Trip Planner:   South Pacific  /  Australia  /  New South Wales  /  Sydney  /  Darling Harbour

Darling Harbour, Sydney

4.4
#1 of 41 in Neighborhoods in Australia
Neighborhood Tourist Spot Must See
A harbor within the giant Sydney Harbour, Darling Harbour buzzes with activity right next to downtown Sydney. Shopping centers, museums, entertainment centers, restaurants, the largest IMAX in the Southern Hemisphere, Madam Tussaud's Wax Museum, the Sydney Aquarium--the list goes on and on. You can head from attraction to attraction and then stay for dinner, or just stop in, snap a few photos, and people-watch from a cafe. For travelers who use our international travel planner, Sydney holidays become easier to arrange, with trips to the Darling Harbour and other attractions mapped out and timetabled.
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Reviews
TripAdvisor Traveler Rating
8,183 reviews
Google
4.5
TripAdvisor
  • August 16, 2017
    Various attractions are concentrated in this location. Sea life, Wild life, Madame Tussauds, Maritime Museum, etc.
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  • August 14, 2017
    I really liked this spot. It was a great place to relax and watch the water. Lots of people, but enough space that you could be “alone” if you wanted. The shops near here were also neat with a lot of ...  more »
  • August 14, 2017
    A walk with a very nice view, several restaurants, shops and attractions very close! Place to take several pictures, and relax while walking.
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Google
  • It's the more photogenic side of Sydney city. Circular Quay has the opera house and the bridge but Darling Harbour lets you see the city in all its glory especially in the late afternoon sunset. Lots of places to eat and drink and some great entertainment options await you with some semi-decent shopping in Harbourside.
  • A crazy amount of restaurants and bars to choose from. Amazing during Vivid Festival. Easy access to the light rail, water taxis and the city - plus plenty of accommodation A+++
  • It's a great place to walk around and take in the skyline. Great tourist destination with the maritime museum, wildlife world, aquarium, nice restaurants and shops. Although admittedly the shops are very tourism centric and not necessarily cheap.
  • Pleasant place to wander and lots of choice when it comes to eating and drinking. Love the areas to sit and relax on a nice day. The fire and smoke show for Vivid was impressive but loud - don't stand near the speakers.
  • Beautiful but a bit crowded. Shops are a bit touristy and the IMAX is closed for renovations. The plans seem really fancy so I'll come back and edit this once they are up. It's mostly about seeing the harbour. Recommend checking out the Chinese gardens.
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Sydney offers visitors hundreds of lodging options in its central area, with choices suitable for most budgets. As expected in a major tourist destination, harbor views play a major role in determining room prices. Expect to pay more for ocean-view suites, especially if you visit at the peak of the tourist season or around big city events. If you don't need to stay in the center of Sydney, consider budget-friendly hotels near the airport, or look for smaller roadside motels in the city's South West neighborhood.
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