Best Area to Stay in Cairns for First Timers (2026)
What is the best area to stay in Cairns?
Are you planning a holiday in far north Queensland and wondering where to stay in Cairns? After visiting Cairns multiple times, I’ve stayed in a few different areas, but my favourite place to base myself as a solo traveller is the waterfront area near Marlin Wharf.
It’s the most scenic part of town, with the Esplanade and Marlin Marina Boardwalk right on the doorstep, but it’s also the most expensive part of Cairns. If you want to experience the city’s highlights in a few days, the waterfront is the best area to stay in Cairns, but if you’re on a budget, don’t worry, there are lots of options for you, too.
Cairns is an internationally recognised hotspot in Australia and the gateway to two incredible UNESCO World Heritage sites: the Great Barrier Reef and the ancient Daintree Rainforest. It’s a vibrant regional city in far north Queensland, packed with must-see attractions, from coral reefs and tropical islands to lush rainforests, waterfalls and unique native wildlife.
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With so many amazing things to see and do, Cairns is an ideal destination for solo travellers like myself. I love travelling alone in Australia, and Cairns has become one of my favourite places to visit.
I’ve just returned from another solo trip to far north Queensland, and in this article, I’ll outline the best areas to stay in Cairns, look at the pros and cons of each, and share my firsthand advice on where to stay.
NOTE: I paid for all my accommodation in Cairns, and I’m under no obligation to write this article or any reviews, but I wanted to share my experiences for readers wondering where to stay in Cairns.
Best Areas to Stay in Cairns for First-Timers
If it’s your first visit, the best area to stay in Cairns is the CBD. Most of the best hotels are on or near the Cairns Esplanade, putting you steps from the lagoon, waterfront dining and tour departures for the Great Barrier Reef.
If you’re after a beach holiday vibe and don’t mind a short drive or shuttle, Palm Cove and Port Douglas are worth considering.
Cairns Wharf Area
The scenic Cairns Wharf area is an ideal place to base yourself and is perfect for boat trips to the Great Barrier Reef and islands.
Pros: A Central location with waterfront views, minutes from the main attractions, the Esplanade, restaurants, cafes, shops and the Cairns Night Market and the Aquarium.
Cons: It’s the most expensive part of town, and where you’ll find five-star hotels and upmarket restaurants with water views.
Where to Stay
Luxury: The Cairns Shangri-La The Marina has the best location in Cairns, right on the waterfront next to the Reef Fleet Terminal, perfect for visiting the Great Barrier Reef. My boat, the SeaStar, left at 07:30 am and staying here, I was a 2-minute walk from the wharf.
It was a memorable stay, and I especially liked the excellent service. I was given a meal discount and free cocktail vouchers, which encouraged me to dine at the hotel. My room was large and spacious. I didn’t love the décor, but I did enjoy the daybed, desk and balcony. The hotel’s large pool was also a winner for me, and it had a pool bar and a gym.
The Pullman Cairns International Hotel is a 5-star waterfront hotel near the Marina. The location is outstanding, and the hotel gets exceptional reviews for location and service. It’s on my wish list for the rooftop pool, but it’s also known for its casino.
Where to eat
There are lots of popular restaurants to choose from on the Cairns waterfront. I can recommend the following:
- The Backyard – the on-site restaurant at the Shangri-La Hotel. It has a beautiful waterfront location, and I had a superb meal here and can recommend the mouthwatering crispy-skinned barramundi. I used a meal discount voucher, and I enjoyed two free exotic cocktails with it.
- Ollie’s Italian has a relaxed atmosphere and a superb waterfront location on the Cairns Boardwalk restaurant strip. I had a delicious meal here and can recommend the prawn salad with nuts and mango, a delightful tropical twist.
- The Salt House, an iconic upmarket restaurant in Cairns witha wonderful location right on Marina Point.
Cairns Esplanade
The Cairns Esplanade is one of the prettiest areas in town, with a coastal walking path lined with palm trees and parklands in the city centre. Cairns sits on a mudflat, and the lagoon on the Esplanade makes up for the lack of beaches in town.
Pros: The Esplanade is in the centre of town, and a short walk (5-10 minutes) from the Marlin Marina for Barrier Reef trips. Stroll along the waterfront, take a morning jog, and enjoy the free lagoon swimming pool.
The Esplanade has a busy restaurant strip, a popular Night Market, and the Cairns Aquarium nearby.
Cons: It’s a busy part of town, and the areas surrounding the Night Market can be noisy at night.
Where to stay
Mid-Range: The Coral Tree Inn is a popular 3-star hotel in a quiet area. I enjoyed my stay here in a ground-floor room with an outdoor seating area. My room was basic but spacious and comfortable with everything I needed. The pool was small but nice, and the buffet breakfast was quite good.
The location was also quite walkable, 10-minutes to the Esplanade and a good 15 minutes to the Marina for Reef trips, 5 minutes to the bus station and 15 minutes to the train station and Central Shopping Mall.
When the doors and windows were shut, there was a musty smell in the room, and I managed to trip the power by using a lamp, a kettle and an iron all at once. But the staff were helpful and attentive.
If you’re wondering where to stay in Cairns on a budget, the Coral Tree Inn is a good, cheaper option, but book ahead as it’s a popular choice and often booked out.
Luxury: The Crystalbrook Bailey is one of three new Crystalbrook Hotels in Cairns. This sustainable 5-star hotel advertises itself as an “informal hotel with dining and art events” including the Arte Café, bar and restaurant on-site.
The location is excellent, around the corner from the Night Market and a short walk to the Esplanade waterfront, lagoon, wharf and aquarium.
The Bailey is about a 10-minute walk from the Marina for Great Barrier Reef trips and right next to the Cairns City Centre bus station. I found the location close to everything and very convenient for catching local buses to the Mall, the Botanical Gardens and Palm Cove.
My room was modern, comfortable and architect-designed with everything I needed for a comfortable stay. But the room was small, and although the outlook was pleasant, there was no balcony. It felt a bit cramped even for one person, and I found myself climbing over the armchair to get into bed.
The welcome was friendly, but I was unable to reach reception or room service by phone (and I tried quite a few times). There was a large seating and bar area on the 3rd floor, but the pool was disappointingly small and uninviting.
Overall, I had a comfortable stay here, but was underwhelmed by this 5-star hotel, although the price was reasonable.
The Bailey was the least expensive of the Crystalbrook hotels in Cairns, and I liked the eco-friendly touches. If you’re after a splashy 5-star luxury stay, the Crystalbrook Riley is a stylish modern hotel with a prime location on the Esplanade, with ocean views and great spa & dining facilities.
And the Crystalbrook Flynn is also right by the waterfront, offering thoughtful design, restaurants and a sought-after location.
Where to eat
The Esplanade Restaurant strip is just a few minutes’ walk from the Bailey and offers a wide selection of restaurants, bars, cafes and takeaway food.
- I had a burger at Hello Harry and enjoyed the water views and the friendly service.
- The Cairns Night Market on Abbott Street has a food hall with a bustling atmosphere and a good selection of cheap eats, mostly Asian. It’s perfect for solo travellers like myself, and I enjoyed eating here and browsing the stalls for souvenirs. (Open from 4:30 pm)
- The Cairns RSL has a water view, and the drinks are cheap. The barramundi was disappointing, but I liked mixing with the locals.
- The Arte Restaurant offers upmarket meals at the Crystalbrook Bailey Hotel.
Cairns Train Station & Mall
If you’re wondering where to stay in Cairns on a budget, the Cairns station area has some cheaper options. It’s further away from the waterfront area and less convenient to the Marina, but still within walking distance. It took me around 20 -25 minutes to walk to the Marlin Marina when I stayed in this area.
Pros: Good for public transport and long-distance travel by bus and train. Kuranda day trips leave from the train station, and the Central Shopping Centre has a supermarket and food hall.
Cons: A less attractive area, further away from the main attractions in Cairns, and it felt less safe than the more central waterfront areas, especially at night.
Where to Stay
Budget: Travellers Oasis is one of the most popular hostels in Cairns. I enjoyed staying here and liked the friendly atmosphere and the pool. I stayed in a very small single room with a shared bathroom. The location was good, near the Cairns Central Shopping Mall, train station and bus station.
The Dreamtime Hostel is around the corner from the train station and also gets exceptional reviews.
Where to eat
The Cairns Central Shopping Mall is ideal for cheaper food options with a food hall and Woolworths supermarket for self-catering at the hostel.
Cairns Botanical Gardens
Edge Hill near the Cairns Botanical Gardens is an attractive area and one of the cheap places to stay in Cairns, but it’s several kilometres from the city centre and the main attractions. There are good public bus connections to the city centre, but personally, I would want a car if I stayed in this area.
I caught the bus #131 from the CBD to the Cairns Botanical Gardens and enjoyed lunch at the café. The bus took 10-15 minutes from the CBD and left every hour.
Lower Mid-Range: Cairns Colonial Club Resort offers cheaper accommodation in Cairns. It gets great reviews and offers spacious rooms and resort-style facilities, with an on-site restaurant. It’s a short drive or bus ride to Cairns CBD, the airport and the Botanical Gardens.
Port Douglas
Around 67 kilometres from Cairns, Port Douglas is a picturesque coastal resort town on the edge of the rainforest, around an hour by road from Cairns. Port Douglas is one of the best areas to stay in Cairns for a beach holiday. Many visitors head straight there from the airport and skip Cairns altogether.
I felt a bit stranded in Port Douglas without a car, so I suggest planning a shorter stay in town and budgeting for tours or hiring a car to visit Mossman Gorge and the Daintree Rainforest.
Pros:
- Relaxed vibe, a beautiful Four Mile Beach and a wide selection of accommodation, restaurants, bars and pubs, designer boutique shops and many options for rainforest and reef tours.
- Port Douglas is an attractive town with easy access to Mossman Gorge and the Daintree Rainforest wilderness.
- Head to the Port Douglas Marina for boat trips to The Great Barrier Reef and the Low Isles for snorkelling and diving.
- Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures is a wildlife park on the outskirts of Port Douglas, and as well as crocodiles, you can see native wildlife like wombats, kangaroos, and koalas.
Cons:
- There’s no public transport in Port Douglas.
- Accommodation tends to be more expensive, but there are a couple of youth hostels in town for budget-conscious solo travellers.
- A shuttle bus runs regularly from Cairns to Port Douglas, but it’s a privately run service and comparatively expensive. I used the Exemplar shuttle and paid $65 each way.
- A Shuttle bus runs to Hartley’s Crocodile Park, but otherwise you need to take a tour or drive yourself to Mossman Gorge or the Daintree.
- Crocodiles lurk in the rivers and oceans, so tours with a local guide are a good idea.
Where to stay in Port Douglas
Budget: Port Douglas Backpackers has a great location in the centre of town, just a short walk from restaurants, bars and shops and the Port Douglas Marina. I stayed here in a private room with an ensuite and was surprised by how large and attractive it was. The hostel’s common areas could have been cleaner, but overall, it’s a good option in Port Douglas, and it has a pool.
Upper Mid-Range: Le Cher du Monde Adults Only has a fabulous location on Macrossan Street in the centre of Port Douglas, and offers comfortable, stylish holiday apartments. I loved staying here and would go back in a heartbeat. These adult-only apartments were blissfully quiet. I slept unusually well, and the pool was often empty.
The only drawback was lugging my suitcase up four flights of stairs. There’s no lift and no one to help with the bags, but everything else was great. My apartment was well-equipped, spacious and tastefully decorated. It had a spa bath and a lovely outlook over the pool from the kitchen and the balcony. I took advantage of the laundry facilities downstairs, and there was plenty of parking available.
I was also impressed with By the Sea Apartments in Port Douglas. They have a stunning location on Macrossan Street, close to Four Mile Beach and get outstanding reviews.
Where to Eat In Port Douglas
- Hemingway’s Brewery, located on the Marina in Port Douglas, has a waterfront location and a relaxed vibe. It’s a pleasant place to hang out and enjoy a beer and a pub meal. I can recommend the fish tacos, but my meal took around 45 minutes to arrive.
- The Court House Hotel is the oldest pub in Port Douglas and has a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. I called in for lunch and chose a seat overlooking the lush greenery of Rex Park.
- The Little Red Kitchen is the on-site café at Le Cher du Monde and serves coffee and food with a smile.
- Nourish Café is an early morning coffee spot that serves gluten-free cakes and is open from 6 am. I stopped in here after watching the sunrise at Four Mile Beach and walking around the point.
- I shopped at the Woolworths supermarket for self-catering at the apartment.
Palm Cove
If you’re wondering where to stay in Cairns for a relaxed beach holiday, Palm Cove is a beautiful beachside suburb in the Northern Beaches area located 25 kilometres north of the CBD. Palm Cove has a beautiful palm-lined beach, an upmarket resort feel and a lush green park area. It’s a popular spot and makes a lovely addition to a Cairns itinerary.
Nearby Clifton Beach is just as pretty, but much quieter.
Pros:
- A scenic, relaxed place to stay with good facilities and accommodation.
- Lots of beachside Restaurants, cafes and boutique shops
- Public Buses to Cairns and shuttle buses to the airport run regularly.
Cons:
- Best for a short stay or a relaxing beach holiday, as there’s not that much to do here.
- Accommodation is more expensive than in Central Cairns
- Palm Cove is a 30-minute drive from the Cairns CBD and marina for Great Barrier Reef trips
- Bus #110 runs to Cairns and takes about an hour (cost 50 cents each way)
Where to Stay in Palm Cove
Mid-Range: The Sebel offers good value accommodation in Palm Cove and gets wonderful reviews for its comfortable studio apartments, but it’s around 15 minutes’ walk from the beach, restaurants and cafes. At night, the location may be less than ideal for solo female travellers.
Luxury: Peppers Beach Club & Spa, Palm Cove, is a luxury 5-star beachfront club resort with great facilities and restaurants, located right on the beach. With elegant rooms, great leisure facilities and a fantastic spa pool in a tropical garden setting, this hotel gets excellent reviews. WiFi and in-house movies are included.
The Reef House Adults Retreat is an award-winning adults-only boutique hotel in Palm Cove that gets exceptional reviews for its superb beachside location and excellent service. It’s a great choice if you feel like splurging on a solo trip and are craving peace and quiet.
Where to Eat in Palm Cove
- I ate at the Espresso & Co. Café. It’s located near the bus stop in Palm Cove and serves an all-day breakfast, lunch and coffee.
- Strolling along the esplanade by the beach, I stopped for a yummy ice cream at Numi, which melted as soon as I stepped outside.
- Nu Nu Restaurant is a popular choice for an upmarket, relaxed beachside meal.
Cairns Islands
If you’re dreaming of a tropical paradise and you’re still wondering where to stay in Cairns, you might enjoy a night or two on a Great Barrier Reef island. Green Island and Fitzroy Island are easy to access by ferry from Cairns, and each has its own resort with accommodation, restaurants and a pool.
Both islands offer stunning beaches, coral reefs with snorkelling and diving, and a wide selection of water activities, and the ferry takes around 45 minutes to get there.
Green Island is lovely but comparatively small, and it gets a lot of day trippers during the high season.
Fitzroy Island is a National Park with a resort and a campsite with basic facilities for budget travellers. It’s the largest of the two and has a network of walking trails. For me, this makes it a more interesting island to visit, with a less developed feel.
I spent a day snorkelling and exploring each of these islands, and had an amazing time. You can read about my experiences in my comparison between Green Island and Fitzroy Island. But if I had to choose between the two, Fitzroy Island wins for me.
Where to Stay
Mid-Range: The Fitzroy Island Resort is very popular and offers 4-star accommodation with a pool, but make sure you book ahead. The newer rooms, suites, bungalows and beach cabins offered by theresort often book out months in advance. The atmosphere is idyllic, relaxed and family-friendly.
Upper Mid-Range: The Green Island Resort is an upmarket luxury retreat and, of the two islands, it’s the more expensive option for an overnight stay. The resort provides comfortable 4.5-star accommodations and gets exceptional reviews.
All rooms have Wi-Fi and are beautifully appointed. House guests have their own area and pool that’s secluded from day visitors.
Mission Beach
If you’re looking for cheap places to stay in Cairns for a beach holiday, Mission Beach is a scenic, sleepy coastal town with beautiful beaches, a rainforest backdrop and plenty of laid-back charm. It’s a couple of hours away from Cairns and is worth considering for a less expensive beach holiday than Port Douglas or Palm Cove.
Mission Beach is also one of the best places in Australia to spot cassowaries, the large, elusive bird that’s native to the area.
I caught the Premier bus from Cairns and stopped off at Mission Beach on my way to Magnetic Island near Townsville.
Mission Beach was lovely, but you swim here at your own risk as there are crocodiles in the water. I hoped to catch a water taxi across to explore Dunk Island, but was disappointed as the taxi service wasn’t running at the time.
Without a car, it was difficult to get around Mission Beach, and although it’s a lovely place to visit, I didn’t stay here long.
Where to Stay in Mission Beach
Budget: Dunk Island View Caravan Park. This nicely kept caravan park has a quiet, scenic location opposite Wongaling Beach. It’s a 10-minute walk from the bus stop, and a half-hour walk from Mission Beach and the main part of town.
The campsite has a kiosk, and there are a couple of restaurants nearby. I had a comfortable overnight stay in a basic single room, and it was good for a night or two, but very quiet for a longer solo stay without a car. For solo female travellers, I suggest staying right at Mission Beach.
Lower Mid-Range: Mission Beach Lodge is a friendly, well-reviewed 4-star motel right in town, walking distance to the beach, cafes and shops. It’s a better choice for women travelling alone without a car.
You might also enjoy…
Gorgeous Green Island Day Trip from Cairns
13 Best Things to Do in Cairns for Solo Travellers
10 Fun Things to Do on Fitzroy Island
Swimming with Turtles in the Lovely Low Isles
Green Island or Fitzroy Island – Which is Better?
Visiting the Delightful Daintree Rainforest
15 Best Reasons to Visit Brisbane in Australia
17 Best Things to Do in Sydney Alone
15 Top Tips for a Stop Over in Dubai
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