Best Hotels for Vivid Sydney 2022 Including Top Rooms With a View

After two years in the dark, Vivid Sydney is back for 2022 with a whole lot of lights, ideas and music to enjoy.

This spectacular winter festival has attracted visitors from around the world and brought people out onto the winter Sydney streets since 2009 and seems to just get better and better every year.

Vivid Sydney 2022 will include an eight kilometre light walk with more than 50 installations between the Opera House and Central Station, and will see the sails of the Sydney Opera House transformed into a Yarrkalpa – Hunting Ground 2021, a new digital artwork celebrating Australia’s First Nations culture.

The Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) will light up with ever changing pieces by Australian Artist Helen Eager to a soundtrack by Paul Mac, while Aussie legend Ken Done’s artworks will be projected onto Customs House in a collaboration with Spinifex Group called For Sydney With Love.

This year’s Vivid Ideas headliners include one of my all time favourite screenwriters, playwrights and directors, Aaron Sorkin and global superstar musician Troye Sivan, while Vivid Music highlights will include Marcia Hines sharing The Gospel according to Marcia in St Stephen’s Uniting Church and UK space rock band Spiritualized at Luna Park’s Big Top.

Vivid Sydney will run from the 27th of May until the 18th of June 2022, and after two years of cancellations things are looking good for the festival’s return this year. But as with all travel arrangements these days it’s a great idea to make sure your accommodation is 100% refundable just in case there are any unexpected border closures or lockdowns.

There’s a wide range of great hotels, B&Bs and more to choose from around the city for all sorts of budgets, including some great apartments to rent with Sydney harbour views. And you can of course stay further afield and hop on public transport to come into Circular Quay.

But if you want to really treat yourself and stay somewhere you can see the pretty lights from your window and step out your front door and find yourself in the middle of the festival buzz, here are our top picks…

The Four Seasons Hotel, Sydney

Get the right room at Sydney’s Four Seasons and you can watch the lights change on the Opera House sails from your bubble bath. This hotel offers some stunning views, with a number of suites and rooms having both the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge outside their windows.

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Situated on George Street, just across the road from Circular Quay, you don’t have to waste any energy getting to Vivid from the Four Seasons. You’re already there.

Park Hyatt, Sydney

Directly across the water from Sydney Opera House, the Park Hyatt is a prime location any time of year, and that incredible view is all the more beautiful during Vivid.

Get a room with a view and you’ll not only be able to see the lights, but also enjoy some people watching as the Vivid crowds make their way from the Opera House around Circular Quay and under the Harbour Bridge. Enjoy drinks and room service on your private balcony or book a table in The Dining Room or The Living Room. Consider yourself in the thick of it.

Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour

On the other side of the water and in the middle of the action you have the Pullman Quay Grand.

Just a couple of minute’s walk from the Opera House, the Harbour View Suites not only have views of the Harbour Bridge but also of those incredible light projections on the MCA across the other side of Circular Quay.

Even if you’re not staying for the night, the hotel’s Hyde Hacienda Sydney has sweeping views of the harbour and a vintage Miami 1950s vibe going on with rum inspired cocktails. So if the crowds on the street get too much, you know where to find a good watering hole.

The Shangri La Hotel, Sydney

Situated in Cumberland Street in The Rocks, Sydney’s Shangri La hotel is about five minute’s walk from Circular Quay, and has killer panoramic views of both the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House.

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If you miss out on one of those premier rooms and can’t see the iconic buildings around the harbour, you can always pop up to the Blu Bar and look down at the Opera House over a cocktail, or have dinner with a view in the hotel’s award winning restaurant, Altitude.

Pier One Sydney Harbour

To help spread the crowds out a few years ago Vivid organisers decided that the Harbour Bridge lights would only be seen on the west side of the bridge, which encouraged people to walk around more than they otherwise might.

This year they’ve gone one better, and in a Vivid Sydney first 2022 will see both sides of the Harbour Bridge covered with hundreds of colour changing lights.

Book the right room at Pier One Sydney Harbour and you’ll be able to look up at the colours pulsing in ribbons of light from your balcony, your bed, or your bath.

Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour

Over at Darling Harbour you can often find lots of pretty lights reflecting on the water, but when Vivid’s on they ramp that up to a kaleidoscope of colour and movement.

At the 5-star Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour you can look out at the view from the champagne bar, the infinity pool, or if you have the right room, your bath or your bed. And when you pop your walking shoes on you can stroll from your front door past the Darling Harbour lights into the city and along the walk of light.

Aiden Darling Harbour

One of Sydney’s newest hotels in 2022, the Aiden Darling Harbour originally opened with just 42 rooms in February but by the time Vivid rolls around it will have all 88 rooms finished and ready to go.

This boutique stay has lots of lovely touches including hand painted murals by award-winning artist in residence Jessica Le Clerc, and custom bottled cocktails mixed with local spirits that you can enjoy in your room or in the Wayfarer’s Bar & Cafe.

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While you may only have glimpses of the lights from your room, once you’ve stepped out your front door and across the road you’ll have Darling Harbour stretched out in front of you and can watch the Vivid light show from the bridge or walk down to be amongst it all.

So there you have it, the best places to call home for Vivid Sydney 2022. To check out the full program of Vivid events and plan your stay check out the Vivid Festival website. And enjoy every moment of the magic.

If you’re looking for something special to do during Vivid, check out this Night Light Painting tour where the AAA photo below came from. A very fun one to do.

Looking for more fun Sydney ideas? Check out my list of 20 great tours and things to do in Sydney for every budget. 

You may also want to check out some of the best hotels for New Year’s Eve fireworks in Sydney.