6 Best Hotels in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

This contemporary, spick-and-span hotel is convenient for travelers with a car, as it's just over 2 km (1 mile) north of the city, but it's also accessible from central Canberra via the Action buses. The modern design features hotel rooms, spa rooms with hot tubs, kitchen and laundry facilities, and one- and two-bedroom apartments. The café is open for breakfast only, and the Garden Atrium restaurant located in the adjacent Pavilion on Northbourne Hotel serves lunch and dinner. Guests can charge meals there back to the Aria and use the Pavilion's gym. Situated one street back from busy Northbourne Avenue and with double-glazed windows, Aria is one of the quieter places to spend the night.

In a prime location between the city center and the National Convention Centre, this atrium-style hotel has a touch of luxury. Decorated in cream and honey tones, guest rooms are large, comfortable, and well equipped. Public areas have a cool, contemporary style, with plenty of chrome and glass, giant potted plants, and fresh flowers. There are two restaurants to choose from, or sip coffee in the atrium while you use the complimentary Wi-Fi.

Stay here for a chance to immerse yourself in Canberra's political history and be within walking distance of Parliament House and the National Gallery. This Heritage-listed boutique hotel built in 1925–26 was designed in the early Commonwealth style (influenced by both Frank Lloyd Wright and Water Burley Griffin). It first housed the army of administrative staff transferred from Melbourne to the nation's new capital. It later became the hotel of choice for Australian Labor Party (ALP) politicians (the Liberals tended to stay at the Hotel Canberra, now the Hyatt Hotel) and was the home-away-from-home for prime minister Ben Chifley (1945–49) who preferred it to the Lodge, and after whom the restaurant is named.

This modern hotel is set among a new development of residential apartments and trendy eateries, and is close to all the attractions of the Parliamentary Triangle. Accommodations are a mix of standard rooms, one-bedroom suites with kitchenettes and balconies, and atrium residences (apartment-style) with two bedrooms and full kitchens, custom-designed easy-access rooms for guests using wheelchairs, and a two-story Terrace penthouse suite. The property has a luxurious day spa, swimming pool, steam and sauna, and state-of-the-art gym. Among the four restaurants you can sample everything from tapas at the Ostani Bar to healthy contemporary fare at the Maple and Clove. The best rates are on weekends and in the summer when Parliament is not sitting.

Occupying a National Heritage building dating from 1924, this elegant hotel has been restored to its original art deco splendor. The haunt of politicians, businesspeople, and holidaymakers alike, this Hyatt has big guest rooms measuring more than 430 square feet. Enormous marble bathrooms are ideal for a good soak in the tub. The hotel has extensive gardens and is within easy walking distance of the Parliamentary Triangle. Afternoon tea here, served from Friday to Sunday between 2:30 and 5 in the gracious Tea Lounge, is one of Canberra's most popular traditions.

In a city lacking in funk factor, the Peppers Gallery Hotel stands out thanks to its groovy blend of art deco chic exterior and quirky interior. The contemporary art on the walls and customized furniture in the lobby make a great first impression (and there's free Wi-Fi in the lobby, as well as the bar and restaurants). Bedrooms have innovative white-granite desks and Bang & Olufsen plasma TVs. The location is also superb: only a 10-minute walk from the city center, close to the university, and within easy reach of the National Film & Sound Archive and the National Museum of Australia.