Where to stay

Canberra's popular neighborhood of Braddon is now so gentrified that even pizzas and sundaes are treated like artworks in this creative hub. Find a trendy hotel within minutes of Braddon's central Lonsdale Street and take a foodie tour of this hipster haven with its coffee roasters, craft brewers and innovative chefs. For those on a budget, the less central hotels in the Ainslie, O'Connor and Turner neighborhoods are close enough to Braddon to be attractive places to stay as well. To be right in the heart of the action, foodies can also stay in Acton and Reid for delectable dinners in the Canberra City Centre (also known as "Civic") with its eclectic restaurants. By staying closer to Capital Hill, in the affluent Kingston and Manuka neighborhoods, vacationers can mingle with famous Australian politicians in upscale restaurants and elegant cafés and bakeries.

In Canberra's Inner North, the Turner and Acton neighborhoods have a range of hotels and self-catering accommodations ideal for family groups. A summer stay in nearby Reid is great for easy access to the lakeside playground of the Commonwealth Park. Families staying closer to the central mall of the Canberra City Centre can walk to the must-see National Museum of Australia or drive 20 minutes north to the miniature creations in the Cockington Green Gardens. Another alternative is finding a hotel closer to Parliament House on Capital Hill in Canberra's Inner South. The hotels in the southern Barton, Forrest, Manuka and Kingston neighborhoods are closest to the Questacon science museum near Old Parliament House. For the ultimate Canberra vacation with kids, book the Jamala Wildlife Lodge of the Canberra National Zoo & Aquarium to see wild animals come right up to your windows.

Canberra's superb national art museums, theaters and galleries make the Australian capital a very inspiring place to stay. Accommodations in Acton, Canberra City Centre (Civic) and Reid are all very close to the major museums and galleries, including the National Gallery and Portrait Gallery. Braddon and Acton also have several art spaces while the New Acton cultural arts precinct is the city's latest creative hub with trendy hotels. For something more upmarket, book a hotel near Wentworth Avenue in Kingston for easy access to this arts precinct or find accommodations in the leafy residential neighborhood of Deakin, which is also dotted with little art galleries. Even the Canberra Airport with its towering sculptures doubles as an art space and staying in one of the state-of-the-art airport hotels can be very convenient too.

Capital Hill, the political heart of Canberra's spacious Parliamentary Triangle, is just a short taxi ride from the boutique accommodations and international chain hotels of Canberra's Inner South. Those staying in nearby Barton or Kingston can visit the Canberra Museum & Gallery, National Museum of Australia and Australian War Memorial and still have time left to browse the historic exhibits in the nearby National Library and Old Parliamant House. South of Capital Hill, the hotels in the leafy Deakin and Forrest neighborhoods are closer to the Royal Australian Mint and hilltop Parliament House.

The many excellent hotels in Barton and Kingston are not only close to the Parliamentary Triangle with its lofty outlooks and manicured lawns, but also to the scenic Bowen Park, Foreshore and Jerrabomberra Wetlands of Lake Burley Griffin. Just to the south is the sprawling Red Hill Nature Reserve, with hotels in Manuka and Griffith conveniently nearby. Across the lake, the Australian Botanical Gardens has the Acton neighborhood right on its doorstep, with some of Canberra's most central hotels to choose from. True nature lovers may want to stay in Belconnen on the shores of Lake Ginninderra. This Australian Capital Territory district is less than 30 minutes by car from the Canberra City Centre, but feels like a world away.