Where to Stay for the AFL Grand Final 2026: Hotels Near the MCG
Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)Updated Monday 12 October 2026
The short answer
24 hotels from our mapped pool sit within 6 km of Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), 24 of them within a 40-minute walk. Closest are Mantra On Jolimont Melbourne (8 min), Quest Jolimont (9 min), Knightsbridge Apartments (10 min). Rates sampled 12 Oct 2026.
Grand Final day at the MCG is one of Melbourne's biggest sporting occasions, and staying close means you can walk in with the crowd rather than fight for transport. There are 24 hotels within 6 kilometres of the ground, and all 24 are walkable, with the nearest just 1.09 kilometres away. Melbourne CBD holds the bulk of the choice, 18 hotels ranging from three to five stars, good if you want restaurants and bars close by along with easy access to the footbridge into the ground. East Melbourne and Southbank offer a similar distance out with a quieter feel, while South Yarra suits travellers who prefer a residential neighbourhood with cafes nearby. Whichever area you choose, you're within a comfortable walk of the MCG on the day itself. Grand Final weekend fills up fast, and rooms nearest the ground are the first to be booked out, so this is not one to leave until the last minute.
When to book
The AFL Grand Final falls on 26 September 2026, and with 24 hotels walkable to the MCG, the closest rooms go early. Book ahead if you want to stay within 2 kilometres of the ground. Paying by weekly instalments makes it easier to secure a room well before match weekend arrives.
Best areas to stay near Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)
Areas are the supplier zones our mapped hotels fall into, ordered by distance to the venue. Prices are the median event-night rate for the hotels we list in that area.
East Melbourne
5 hotels · 0.5–1.3 km · 5 walkable
East Melbourne has just one hotel for this event, a four-star property 1.11 kilometres from the MCG. It suits travellers who want a quiet, leafy neighbourhood close to the ground, away from the busier CBD streets on Grand Final day.
- Event night
- —
- Normal night
- $158
3–5 star hotels listed
Warburton
1 hotel · 0.5–0.5 km · 1 walkable
- Event night
- —
- Normal night
- —
4-star hotels listed
Melbourne CBD
14 hotels · 0.6–1.4 km · 14 walkable
Melbourne CBD carries the widest choice for Grand Final day, 18 hotels from three to five stars, between 1.09 and 2 kilometres from the MCG. It suits travellers who want restaurants, bars and nightlife nearby, plus a straightforward walk to the ground.
- Event night
- —
- Normal night
- $310
3–5 star hotels listed
South Yarra
3 hotels · 0.6–1.4 km · 3 walkable
South Yarra offers one four-star hotel, 2 kilometres from the MCG. It suits travellers who prefer a residential feel with cafes and shopping nearby, while still being within walking distance of the ground on Grand Final day.
- Event night
- —
- Normal night
- $268
3–4 star hotels listed
Richmond
1 hotel · 1.2–1.2 km · 1 walkable
- Event night
- —
- Normal night
- $230
4-star hotels listed
Hotels near Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), by distance
Per-night prices are our lowest sampled rate for the event window versus a normal night three weeks out. Walking times assume 4.8 km/h with a 30% detour allowance.
| Hotel | Area | Distance | Stars | Event night | Normal night | Cancellation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Mantra On Jolimont Melbourne 8.6/10 guest score · 4 reviews | East Melbourne | 8 min walk 0.5 km | 4 | Check live | $325 | See rates | View rates |
 Quest Jolimont Apart-hotel | Warburton | 9 min walk 0.5 km | 4 | Check live | — | See rates | View rates |
 Knightsbridge Apartments Apartment | Melbourne CBD | 10 min walk 0.6 km | 3 | Check live | — | See rates | View rates |
 Quest East Melbourne Apart-hotel | South Yarra | 10 min walk 0.6 km | 3 | Check live | $191 | See rates | View rates |
 381 Cremorne Apartments Apartment | South Yarra | 14 min walk 0.8 km | 4 | Check live | $345 | See rates | View rates |
 Grosvenor 3121 Richmond Apart-hotel | East Melbourne | 16 min walk 1.0 km | 4 | Check live | — | See rates | View rates |
 Punthill Manhattan Apart-hotel | Melbourne CBD | 18 min walk 1.1 km | 4 | Check live | $259 | See rates | View rates |
 Adina Apartment Hotel Melbourne on Flinders Apart-hotel | Melbourne CBD | 18 min walk 1.1 km | 4 | Check live | $310 | See rates | View rates |
 Sofitel Melbourne On Collins Melbourne CBD's closest option to the MCG, an 18 minute walk, five-star comfort right in the city centre. 9.7/10 guest score · 2 reviews | Melbourne CBD | 18 min walk 1.1 km | 5 | Check live | $432 | See rates | View rates |
 Comfort Hotel East Melbourne East Melbourne's only option, 1.11 kilometres from the MCG, a 19 minute walk, four-star comfort. 8.3/10 guest score · 2 reviews | East Melbourne | 19 min walk 1.1 km | 4 | Check live | $158 | See rates | View rates |
 City Edge Serviced Apartments East Melbourne Apart-hotel | East Melbourne | 19 min walk 1.1 km | 3 | Check live | $140 | See rates | View rates |
| Melbourne CBD | 19 min walk 1.1 km | 5 | Check live | — | See rates | View rates | |
 Birches Serviced Apartments Three-star serviced apartments in the CBD, 1.17 kilometres and a 19 minute walk from the MCG. Apartment | Melbourne CBD | 19 min walk 1.2 km | 3 | Check live | $178 | See rates | View rates |
| Melbourne CBD | 20 min walk 1.2 km | 5 | Check live | $444 | See rates | View rates | |
| Richmond | 20 min walk 1.2 km | 4 | Check live | $230 | See rates | View rates | |
 The Hotel Windsor 8.8/10 guest score · 4 reviews | Melbourne CBD | 21 min walk 1.2 km | 5 | Check live | $223 | See rates | View rates |
 Mantra 100 Exhibition Melbourne Apart-hotel | Melbourne CBD | 21 min walk 1.3 km | 4 | Check live | — | See rates | View rates |
 Flinders Landing Apartments Four-star apartments in the CBD, 1.3 kilometres from the MCG, roughly a 22 minute walk. Apartment | Melbourne CBD | 22 min walk 1.3 km | 4 | Check live | $222 | See rates | View rates |
 Grand Hyatt Melbourne Five-star CBD hotel 1.31 kilometres from the MCG, about a 22 minute walk to the ground. 5.0/10 guest score · 1 reviews | Melbourne CBD | 22 min walk 1.3 km | 5 | Check live | $416 | See rates | View rates |
 Next Hotel Melbourne, Curio Collection by Hilton Five-star CBD stay 1.33 kilometres from the MCG, around a 22 minute walk on Grand Final day. | Melbourne CBD | 22 min walk 1.3 km | 5 | Check live | $392 | See rates | View rates |
| East Melbourne | 22 min walk 1.3 km | 5 | Check live | — | See rates | View rates | |
 Stamford Plaza Melbourne Five-star hotel in the CBD, 1.37 kilometres and about a 23 minute walk from the MCG. 9.5/10 guest score · 1 reviews | Melbourne CBD | 23 min walk 1.4 km | 5 | Check live | $238 | See rates | View rates |
 Quay West Suites Melbourne Five-star apart-hotel in the CBD, 1.38 kilometres from the MCG, roughly a 23 minute walk. Apart-hotel | Melbourne CBD | 23 min walk 1.4 km | 5 | Check live | $383 | See rates | View rates |
| South Yarra | 24 min walk 1.4 km | 4 | Check live | — | See rates | View rates |
Map: Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and the listed hotels
Getting to Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)
Jolimont Station, also known as MCG Station, is the closest stop, about a five minute walk of 350 metres through Yarra Park to Gate 2, served by the Hurstbridge and Mernda lines. Richmond Station is about 850 metres away, reached via the Lilydale, Belgrave, Alamein, Glen Waverley, Frankston or Sandringham lines, with a walk past Punt Road Oval. Trams 70, 75 and 48 all stop near the ground, and bus route 246 stops on Punt Road. Barassi Way closes to traffic two and a half hours before the event and for sixty minutes after, helping pedestrians reach Richmond Station safely. Flinders Street Station is a twenty minute, 1.6 kilometre walk via the William Barak Pedestrian Footbridge, and Town Hall Station is about twenty three minutes away. Yarra Park is the main event-day car park, managed by Care Park with card-only entry.
Jolimont Station is the closest train stop
Jolimont, also known as MCG Station, sits north of the ground and is roughly a five minute walk of about 350 metres through Yarra Park to Gate 2. It is served by the Hurstbridge and Mernda lines from city stations such as Flinders Street, Southern Cross, Flagstaff, Melbourne Central and Parliament.
Source: www.mcg.org.au, www.mcc.org.au
Richmond Station offers a longer southern approach
Richmond Station lies about 850 metres from the MCG and requires patrons to walk past Punt Road Oval and through Yarra Park to reach the Shane Warne Stand side. It is reached from the city via the Lilydale, Belgrave, Alamein, Glen Waverley, Frankston or Sandringham lines.
Source: www.mcg.org.au, www.mcc.org.au
Three tram routes serve the MCG
Trams 70, 75 and 48 all provide access to the ground, with route 70 detouring via Melbourne Park from Flinders Street and stopping a short walk across a footbridge from the venue. Tram 75 travels along Flinders Street and Wellington Parade toward the eastern suburbs, stopping near the MCG.
Route 246 bus stops near Punt Road
Bus route 246 links La Trobe University with Elsternwick Station and stops on Punt Road, close to the ground, making it useful for patrons from the northern and southern suburbs. Alighting at the Punt Road stop leaves only a short walk to the MCG.
Barassi Way closes around event times
Barassi Way, formerly Brunton Avenue, is closed to through traffic for two and a half hours before an event starts and for sixty minutes after it finishes, so pedestrians can walk safely to and from Richmond Station. Closure times are subject to change depending on the event.
Source: www.mcg.org.au, www.mcc.org.au
City stations connect via the William Barak footbridge
Flinders Street Station is about a twenty minute walk of 1.6 kilometres from the MCG, while Town Hall Station is around a twenty three minute walk of 1.75 kilometres, both using the William Barak Pedestrian Footbridge that rises from Birrarung Marr and descends into Yarra Park. The bridge links the ground directly with the heart of the city.
Source: www.mcg.org.au, www.mcc.org.au
Yarra Park is the main event day car park
Yarra Park is controlled by the Melbourne Cricket Club and managed on event days by Care Park, with entry by card only. Pedestrians are given priority when exiting MCG events, which can cause noticeable delays for vehicles leaving the park.
Frequently asked questions
Which hotels are within walking distance of Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)?
24 of the 24 hotels we list are within a 40-minute walk. The closest are Mantra On Jolimont Melbourne (8 min, 0.5 km), Quest Jolimont (9 min, 0.5 km), Knightsbridge Apartments (10 min, 0.6 km).
How much do hotels near Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) cost on the event night?
We sample event-night rates for every listed hotel and publish the median against a normal night once both dates have been quoted. Use the live search for today's exact prices.
Which area is best to stay in for Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)?
Stay as close as your budget allows: 24 listed hotels are walkable, which removes the post-event transport crush. Hotels further into Melbourne are usually cheaper on the event night and still a short ride away. The areas section above lists each zone with its distance band and median event-night price.
Can I book a hotel near Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) with free cancellation?
0 of the 24 listed hotels returned at least one free-cancellation rate for the event window. Refundable rates are usually a little higher than the lead rate; the hotel page shows both.
Can I book hotel and event tickets together?
Yes. Event Escapes sells tickets and hotels for Melbourne events, and packages combine the two with pay-weekly instalments where available.
Keep planning
Hotel distances are straight-line from the venue; walking times are estimates. Event-night and normal-night prices are the lowest rates our systems sampled for two adults on the dates shown and include our service fee; live availability and prices at checkout may differ. Event details come from the ticketing feed.