Sydney CBD and Surrounds
It’s all business during the day; smartly dressed office workers bustling along the footpath and taxis zipping down one-way alleys. But at night, the soul of the city awakens and transforms the streets. Unassuming office buildings reveal hidden rooftop bars within, historic laneways pulse with live music and fine dining restaurants serve up cuisine from around the world.
City CBD and Surrounds
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia
The CBD is just a few steps from everything central Sydney has to offer – walk to the waterfront at Darling Harbour or Circular Quay; step back in time at The Rocks; stroll through the lush greenery of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Hyde Park or The Domain; or head for the glittering high rises of Barangaroo.
Branching out from the CBD are some of Sydney’s most diverse and interesting suburbs. Darlinghurst is the heart of the city’s LGBTQIA+ community and home to some of the best after-hours action. Hit up a nightclub along Oxford Street, a small bar in the maze of alleyways or an emerging gallery in a converted warehouse. Redfern and Eveleigh are thriving arts communities with an alternative twist. Ultimo, close to Central Station and Haymarket, is the place for education and ideas with its universities, TAFE, museums and more.
During Vivid Sydney, colourful projections wash central Sydney’s architecture in the glow of lights and vibrant installations pop up in unexpected spaces. Beyond the city’s harbourside heart you’ll find myriad halls, museums and underground spaces humming with music and ideas.
How to get there: Hop off the train at Town Hall, Wynyard, Martin Place or St James and you’ll be in the middle of the action. The light rail runs from Central Station down George Street all the way to Circular Quay and buses also run regularly into the city from the eastern and western suburbs. The northern end of George Street is a pedestrian thoroughfare, so you can also explore a lot of the CBD on foot.
