Best Where to Stay in Cairns (2026)
From the everyday to the indulgent, here are 125 of the best where to stay in Cairns. Each pick is scored on reputation, popularity and how current our information is, so you can choose somewhere brilliant without the guesswork. Use the filters to narrow by suburb, price or features.
Where you stay shapes the trip. Cairns's options run from central hotels within walking distance of the action to quieter neighbourhood stays and serviced apartments. Book early for peak periods and major events.
Staying in Cairns?
Find places to stay near Cairns — hotels on Booking.com. Sort the rest of your trip too.
Some links are affiliate links — if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. It never affects our Spot Score or what we recommend.
Some links are affiliate links — if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. It never affects our Spot Score or what we recommend.
125 spots
Kuranda Ngorongoro Lodge
Kuranda Ngorongoro Lodge is a place to stay in Kuranda, Cairns. It holds a 4.7-star Google rating from 27 reviews. Our editorial Spot Score is 53/100.
Palm Cove Campground
Palm Cove Campground is a place to stay in Palm Cove, Cairns. It holds a 4.5-star Google rating from 40 reviews. Our editorial Spot Score is 53/100.
Speewah Country Tavern
$$Speewah Country Tavern is a place to stay in Kuranda, Cairns. It holds a 4.0-star Google rating from 215 reviews. Our editorial Spot Score is 53/100.
Port Douglas Plantation Resort & Licensed Bar & Cafe
Relaxed apartment hotel featuring a lagoon-style outdoor pool, plus a poolside bar & a tennis court.
Elysium Apartments
Elysium Apartments is a place to stay in Clifton Beach, Cairns. It holds a 4.6-star Google rating from 27 reviews. Our editorial Spot Score is 52/100.
Bay Village Tropical Retreat
Bay Village Tropical Retreat is a place to stay in Cairns North, Cairns. It holds a 3.7-star Google rating from 646 reviews. Our editorial Spot Score is 52/100.
Inn Cairns
Laid-back apartments with full kitchens and washer/dryers, plus a pool and a rooftop terrace.
Comfort Inn Cairns City
Relaxed budget hotel offering free Wi-Fi & parking, plus a bar/restaurant & an outdoor pool.
North Cove Waterfront Suites
Airy, modern apartments with microwaves and minifridges, plus a saltwater pool and a BBQ area.
Palm Cove Studio Apartments
Palm Cove Studio Apartments is a place to stay in Palm Cove, Cairns. It holds a 4.9-star Google rating from 16 reviews. Our editorial Spot Score is 51/100.
Reef Palms
Modest studios with kitchenettes in a relaxed apartment hotel offering BBQs & an outdoor pool.
The York Beachfront Holiday Apartments
The York Beachfront Holiday Apartments is a place to stay in Yorkeys Knob, Cairns. It holds a 4.3-star Google rating from 34 reviews. Our editorial Spot Score is 51/100.
Aspect Central Cairns
Aspect Central Cairns is a place to stay in Cairns North, Cairns. It holds a 3.8-star Google rating from 269 reviews. Our editorial Spot Score is 51/100.
Trinity Waters Boutique Beachfront Holiday Apartments
Trinity Waters Boutique Beachfront Holiday Apartments is a place to stay in Trinity Beach, Cairns. It holds a 4.1-star Google rating from 43 reviews. Our editorial Spot Score is 50/100.
A Villa Gail
A Villa Gail is a place to stay in Yorkeys Knob, Cairns. It holds a 4.7-star Google rating from 15 reviews. Our editorial Spot Score is 50/100.
The Trinity Beach Palace
The Trinity Beach Palace is a place to stay in Trinity Beach, Cairns. It holds a 4.9-star Google rating from 13 reviews. Our editorial Spot Score is 50/100.
Cairns Coast Holidays/ LJ Hooker Palm Cove
Cairns Coast Holidays/ LJ Hooker Palm Cove is a place to stay in Palm Cove, Cairns. It holds a 4.4-star Google rating from 23 reviews. Our editorial Spot Score is 50/100.
Alassio Palm Cove
Traditional apartments with kitchen facilities at a casual resort featuring a pool & a cafe/bar.
Where to Stay by suburb
Zoom in on the best where to stay in Cairns's most popular neighbourhoods.
Where to Stay guides for Cairns
roundupCairns Nightlife: The Best Bars & Live Music
Cairns may be best known as the gateway to the reef and rainforest, but once the sun drops the city centre comes alive with a compact, walkable cluster of bars, breweries and live
Read guide →roundupFree Things to Do in Cairns
From the Esplanade Lagoon and Botanic Gardens to Palm Cove and rainforest escapes, these are Cairns’ best free outings — plus what costs extra.
Read guide →roundupCairns With Kids: Family-Friendly Things to Do
From the free Esplanade Lagoon to the Daintree, here are Cairns family activities worth planning around, with practical ideas for wet and sunny days.
Read guide →Where to Stay in Cairns — FAQs
What are the best where to stay in Cairns?+
Our top-rated where to stay in Cairns are ranked by our Spot Score, which combines Google ratings, review volume, category fit and how recently we verified the details. The highest scorers appear at the top of this page.
How is the Cairns where to stay ranking decided?+
We blend independent signals — Google star ratings and review counts, popularity, the quality of available information and freshness — into a single Spot Score out of 100. It's an editorial score, not a paid placement.
Can I filter where to stay by suburb or price?+
Yes. Use the filters to narrow by suburb, minimum rating, price level, whether a place is open now, and features like dog-friendly or outdoor seating.
How many where to stay are listed in Cairns?+
We currently feature 125 where to stay across Cairns and surrounding suburbs, and we add and re-check venues regularly.