The 8 Best Hotels on Sydney Harbour (2025)

Image by Patty Jansen from Pix

Most visitors to Sydney can’t resist the glittering pull of the harbour for long, and if you’re staying in one of the best hotels on Sydney Harbour you won’t need to. From luxury hotels with harbour bridge views to boutique hideaways, there's a great selection. This part of Sydney offers more than just the elegant sails of the Opera House, and the ‘coat hanger’ charm of the Harbour Bridge, the harbour runs along beside the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Museum of Contemporary Art, The Rocks (which was the first part of Sydney to be settled), and even Taronga Zoo, if you get on the ferry and travel. Our Gurus' recommendations for the best hotels in Sydney Harbour are centred around the Inner Harbour, within walking distance of many of Sydney’s major sights, and a ferry or train ride from most of the others. 

For the best harbour views

• Pier One, on Walsh Bay, is right by one of the pillars of the Harbour Bridge, a large and luxurious hotel with spectacular harbour views and slick, nautical decor.
• The Shangri-La Hotel towers over Sydney, offering magnificent views over the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and Darling Harbour. A modern luxury classic, this is a the kind of large hotel to meet all your needs and more.
• The dazzling Crown Towers Sydney boasts exquisite contemporary guest rooms and suites with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Sydney Harbour. Add in top-notch dining and world-class gaming facilities, and you have an opulent stay.

• The Four Seasons Sydney with its views of the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and the glistening harbour beyond, also boasts the largest outdoor hotel pool in town. Splash out on the Full Harbour King Club Room, which gives you an incredible panorama including the bridge and the Opera House.

For Circular Quay

• The Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour is a luxurious collection of self-catering apartments right on Circular Quay. The fully-equipped kitchens and laundry facilities make this a perfect - and memorable - spot for families. There's a pool, gym, restaurant, bar and even childcare facilities.
• Sydney's Park Hyatt is a five-star luxury classic in a fantastic spot at the end of Circular Quay beside the bridge and opposite the Opera House. As well as opulent decor and a range of room styles, the Park Hyatt has a heated rooftop pool and fully-equipped gym and spa.
• Sir Stamford at Circular Quay is a grand traditional hotel, housed in a red-brick building from 1890. Overlooking the Royal Botanic Gardens, adjacent to Circular Quay and the Sydney Opera House, it exudes classic style, with glittering chandeliers, antique-filled spaces and a great whisky bar.

In Woolloomooloo

• Ovolo Woolloomooloo shares the location on the old Finger Wharf, but is larger, with 100 rooms in spacious proportions. Cool and contemporary, this is a great spot.

Still not sure?

• Browse through our list of all the best places to stay in Sydney
• Consider our Guru’s collection of the 5 Best Hotels in The Rocks, the Best Hotels in Bondi or the Best Hotels in Darlinghurst
• Alternatively, you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.