This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting our small business.
The Blue Mountains are not one town but a chain of villages strung along the Great Western Highway and the railway line for about 60 km. Each has a distinct character: Katoomba is the busy hub with the lookouts, Leura is the polished garden village, and Blackheath is the quieter foodie alternative. This Blue Mountains neighborhoods guide, part of our Blue Mountains travel guide, compares the main towns so you can pick the right base.
Blue Mountains Neighborhoods: The Upper Mountains
Katoomba
Katoomba is the largest and busiest town, the stop for the Three Sisters, Scenic World and Echo Point, and the transport hub where the express trains from Sydney terminate. Its main street has the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, several restaurants and the heritage Carrington Hotel. It suits first-time visitors who want everything within walking distance; the main sights are in our things to do list, and hotel prices run from A$35 hostel dorms to A$450 resort rooms.
Leura
Leura, two stations east of Katoomba, is the prettiest village, built around the boutique-lined Leura Mall and home to the Everglades gardens. It is quieter than Katoomba and better for couples, with gardens that bloom in spring and a restaurant scene led by the Leura Garage. Rooms average A$140 to A$450 a night; the where to stay guide lists the best Leura hotels.
Blackheath
Blackheath is the highest of the main villages at about 1,065 metres, with the Govetts Leap and Evans lookouts, the Grand Canyon Track and the Campbell Rhododendron Gardens on its doorstep. It has the strongest food scene, led by Blaq at the Kyah hotel and several cafes, and feels more like a small mountain town than a resort strip. The November rhododendron festival is in our events and festivals calendar, and prices are the lowest of the three, with pub rooms from about A$90 and lodges up to A$350.
Wentworth Falls
Wentworth Falls is a residential village built around the 187-metre waterfall of the same name and the National Pass walking track. It is the quietest of the upper towns, with a small village centre, a lake for swimming in summer and easy access to the Falls Road picnic area. It suits hikers and families who want self-catering houses, with rooms from about A$120 a night.
Blue Mountains Neighborhoods: The Mid and Lower Mountains
Springwood
Springwood is the largest town of the lower mountains, about 20 km from Katoomba and an hour from Sydney, with a busy main street, the Norman Lindsay Gallery nearby and a commuter rather than tourist feel. It suits budget travelers and people who want a cheaper base within easy reach of the upper villages, with motels from about A$100 a night.
Glenbrook
Glenbrook is the gateway town at the edge of the national park, the first stop up the hill and the entrance to the Glenbrook Gorge and the Jellybean Pool swimming hole. It has a small cafe strip and is the closest village to Sydney, making it the quickest day-trip base; the train and road route are in our travel tips guide. Rooms run A$110 to A$250 a night.
Mount Victoria
Mount Victoria, at the far western end of the plateau, is the highest village at about 1,064 metres and the coldest in winter, which is exactly why its historic pubs and guesthouses are popular for fireside weekends. It marks the start of the Mount Victoria to Mount York walking track. The weather by month guide has the winter numbers, and rooms run from about A$130.
Blue Mountains Neighborhoods: Where to Base Yourself
If you have two nights, split them: stay in Katoomba for the lookouts and Scenic World, then move to Leura or Blackheath for the gardens and food. If you are visiting by train, Katoomba and Leura are the easiest bases because the stations sit in the village centres. Check the best time to visit guide before you lock in dates.
