---
title: "Docklands vs Melbourne CBD: where to stay in Melbourne?"
description: "Docklands vs Melbourne CBD in Melbourne, compared on 37 and 133 hotels: guest ratings, 5-star choice, budget options and distance to the centre."
url: https://stayversus.com/en/australia/melbourne/area/docklands-vs-melbourne-cbd/
language: en
source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com)
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

# Docklands or Melbourne CBD: where to stay in Melbourne?

Both are popular bases in Melbourne. This is how their hotels compare, using guest ratings for 37 hotels in Docklands and 133 in Melbourne CBD.

| In short ·  | [Docklands](https://stayversus.com/en/australia/melbourne/area/docklands/) | [Melbourne CBD](https://stayversus.com/en/australia/melbourne/area/melbourne-cbd/) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ranked hotels | 37 | 133 |
| Average guest rating | 8.7 | 8.5 |
| Rated 9 or higher | 32% | 23% |
| 5-star hotels | 6 | 24 |
| 3 stars or fewer | 1 | 9 |
| Median distance to the centre | 1.6 km | 760 m |
| Average location score | 7.4 | 9.2 |

## In short

-   Hotels in Docklands rate higher: 8.7 on average against 8.5 in Melbourne CBD.
-   Docklands has the larger share of hotels rated 9 or higher (32% vs 23%).
-   Melbourne CBD has more hotels to choose from (133 vs 37).
-   For a 5-star stay, Melbourne CBD has 24 hotels against 6 in Docklands.
-   For a tighter budget (3 stars or fewer), Melbourne CBD has more options: 9 vs 1.
-   The two areas are about 1.5 km apart.

## Best-rated in Docklands

[Top-rated of 37 hotels in Docklands](https://stayversus.com/en/australia/melbourne/area/docklands/)

 [#1](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/melbourne-lifestyle-apartments-best-views-on-collins-melbourne/)

Apartment ★★★★½ Victoria Harbour

### [Melbourne Lifestyle Apartments - Best Views on Collins](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/melbourne-lifestyle-apartments-best-views-on-collins-melbourne/)

-   Free Wi-Fi
-   Free parking
-   Swimming pool

9.6 **Exceptional** 1,145 reviews 1.9 km

 [#2](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/movenpick-melbourne-on-spencer-melbourne/)

Hotel ★★★★½ Koreatown

### [Movenpick Melbourne on Spencer](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/movenpick-melbourne-on-spencer-melbourne/)

-   Swimming pool
-   Gym

9.2 **Excellent** 1,020 reviews 850 m

 [#3](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/nesuto-docklands-melbourne/)

Hotel ★★★★ NewQuay

### [Nesuto Docklands](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/nesuto-docklands-melbourne/)

-   Gym

9.2 **Excellent** 283 reviews 2.2 km

 [#4](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/accent-accommodation-docklands-melbourne/)

Apartment ★★★★½ NewQuay

### [Accent Accommodation @ Docklands](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/accent-accommodation-docklands-melbourne/)

-   Free Wi-Fi
-   Free parking
-   Swimming pool

9.2 **Excellent** 173 reviews 1.9 km

## Best-rated in Melbourne CBD

[Top-rated of 133 hotels in Melbourne CBD](https://stayversus.com/en/australia/melbourne/area/melbourne-cbd/)

 [#1](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/holiday-inn-melbourne-bourke-street-mall-by-ihg-melbourne/)

Hotel ★★★½ Melbourne

### [Holiday Inn Melbourne Bourke Street Mall By IHG](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/holiday-inn-melbourne-bourke-street-mall-by-ihg-melbourne/)

-   Free Wi-Fi

9.5 **Exceptional** 310 reviews 340 m

 [#2](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/meriton-suites-melbourne-melbourne/)

Hotel Koreatown

### [Meriton Suites Melbourne](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/meriton-suites-melbourne-melbourne/)

-   Free Wi-Fi
-   Swimming pool
-   Gym

9.3 **Exceptional** 859 reviews 570 m

 [#3](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/rydges-melbourne-melbourne/)

Hotel ★★★★½ East End Theatre District

### [Rydges Melbourne](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/rydges-melbourne-melbourne/)

-   Swimming pool

9.3 **Exceptional** 436 reviews 970 m

 [#4](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/lanson-place-parliament-gardens-melbourne/)

Hotel ★★★★★ East End Theatre District

### [Lanson Place Parliament Gardens](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/lanson-place-parliament-gardens-melbourne/)

-   Free Wi-Fi
-   Swimming pool
-   Spa

9.3 **Exceptional** 430 reviews 1.4 km

## More area match-ups in Melbourne

-   [Melbourne CBD vs Southbank](https://stayversus.com/en/australia/melbourne/area/melbourne-cbd-vs-southbank/)
-   [Docklands vs Southbank](https://stayversus.com/en/australia/melbourne/area/docklands-vs-southbank/)

## FAQ: Docklands vs Melbourne CBD

### Which has better-rated hotels, Docklands or Melbourne CBD?

Docklands: its 37 hotels average 8.7 out of 10, against 8.5 for the 133 hotels in Melbourne CBD.

### Where are there more budget hotels, Docklands or Melbourne CBD?

For a tighter budget (3 stars or fewer), Melbourne CBD has more options: 9 vs 1.

---
Source: https://stayversus.com/en/australia/melbourne/area/docklands-vs-melbourne-cbd/. Facts are compiled by StayVersus from partner data (Agoda), Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports, public Google Maps listings and hotels' own websites. Scores use one formula for every hotel. Methodology: https://stayversus.com/en/about/