In Sydney you can feel the energy and creativity pulsating on the streets, by the harbour, among its green spaces, inside its historic buildings, around its urban corners and on its glittering coastal edges. Stand in awe at its natural beauty and iconic sights, admiring the city skyline and our harbour, with the pale curves of the Sydney Opera House and the famed 'coathanger' tempting you to climb to its peak. Join the local morning ritual of swimming at Bondi or go for the glamour of a cocktail in a sky-high Art Deco bar. Experience a bold calendar of reinvigorating, inspiring events, along with world-class galleries, and museums with stories of the colonial, maritime and Indigenous history of this sacred place. Sydney has it all, and Vivid Sydney is the perfect time to step into our world.
Stay
Come to Vivid Sydney and stay somewhere near the Light Walk — this year it's the longest continuous Light Walk ever — starting from Sydney Opera House and winding to the city's fringe at Central Station. Live it up in a harbourside five-star hotel or a designer abode in Surry Hills. Head further afield to Manly or Bondi for a beachside pad or settle into good-value modern hostel offerings.
Eat
Embrace the flavours of Sydney where brunch is a way of life, restaurants are destinations, and our chefs are stars. Book a sunset cruise on the harbour to dine on deck as the lights of Vivid Sydney get glowing or see the streets of the city in miniature from a rooftop bar. Taste the world on a plate, settle in for sunlit brunch or feel a world away on a global food trail.
Arts & Culture
Feel the creativity beyond Vivid Sydney with an impressive line-up of shows, exhibitions and performances that animate spaces across the harbour city. As well as hosting the Vivid LIVE program, the World Heritage-listed Sydney Opera House puts on captivating shows throughout the year including ballets, comedy acts, orchestral performances and more.
Visit the Art Gallery of New South Wales and Museum of Contemporary Art for stellar local and international exhibitions. The Museum of Sydney and Hyde Parks Barracks Museum, offer fascinating historical perspectives on the city of Sydney. Be inspired by an invigorating line up of award-winning musicals, awe-inspiring theatre performances and world-class ballet.
Style
Immerse yourself in Sydney style at beachside and neighbourhood markets, to sprawling shopping precincts, historic city arcades and world-class malls and department stores. Whether you're after designer labels or bargains, you'll find them in Sydney's retail hub Pitt Street Mall which stretches across two blocks within the city centre. Step back in time at historic shopping arcades, The Strand Arcade and Queen Victoria Building, and head to other shopping hotspots Bondi, Paddington, Surry Hills, and Newtown.
What Else is On?
While you are in town for Vivid Sydney, why not explore other incredible events during your stay? Catch a world-class musical such as Grease at the Capitol Theatre or & Juliet at Sydney Lyric Theatre, or submit yourself to the passions of an opera at the Sydney Opera House.
Tour an iconic gallery or museum for a fun cultural outing. Take in one of the ever-changing exhibitions at Powerhouse Museum, set in the heart of Sydney with a focus on arts, science, innovation and design.
Family Fun
Sydney is one of the best cities in the world for family fun, from picnics on beautiful beaches to close animal encounters at the world-famous Taronga Zoo Sydney and family shows at the iconic Sydney Opera House. You can also climb aboard tall ships and sail on Sydney Harbour or see an underwater paradise at Sealife Aquarium. Explore top attractions on a day trip in Sydney by using Opal cards or tapping on with a credit card on buses, trains, trams, and ferries.
Adventure & Sport
Feel a sense of adventure in Sydney's aquatic wonders of harbours, beaches, and coves. Set sail on the harbour or paddle board at Rose Bay. Hit the surf at Freshwater, swim at Barangaroo Reserve's Marrinawi Cove, or kayak to Goat Island. The 2023 Sydney sporting calendar is also jam-packed with thrilling action. Built to host the Sydney 2000 Olympics, Sydney Olympic Park today plays host to a range of world-class events, from sporting matches to epic music festivals.
Beach Lifestyle
Spend a morning in Sydney surfing at world-famous Bondi Beach or snorkel at Gordons Bay near Coogee Beach. Seek out hidden harbour coves to swim, paddle and play or drive up to Palm Beach to see the golden sands and dramatic headlands of the Northern Beaches. On the coastal edges of Sydney, you'll find abundant wildlife and breathtaking lookouts, as well as precious Aboriginal rock art, like the ancient engravings of a sky spirit and a whale.
Explore NSW
As you step outside the bustle of Sydney, a new kind of natural beauty is unveiled from long stretches of coastline fringed with grey-green bushland, right up to intricate snowy peaks. Feel the magic of snorkelling or diving on coral reefs in marine parks and spotting turtles, dolphins, and tropical fish. Hike to Australia's highest peak at Mount Kosciusko National Park in the Snowy Mountains or take a road trip into the outback to see ancient wonders and hear local stories. Taste wine from the barrel in Australia's oldest wine region, the Hunter Valley, and unearth pioneering history, fresh-picked produce, and vast vineyards in Country NSW.
Feel new in NSW.
