Best Museums in Sydney

"Beneath a soaring roof, the Maritime Museum sails through Australia’s inextricable relationship with the sea. Exhibitions range from Indigenous canoes to surf culture, immigration to the navy. The worthwhile ‘big ticket’ (adult/child $32/20) includes entry to some of the vessels moored outside, including the atmospheric submarine HMAS Onslow and the destroyer HMAS Vampire. The high-production-value short film Action Stations sets the mood with a re-creation of a mission event from each vessel. Excellent free guided tours explain each vessel's features."

"The Australian National Maritime Museum is situated at the northern end of Darling Harbour and appeals as a distinctive indoor/outdoor attraction to offer entertainment for the whole family. This museum introduces you to the maritime world as you enter the journey of underwater warfare aboard the submarine; explore the last of the big gun destroyers; marvel at...Read more"

"The Australian National Maritime Museum is a great attraction particularly for families with kids. Join a guided tour or let the kids get their hands on some of the interactive displays. Find out what life was like above and below water through interesting exhibitions."

"If you’re a fan of cutting-edge Australian and international modern art, a visit to the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) on the western side of Circular Quay is an absolute must. Housed in an impressive art deco building right at the waterfront, the MCA is dedicated to exhibiting, collecting and interpreting the work of today’s contemporary artists. The building alone is enough reason to visit this museum."

"The Museum of Contemporary Art Australia is a cultural marvel and houses a brilliant range of contemporary art. The venue is free to visit and children are warmly received. Throughout both the school term and the Sydney school holidays, the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia offers a range of family fun activities."

"Before the light rail returned to Sydney, trams were something that many people believed was a Melbourne thing unaware that Sydney had an extensive tram system in place. It makes sense then that the Sydney Tramway Museum is Australia’s oldest tramway museum and the largest in the southern hemisphere. The Sydney Tramway Museum boasts quite a collection of trams including Sydney trams from 1896 to 1997 as well as trams from across Australia (Brisbane, Melbourne, Ballarat and Adelaide) and even from overseas such as San Francisco, Nagasaki, Berlin, Munich and Milan."

"The Sydney Tramway Museum is the oldest museum of its kind in Australia and is a fantastic family-friendly destination. For anyone who has wondered what it would be like to get on board a tram in the early 20th century..."

"A landmark building near Circular Quay, this is the location of the library. It used to be the headquarters of the Customs service and is an impressive building to walk through. One of the best features to check out is a small scale model of Sydney under the glass floor."

"The Sydney Observatory is worth a visit just for the views across the harbor of the iconic Harbour Bridge and the city skyline. Completed in 1859, it was initially used for timekeeping and evolved to play an essential role in charting the southern sky. If you visit during daylight hours, you can use a solar telescope to see the Sun, some of the Southern Hemisphere's brightest stars, the Moon or Venus."

"Set in beautiful gardens overlooking Sydney Harbour, the ever-enchanting Sydney Observatory never gets old for either little or big kids!. The museum and education centre is an astronomy hub with famous telescopic domes for exploring the sky with experienced guides. At night, you could see stars, planets in the solar system, the Moon or even nebulae that are light-years away."

"Sydney Observatory was built on a hill above the Rocks in 1858 and is a sandstone building surrounded by a lovely garden. It wasn’t just about seeing the stars – back then it was essential for navigation, meteorology and timekeeping. These days, you can walk around the grounds of Sydney Observatory and see the basic museum exhibitions for free."

"The Big Dig Archaeology Education Centre is part of Sydney Harbour YHA in The Rocks heritage precinct of Sydney. The centre facilitates hands-on archaeology educational experiences and opens the archaeological site to the public. Opening Times: The Big Dig welcomes the general public to visit the site during daylight hoursTicket Prices: varied depending on programAddress: 110 Cumberland St, Sydney NSWWebsite:thebigdig.com.au"

"The Big Dig Cumberland Street Archaeological Site is a heritage-listed archaeological site in The Rocks. The centre is part of Sydney Harbour YHA,, and while it is no longer an “active” excavation site, it does facilitate hands-on archaeology educational experiences and opens the archaeological site to the public. The general public are welcome to visit the Big Dig site during daylight hours."

"You’ll see a great mix of architecture as well as Sydney’s Oldest pub, the Big Dig Archaeological Site underneath the YHA hostel, Suez Lane which was once run by gangs and 4 houses preserved from different decades at Susannah Place. Head to The Rocks Square for plenty of dining options or the famous Rocks Markets on Saturdays for some independent stalls and delicious food."

"Bare Island is located to the south-east of Sydney and is one of the most scenic destinations in the city. The island is an iconic part of the country and is listed in the State Heritage Register due to its status in..."

"Historic Rodd Island, in Iron Cove, offers scenic harbour views, picnicking, fishing, and venue hire for weddings and functions in Sydney Harbour National Park."

"Positioned in Sydney Harbour, 1km from the mouth of Rose Bay, Shark Island – Boowambillee (booh-uhm-'bil-ee) is a picnic spot with a difference. Explore the island's foreshore, go swimming or relax in front of amazing Sydney Harbour views."

"Image Source When it comes to the question of how many casinos in Sydney are able to offer their visitors an experience like never before, City Tattersalls Club has always proved itself in the same. There is a reason why this club has been able to thrive in the city for more than 120 years as it always strives for sheer customer satisfaction. What makes the casino more desirable among the tourists is the fact that it offers them a polished ambiance with a quiet and pleasant dining experience."

"Lotus Galeries is the largest restaurant in the group with 260 seats. The restaurant boasts 5 private dining rooms, ranging in size from 8 persons to up to 40 persons. With a desirable cocktail lounge and a dumpling bar, Lotus Galeries is the perfect destination for any occasion.The food is a rich..."

"This haunt is a favourite for locals with a taste for the more refined flavours hailing from the land of Stars and Stripes. A sophisticated approach to share meals, the ‘Seed’ and ‘Feed’ options provide plenty of temptation; the buffalo style chicken skin with buttermilk ranch and dilly beans ($16) and fried oysters with Old Bay mayo ($26) leads into a hearty serve of poutine with beef shin, spring onion and beer cheese ($28). The smoked lamb ribs with sweet pickled peppers will be difficult to resist, and if deciding between dishes proves too trying, the $68 chef’s selection is safe territory."

"There is no denying Hartsyard's heritage; it is palpably American in taste, substance and style. As soon as you push open the glass door, the smell of hickory smoked pork greets you with open arms. You'd be forgiven for thinking you had mistakenly stumbled across a classic American backyard cook-out, but that's what’s beautiful about this Newtown newcomer."

"Plating here is a little fancier, the pricing is a little pricier, but the food is well worth the funds. Look at those biscuits and gravy!. Must try: Beyond their notorious desserts, their fried chicken is a definite must."

"If you’re vegan, stop and drop everything - we’ve just found a cafe that has graciously made life a little sweeter with playful desserts, donuts and a full brekkie and lunch menu that are all prepared with the best naturally gluten-free ingredients!. At Nutie, they are all about ‘having your cake and eating it too!. Find them at: 44 Holt St,Surry Hills | 13 Beattie St, Balmain"

"Acclaimed first and foremost as deliverers of delectable donuts, you can also head down to their store in Camperdown Wednesday through Sunday for your fix. Alternately, order online and let them do the hardwork for you!. The s’more donut with dark chocolate ganache, crushed biscuit crumb and marshmallow fluff that torched to perfection is other-wordly, and the apple fritter number is chockers with apple, cinnamon and caramel pieces – a match made in heaven."

"Sweet toothed folks with dietary requirements haven’t been left behind either, thanks to good folks at Nutie. The crew is currently keeping both the Balmain and Surry Hills spots open for takeaway so Sydneysiders can continue to get their sugar fix. If you’ve never had the opportunity to try one of Nutie’s extravagant doughnuts, here’s the lowdown: they’re all 100-percent gluten-free, resulting in a slightly denser, cake-like treat (and this is not a bad thing)."