Ultimate Guide to the Best Hotels in Harbin

Welcome to the Harbin Hotel Guide! I’m Alex Chen, a passionate independent traveler from China who loves exploring remote corners of the world and sharing tips on budget travel within China. In this article, I will share with you the best areas to stay in Harbin, hoping to help you find an ideal place to stay in this beautiful city.

What are the best areas to stay in Harbin?

Staying near Harbin’s Central Street, a must-visit hotspot, is often the first choice for tourists looking for accommodations. However, despite seeming a good choice on the map, staying on or near Central Street (within a few hundred meters) can be less than ideal. Central Street is a pedestrian zone where vehicles are banned, which means you can’t catch a taxi directly on the street and might need to walk a bit to find a ride; the surrounding roads are narrow and often congested, with many paved in cobblestone, making it quite uncomfortable to walk with luggage, especially in Harbin’s harsh winter. Typically, the journey from Harbin Taiping Airport to the hotel involves an airport bus to the city followed by a ride-hailing service or the metro. Therefore, the best places to stay are a few metro stops away from Central Street, balancing both convenience and comfort.

• Near the Museum Metro Station and Workers’ Cultural Palace Metro Station, where Metro Line 1 and Line 2 intersect. Easy access to Central Street, Harbin Ice and Snow World, and Sun Island. Also close to the Shi-Da Night Market and Xuefu Four Night Market. This area is bustling, convenient for shopping at the nearby Fendou Road Grocery Market, and offers a wide range of hotels for all budgets.
• Near Shanghai Street Metro Station and Highway Bridge Metro Station. Compared to the area near the Museum Metro Station, this area is closer to Harbin Ice and Snow World and Sun Island, also providing easy access to Central Street. With fewer hotels near the Ice and Snow World itself, most visitors stay here and travel by metro or taxi. Moreover, it’s closer to the Songhua River, offering beautiful riverside views, and boasts many mid-to-high-end hotels, making it a great area if you’re looking for more upscale accommodations.
• Near Snow Town and Yabuli Ski Resort. If you’re planning to visit Snow Town or Yabuli, staying near these attractions is advisable due to their distance from Harbin city center, usually requiring an overnight stay nearby.

Harbin Hotels: Recommended Hotels Near the Museum Metro Station and Workers’ Cultural Palace Metro Station

Hilton Garden Inn (Harbin Train Station Central Street)

• Location: 5 minutes walk from Museum Metro Station
• Price Range: 181 RMB
• Check Rates:Trip.com Specials
• Rating: 4.7 on Trip
• Special Amenities: Robot delivery service, family rooms

The hotel is conveniently located next to the metro station. It’s close to Harbin Railway Station, providing easy access to Ice and Snow World, Central Street, and Saint Sophia Cathedral.

Rooms are clean, stylishly furnished, and very quiet. Many rooms are equipped with smart devices, offering great value for money.

New Paris Hotel Harbin

• Location: 2 minutes walk from Workers’ Cultural Palace Metro Station
• Price Range: 299 RMB
• Check Rates:Trip.com Specials
• Rating: 4.6 on Trip
• Special Amenities: Gym, family rooms

The hotel is advantageously located right next to the metro station, offering convenient access to nearby attractions and close to Gogol Street. The decor boasts European characteristics.

Rooms are comfortable, fully equipped with essentials, and quiet. The cleanliness is well-maintained, with great attention to detail.

Atour Hotel Museum Harbin Train Station

• Location: 8 minutes walk from Workers’ Cultural Palace Metro Station, 11 minutes from Museum Metro Station
• Price Range: 412 RMB
• Check Rates:Trip.com Specials, Compare on Klook
• Rating: 4.8 on Trip
• Special Amenities: Gym, laundry room, robot delivery service, family rooms

The hotel’s location is ideal, near the museum and convenient for transportation, located on the main road and near the beautiful Zhongshan Bridge. Catching a taxi is very convenient.

Rooms are spacious, clean, and notably, despite facing the street, are exceptionally well soundproofed, ensuring a good night’s sleep.

Hilton Hampton by Hilton Harbin Central Street

• Location: 6 minutes walk from Museum Metro Station, 10 minutes from Harbin Station Metro Station
• Price Range: 429 RMB
• Check Rates:Trip.com Specials
• Rating: 4.7 on Trip
• Special Amenities: Gym, laundry room, robot delivery service, family rooms

The hotel is excellently located near Gogol Street and the Provincial Museum, and very close to the metro, making access to various attractions convenient. The area around the hotel is bustling with shopping centers and dining options.

Rooms are clean and tidy, with beds of moderate firmness. Rooms are well-equipped, including humidifiers to prevent dryness, and bathrooms with wet and dry separation, making your stay more comfortable and enhancing your travel experience.

Harbin Hotels: Recommended Hotels Near Shanghai Street Metro Station and Highway Bridge Metro Station

Seine Mansion Hotel (Central Street Harbin)

• Location: 2 minutes walk from Friendship Palace Metro Station
• Price Range: 305 RMB
• Check Rates:Trip.com Specials, Compare on Klook
• Rating: 4.7 on Trip
• Special Amenities: Gym, laundry room, family rooms, quad rooms

Excellently located, the hotel is a short walk from the subway and just three blocks from the vibrant Red Brick Street Morning Market, offering great convenience.

Rooms are spacious and well-maintained, with a rich breakfast selection available.

Mousse Healthy Sleep Riverside Hotel (Central Street Sophia Cathedral Harbin)

• Location: 2 minutes walk from Shanghai Street Metro Station
• Price Range: 339 RMB
• Check Rates:Trip.com Specials
• Rating: 4.8 on Trip
• Special Amenities: Gym, laundry room, robot delivery service, family rooms

Ideally situated with Metro Line 3 right at the doorstep, the hotel offers easy access to shopping and sightseeing. Behind it lies the Songhua River, from where you can see the ferris wheel at Ice and Snow World and enjoy river sunsets.

Spacious and comfortable rooms with well-maintained hygiene and facilities that perfectly meet guests’ expectations. The hotel thoughtfully provides differently colored slippers and toothbrushes for double rooms, and offers a goodnight milk service at the front desk.

Habsburg Riverside Hotel (Sophia Cathedral Central Street Harbin)

• Location: 2 minutes walk from Friendship Palace Metro Station
• Price Range: 369 RMB
• Check Rates:Trip.com Specials
• Rating: 4.8 on Trip
• Special Amenities: Gym, laundry room, children’s play area, quad rooms

The hotel’s prime location just across from the subway station and a 5-minute walk to Central Street allows for spectacular views of the ferris wheel across at Ice and Snow World.

Large, exceptionally clean rooms with comprehensive amenities and a diverse breakfast selection. Additionally, the hotel offers stunning nighttime views of the Songhua River from the rooms.

Polar Bear Hotel in Harbin Polar Park

• Location: 5 minutes walk from Sun Island Metro Station
• Price Range: 509 RMB
• Check Rates:Trip.com Specials
• Rating: 4.8 on Trip
• Special Amenities: Laundry room, family rooms

Superbly located within the Polar Park, the hotel is steps away from various venues and very close to the metro for easy access to Ice and Snow World. Themed with polar bear decor, it offers an authentic Arctic experience.

Clean and tidy rooms with comfortable bedding and effective soundproofing windows, ensuring restful sleep despite nearby animal activities. Ideal for families with children looking for a unique overnight experience.

Ritz-Carlton Harbin

• Location: 10 minutes walk from Highway Bridge Metro Station
• Price Range: 1201 RMB
• Check Rates:Trip.com Specials, Compare on Klook
• Rating: 4.8 on Trip
• Special Amenities: Gym, laundry room, indoor swimming pool
• One of Harbin’s most luxurious hotels, located on the banks of the Songhua River, close to major attractions like Dao Li Central Street and Jiang Bei.
• Newly furnished rooms with smart facilities, clean and soft bedding, and excellent maintenance. Panoramic rooms offer stunning views of the ice city riverscape from the bed.

FAQ

Where should you stay when visiting Harbin?

Harbin is a diverse and historic city that offers a variety of accommodation options to suit the needs of different travelers. If you wish to conveniently access major attractions like Central Street, Ice and Snow World, and Sun Island, it is advisable to choose accommodations near a metro station. Particularly, the areas around Museum Metro Station and Workers’ Cultural Palace Metro Station are not only well-connected by public transport but also close to several shopping centers and night markets, catering to various budgets and preferences.

Where is the best place to stay when visiting Harbin Ice and Snow World?

When planning a visit to Harbin Ice and Snow World, the ideal accommodations are near Shanghai Street Metro Station and Highway Bridge Metro Station. These areas are relatively closer to Ice and Snow World and also provide convenient access to the Songhua River and other major attractions. Additionally, these neighborhoods host a range of mid to high-end hotels, offering a more comfortable accommodation experience.

Should you stay in Harbin city or near Snow Town during your visit?

Considering the distance between Snow Town and Harbin city center, if your itinerary is primarily focused on Snow Town, it is recommended to find accommodation nearby to save on travel time and energy. However, if you plan to explore other attractions in Harbin before or after visiting Snow Town, you might consider staying in Harbin city for one or two nights to experience urban life before heading to Snow Town and staying locally.