Where to stay in Christchurch: best areas and hotels

Staying in Christchurch on the cheap is easy. We are talking about the third largest city in New Zealand. There are around 300 accommodations to suit all tastes and budgets. Our recommendation is that you sleep in one of the motels in the city since it is difficult to find free parking. In this post we tell you the best areas and hotels to stay in Christchurch. In addition, we share with you 25 things to do in the city so you can enjoy it to the fullest.

WHERE TO STAY IN CHRISTCHURCH: BEST AREAS AND HOTELS

1. Central Christchurch, the most convenient area

Staying in the city center is an excellent alternative for sightseeing. Despite being a large city, you can discover its attractions super quickly. The avenues of the city took us to USA, it was very curious! It is true that most large New Zealand cities are easy to find your way around, but Christchurch, and especially its centre, seem to be drawn with a ruler and a pencil.

The great advantage of staying in the center of Christchurch is that almost all the attractions are in the area: The Remembrance Bridge, the Quake City museum, the River Avon, its botanical gardens and more are just around the corner. It’s the most convenient area to stay in Christchurch! In addition, here you will find a greater selection of hotels and with that there is a variety of prices. Although if you prefer to go to a good hotel without spending a lot, it will be better if you stay in a residential area.

Of course, it is very important that, if you finally decide to stay in the city center, Choose a hotel with free parking. Parking in the center of Christchurch for free is impossible. Finding space is a difficult task and paid parking does not provide much security. So, it is essential that the hotel has parking!

Where to stay in central Christchurch:

The center is the best area to stay in Christchurch for…

✅ Be close to the main attractions
✅ Find more and better prices on hotels
❌ Parking your car in the area is a pain

2. Riccarton, a good alternative to stay in Christchurch

Riccarton was one of the areas we liked the most in Christchurchthe largest city in the South Island. It is a residential area with an abundant presence of students. The University of Canterbury is close by and there are many student residences which make the atmosphere of the neighborhood pleasant.

We think it is a good area to stay in Christchurch because of its tranquility and good location. If you need to park your car, there you will find good motels with parking for about €65 per night. Getting to the city center from Riccarton is a piece of cake, you just have to go through Hagley Park. So you can also walk to most places. As if that were not enough, Hagley Park is beautiful! There is no better way than to start the day by walking there.

Good accommodation in Riccarton:

Riccarton is the best area to stay in Christchurch if…

✅ Are you looking for a quiet area to sleep in Christchurch?
✅ You want to be well located, although not exactly in the center
❌ You will have to walk a little to get to the center

3. St. Albans, two steps from the center

Another convenient area where to stay in Christchurch es St. Albans. It is located north of the city center, separated by Bealey Avenue. Since its founding this has been a working class settlement. It is even said that it became an independent town from 1881 until 1903 when it became part of the city of Christchurch.

For us, St. Albans is a good option because you will find better prices than in the pure center of the city and at the same time you will be two steps away from it. Most accommodations are located around Sherbone Streetbeing one of the best areas in the neighborhood to find where to sleep.

Our route through New Zealand in 30 days

Our recommendations in St. Albans:

St. Albans is the best area to stay in Christchurch because…

✅ Accommodation prices are cheaper
✅ It is close to the city center
❌ It is a working class neighborhood

4. Close to the airport, if you fly to Auckland

For some travelers, the New Zealand route ends in Christchurch. Most tourists start on the North Island, then go down and tour the entire South Island. To avoid having to return to Auckland by road, they return the rental car in Christchurch and fly to Auckland, where they connect with their international flight. We considered it, but in the end we decided to drive back to Auckland and see what we had left pending along the way.

So, if your trip ends in Christchurch, sleeping near the airport is a pretty smart option. In addition, next door is the International Antarctic Centre, one of the best museums in the country.

Good hotels near the airport:

The airport is the best area to stay in Christchurch for…

✅ Have the airport just a step away to continue with the route
✅ Be close to a museum, the International Antarctic Center
❌ Parking your car in the area is a pain

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BEST AREAS AND HOTELS TO STAY IN CHRISTCHURCH

Below, we will briefly answer a few questions as a summary. If you have any other questions about where to stay in Christchurchwrite us a comment.

What is the cheapest area to stay in Christchurch?

If you are traveling on a tight budget, then You can save a few euros if you sleep in St. Albans. Accommodation prices are much lower compared to other areas. You will not be in the most central area, but It is also not very far from the center and its tourist attractions.. You’ll be there walking in just a few minutes!

What is the most recommended area to stay in Christchurch for families?

Are you traveling with your family to New Zealand? You probably want a quiet environment, without much hustle and bustle. where to stay in Christchurch. So you can sleep in Riccarton, this is a residential area of ​​Christchurch with a beautiful park included to walk or play. Besides, It is near the center so transportation will not be a problem. Riccarton is perfect for families!

What is the best area to stay in Christchurch for a weekend?

For short weekend trips, it is best to make the most of your time. So It is advisable to stay in the center of Christchurch. You will have all the attractions a few meters away, as well as restaurants, shops, among other things. Yes indeed, Make sure your accommodation has parkingotherwise you will have a difficult task finding an available space in central Christchurch, especially on weekends.