There are a plethora of great Canberra Airbnbs and holiday homes to stay in across the capital and beyond.

Airbnb Canberra options range from slick waterfront apartments and design-led inner-city stays to farm cottages and tiny homes on the city’s fringes. While Canberra is hardly short on incredible hotels and luxury accommodation, choosing an Airbnb or holiday home offers something different: space to spread out, kitchens for slow mornings and neighbourhood stays that let you live like a local.

Here are  the best Airbnb and holiday homes on offer in Canberra.

Best Airbnbs in Canberra

Across the capital, Airbnbs cluster close to Canberra’s best restaurants, cafes and major events such as Floriade.

1. Luxurious Waterfront, Kingston

Best for: Those who want a relaxing retreat in the heart of the city

This Canberra Airbnb is set apart due to its stunning views over the Kingston foreshore.

Floor-to-ceiling windows in both the bedroom and living space of the Luxurious Waterfront Unit invite that outlook in, giving the apartment an easy, breezy, light-filled feel. You’re steps from some of Canberra’s best restaurants and cafes, with the city centre just 10 minutes away. Sleeps 2.

2. Entire Loft in Kingston

Best for: Friends looking for a polished stay with personality

This moody industrial-style Airbnb brings a bit of an edge to your stay in Canberra. Expect leather accents, natural textures and soft French linen bedding that softens the warehouse feel of the Kingston loft .  The kitchen is set up for fun nights in with friends. But you’re also close to some of the best bars and restaurants in Kingston and minutes from the action in Canberra. Sleeps 4.

3. Two Bedroom On Lonsdale Street, Braddon

Best for: Feeling like a local

This lovely Lonsdale St Airbnb drops you straight into the beating heart of Canberra’s cafe culture. Braddon has long been considered the coolest neighbourhood in Canberra and a stay at this Lonsdale Street Airbnb will insert you right in the thick of it, feeling like a local. If you’re looking for a dog-friendly Canberra Airbnb, this is also a great choice as the owners allow up to two house-trained pets. Sleeps 4.

4. Entire Rental Unit in Reid

Best for: Access to a shared swimming pool; a luxury for inner-city Airbnbs in Canberra

This bright and airy Canberra Airbnb is situated right in the centre of Canberra’s CBD with public transport on your doorstep. Being close to the city’s main attractions is also handy if you don’t want to drive. For those nights you’d prefer to stay in, the three-bedroom Rental Unit in Reid offers modern interiors, a generous living space, full chef’s kitchen, high-speed internet and a selection of streaming services. Sleeps 6.

5. The Secret Little House, Hackett

Best for: Getting around using the light rail

The Secret Little House in Hackett is one of Canberra’s most wish-listed Airbnbs. And it’s easy to see why. The light-filled one-bedroom house is tucked away in the leafy suburbs, away from the hubbub of the city. The bright, boho space is anchored by a floor made from upcycled timber from a basketball court. Bounce from the homey Hackett Airbnb to the nearby MetroTram to access the city’s best cafes, pubs and restaurants.  Dogs are welcome. Sleeps 2.

6. The Kindred, Braddon

Best for: Creative types with a love for detail

Experience Canberra at its most considered with a stay in this light-filled two-bedroom, two-bathroom Airbnb apartment. The interiors of The Kindred are like an essay in subtle hues and natural materials. The enchanting apartment overlooks a giant elm tree and will appeal to kindred spirits who will covet the vintage Danish dining table, local art and ceramics. Two vintage-style bikes are available for guests to burn to Braddon or Ainslie. Sleeps 4.

7. Bunda House, Narrabundah

Best for: Groups of friends looking for Airbnb utopia

A stay at the stylish Bunda House in Narrabundah will transport you back in time to the 1960s before catapulting you back into the present day. The newly renovated bungalow has a backyard and patio built for entertaining, layered interiors and a bathroom with a rain shower and freestanding tub. Pick up some fresh produce from the markets and cook up a storm in the spacious kitchen. Sleeps 6.

8. Designer Series Corner Apartment, Braddon

Best for: Relaxing in the sun-drenched winter garden

Floor-to-ceiling windows enhance the aesthetic of the Designer Series Corner Apartment .  The north-facing apartment feels at once plugged in and removed from busy Lonsdale St below. It has a winter garden that catches much of the light and is softened by trailing greenery that works as well for a morning coffee as it does for switching off at night. The apartment – all timber and leather, polished concrete and brass finishes – sits inside the swanky Nibu building. Sleeps 2.

9. Entire home in Ainslie, Australia

Best for: Families with active kids

Stylish and spacious, this Four-Bedroom House in Central Canberra backs onto the Mt Ainslie Nature Reserve where the kids can burn off some energy before dinner.  Inside, you’ll find an expansive kitchen with plenty of bench space to prepare family meals. There’s also a backyard and balcony at the Ainsley Airbnb, close to some of the best restaurants and cafes in Canberra. Sleeps 9.

10. Horseshoe Hideaway, Mullion

Best for: Those seeking solitude

If switching off matters to you more than being in Canberra’s busy city centre, consider Horseshoe Hideaway an absolute haven. The Airbnb is 40 minutes outside of town on a serene patch of farmland in Mullion. Part of a sheep property, this Canberra Airbnb is a cosy tiny home, ideal for a couple or solo traveller. The wood-fired hot tub  morphs into a plunge pool in summer. Sleeps 2.

Best holiday homes in Canberra

Whether you’re visiting for culture, food, family time or fresh air, these are some of the best holiday homes Canberra has to offer.

11. Riversong Rest

Best for:  Casting a line in or picnicking by the water

Push your search a little further out from Canberra’s CBD to find rural retreats such as Riversong Rest that are still within easy driving distance of the city. Set on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River, Riversong Rest is a compact, carefully designed retreat made for slow stays. Retreat indoors with books and board games, then sit on the deck, telescope trained on the night sky.

12. Beltana Farm Cottage

Best for: Living life in the slow lane

The Cottage at Beltana Farm is about succumbing to life’s simple pleasures. Like reading a book while curled up in the two-bedroom Cottage. Jumping on a bike to explore your surrounds.  Or participating in a truffle hunt (throughout the winter months) or visit to a nearby winery. There’s also the indulgence of having a restaurant and tennis court onsite.

13. The Cottage at Petrichor Farm, Gundaroo

Best for: Immersing yourself in the country

You’ll find The Cottage At Petrichor Farm 40 minutes outside of Canberra in the Gundaroo wine region. The relaxing property includes one of the best wedding venues in the country. It’s surrounded by gardens and tastefully decorated with elegant, elemental interiors. You can visit local wineries and providores, but make sure you block out an afternoon to soak in the picturesque outdoor bathtub, too.

14. Tiny Away

Best for: Spotting kangaroos.

From a distance, this Tiny Away Overlooking Lake George appears like a captivating work of art. Perched above Lake George, which is blanketed with fog at dawn and dusk each day, it has everything you need for an enjoyable stay. Perhaps the greatest luxury at the tiny but mighty accommodation is the large windows that frame views over the water and sky. Expect a snug loft bed and fully equipped kitchen. Sleeps 2.

15. Cubby & Co

Best for: Oenophiles with a love of interior design

Mt Majura is an undeniably magical place, home to a rich array of flora and fauna and a bush trail that traces the bony spine of the mountain. Landscape and architecture are woven together at the Cubby & Co accommodation, which comprises three cubbies dotted around the property, just 15 minutes from Canberra’s CBD. The single-site vineyard is known for standout tempranillo, reisling and shiraz.

16. One-bedroom villa at The Truffle Farm

Best for: Foodie couples

This bougie property, just 15 minutes from the heart of Canberra, is right in the heart of the Majura Valley. Designed for two, the off-grid luxury cabin at The Truffle Farm looks out over groves of oak trees and rolling countryside. It features a wood-fired hot tub made for long, slow evenings. Time your stay with truffle season to join a hunt. Enjoy al fresco dining on the deck in summer.