The best staycations in Sydney

Perfect for: Lovers of the luxe life

Boasting ten impressive dining venues including the first Sydney outpost of Japanese fine-diner Nobu, a world-class spa complete infrared sauna and a 37-degree ‘vitality pool’, state-of-the-art fitness facilities including a waterfront yoga terrace, a luxurious lido with an infinity pool and private cabanas, and black-label retail outlets, it's best not to think of Crown as a hotel, but rather a luxury cruise ship, permanently docked in Barangaroo.

Perfect for: A big night out in the city

This small yet perfectly formed luxury capsule hotel packs a lot of luxe into its modestly-sized rooms. For those looking to make the most of the heart of Sydney, its location could hardly be better. Situated above Wynyard Station, a stone's throw from Barangaroo, Martin Place, Circular Quay and George Street, it's the perfect bolthole for those who want to paint the town red. Be sure to check out its stunning rooftop bar during your stay.

Perfect for: Beach lovers in search of a view

Sunsets, surf, killer fish and chips – Watsons Bay is a coastal getaway all on its own, and thanks to the regular ferry service from Circular Quay, it couldn't be easier to reach. The rooftop bar at the Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel is already one of Sydney's favorite summertime hangouts, but by booking into a room here, you can take your time exploring this charming peninsula in Sydney's far east, including Camp Cove, the Gap Bluff coastal walk and the incredibly 'grammable Hornby Lighthouse.

Perfect for: A harbourside getaway away from the tourist crowds

For many visitors, Circular Quay and Darling Harbour take top honours in the prime hotel real estate stakes. It’s hard to blame them, of course, but it’s important to consider the downsides (and there are a few): big crowds, tourist attractions at almost every turn and an overload of unreasonably priced eating and drinking possibilities, many of which are mediocre at best. The Ovolo Woolloomooloo occupies the front half of the heritage-listed Finger Wharf, which means you’ve got waterside wow-factor, knockout vistas and some of Sydney’s best dining at your fingertips. That’s a pretty tempting proposition in and of itself. Plus, you get to stay in the world’s largest wooden building, according to Guinness World Records, which is a big tick for history buffs and fans of heritage-listed architecture.

Perfect for: Old-school luxury and glam

With the charm and ruffled curtains of a boutique hotel, but the class and glamour of an international institution, the Langham will have you feeling like a royal with its plush suites, panelled walls (for real) and sumptuous, velvet furnishings – and that's before you set your sights on the Observatory Suite's ornate, gilded fireplace. The otherworldly Roman bathhouse style indoor pool is waiting for you downstairs, so be sure to stop in for a splash.

Perfect for: A resort-style break out of the city

According to fashion designer Tom Ford, “Time and silence are the most luxurious things we have today.” If that’s the case, then Jonah’s might just be the most luxurious hotel in Sydney. The hours really do seem a little bit longer in the Northern Beaches, and the distant echo of the crashing waves far below is pretty much all you can hear at this intimate clifftop retreat overlooking Whale Beach.

Perfect for: Unleashing your inner tourist

Tucked away in plain sight in the centre of Pyrmont, Aiden Darling Harbour is all about catering to the modern traveller – who, in this case, is a ship-in-the-night type, a person who's all about very clean (and very compact) spaces, swifty Dyson hair dryers and minimalist tiny-house vibes. This hotel is understatedly luxe – but fret not, it won’t cost you your left leg. Built in an existing 1930s Art Deco building, Aiden is the first of Great Western's boutique brand Down Under, with it bringing old-world charm to a contemporary space by marrying classic hotel touches (like mammoth fluffy white beds) with futuristic notions of sustainability and tech, (like a touch-screen self check-in station and an F7 air filtration system that blitzes COVID-19 particles). 

Perfect for: Relaxing poolside with a cocktail in hand

Double Bay may not immediately strike you as an ultra-chic getaway spot, but once you're reclined on a lounger by an azure pool, sipping an ice-cold cocktail in the summer sun, we're pretty certain your opinion on that will change. There are many luxury facilities guests at the InterContinental can enjoy during their stay, including a day spa and high tea service. But the rooftop pool is by the far the biggest drawcard on offer here. Lido life doesn't get any more glamourous than this.

Perfect for: Those who want a taste of the high life

Some people choose a hotel for its proximity to the best of the city, and this 590-room five-star beauty overlooking the CBD is certainly in the heart of the action. But should you also be seeking a staycation where you can kick back, nest and sink into your ultra-luxe surroundings, the Sofitel can't be beat. Everything you could need is on your doorstep. There are three bars, including a Champagne lounge with an impressive selection of wine by the glass, and you’ll want to spend some time in the infinity pool, which juts out dramatically over Darling Harbour and has its own bar for waterside cocktails. But for a really extra experience, splash out on one of the corner rooms with a view of Darling Harbour. The bathroom has one of the best views of the city, which you can enjoy while soaking in your very own bathtub.

Perfect for: Experience-seekers who want to take a walk on the wild side

This complex of sleek, timber-clad lodges encircling a private bushland garden is a remarkably successful fusion of elegant sophistication and sustainable design, where wildlife and the high-life exist side by side. In the heart of Sydney's oldest zoo, with spectacular views of the city, a stay here includes five-star dining in the hotel's exclusive restaurant, private tours of the retreat's wildlife sanctuary, and after-hours tours of the zoo to meet its wild residents without the crowds.

Perfect for: A luxury getaway with the dog

Located in the shadow of the Harbour Bridge, just minutes from the Rocks and Circular Quay, Pier One is a no-brainer for tourists who want to be close to the city's biggest attractions. But there's plenty to treat locals here too. The hotel is fully dog-friendly (they even have a 'doggy degustation' if you really want to pamper your pooch), its in-house restaurant, the Gantry, is considered one of the best fine diners in town, and the hotel's Experience Seekers packages offer a range of once-in-a-lifetime activities to make a staycation here truly unforgettable.

Perfect for: An out-of-the-ordinary night under the stars

In a town filled with great spots to watch the sunset, we dare you to find a better one than Taronga Zoo. Or a more exhilarating wake-up call – who wouldn't want to (safely) rise to the sounds of the jungle? That's where Roar and Snore, Taronga's glamping experience, comes in. Enjoy after-hours zoo tours and comfy beds in your luxury tent accomodations.