Best Areas to Stay
Find the right area to stay and choose a location that makes your trip easier, more enjoyable, and better value.
FIND THE RIGHT AREA FOR YOUR TRIP
Choosing where to stay is about more than finding a good hotel. The neighbourhood you choose can affect how much time you spend travelling, how much you spend on transport, and what your overall experience feels like.
The best area depends on your budget, travel style, the places you want to visit, and how you plan to get around. This guide will help you decide which location is right for your trip.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST AREA TO STAY
1. Decide What You Want to Be Close To
Before looking at accommodation, think about what you actually want to see and do.
If most of the attractions, restaurants, markets, or nightlife you want to experience are concentrated in one part of the city, staying nearby can save you a lot of travelling time.
Open a map and mark a few of your priority places before choosing an area.
2. Check Public Transport Connections
You don’t always need to stay directly in the city centre.
An area slightly outside the centre can sometimes offer better accommodation for less money while still giving you easy access to the main attractions.
Look for accommodation near metro stations, train stations, tram stops, or useful bus routes.
3. Think About Your Travel Style
Different neighbourhoods suit different travellers.
You might prefer a lively central area with restaurants and nightlife, a quieter residential neighbourhood, a beach area, or somewhere close to historic attractions.
Choose an area that matches the kind of trip you actually want to have.
4. Compare Central and Outside-Centre Prices
Central accommodation is often more expensive, but staying far outside the centre isn’t automatically cheaper overall.
You may save money on your room but spend more on transport — and lose valuable time travelling every day.
Compare the total cost and convenience, not only the nightly accommodation price.
5. Check the Area at Different Times of Day
A neighbourhood can feel completely different during the day and at night.
Before booking, look at recent reviews and check what travellers say about the surrounding streets, noise, nightlife, transport, and how comfortable they felt returning to their accommodation after dark.
Street-view maps can also help you understand the area before you arrive.
6. Look for Food and Everyday Essentials Nearby
Having cafés, restaurants, supermarkets, pharmacies, and convenience stores nearby can make your trip much easier.
This is especially useful when travelling solo because you won’t always want to travel across the city just to find somewhere to eat or buy something you need.
7. Consider Your Arrival and Departure
Think about how you’ll reach your accommodation from the airport, train station, or bus terminal.
If you’re arriving very late or leaving very early, staying somewhere with straightforward transport connections can make a big difference.
Check your route before booking rather than figuring it out after you arrive.
8. Read Reviews About the Location
Don’t only read reviews about the room or hotel.
Look specifically for comments about the location.
Travellers often mention whether the area is convenient, noisy, difficult to reach, safe to walk around, close to restaurants, or well connected by public transport.
Recent reviews are usually the most useful.
9. Don't Choose an Area Just Because It's Famous
The most famous neighbourhood isn’t always the best place to stay.
Popular tourist areas can be convenient, but they may also be more expensive, crowded, and surrounded by tourist-focused restaurants and shops.
Sometimes staying one or two neighbourhoods away gives you better value and a more local experience.
10. Choose Convenience Over Perfection
There probably isn’t one perfect neighbourhood.
Instead, look for an area that gives you a good balance between location, transport, accommodation price, safety, food options, and the places you want to visit.
A convenient location can make the entire trip feel easier.
💡 MY TRAVEL TIP
Before booking accommodation, I usually check the location on a map and see how long it takes to reach the places I actually want to visit.
A hotel might look close to everything on a booking website, but checking the real walking and public transport times can give you a much better idea of whether the location will work for your trip.
QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE CHOOSING AN AREA
Before you book, quickly ask yourself:
Can I easily reach the main places I want to visit?
Is public transport nearby?
Are there restaurants and shops within walking distance?
How long will it take to reach the airport or station?
Does the area suit my budget?
Would I feel comfortable returning there in the evening?
If the area works well for most of these, you’ve probably found a good base for your trip.
THE RIGHT LOCATION CAN CHANGE YOUR TRIP
Where you stay can have a surprisingly big effect on your travel experience.
A well-chosen area means less time commuting, easier access to attractions, more food and transport options, and more time actually enjoying your destination.
You don’t necessarily need the most expensive or most central location — you need the location that works best for your trip.
READY TO CHOOSE YOUR ACCOMMODATION?
Once you’ve found the right area, the next step is comparing your accommodation options and deciding what type of place works best for your trip and budget.