Most reviewed
Serviced apartment · 5-star · Surfers Paradise, Qld
Meriton Suites Surfers Paradise
- 15 min walk to centre
- Parking available
- Pool
- Family rooms
Guide
Where to stay on the Gold Coast: every area compared
Gold Coast has 11 areas with their own page on this site. We compared them on what you can check before you book: how many stays there are, how many are hotel-style, the median distance to the centre, free parking and family rooms. Then we picked the top-rated stay in each area.
By the Aussie Hotels editorial team · Updated October 2026
Most reviewed
Gold Coast areas at a glance
Median distance is the straight-line distance from each stay to the centre.
| Area | Stays | Hotel-style | Median to centre | Free parking | Family rooms | Avg rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surfers Paradise | 417 | 154 | 0.5 km | 64% | 178 | 8.0 |
| Broadbeach | 203 | 68 | 3 km | 67% | 100 | 8.3 |
| Coolangatta & Kirra | 120 | 37 | 21.5 km | 85% | 53 | 8.5 |
| Burleigh Heads | 98 | 31 | 9.5 km | 83% | 60 | 8.3 |
| Palm Beach & Currumbin | 42 | 14 | 14 km | 90% | 23 | 8.5 |
| Southport | 41 | 19 | 5 km | 71% | 16 | 7.6 |
| Gold Coast Hinterland | 30 | 8 | 26 km | 97% | 10 | 8.9 |
| Main Beach | 30 | 15 | 2.5 km | 77% | 21 | 8.7 |
| Mermaid Beach | 25 | 10 | 5.5 km | 84% | 18 | 8.0 |
| Runaway Bay & Paradise Point | 22 | 13 | 9 km | 86% | 17 | 8.0 |
| Coomera & theme parks | 18 | 6 | 19.5 km | 89% | 6 | 8.1 |
No rows match these filters.
Area by area
Surfers Paradise
417 stays: 136 apartments, 126 holiday homes and 63 serviced apartments. Half are within about 10 minutes' walk of the centre. 64% list free parking. Top rated: Narrowneck Court Holiday Apartments, 9.3/10 from more than 310 reviews. All stays in Surfers Paradise.
Broadbeach
203 stays: 79 holiday homes, 55 apartments and 30 serviced apartments. Half are within about 3 km of the centre. 67% list free parking. Top rated: Vue Broadbeach - Official, 9.4/10 from more than 1,000 reviews. All stays in Broadbeach.
Coolangatta & Kirra
120 stays: 42 apartments, 33 holiday homes and 14 serviced apartments. Half are within about 21.5 km of the centre. 85% list free parking. Top rated: Kirra Point Holiday Apartments, 9.6/10 from more than 340 reviews. All stays in Coolangatta & Kirra.
Burleigh Heads
98 stays: 39 holiday homes, 27 apartments and 17 serviced apartments. Half are within about 9.5 km of the centre. 83% list free parking. Top rated: The Shores Miami, 9.1/10 from more than 340 reviews. All stays in Burleigh Heads.
Palm Beach & Currumbin
42 stays: 16 holiday homes, 12 apartments and 4 hotels. Half are within about 14 km of the centre. 90% list free parking. Top rated: Sandcastles On Currumbin Beachfront, Gold Coast, 8.7/10 from more than 390 reviews. All stays in Palm Beach & Currumbin.
Southport
41 stays: 12 apartments, 10 holiday homes and 9 serviced apartments. Half are within about 5 km of the centre. 71% list free parking. Top rated: Ashmore Palms Holiday Village, 9.2/10 from more than 270 reviews. All stays in Southport.
Gold Coast Hinterland
30 stays: 18 holiday homes, 5 hotels and 4 cottages and cabins. Half are within about 26 km of the centre. 97% list free parking. Top rated: La Dolce Vita, 9.9/10 from more than 240 reviews. All stays in Gold Coast Hinterland.
Main Beach
30 stays: 10 holiday homes, 8 resorts and 6 serviced apartments. Half are within about 2.5 km of the centre. 77% list free parking. Top rated: Xanadu Resort, 9.2/10 from more than 520 reviews. All stays in Main Beach.
Mermaid Beach
25 stays: 9 holiday homes, 5 apartments and 3 hotels. Half are within about 5.5 km of the centre. 84% list free parking. Top rated: Blue Heron Boutique Motel, 8.8/10 from more than 1,000 reviews. All stays in Mermaid Beach.
Runaway Bay & Paradise Point
22 stays: 6 serviced apartments, 4 apartments and 4 holiday homes. Half are within about 9 km of the centre. 86% list free parking. Top rated: Silvershore Apartments on the Broadwater, 9.1/10 from more than 590 reviews. All stays in Runaway Bay & Paradise Point.
Coomera & theme parks
18 stays: 10 holiday homes, 2 hotels and 2 resorts. Half are within about 19.5 km of the centre. 89% list free parking. Top rated: BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park, 8.7/10 from more than 1,200 reviews. All stays in Coomera & theme parks.
Our quick answer
- First visit, no car: Surfers Paradise has the most stays and the shortest walks.
- Arriving by car: Gold Coast Hinterland has the highest share of stays with free parking.
- Need something specific? Start from all of Gold Coast and use the filters.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best area to stay in Gold Coast?
For a first visit without a car, Surfers Paradise has the most choice. If you're driving, Gold Coast Hinterland has the highest share of stays with free parking.
How many places to stay are there in Gold Coast?
We've mapped 1,126 places to stay in Gold Coast with at least 10 guest reviews.
Last checked: October 2026. Ratings and review counts come from our booking partners.