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 (61 reviews)

"My bed was comfortable although the rooms and hotel overall is dated"

AED 402 per night
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Caravella Backpackers

Caravella Backpackers

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

"Great value and good amenities here. However it’s the super friendly and helpful staff that elevate this place above your typical hostel or hotel. We had an issue with our room and it was resolved quickly and beyond expectations (thanks Zenon!), don’t hesitate to stay here."

AED 89 per night
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Cairns Colonial Club Resort

Cairns Colonial Club Resort

📍 18-26 Cannon St, Manunda
★★★★ 8.7 (142 reviews)

"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."

AED 511 per night
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Pacific Hotel Cairns

Pacific Hotel Cairns

📍 43 Esplanade, Cairns
★★★★ 8.6 (233 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 669 per night
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YHA Cairns Central

YHA Cairns Central

📍 20-26 McLeod St, Cairns
★★★ 8.9 (209 reviews)

"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."

AED 113 per night
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The Benson Hotel

The Benson Hotel

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

"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"

AED 617 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 741 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 658 per night
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Cairns Queens Court

Cairns Queens Court

📍 167-171 Sheridan St, Cairns North
★★★ 7.5 (88 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 385 per night
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Compare Cairns Hotels by Cleanliness, Location and Service from real customers

9.2
Excellent community rating
Real & verified guest reviews from all over the world
G

Guest User

Couple
Ramada By Wyndham Cairns City Centre ★★★★
"This was my second time staying at this hotel. The first was a much better experience. It seems it all depends on the room. This time we got room 101, on the corner of the building and next to the entrance gate and more importantly, next to a street intersection. It was quite noisy all night as trucks and busses accelerate from the intersection. I asked the desk clerk when we checked in if we could have a different room and he refused, even though other rooms were available. I couldn't quite figure out his reasoning. Anyway, this room also sufferers from a very weak air conditioner and is a little smaller than the last room we got (room 119). Basically, the hotel is fine, but your experience may differ based on the specific room."
★★★★★
2023-10-11
G

Guest User

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

Guest User

Family
Cairns Colonial Club Resort ★★★★
"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."
★★★★★
2026-06-16
G

Guest User

Business traveler
Pacific Hotel Cairns ★★★★
"Studio -clean, tidy and well- served breakfast for the guests. location 10/10 and could enjoy the restaurants, lagoon, museum and cafes. would recommend for couple or family. cleanness 8/10, daily cleaning service. Coin-laundry place and snack vending machine and swimming pool for the guests."
★★★★★
2026-03-06
G

Guest User

Solo traveler
YHA Cairns Central ★★★
"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."
★★★★★
2026-01-18
X

XHDmama

Family
The Benson Hotel ★★★★
"Choosing The Benson Hotel for my Cairns trip was a brilliant decision! The location is absolutely superb – super close to the airport, just about a 15-minute taxi ride. It’s also only a 10-minute walk to the Lagoon Pool and the Marina, making it incredibly convenient for an evening stroll along the waterfront to the pool for a swim, or heading to the Marina to catch the sunset. The surrounding area is incredibly well-equipped too: right outside the hotel, you’ll find a huge variety of restaurants, from local seafood specialties to Asian cuisine, so you can try something new every day. There’s also a large supermarket nearby, perfect for grabbing fruits, snacks, or travel essentials. Shopping here gets full marks! The hotel rooms are spacious and bright, with all the amenities you could need, including air conditioning, making it feel just as comfortable as home. The front desk service was exceptionally thoughtful and attentive; they patiently recommended nearby attractions and restaurants, and any issues were resolved quickly. In short, this stay far exceeded my expectations. I will definitely choose The Benson Hotel again on my next visit to Cairns! I highly recommend it to anyone looking for convenient travel and comfortable accommodation – you won’t be disappointed!"
★★★★★
2026-02-24
J

J叡

Solo traveler
Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns ★★★★★
"The facilities are a bit old, and the pool floor felt a bit unstable in places, so be careful. The service was great, and the staff were very friendly! The location is convenient."
★★★★★
2026-05-22
G

Guest User

Solo traveler
Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort ★★★★
"Nice view from the my room☺︎ I enjoyed staying at your hotel! I didn’t get a chance to use the pool this time, so I’ll definitely try it next time I come back to the Cairns !!"
★★★★★
2026-05-07
r

rob1591

Couple
Cairns Queens Court ★★★
"Room was clean if basic but location was good for getting into Cairns. Plenty of parking too"
★★★★★
2026-03-12

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

⚡

Power Plug & Voltage

240V/Type I

💵

Exchange Rate

AUD

💳

Local Payment

Cards/ApplePay/Cash

📱

Connectivity

Telstra/Optus/Vodafone

🌡️

Current Weather

Partly clear with showers

More Cairns hotel info

Data type

Details

Number of Reviews

8,394

Total Properties

173

Weekday Avg. Price

AED 951

Weekend Avg. Price

AED 912

Trending hotel

YHA Cairns Central

Popular area

Cairns City

Cairns hotel FAQs

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