Last updated: October 6, 2023
Need a room with a view? This guide explores the best hotels with Sydney Harbour views, from Circular Quay to Darling Harbour and North Sydney, overlooking the bridge, the opera house, and the skyline.
Sydney’s biggest drawcard is its stunning Harbour, which sets the city apart from all other major cities around the world. And with so many iconic tourist attractions scattered along the Sydney Harbour foreshore, it’s worth spending a few extra dollars for a hotel room with waterfront views.
We’ve done the research for you and have tried and tested nine of the best Sydney hotels with Harbour views. While they may be expensive, the memories will last forever.
Top 9 Sydney Harbour Hotels:
| Hotel | Precinct | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Park Hyatt Sydney | Circular Quay | Reviews |
| 2 | Shangri-La Sydney | Circular Quay | Reviews |
| 3 | InterContinental Sydney | Circular Quay | Reviews |
| 4 | Four Seasons Hotel Sydney | Circular Quay | Reviews |
| 5 | The Sebel Quay West Suites Sydney | Circular Quay | Reviews |
| 6 | Crown Towers Sydney | Barangaroo | Reviews |
| 7 | Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour | Darling Harbour | Reviews |
| 8 | The Darling at The Star | Darling Harbour | Reviews |
| 9 | Meriton Suites North Sydney | North Sydney | Reviews |
Top 9 Sydney Harbour Hotels
Below is our list of nine recommended Sydney Harbour hotels located in the following areas:
- Circular Quay
- Barangaroo
- Darling Harbour
- North Sydney
When booking, be sure to select or request a room that does come with those desired Harbour views.
On a low budget but still want those views? Try YHA Sydney Harbour, a traveller hostel located in The Rocks with a stunning rooftop entertainment area with the best views of Circular Quay, the Harbour Bridge, and the city skyline.
1. Park Hyatt Sydney
One of Sydney’s best and most luxurious hotels is Park Hyatt, located along Hickson Road just south of the Harbour Bridge and right opposite the Opera House. If you want to sleep in a room with unrivalled Harbour views while enjoying the best service possible, Park Hyatt Sydney is where you must go.
The rooms come with floor-to-ceiling glass doors and private balconies so guests can fully enjoy the Sydney Harbour experience. The amenities are top-notch, with a spa, a relaxation room, a steam room, a rooftop swimming pool, and a gymnasium at your fingertips.
Also worth mentioning is the hotel’s waterfront restaurant, The Dining Room, offering relaxed harbourside dining inspired by coastal Australian ingredients.
| Location: | 7 Hickson Rd, The Rocks (map) |
| Views: | Opera House, Circular Quay, city skyline |
2. Shangri-La Sydney
The Shangri-La Sydney is a destination hotel located in the historic The Rocks district, only moments away from Circular Quay.
The unparalleled views of the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge are a real drawcard for the thousands of tourists who stay at this glamorous hotel each year.
The hotel features almost 600 elegantly appointed suites and guest rooms, with award-winning dining options, a luxurious spa, a fitness centre, and an indoor pool to complete the holiday experience.
| Location: | 176 Cumberland St, The Rocks (map) |
| Views: | Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Circular Quay |
3. InterContinental Sydney
Set within the heritage-listed Treasury Building on Macquarie Street, InterContinental Sydney opened its doors in 1985 as a luxurious accommodation option in the Circular Quay precinct.
The InterContinental Sydney is home to more than 500 guest rooms, including 28 luxury suites, a spa with massages and body treatments, an award-winning Club InterContinental lounge, and vibrant dining venues.
When staying at the InterContinental, don’t forget to use the heated indoor pool for a relaxing swim while enjoying the best Sydney views from one of the top floors.
| Location: | 117 Macquarie St, Sydney (map) |
| Views: | Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Circular Quay |
4. Four Seasons Hotel Sydney
Conveniently located on George Street between The Rocks and Circular Quay, the Four Seasons Hotel Sydney offers luxurious 5-star accommodation with all the major tourist attractions, shopping districts, and restaurant areas at the doorstep.
With its perfect location, most rooms in the Four Seasons offer fantastic views of the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House, or otherwise, the beautiful city skyline.
Staying overnight at the Four Seasons in Sydney means you will also be enjoying a restaurant, a spa, a pool, a sauna and steam room, and a boutique fitness centre.
| Location: | 199 George St, The Rocks (map) |
| Views: | Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Circular Quay |
5. The Sebel Quay West Suites Sydney
As the name suggests, The Sebel Quay West Suites Sydney offers suites rather than hotel rooms, with the convenience of being very close to Circular Quay, The Rocks, and public transport hubs.
The luxury suites come with fully equipped kitchens, large flat-screen televisions, work desks, ergonomic chairs, granite bathrooms, and separate living and dining room areas. The complex itself also accommodates a quality restaurant and bar, a heated indoor swimming pool with spa and sauna, a fully equipped gymnasium, and a sundeck with panoramic views.
When booking at The Sebel, you can choose between city-view or Harbour-view apartments of different sizes, suitable for families and business travellers.
| Location: | 98 Gloucester St, The Rocks (map) |
| Views: | Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Circular Quay |
6. Crown Towers Sydney
The Crown Towers in Barangaroo is Sydney’s latest and hottest 5-star luxury hotel housed in a new and already iconic skyscraper in the perfect location.
This unique hotel offers a range of different rooms (more than 10) in different price ranges and with different Harbour views. Expect to pay anywhere between $700 and $1200 per night, depending on the room and the dates.
Some of the amenities at Crown Towers Sydney include an outdoor infinity pool with a poolside bar, tennis courts, a state-of-the-art gym and spa, and two top-quality restaurants.
Staying at Crown Towers Sydney isn’t just for the views; it’s an experience like no other. There is so much to do inside the complex that you wouldn’t even need to go outside.
| Location: | 1 Barangaroo Ave, Barangaroo (map) |
| Views: | Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Darling Harbour |
7. Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour
From Circular Quay and Barangaroo, we are now moving to Darling Harbour, where you’ll find a handful of quality hotels with Harbour views.
One of those hotels is the iconic Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour, located right on the waterfront next to the new International Convention Centre.
This luxury highrise hotel is home to almost 600 spacious rooms and suites with floor-to-ceiling windows, an outdoor infinity pool, a fully equipped gym overlooking the city skyline, a top-floor executive lounge, and four bars with a restaurant.
| Location: | 12 Darling Dr, Sydney (map) |
| Views: | Darling Harbour, city skyline |
8. The Darling at The Star
Our second hotel recommendation in the Darling Harbour area of Sydney is The Darling at The Star in Pyrmont. This luxury hotel will appeal to those who are keen to push their luck in the world-class casino downstairs.
When booking, choose one of the Harbour Bridge View rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows so that you can enjoy stunning views of Sydney’s most iconic landmark any time of day.
And when you need a break from taking in those Harbour views, either head into Darling Harbour or stay in the casino complex for a good night out with plenty of restaurant options to choose from.
| Location: | 80 Pyrmont St, Pyrmont (map) |
| Views: | Darling Harbour, Harbour Bridge, city skyline |
9. Meriton Suites North Sydney
If you prefer a luxury stay with Harbour views on the other side of the bridge, away from the hustle and bustle, try the 5-star Meriton Suites in North Sydney.
It’s a suites-only accommodation option, offering suites that are much more spacious than the average hotel room, while still enjoying top-class amenities such as an indoor pool and spa, a sauna, and more. When booking, be sure to choose the Harbour suites so you can soak in those views.
Even though this hotel is located in North Sydney, you will still be able to head into the city very quickly and without any issues, either via train (with two train stations nearby) or via the footpath on the Harbour Bridge.
| Location: | 80 Arthur St, North Sydney (map) |
| Views: | Harbour Bridge, Opera House, city skyline |
Conclusion
Choosing where to stay in Sydney can be a time-consuming and challenging process. If your stay is going to be short, it’s worth spending an extra few dollars on a hotel with Harbour views.
The nine Sydney Harbour hotels above are located in the Circular Quay, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, and North Sydney areas. They are close to the waterfront and offer incredible views of the Harbour and beyond.
If we had to pick our favourite Harbour hotel, it would be the Crown Towers Sydney in Barangaroo. It’s pure luxury, with facilities and amenities that are nothing short of superb, and the location and Harbour views are perfect.
Before you decide on which hotel to stay at, make sure you have a good understanding of what is most important to you. While everything in the Sydney CBD is within walking distance or otherwise accessible by train, the Darling Harbour precinct is very different from the Circular Quay precinct regarding views, public transport options, tourist attractions, and things to do.
Once you’ve booked your hotel, check out some of our other Sydney resources to help plan your holiday:
