Where to Stay in Xi'an?
10 Hotels for Every Budget — ¥60 to W's Design by Qujiang Park

We open the list with the highest-scoring five-star in the article — if you're celebrating and you like playful design, W Xi'an scores 9.7/10 from over 9,676 real guest reviews, the best on the whole list. The design takes Tang-dynasty motifs and runs them through W's bold, colourful style; rooms are spacious and many have small balconies looking over Qujiangchi Park and the Datang district, which lights up across the skyline after dark. Guests say the same things again and again: proactive staff, a good AWAY spa, lively bars. The honest caveat is that W sits in the newer Qujiang district — it is not next to the Bell Tower or Muslim Quarter, so it's a ~20–30 min Metro/taxi ride into the old town, and the party energy won't suit everyone.

The second five-star, for anyone who wants to sleep inside the city's actual history — Sofitel Legend People's Grand occupies the 1953 Art-Deco People's Mansion, restored into a luxury hotel with big gardens, an indoor pool, a spa and a private butler. This is the rare Legend tier of the Sofitel brand, with only a handful worldwide, and it scores 9.6/10 from over 1,170 real reviews. Guests praise the aged grandeur, the attentive touches (shoe-shine, an umbrella escort) and the gardens that stay quiet even though you're in the centre. It's a short walk or taxi to the Bell Tower. The honest caveat is that it's the priciest on the list, and rooms in the historic wing feel classically traditional rather than sharply modern.

The four-star tier opens with the best-value design pick — if you want a good-looking room, a comfortable bed and a view of the ancient City Wall at a mid-range price within a walk of the Metro, Atour Bell Tower South Gate is a midscale hotel scoring 9.6/10 from over 3,190 real reviews, level with the five-stars on this list at a fraction of the price. The Atour brand is known for its lobby library corner and its signature bedding, and guests mention sleeping well again and again. Rooms are warm and earthy, and some face straight onto the City Wall — you can walk up and cycle the ramparts from here. The honest caveat: it's midscale, so there's no big pool or spa, and standard rooms are more compact than a luxury hotel's.

A four-star international pick that's good value and walks to everything — Hilton Garden Inn Xi'an Bell Tower is a reliable Hilton standard set in the old town, an ~11 min walk to the Drum Tower and Muslim Quarter and walkable to the Bell Tower and City Wall. It scores 9.6/10 from over 1,128 real reviews. If you're an international traveller who likes a familiar brand — fitness room, terrace, restaurant, free parking and a desk that handles English — this fits you well. Guests praise being able to walk everywhere and the consistency you expect from Hilton. The honest caveat: it's a few minutes off the Bell Tower square itself (not right on it), and a few guests find breakfast solid rather than special.

The four-star tier closes with the transit-night pick — Atour North Railway Station North Square sits near Xi'an North, the main high-speed-rail hub, and just 160 metres from Metro Line 14. If your trip has an early or late train to another city, this base makes life much easier. It scores 9.6/10 from over 3,152 real reviews and is a newer Atour (opened 2022), with clean, warm rooms and free water and Wi-Fi. Guests praise the painless rail connections without dragging luggage far. The honest caveat: this is a station district with no sights around it — it's ~30 min on Line 2 into the Bell Tower, so it's ideal for a transit night rather than basing yourself to explore the old town.

The three-star tier opens with JI Hotel's prime-location branch — JI Hui Min Street is only about 100 metres from the Drum Tower and the Muslim food street (Huimin Street), so you step out in the morning and you're already in Xi'an's most famous eating quarter. The JI brand (全季), part of Huazhu, is known for spotless, tidy rooms and good sound insulation, and it scores 9.3/10 from several thousand real reviews. If your trip is all about eating along Huimin Street and walking the old town, this is the most convenient budget base. Guests praise the location and the value. The honest caveat: Huimin Street is lively and noisy at night, so ask for a higher or interior room, and standard rooms are compact.

A budget design pick in the Bell Tower area — Orange Hotel's Bell Tower / Huimin Street branch is a three-star from the Orange (桔子) brand under Huazhu, scoring 9.5/10 from over 2,390 reviews, drawn from real guest reviews. Guests say rooms are clean and spacious, staff are helpful, and — impressively — although it sits right by Huimin Street, the sound insulation is excellent. There's a viewing deck on the third floor and free 24-hour self-service laundry. It's walkable to the Drum Tower, Muslim Quarter, Bell Tower and City Wall, with Metro Line 2 close by. The honest caveat: it's a budget three-star, so standard rooms aren't large, and the Muslim Quarter is busy with tourists day and night.

An all-suite international pick for travellers who want space and a kitchenette — Home2 Suites by Hilton is Hilton's all-suite brand where every room has a kitchenette and breakfast is free, scoring 9.4/10 from around 346 early reviews, drawn from real guest reviews. Guests praise spotless, odour-free rooms, some with a view of the City Wall, and a breakfast spread covering Western, Chinese, Asian and vegetarian options. It sits next to SKP and Wangfujing for shopping, with Metro Line 2 close by. It's a great fit if you're staying several nights and want to cook simple meals, or travelling as a family. The honest caveat: it's ~2 km from the City Wall South Gate (not right on it), and as a newly opened hotel it has fewer reviews than the others here.

A three-star that wins on a dead-central location — Vienna Hotel Bell Tower is about a 2-minute walk from the Bell Tower and Metro Line 2, and ~8 minutes from the Muslim Quarter, scoring 9.0/10 from over 1,529 real reviews, drawn from real guest reviews. Guests praise the central spot that walks to everything, attractive rooms and pretty landscaping that lights up at night, all at good value. The honest caveat we'll state plainly: staff speak little English (a translation app helps), and some rooms and fittings (like the bathtubs) feel a little dated — but if a dead-central location on a light budget matters most to you and the language gap isn't an issue, this is a strong fit.

We close the list with the hostel pick — the bottom of the list on price, but not on score. Han Tang Inn Hostel is a four-floor international youth hostel with dorm beds from ¥60 and en-suite private rooms, scoring 9.6/10 from several thousand real reviews. What makes it such a strong fit for international travellers is that the staff speak English, there's a tour desk (Terracotta Warriors / Mount Huashan), free nightly activities, free drinks and breakfast, plus Western toilets and hot showers. Guests say the same things again and again: great location, friendly staff, clean, and an easy place to meet people. It's walkable to the Bell Tower and Muslim Quarter. The honest caveat: it's a hostel, so amenities are basic and some nights are lively with the social activities.