Hotels Near Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Melbourne
Saturday 26 December 2026 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), Punthill Manhattan (18 min), Adina Apartment Hotel Melbourne on Flinders (18 min). Next up at the venue: Australia vs New Zealand on Saturday 26 December 2026. For that night the cheapest listed room starts around $188 per night and the median is $331, +35% against a normal $245 night. Rates sampled 12 Oct 2026.
Stay near the MCG and you can walk to a genuine NFL fixture on Australian soil, with the Rams meeting the 49ers on 11 September 2026. All 24 hotels listed here are walkable to the ground, with the closest just 0.47 kilometres away in East Melbourne. That area suits fans who want a quiet base close to the action, while South Yarra offers a single four-star option a short stroll from the gates. Most choice sits in Melbourne CBD, where 20 hotels spread across three-star to five-star properties, giving a wide range of budgets and styles within an easy walk. The MCG also hosts the AFL Grand Final on 26 September 2026, so September is a heavy month for the ground. Expect demand on both nights, with rooms close to the venue booked out well ahead of kickoff for a fixture this rare.
When to book
With two major events at the MCG in September 2026, the Rams vs 49ers game on 11 September and the AFL Grand Final on 26 September, book as early as you can. All 24 walkable hotels sit within 1.85 kilometres of the ground, but the closest East Melbourne and South Yarra options are limited in number, so they go first.
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
4 hotels · 0.5–1.5 km · 4 walkable
Three four-star hotels sit between 0.47 and 1.54 kilometres from the MCG, all walkable. This is the closest base to the ground, suited to fans who want to walk in fast and skip a long approach on event morning.
- Event night
- $271
- Normal night
- $156
3–4 star hotels listed
Melbourne CBD
19 hotels · 1.1–1.6 km · 19 walkable
Twenty hotels span three to five stars, between 1.08 and 1.85 kilometres from the MCG, all walkable. This is where most choice sits, suiting fans who want a range of styles and a city base before and after the game.
- Event night
- $326
- Normal night
- $259
3–5 star hotels listed
Richmond
1 hotel · 1.2–1.2 km · 1 walkable
- Event night
- $453
- Normal night
- $230
4-star hotels listed
Hotels near Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), by distance
Event window 25 Dec 2026 → 27 Dec 2026 · 2 nights · 2 adultsPer-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 East Melbourne apart-hotel just 0.47 kilometres from the MCG, an eight-minute walk to the gates. 8.6/10 guest score · 4 reviews | East Melbourne | 8 min walk 0.5 km | 4 | $397 | $325 | See rates | View rates |
 Punthill Manhattan Apart-hotel | Melbourne CBD | 18 min walk 1.1 km | 4 | $309 | $259 | See rates | View rates |
 Adina Apartment Hotel Melbourne on Flinders CBD apart-hotel 1.08 kilometres from the MCG, an eighteen-minute walk on event day. Apart-hotel | Melbourne CBD | 18 min walk 1.1 km | 4 | $382 | $310 | Free cancellation available | View rates |
 Sofitel Melbourne On Collins Five-star CBD hotel 1.09 kilometres out, an eighteen-minute walk to the MCG. 9.7/10 guest score · 2 reviews | Melbourne CBD | 18 min walk 1.1 km | 5 | $601 | $432 | See rates | View rates |
 Comfort Hotel East Melbourne East Melbourne hotel 1.11 kilometres from the ground, a nineteen-minute walk. 8.3/10 guest score · 2 reviews | East Melbourne | 19 min walk 1.1 km | 4 | $337 | $158 | Free cancellation available | View rates |
 City Edge Serviced Apartments East Melbourne Apart-hotel | East Melbourne | 19 min walk 1.1 km | 3 | $201 | $140 | Free cancellation available | View rates |
 Birches Serviced Apartments Three-star CBD apartment 1.17 kilometres out, a nineteen-minute walk to the MCG. Apartment | Melbourne CBD | 19 min walk 1.2 km | 3 | $259 | $178 | Free cancellation available | View rates |
| Melbourne CBD | 20 min walk 1.2 km | 5 | $378 | $444 | Free cancellation available | View rates | |
| Richmond | 20 min walk 1.2 km | 4 | $453 | $230 | Free cancellation available | View rates | |
 The Hotel Windsor 8.8/10 guest score · 4 reviews | Melbourne CBD | 21 min walk 1.2 km | 5 | $340 | $223 | Free cancellation available | View rates |
 Flinders Landing Apartments CBD apartment 1.3 kilometres out, a twenty-two-minute walk to the MCG. Apartment | Melbourne CBD | 22 min walk 1.3 km | 4 | $447 | $222 | See rates | View rates |
 Grand Hyatt Melbourne Five-star CBD hotel 1.31 kilometres from the ground, a twenty-two-minute walk. 5.0/10 guest score · 1 reviews | Melbourne CBD | 22 min walk 1.3 km | 5 | $428 | $416 | Free cancellation available | View rates |
 Next Hotel Melbourne, Curio Collection by Hilton Five-star CBD hotel 1.33 kilometres out, a twenty-two-minute walk to the MCG. | Melbourne CBD | 22 min walk 1.3 km | 5 | $321 | $392 | See rates | View rates |
 Stamford Plaza Melbourne Five-star CBD hotel 1.37 kilometres from the ground, a twenty-three-minute walk. 9.5/10 guest score · 1 reviews | Melbourne CBD | 23 min walk 1.4 km | 5 | $324 | $238 | See rates | View rates |
 Holiday Inn Express Melbourne Southbank 9.1/10 guest score · 2 reviews | Melbourne CBD | 24 min walk 1.4 km | 4 | $383 | $188 | Free cancellation available | View rates |
 Rydges Melbourne CBD hotel 1.45 kilometres out, a twenty-four-minute walk to the MCG. | Melbourne CBD | 24 min walk 1.4 km | 4 | $289 | $251 | Free cancellation available | View rates |
 Adelphi CBD hotel 1.46 kilometres from the ground, a twenty-four-minute walk. | Melbourne CBD | 24 min walk 1.5 km | 4 | $571 | $347 | Free cancellation available | View rates |
 Quest Southbank 8.5/10 guest score · 1 reviews | Melbourne CBD | 25 min walk 1.5 km | 4 | $319 | $292 | Free cancellation available | View rates |
 City Square Motel Three-star CBD mini-hotel 1.51 kilometres out, a twenty-five-minute walk to the MCG. Mini-hotel | Melbourne CBD | 25 min walk 1.5 km | 3 | $188 | $138 | Free cancellation available | View rates |
 The Langham Hotel, Melbourne 10.0/10 guest score · 3 reviews | Melbourne CBD | 25 min walk 1.5 km | 5 | $534 | $347 | See rates | View rates |
 The Victoria Hotel Melbourne 8.3/10 guest score · 2 reviews | Melbourne CBD | 25 min walk 1.5 km | 3 | $230 | $180 | Free cancellation available | View rates |
| East Melbourne | 26 min walk 1.5 km | 4 | $206 | $154 | See rates | View rates | |
 Mercure Melbourne Southbank 8.9/10 guest score · 11 reviews | Melbourne CBD | 26 min walk 1.6 km | 4 | $326 | $215 | See rates | View rates |
 Punthill Flinders Lane 9.0/10 guest score · 1 reviews | Melbourne CBD | 26 min walk 1.6 km | 4 | $290 | $278 | Free cancellation available | View rates |
Map: Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and the listed hotels
Getting to Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)
Jolimont Station, also called MCG Station, is the closest stop, about a five-minute walk through Yarra Park to Gate 2. Richmond Station is a longer southern approach past Punt Road Oval. Trams 70, 75 and 48 all serve the ground, with route 70 detouring via Melbourne Park and route 75 running along Flinders Street and Wellington Parade. Bus route 246 stops near Punt Road, close to the venue. Barassi Way closes to through traffic for two and a half hours before events and sixty minutes after, helping pedestrians reach Richmond Station safely. Walkers from the city can use the William Barak Pedestrian Footbridge from Flinders Street or Town Hall stations. 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.
What hotels cost on the event night
Based on 24 hotels within 6 km that returned a rate for 25 Dec 2026 → 27 Dec 2026 (2 adults) compared with the same hotels three weeks from today. The lowest event-night rate we found was $188 per night. Sampled 12 Oct 2026; live rates at checkout may differ.
Upcoming at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)
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), Punthill Manhattan (18 min, 1.1 km), Adina Apartment Hotel Melbourne on Flinders (18 min, 1.1 km).
How much do hotels near Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) cost on the event night?
Across 24 hotels within 6 km, the median rate for 25 Dec 2026 is $331 per night for two adults, compared with $245 on a normal night (+35%). The lowest listed rate is $188 at City Square Motel.
When is Australia vs New Zealand at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)?
Australia vs New Zealand is scheduled for Saturday 26 December 2026 at 10:30 local time (Test Match). Suggested hotel dates are the night before and the night of the event (25 Dec 2026 → 27 Dec 2026).
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?
15 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.