Where to stay in Canberra — pick the right hotel, book in 3 clicks
Canberra is the capital of Australia, a city designed and purpose-built from scratch to be the seat of government. Set in the ACT between Sydney and Melbourne, it brings together leading national museums and galleries, Parliament House and Lake Burley Griffin in the city centre. It's well suited to families and anyone interested in history.
Why stay in Canberra
The nation's heart
Visit Parliament House, free to enter, and walk up onto its grassed roof for city views.
National-level museums
The National Gallery, National Museum and War Memorial gather Australian art and history, all free entry.
Festivals and balloons
Floriade is the largest spring flower festival, plus a morning hot-air balloon event in the heart of the city.
Nature near the city
Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and Mount Ainslie offer kangaroos and views of the city's symmetrically planned axis.
Ranked reviews — find your ideal stay in Canberra
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1 ranked reviewsNo reviews match these filters — try removing one or two
Local dishes to try in Canberra
- 1🍷
Cool-climate wine
The Canberra District is a cool-climate wine region, notable for Riesling and Shiraz.
📍 Out of town - 2☕
Braddon cafes
The Braddon district along Lonsdale Street brings together cafes, restaurants and a young, modern lifestyle.
📍 Braddon - 3🍽️
Contemporary dining
The NewActon and Kingston Foreshore districts have fine restaurants by the lake.
📍 NewActon - 4🧀
Farmers market
The Capital Region Farmers Market is a Saturday morning market selling fresh produce and food from surrounding farms.
📍 Capital market - 5🍺
Craft beer
Craft breweries and small bars are scattered through Braddon, a hub for an evening out.
📍 Braddon
- 1🏛️
Parliament House
Australia's parliament on the hill, free to visit, with a grassed roof you can walk up for views along the city axis.
📍 Capital Hill - 2🎖️
Australian War Memorial
The nation's most important war memorial and museum, with a moving daily Last Post ceremony.
📍 Campbell - 3🖼️
National Gallery of Australia
The country's largest national gallery, with Aboriginal art and world-class works, free entry.
📍 Parkes - 4💧
Lake Burley Griffin
An artificial lake in the city centre, with the Captain Cook fountain and a cycling path around it.
📍 City centre - 5⛰️
Mount Ainslie Lookout
A lookout with a straight view along the city axis from the War Memorial to Parliament, designed by Walter Burley Griffin.
📍 Ainslie - 6🦘
Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve
A nature reserve where you can see kangaroos, koalas and platypus in forest near the city.
📍 Out of town
Things to do in Canberra
Day tours, attraction tickets and travel essentials for Canberra — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.
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3 Canberra hotels our team picked for you
Selected from real reviews — one per budget tier, each with a score and instant 3-site price comparison
★ 9.4Luxury
★ 9.4Upper-mid
★ 9.1Upper-midEast Hotel and Apartments
#2 boutique hotel & apartments · next to Kingston
โรงแรมแนะนำทั้งหมดในCanberra
ครบทุกระดับงบ — คัดจากคะแนนรีวิวจริง พร้อมเทียบราคา 3 เว็บ
Hotel Kurrajong Canberra
#6 historic 4-star hotel · heritage building in Barton
Little National Hotel Canberra
#3 design hotel · best value in Barton
Brassey Hotel
#9 4-star heritage hotel · Barton, art deco character
Rydges Capital Hill Canberra
#10 4-star hotel · on the slopes of Capital Hill
Adina Serviced Apartments Canberra Kingston
#5 serviced apartments · central Kingston
Forrest Hotel & Apartments
#7 3-star motel & apartments · cheapest pick with free parking
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🚆 Getting around Canberra
Light rail
The northern light rail line connects the city centre with Gungahlin, tap on with a MyWay card.
Transport Canberra buses
The bus network covers the whole city, good for getting to museums and the various districts.
Cycling
Canberra has bike lanes across the city and around the lake, making it a very bike-friendly city.
Canberra Airport
The airport (CBR) is 8 km from the city, with direct flights to major cities and buses or taxis into town.
Where to go next near Canberra
SydneyThe city of the iconic Opera House and Harbour Bridge, paired with Bondi Beach.
See this city's guide →
MelbourneA city of cafes, graffiti laneways and world-class sport like tennis and Aussie rules football.
See this city's guide →
BrisbaneCapital of Queensland on the Brisbane River, warm all year with an easygoing vibe.
See this city's guide →
Gold CoastLong white-sand beaches, world-class theme parks and beachfront high-rises at Surfers Paradise.
See this city's guide →Frequently asked — where to stay in Canberra
How many days for Canberra?+
2 days is enough to see the main museums and memorials. It's a good stopover between Sydney and Melbourne, or an educational family trip.
Do Canberra's museums charge entry?+
Most national museums and galleries are free to enter, such as the War Memorial, National Gallery and National Museum.
When is the best time to visit Canberra?+
Spring (Sep - Oct) during the Floriade flower festival is the prettiest, and autumn with its changing leaves is also lovely.
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