Where to stay · Cairns, Australia
Where to stay in Cairns
6 areas worth booking in Cairns, sorted by the budget each one actually suits — what the neighborhood feels like, and what a night there costs.
Budget — best areas
≈ $30 / nightThe streets of hostels, bars and tour shops in the town centre.
Mid-range — best areas
≈ $120 / nightThe compact centre along the esplanade, with the lagoon pool, the night markets and the reef terminal.
A string of beach suburbs north of the airport, quieter than town.
Luxury — best areas
≈ $350 / nightAround the marina and the Reef Fleet Terminal, with the best hotels and seafood restaurants.
A palm-lined beach village with resorts and good restaurants, twenty-five minutes north.
An hour north up the coast road, the upscale base for the outer reef and the Daintree.
Now pick the hotel
Once you've settled on an area, the Cairns guide carries our checked shortlist for each tier — what it costs, why it's on the list, and where to book it.