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Where to stay

Hand-picked hotel shortlists for 9 places, by hotel class and guest rating, each linking to the hotels' own pages.

9 places16 guides

Picking where to stay around Albany comes down to how you plan to move and what you want within reach. Downtown Albany is the walkable, mid-range base: the State Capitol, the New York State Museum at the south end of the Empire State Plaza, and dinner on Lark Street in Center Square are all close together, with the Albany Institute of History and Art, Washington Park and the Pastures Historic District filling a second day. Two nights covers Albany itself honestly.

If you want more than the city, look outward. Latham and Cohoes sit north of Albany, Rensselaer and Delmar and Glenmont lie to the south and east, and Schenectady to the northwest adds Proctors Theatre and the stockade district. Troy, on the Hudson, is worth a third night for the Saturday Waterfront Farmers Market and the River Street scene; a fourth night suits anyone driving up to Saratoga Springs for the racecourse or Saratoga Spa State Park. Between them these places carry a range of hotels, from large clusters to a couple of options each, so your choice of base shapes the trip.

Popular places

Rensselaer

Across the river from Albany, a small choice of stays on the city's eastern edge.

Cohoes

A small Hudson-side spot north of Albany, with only a couple of places to stay.

Glenmont

South of Albany, a tiny cluster of options on the road out of the city.

3-star or 4- and 5-star: which to choose

In this region the choice is mainly between 3-star and the higher categories. Albany has 133 hotels, including 4-star properties and a good spread of 3-star ones, so it is the only place with real top-end options; Schenectady also has a 4-star hotel among its 9. Everywhere else is 3-star territory: Latham has 24 hotels with 3-star options, Troy 7, and Rensselaer, Cohoes, Delmar and Glenmont just 2 each. Choose Albany or Schenectady if you want a 4-star stay, and a smaller town if you simply need a base.

Hotel guides by place

Albany

Cohoes

Delmar

Glenmont

Greenville

Latham

Rensselaer

Schenectady

Troy

Questions, answered

Which area is best for first-time visitors to Albany?

Downtown Albany puts the State Capitol, the New York State Museum at the south end of the Empire State Plaza, and Lark Street dining in Center Square within walking distance, with the Albany Institute of History and Art, Washington Park and the Pastures Historic District for a second day. Two nights is the honest answer for Albany itself.

Where should families stay near Albany?

Albany has the widest choice, with 45 hotels flagged for families among its 133. Latham offers a smaller family-friendly cluster, with 3 of its 24 hotels, and Glenmont has 1 of its 2. Other towns in the area list no family hotels.

Which places have hotels with parking?

Albany leads with 107 hotels offering parking, followed by Latham with 23. Delmar and Glenmont each have 2, while Schenectady, Cohoes and Greenville have 1 apiece. Rensselaer and Troy list no hotels with parking.

Which towns have the most 5-star hotels?

None. No place in this region has a 5-star hotel, so the highest category available is 4-star, found in Albany and Schenectady.

Where can I stay if I want a 4-star hotel?

Only Albany and Schenectady list 4-star hotels. Albany has by far the larger choice overall, with 133 hotels across its categories, while Schenectady has 9. Every other town in the area tops out at 3-star.

Is it worth staying outside Albany?

Yes, if you are adding Troy, Schenectady or Saratoga Springs. Troy suits a third night for the Saturday Waterfront Farmers Market and River Street, Schenectady for Proctors Theatre and the stockade district, and a fourth night makes sense if you are driving to Saratoga Springs.

Area guides and ideas