Motels · Victoria · Australia
We reviewed 20 motels across Melbourne and picked the 20 that offer the best value, location, and comfort for every traveller.
C
Airport convenience
Melbourne Motel
A dependable pre-flight stop with a free airport shuttle, an indoor pool, and a well-reviewed on-site restaurant.
B
Airport Convenience
Melbourne Motel
Free airport shuttle, a welcoming pool, and high guest ratings make this Tullamarine hotel a reliable pre-flight choice.
A
Great location
Melbourne Motel
A motor inn that scores high on staff and location, with a tram stop right outside and shopping close by.
S
Family-friendly
Melbourne Motel
A handy, family-run motor inn with spacious rooms and a great location near transport and shops.
C
Budget comfort
Melbourne Motel
Straightforward and clean, with a rooftop kitchen and a location that puts the rest of the city close at hand.
A
Convenient
Melbourne Motel
Close to the Royal Melbourne Hospital and two tram lines, with free parking and a filling in-room breakfast.
P
Family-friendly
Melbourne Motel
Serviced apartments with kitchenettes and family rooms, close to Royal Park and Sydney Road.
H
Budget-Friendly Airport Stay
Melbourne Motel
A solid-value motel close to Melbourne Airport with private parking and spacious family rooms.
P
Quiet & Convenient
Melbourne Motel
A quiet, well-run motel with free parking and easy tram/train access to Melbourne's CBD.
C
Budget stay
Melbourne Motel
A budget-friendly Abbotsford motel with free parking and a short walk to trams, trains, and Richmond's restaurant strip.
P
Budget-friendly
Melbourne Motel
A budget-friendly motel with an outdoor pool and easy tram access to Melbourne's CBD.
P
Tram-side motel
Melbourne Motel
A compact 9-room motel with modern rooms, free parking, and easy tram access.
G
Good Value
Melbourne Motel
A dependable, well-located motel near Greensborough centre with friendly staff and good value.
C
Pool & Location
Melbourne Motel
A well-located Melbourne motor inn with an outdoor pool and free Wi-Fi, close to transport and shops.
M
Tram at the door
Melbourne
A well-rated 4-star hotel with a superb location: tram at the door, zoo 15 minutes' walk, and Brunswick's eateries nearby.
M
Value stay
Melbourne
A solid-value motor inn with free parking and a restaurant, close to Williams Landing and eateries.
M
Practical airport stay
Melbourne Motel
A well-rated motel with free parking and a location close to Melbourne Airport, praised for its modern rooms and friendly staff.
B
Good Value
Melbourne Motel
A reliable, value-focused motel with easy transport links, free parking, and a welcome outdoor pool.
F
Budget-friendly
Melbourne
An honest, budget-friendly base near Queen Victoria Market, praised for its location and helpful staff.
S
Practical base
Melbourne
Free parking, handy tram and train access, and family-friendly rooms make this a solid base.
Map & live prices by our partner
In Melbourne, a motel room buys you a lot of practicality. Expect free parking, easy access to main roads or public transport, and often extras like a pool or a filling breakfast – the Melbourne Airport Motel and Alexander Motor Inn both score above 8.4 for their friendly service and convenient locations. The cheapest stays, like City Centre Budget Hotel at $81 AUD, trade frills for a rooftop kitchen and a central address, while the priciest, St Georges Motor Inn at $507 AUD, offers spacious rooms that suit families well.
Footscray is Melbourne's classic budget motel district, a short hop from the city centre and rich with Vietnamese restaurants and markets. Staying here gets you more space for less money than in the CBD. While specific Footscray properties aren't in this selection, similar suburban motor inns like Hume Villa Motor Inn offer private parking and family rooms, and you're well-served by trains and trams into town.
If you want to be in the heart of the action, look for motels on the city's edge rather than the very centre. City Centre Budget Hotel is a top pick at $81 AUD, putting you walking distance from Queen Victoria Market and a short tram ride from the Yarra River. Arden Motel, close to Royal Melbourne Hospital, offers free parking and easy tram access for around $138 AUD – a rarity in the CBD. For the true central experience, these budget-friendly motels give you the location without the high-rise price tag.
St Kilda is Melbourne's beachside hub, famous for its esplanade, live music, and the iconic Palais Theatre. While no St Kilda motels are in this selection, you can find nearby options with easy tram access along the light rail from the CBD. Expect to pay more than in the suburbs but less than in the city centre, and you'll have the beach, the pier, and a buzzing dining scene all at your doorstep.
Southern Cross Station is Melbourne's main transport hub for regional trains and the airport SkyBus. If you're catching an early train, a motel within walking distance is a smart move. The Arden Motel is a quick tram ride away, with free parking so you can leave your car and hop on the network. Parkside Inn Motel is also within easy reach, with tram access from its doorstep. For the absolute closest stay, check the city-edge budget options like City Centre Budget Hotel, which puts you just a short walk from the station and the market.
North Melbourne is a quiet residential pocket with wide streets, Victorian terraces, and a short tram ride into the city. Arden Motel fits this vibe perfectly: it's a 3-star stay with a rating of 8.1 from guests who appreciate its free parking and filling in-room breakfast. Parkville Motel, just north at $116 AUD, offers similar quiet convenience with easy tram and train access, making this a great area for a restful stay without feeling disconnected.
Richmond is a lively inner suburb known for its restaurant strip on Bridge Road, the MCG, and easy access to the city. City East Motel is a standout here: a budget stay at $110 AUD with free parking and a short walk to trams, trains, and Richmond's famous eats. It's a handy base for catching a game at Rod Laver Arena or exploring the Yarra River's south bank.
The Rod Laver Arena is the home of tennis and big concerts, and staying close means you can walk to the event and avoid the post-show traffic chaos. City East Motel in Abbotsford is the nearest motel in this selection, a short tram ride from the arena gates. At $110 AUD with free parking, it's a practical choice for event nights. Alternatively, the Parkside Inn Motel, with its tram at the door, offers easy access to the city side of the river.
Preston is a northern suburb with a strong sense of community, dotted with cafes and parks, and connected to the city via the Mernda train line. While no motels from Preston appear in this selection, you'll find nearby options like Parkville Motel that offer the same suburban calm and convenience. Expect to pay around $120 AUD for a comfortable room, and you'll have the zoo and Sydney Road's shops within easy reach.
You can find a clean, basic motel room in Melbourne for as little as $81 AUD at City Centre Budget Hotel. Most mid-range options, like the Parkville Motel or Bell Motel, sit around $116–$120 AUD. For a more spacious, family-friendly property like St Georges Motor Inn, you might pay upwards of $500 AUD.
If you want to be close to the main attractions, the CBD or its immediate edge is ideal. A budget stay like City Centre Budget Hotel puts you near Queen Victoria Market and within walking distance of the river. For a quieter, still-connected option, North Melbourne with the Arden or Parkville Motels offers easy tram access to the city.
Most airport-area motels, such as Ciloms Airport Lodge or Best Western Melbourne Airport, provide a free shuttle to and from the terminals. For city-bound motels like the Arden, you can take the SkyBus to Southern Cross Station and then a short tram ride. If you're driving, all these motels offer free parking, making a hire car a straightforward choice.
Some do, but it's not universal. The Arden Motel is noted for its filling in-room breakfast, while others may have a restaurant, like Monte Villa Motor Inn. For budget stays like City Centre Budget Hotel, breakfast is likely extra, but you'll have a kitchen to prepare your own. It's always best to check the individual hotel's details to see if breakfast is included in the rate.
Melbourne's motel scene is a patchwork of neighbourhoods, not a single strip. You'll find airport-focused stays near Tullamarine, budget options on the city fringe like Abbotsford and Footscray, and comfortable family-run motor inns in suburbs such as Greensborough and Carnegie. Prices start around $81 AUD and climb to over $500 AUD for roomier, family-friendly properties.
What unites them is practicality: most offer free parking, many have pools or easy tram access, and they trade the polished lobbies of central hotels for honest, no-frills comfort. If you're driving into Melbourne or need a pre-flight stop, these motels deliver convenience without the city-centre premium. Note that alongside these 20 motels, the page also includes hotels that share the same classic motel setup.
This set of motels suits travellers who want the essentials – a clean bed, a car park, and easy access to Melbourne's transport or airport – without the fuss of a large hotel. It's ideal for road-trippers, pre-flight stopovers, and budget-conscious visitors who plan to spend their days out exploring. If you're after a central, full-service hotel experience, look at the Hotels in Melbourne page, or if you need more luxury, check the 4-star and 5-star hotel pages. For those who want self-catering flexibility, the Aparthotels in Melbourne might be a better fit.