Which Sydney Airport Hotels Should You Book?

There are no less than 15 Sydney Airport hotels. Accommodation near Sydney Airport has become much more popular in recent years, and the landscape has changed a lot. If you are looking for the closest hotel to Sydney International Airport or would like to find somewhere to stay near the domestic terminal read on for our take. We lived in Mascot right by the airport for three years and have a really good overview of the locations and the properties from our many visits.

With nearby dining and shopping options and fast connections to the city, staying in accommodation near Sydney Airport is no longer on the don’t list. 

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Who should choose to stay near Sydney Airport?

It’s a pretty well-known fact that airport hotels are not the first thing that pops into mind when you are looking for somewhere to stay, but sometimes staying near the airport is a good option. 

Sydney Airport has a flight curfew between 11pm, and at least 5am, which ensures that everyone gets a blissful, uninterrupted sleep

For example, booking a Sydney Airport hotel can be a good idea;

• if you are in Sydney for a short stopover before travelling on
• if you live too far from the city to drive in for your early morning flight
• if major events in the CBD have pushed prices out of reach

So if you have decided you want to be near the airport for a night, let’s try to work out the ‘best’ option.

• Are you looking for an airport hotel that has room for your family?
• Are you a business traveller and want meeting rooms or facilities?
• Do you want to be as close as possible to transport?
• Are you keen to find a bit of luxury for less $$$ than a similar CBD room might cost?

These all come into play when we determine the “best” hotel for your needs.

Ok, so now that’s out of the way let’s dig right in and look at each of the options in detail.

How to choose your Sydney Airport hotel

Over the last few years, quite a lot of new hotels have opened near the airport. At last count, there were 14 hotels and several serviced apartment properties here, giving you plenty of choice.

Unlike many international airports, Sydney’s Kingsford Smith Airport is located less than 30 minutes from the centre of the city. The suburbs of Mascot and Green Square are full of cafes and restaurants, meaning you won’t be too far from good food.

Sydney Airport has three terminals and travel time between the domestic and international terminals is between 5 and 15 minutes.

The International Terminal is near the suburb of Wolli Creek, and slightly to the south of the Domestic Terminal, which is near Mascot train station.

You might like to stay closer to the terminal you are departing from, especially if you have an early morning flight; however, these hotels are a simple trip to the airport.

Things to consider when choosing an airport hotel:

• Is there good transport to the airport/city?
• Does the hotel offer a free or paid airport shuttle service?
• Is there an onsite restaurant (and how expensive is it?) are there any other dining options?
• Is the property suitable for kids if you are travelling with your family?
• Will you earn status points from your airport or hotel membership?

Hotels at the Sydney Airport Terminals

If you are travelling internationally on a very early morning flight, proximity to the terminal might be important to you, especially if you arrive late and have a short stopover. There are a couple of hotels on the grounds adjoining the terminals; however, there are no hotels located airside at Kingsford Smith Airport.

Accommodation at the International Terminal

Aerotel Sydney Airport

Guest Rating: 7.3/10 | Location: Arrivals B, International Terminal 1 | View on Booking.com

Aerotel Airport Transit Hotel is a relatively new option at Sydney International Terminal. The hotel opened in mid 2022 and while it’s not cheap; it is a lovely spot to lay your head for a few hours on a long layover. Get in quick if you want a room as there are only 15 available, a mix of solo and doubles with ensuite bathrooms.

Bookings are made by the hour. You will find the hotel entry on Level 1 near Arrivals B. We have not stayed here yet but will pop in and try it next time we are flying.

Check photos and prices if Aerotel Sydney

Rydges Hotel Sydney Airport

Guest Rating: 8.2/10 | Location: International Terminal | View on Booking.com

Rydges Hotel at Sydney Airport is the closest hotel to Sydney International Airport. It offers 300 rooms and is perfect if you need somewhere to sleep before a very early morning flight or a very late night arrival into Sydney.

Located in the airport car park, you are literally, as Rydges boasts, it is just 181 steps from the international check-in counters.

The hotel has both a restaurant, the Ascot and a bar called Smithy’s Bar which is open from 4:30am until 11pm.

Family rooms, which have a queen bed and two single beds, are spacious, and they can also provide cots for smaller rooms. A substantial buffet breakfast is available at the on-site restaurant. There is a fitness centre with a gym, a business centre and free wifi.

If you are a plane spotter or staying with kids, a runway view room at Rydges can provide hours of fun.

Pros: Barista coffee from 4.30am, large well-furnished and soundproof rooms, free shuttle to the domestic terminal, onsite bar and restaurant. They can book rooms for day use only if required.

Cons: The restaurant closes early, even on weekends. Many rooms have views of the car park.

Check prices and availability at Rydges Sydney Airport

Maximum room occupancy: 5 people
Parking: $50 but confirm prices before booking, as it can be costly if not pre-arranged.
Where: 8 Arrivals Court, Sydney International Airport

Properties close to Sydney International Airport Terminal

Novotel Brighton Beach

Guest Rating: 7.3/10 | Location: Brighton Le Sands | View on Booking.com

If you arrive before dark or have a late morning or early afternoon flight, Novotel Brighton is a good choice, with the rather pretty Brighton Beach directly opposite perfect for a dose of the outdoors. The long stretch of sand is the perfect antidote to a 14-hour flight.

There are plenty of restaurants nearby to eat. It’s 4km from the airport and less than 10 minutes’ drive. The hotel is being renovated and the pool and some other public areas are closed resulting in lower guest scores than usual.

Tip: Brighton Le Sands is full of dining options; among our favourites is Meet the Greek and Neptunes.

Pros: Every room has a balcony, lovely views out over Botany Bay and Lady Robinson Beach. Some offers include parking for up to 9 days while you are travelling.

Cons: The hotel is currently undergoing a major renovation (Oct 22) and many of the public areas are closed, including the pool however prices reflect this.

Check the latest reviews and price of Novotel Brighton Beach

Maximum room occupancy: 4 people
Parking: $25 overnight
Shuttle: no official shuttle Uber or other rideshare is your best option.
Where: Bayside Plaza, The Grand Parade, Brighton-Le-Sands

Novotel Sydney International Airport

Guest Rating: 7.9/10 | Location: Wolli Creek | View on Booking.com

Less than one kilometre from the international terminal, the Novotel Sydney Airport offers 271 comfortable modern rooms that are soundproofed to ensure a good night’s sleep.

The property has been refurbished and looks great. You can walk to Wolli Creek train station in about 10 minutes for fast travel to the city. The St George Rowers Club is within walking distance and a good choice for a meal or drinks.

Pros: Stay, Park and Fly package offers seven nights car parking, family suites (50sqm) can sleep two adults and three children or 4 adults and one child, two onsite restaurants.

Cons: Not so easy to reach the city for sightseeing but still possible if you don’t mind a walk.

Check review and prices of Novotel Sydney International Airport

Maximum room occupancy: 5 people
Parking: $15 overnight
Shuttle: $10 per person (available every 40 minutes from 4.30am)
Where: 20 Levey Street, Wolli Creek (walk west and over the bridge along Marsh St)

Quality Hotel CKS Sydney Airport

Guest Rating: 7.2/10 | Location: Wolli Creek | View on Booking.com

This motel styled property has recently been refurbished and offers good value for money. It is within walking distance (10mins) of Wolli Creek Station and shops with a range of dining options. The biggest draw here is the parking, making it an excellent choice for locals going on short holidays.

Pros: Free Unlimited High-Speed wi-fi refurbished rooms with new beds (king, king single and queen-size)

Cons: no elevator, so you need to lug your bags upstairs unless you request a ground floor room, dining options have minimal hours.

Check reviews and latest prices for Quality Hotel CKS Sydney Airport

Maximum room occupancy: 4  people
Parking: $15 Overnight $10 Day use. $90 Weekly (7days and then $15 a day)
Shuttle: $10 per person
Where: 35 Levey Street Wolli Creek

Accommodation closest to the Domestic Airport Terminal

These hotels are on the airport side of Joyce Drive, the main road the separates the airport from suburban Mascot. They are virtually in the car park of the airport and the closest hotels to the domestic airport. You can easily walk to these hotels as long as your bags are manageable.

Many airport shuttle services do not begin until 5 am, and if there are two of you, ride share will be cheaper.

Mantra Hotel Sydney Airport

Guest Rating: 8.6/10 | Location: Mascot | View on Booking.com

Right next door to the Ibis and also on the airport perimeter The Mantra Sydney Airport is just a 15-minute walk from terminal 2 & 3 along a flat footpath.

This 136 room property is a decent step up from the Ibis budget property nearby. Only two years old, the rooms are a reasonable size and all feature king-size beds and much better bathrooms than the Ibis.

Pros: Fast food adjoining and on-site dining, 24-hour dining

Cons: no family rooms, Wi-Fi is only free in the lobby – you need to join their loyalty program to access free internet in your room, 17 minutes walk to Mascot train station make travelling to the city a bit of a hassle.

Read reviews and check prices of Manta Sydney Airport

Maximum room occupancy: 4 people
Parking: $35 overnight
Shuttle: $10 per person
Where:  3 Ross Smith Avenue, Mascot

Ibis Budget Sydney Airport

Guest Rating: 6.7/10 | Location: Mascot | View on Booking.com

Hotel Ibis Budget Sydney Airport is a 200 room property less than 1km from the entry. They were wise to put the word budget in the hotel’s name because this is very much an entry-level property, like a good quality private hostel room. There is fast food (McDonald’s and Krispy Kreme) at your doorstep to complete the budget theme.

Pros: Accessible rooms and family rooms with four beds are available. They serve breakfast.

Cons: No phones, or hairdryers, limited things to do within walking distance. The $7 shuttle charge is pricy when you consider you can take the airport train from Mascot for $8 and be surrounded by cafes and shops. The main road runs to the side of the hotel.

If all you want is a place to lay your head, this is fine, but it would not be my choice unless I just needed to sleep for a few hours between flights.

Tip – The superior twin room is bigger than the family room, provided your kids will sleep in one queen instead of two singles.

Read reviews and check price and availability of Ibis Budget

Maximum room occupancy: 4 people
Parking: $35 overnight (sometimes this is discounted for arrivals later in the day)
Shuttle: $10 per person
Where: 5 Ross Smith Ave, Mascot

Hotels close to the Domestic Terminal and Mascot Station

You will find the most extensive choice of Airport Hotels clustered between the Domestic Terminal and Mascot Station.

The hotels closer to the terminal are fine for overnight stays, but I would choose to be nearer to the small shopping area near the station for anything longer.

There are lots of benefits in choosing this area, particularly that it is on a direct train line to the city. It also has a shopping and dining area with a variety of food options.

The Graphic Arts Club on Coward Street has affordable drinks and comfortable spaces to relax.

Transport in the area is excellent. The 420 bus from the airport will drop you on Coward Street within a few minutes’ walk of most of these properties, saving you an airport station access fee; however, as this station is also owned by the operators of the airport stations, the fare from the airport terminals is only $8.60

From Mascot, train fares to the city are standard CityRail prices, and the trip takes 15 minutes. Also, rideshare is easy as it’s so close to the airport they hang about here waiting for work.

Stamford Plaza Sydney Airport Hotel

Guest Rating: 7.8/10 | Location: Mascot | View on Booking.com

One of the original airport hotels Sydney’s Best Airport Hotel as awarded for seven consecutive years by Skytrax the Stamford Plaza is a short walk north from the domestic terminals T2 & T3. This is a well-appointed 4* hotel.

Tip: Ask for an upper-level airport view room.

Pros: pool and fitness centre, use of lounge after check out that has shower facilities, seating and internet access, free wifi for up to 3 devices for direct bookings

Cons: the property is lacklustre given the range of newer properties closer to the station and shops. The location is halfway between the shops and the airport; for this alone, it would not be my first choice.

Read reviews and check availability of Stamford Plaza Sydney Airport

Maximum room occupancy: 2 people
Parking: Park and ride packages with 7 or 14 days parking included.
Shuttle: $7 per person
Where: Cnr O’Riordan & Robey Streets, Mascot

Citadines Connect Sydney Airport (previously Felix Hotel) – 4 Star

Guest Rating: 8.4/10 | Location: Mascot | View on Booking.com

Citadines Connect is one of the newer and more stylish airport hotels. The 150 rooms are attractive, and I love the 1960s feel of the design. Their use of colour pulls them out of the standard airport hotel style and into something that feels a little special.

Spaces are bright and feel generous, with splendid views of the airport; the lights look very pretty at night too. There is an outdoor “cinema” which is a great way to relax, particularly on warm nights, although the large heater looks like it would do a fine job in the winter.

The reception area, cafe and bar area on the top floor. There is a self-service food area with sandwiches, salads, snacks and even panadol!

Pros: Interconnecting family rooms, free wifi, 24-hour food store (a little $$$), 24 hr gym, well-priced breakfast, self-check-in available, Netflix and USB on TVs, pet-friendly rooms are available

Cons: none other than you are not in a pretty part of town.

Read reviews and check prices and availability at Citadines Sydney Airport

Maximum room occupancy: 2 people (unless booking interconnecting family rooms)
Parking: $25 per day – you can only park during your stay
Shuttle: recommend Sydney Super Shuttle but you need to book yourself.
Where: 121 Baxter Road, Mascot

Travelodge Sydney Airport

Guest Rating: 8.3/10 | Location: Mascot | View on Booking.com

Travelodge Mascot, which opened in 2017, is a functional property with all the amenities you need for an overnight airport stay. It’s a good option for business travellers on a budget and overnight transit, but probably not suited to a more extended stay.

The staff are helpful and with the Pullman, just a few minutes walk away you can access their food and beverage offerings easily.

Pros: Free wifi for all, laundry facilities, 24-hour room service, great customer service, their staff went way out of their way to help me sort out my day.

Cons: The hotel is in an industrial area. No family rooms.

Tip: Patchett Pies is just around the corner and is the perfect spot to indulge in this classic Aussie treat (6.30am-2.30pm).

Read reviews and check price and availability of Travelodge Sydney Airport

Maximum room occupancy: 3 people
Parking:$25 per day (or $7 if you leave before 6 am) offered in the adjoining Wilson’s car park next to the hotel
Shuttle: $8 (managed by Wilson Parking next door).
Where: 289 King Street, Mascot

Pullman Hotel Sydney Airport

Guest Rating: 8.4/10 | Location: Mascot | View on Booking.com

The Pullman Hotel Sydney Airport is the best 5-star property in Mascot and my among my favourites if it fits your budget. The hotel opened in 2016 and has 226 rooms, including studios and executive suites. Windows are double glazed and keep the rooms quiet. The bathroom is open plan, and the separate toilet has a frosted glass door, meaning these are not suitable rooms to share with anything but an excellent friend 😉

The bar is impressive and has a great range of Australian offerings.

Pros: 24-hour excellent gym, quality dining, 24 hr room service, 11 accessible rooms, executive lounge, in-room Nespresso machine

Cons: Some people don’t like the open-plan bathroom, I found the closet space odd, no full-length space for jackets or dresses.

Read reviews and check prices and availability of Pullman Sydney Airport

Maximum room occupancy: 4 people
Parking: $30 I Shuttle: $7
Where: 191 O Riordan Street, Mascot

Holiday Inn Sydney Airport

Guest Rating: 8.3/10 | Location: Mascot | View on Booking.com

Holiday Inn Sydney Airport recently unveiled a 15 million dollar refurbishment. Large rooms and super friendly service make Holiday Inn Sydney Airport a popular choice. I have used the conference facilities for several years and am always impressed by their attention to detail.

The hotel has a bar with casual dining and a restaurant. There are several restaurants a short walk away, and it is easy to take a cab to foodie hotspot, the Cannery or the Grounds of Alexandria.

Pros: a 24-hour gym, proximity to transport and shops (450m), good kids packages – (Kids ages 12 and under stay for free when sharing their parents’ room and often meal deals).

Cons: No glaring issues here at all.

Check price and availability at Holiday Inn Sydney Airport

Maximum room occupancy: 5 people
Parking: stay and park package that includes leaving your car while you are on holiday and includes up to 15 days parking and a shuttle to the airport.
Shuttle: Dedicated hotel operated shuttle service
Where: Cnr O’Riordan Street & Bourke Road

Holiday Inn Express Sydney Airport

Guest Rating: 8.3/10 | Location: Mascot | View on Booking.com

Opening in the middle of the international shut down the Holiday Inn Express offers 247 well sized rooms with a small refrigerator and tea-making facilities. The pillow selection makes it all feel a bit more special than your average express hotel.

The hotel can be booked for day use on a stopover if you have a late connection.

Pros: The hotel is great for business travellers and features two meeting rooms, flexible workspaces, free business centre, free wi-fi, self-service laundry and on-site parking.

Con: Standard rooms are a little small book a king room if you want more space. There is no on site restaurant for evening meals although you can go across the road to the other Holiday Inn property.

Find out the latest prices for Holiday Inn Express or make a booking

Maximum room occupancy: 4 people
Parking: $25 per night
Shuttle: $10pp.
Where: 2/12 Sarah St, Mascot NSW 2020

Quest Serviced Apartments Sydney Airport

Guest Rating: 7.8/10 | Location: Mascot | View on Booking.com

Quest was one of the first apartment hotels at the airport opening almost 10 years ago; however, they have been refurbished in recent years and certainly look bright and fresh. There are studios, one and two-bedroom apartments. If you can get a reasonable price here, it is indeed satisfactory, but it would not be my choice.

Pros: complimentary breakfast items, laundry facilities, gym, free wi-fi, some pets are allowed (inquire before booking)

Cons: for me, the location is the biggest drawback, it’s kind of in the middle of no-man’s-land, not at the airport, not at the station.

Read reviews and check price and availability of Quest Sydney Airport

Maximum room occupancy: 5 people
Parking: $30
Shuttle: on request
Where: 108-114 Robey St, Mascot

Best for longer stays or travel to the centre of the city

There are lots of good quality apartments near Sydney Airport and these make an excellent choice for longer stays in the city as transport is on your doorstop and the trip to the city centre takes less than 15 minutes.

Meriton Serviced Apartments

Guest Rating: 8.7/10 | Location: Mascot Station | View on Booking.com

Meriton Apartments are in a large development directly across the road from Mascot train station where you can jump on a train and be in the city in three stops.

Pros: Large rooms, comfortable beds, well furnished, laundry facilities, full-size supermarket and shops on site.

Cons: The pool is shared with the residential apartments, many rooms look out over other people’s balconies.

Check price and availability of Meriton Mascot on Booking.com

Maximum room occupancy: 2 people
Parking: $25
Shuttle: $10.00, first shuttle at 6.30 am
Where: 8 Jackson Drive, Mascot,

Adina Apartment Hotel Mascot

Guest Rating: 8.4/10 | Location: Mascot Station | View on Booking.com

Adina Apartments are less than 250m from Mascot train station and very well positioned with a bus stop around the corner taking you to the airport, or Eastgardens Shopping Centre.

Pros: Fully equipped kitchens, with dishwashers, balconies, gym, washing machines. Often available at great rates on Booking.com at short notice

Cons: free wi-fi is limited to 500mb per day.

Check reviews, prices and availability of Adina Apartment Hotel

Maximum room occupancy: 5 people
Parking: $30
Shuttle: $10
Where: 17 Bourke Road Mascot

Branksome Apartment Hotel

Guest Rating: 8.5/10 | Location: Mascot | View on Booking.com

Opening in mid-2017, this property offers 146 studio, one and two-bedroom apartments. The facilities are excellent, and the studios are spacious, and this is a great choice for families.

Unlike the properties near Mascot train station, these are closer to the Botany Road shopping strip, only 400m away.

There are buses to the city and several restaurants, shops, and services in the strip and the Tennyson Pub with meals.

Pros: indoor and outdoor swimming pool, a separate children’s pool, 24-hour gym, children’s playground, laundry, rooms sizes with two bedrooms of 70sqm, 24 hr room service

Cons: The rooms are not double glazed, and it can get noisy with all the traffic on the main road nearby

Check price and availability of Branksome Apartment Hotel

Maximum room occupancy: 5 people
Parking: $30 per day – on-street parking is sometimes available outside peak house.
Shuttle: $10
Where: 60 Robey Street, Mascot

Sydney Airport Accommodation Map

I have sorted all the properties above into four categories:

Pink– Top choices – These are the properties I would choose
Green – Good options – my second level mainly because of their location
Blue – Family choices – these are the best suited to families
Purple – Budget choices – best value for money.

Parking at Sydney Airport

Sydney Airport has notoriously expensive parking, locals complain endlessly about the cost of picking up family and friends. It is possible to pre-book parking at the airport itself for approx $54 a day or book one of the independent long term parking issues.

Long Term Airport Parking

It can be cheaper to leave your car at the airport for a week than take a cab each way from home. While some hotels offer Fly and Drive or Park and Stay packages depending on the rates, these long term parking services may be better value for money. All include a free shuttle to either terminal and require a booking to get these rates.

• Wilson’s Parking (Space Shuttle airport Parking)  – $15 per day
• Park and fly – charged on\calender day basis $80 for a weekend and $145 for a week. This service is top-rated because they offer a high level of security and a very efficient shuttle service.
• Sydney Airpark – $50 a day or $120 for ten days. – one of the cheapest for 1 and 2-week bookings
• Air Travel Parking – $15 per day and free shuttle
• Park on King – $15 per day, $117 for a week self-parking (more for valet)

Where to eat in Mascot and surrounds

Two suburbs or just a short drive from Mascot, Alexandria and Rosebery are local foodie hotspots, so if you fancy a meal away from your hotel jump in an Uber and head to one of these.

Some particularly well-known options are:

• The Grounds of Alexandria
• Blackstar Pastry
• Gelato Messina
• Archie Rose Distillery
• Three Blue Ducks
• Bourke Street Bakery

Check out our map for all the suggestions and their websites.

Questions and answers about Sydney Airport Accommodation

We have covered almost every property near Sydney Airport, outlining the pros and cons of each. After years of living in Mascot and now living a little south of the airport near Botany Bay, we have visited every one of these properties and eaten in many of them. We don’t believe there is a single ‘best’ airport hotel but several depending on your needs.

Which Sydney Airport Hotels have day rates?
Rydges Sydney Airport, Pullman Sydney Airport at Mascot, and Stamford Plaza all advertise day rates, although it is best to contact them directly. Ibis budget overnight rates may be cheaper if you are looking for a place to sleep for a few hours.

Which Sydney Airport Hotels can sleep five people?
Quite a few! Branksome Apartment Hotel, Adina Apartment Hotel Mascot, Holiday Inn Sydney Airport, Quest Serviced Apartments Sydney Airport, Mercure Hotel Sydney Airport / Novotel Sydney International Airport, Rydges Hotel Sydney Airport

Which Sydney Airport Hotels have swimming pools?
Only a handful of these hotels offer swimming pools, including; Stamford Plaza Sydney Airport, Meriton Mascot Central, Branksome Hotel, Novotel Brighton, which has a 4km sandy bay.

Which Sydney airport hotels have the best Accessible rooms?
It is hard to beat the Rydges at the International Terminal. They have 12 Superior Queen Accessible rooms – Check this review from Have Wheelchair will travel. All hotels listed have some accessible rooms.

Which Airport hotel is best for families?
Branksome Apartment Hotel and Novotel Brighton are the two hotels near the airport that best cater to children. See their individual listings above for more information.

Other articles you might find helpful

Check out our Guide to Sydney Airport,  Tips for using the Airport train, or our guide to using Sydney’s OPAL travel card.

If you have decided that an airport hotel is not for you then why not take a look at our guide to the different areas in Sydney city and see which appeals?

Have questions about things to see and do in Sydney?
Head over and join our Facebook Group and we will be happy to help.