rohshya

Traveling with friends
Pacific Hotel Cairns ★★★★
"Location of the hotel is great and very convenient. The staff are friendly, towels were changed daily, and the pool was really nice. Overall, it was an excellent stay. The only small issue was that when we asked housekeeping to change our bedsheets on day 4 of our stay, it wasn’t done and the bed was left as it was. Other than that, everything was very good and we enjoyed our stay."
★★★★★
2026-01-26
L

LimeZone

Solo traveler
YHA Cairns Central ★★★
"Great location right in the city center, and the staff was friendly! However, the room was a bit smaller than expected. Still a solid choice for a short weekend stay."
★★★★★
2026-06-15
A

Anonymous User

Family
The Benson Hotel ★★★★
"Quite Central to where you need to be in Cairns. At first sight, the hotel looked quite crusty externally but the room (and interior) were fine. Breakfast was rather delicious. Pool looked ok but don’t actually go in as there was little cover from the sun i.e. additional deck chair umbrellas. Had to haggle for a late check-out (from 10am to 11am) but in the end, after using reason and logic, we got there… Overall a good experience"
★★★★★
2026-02-20
G

Guest User

Family
Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns ★★★★★
"Taking a taxi from the airport to the hotel cost $35. We arrived before check-in, but the front desk allowed us to check in early after signing up for their membership, and even upgraded us to a room with a great view, which we were very happy with. The hotel is very close to the pier, making it super convenient to get back to our room after a boat trip. The hotel's own pool is also fantastic. We stayed for three days and didn't want to leave!"
★★★★★
2026-07-15
A

Anastasia.T

Family
Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort ★★★★
"The rooms were clean, but very small with low ceilings. Upon arrival, there was only one small carton of milk in the fridge, perhaps because the room was prepared earlier, for which I'm very grateful to the front desk staff. A big plus is the hotel pool, which has a sandy entrance on one side. However, the pool is shallow, so adults need to be careful not to scrape their feet on the rough bottom. Late check-out is available for an extra fee, which is very convenient if you're traveling with children and have a late flight. The airport is just 10 minutes away. Cairns Aquarium is nearby, and there's a large shopping center three blocks away. The promenade is two blocks away. Overall, it's good value for money, but don't expect perfect cleanliness or service."
★★★★★
2026-07-05
a

austraveller

Solo traveler
Cairns Queens Court ★★★
"The hotel was clean and comfortable.staff extremely friendly and helpful. Amenities were good for the Price.definitely no complaints"
★★★★★
2026-05-05

Hotels Near Top Attractions and Landmarks in Cairns

Find hotels close to popular attractions and landmarks in Cairns for convenient sightseeing and city exploration.

Cairns Aquarium

Cairns Aquarium

Base yourself just a short walk from this spectacular marine sanctuary, ideal for exploring the vibrant underwater wonders of the Great Barrier Reef.

 Sunlover Reef Cruises

Sunlover Reef Cruises

Secure your stay near the reef fleet terminal, offering effortless morning access to unforgettable island day-trips and coral reef adventures.

 Palm Cove

Palm Cove

Stay just steps from Palm Cove Beach, a picturesque and relaxing beachfront that’s perfect for waterfront dining and soaking up that laid-back tropical vibe.

 Fig Tree Play Ground

Fig Tree Play Ground

Find a family-friendly retreat steps from this iconic waterfront park, famous for its historic banyan tree walk and custom-built climbing adventures.

Useful Information for Your Trip to Cairns

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Power Plug & Voltage

240V/Type I

💵

Exchange Rate

AUD

💳

Local Payment

Cards/ApplePay/Cash

📱

Connectivity

Telstra/Optus/Vodafone

🌡️

Current Weather

Partly clear

More Cairns hotel info

Data type

Details

Number of Reviews

8,372

Total Properties

170

Weekday Avg. Price

AED 927

Weekend Avg. Price

AED 921

Trending hotel

YHA Cairns Central

Popular area

Cairns City

Cairns hotel FAQs

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