Canberra Tourist Attractions
GUIDE FOR CANBERRA
Find a mix of history, art and the great outdoors in Australia's capital city.
Canberra may be smaller than Sydney to the north and Melbourne to the south, but it still has plenty to explore. A small town atmosphere means it's easy to explore, and its locals are happy to share their top food, wine, beer and attractions. Within the city limits, you'll find museums, galleries, breweries and modern architecture, but just minutes away from here are the serene mountains, valleys and everything in between. It's no wonder the locals love the lifestyle and the scenery.
do not miss :
- Enjoy art at famous galleries and local craft markets
- Indulge in gourmet dining in a number of culinary regions.
- Join various festivals in this city
How to reach this place
There are 14 international flights to Canberra every week. Daily flights from Singapore to Canberra are available with Singapore Airlines and daily flights from Doha to Canberra are available with Qatar Airways. There are also daily domestic flights from several major cities in Australia. Canberra is a three-hour drive from Sydney and an eight-hour drive from Melbourne. There are many scenic routes if you want a different route and visit several small towns along the way.
Useful tips
- Decide when to travel and what to bring with you about Canberra's seasonal weather.
- Search all city transportation options with this travel guide.
- Visit your local visitor information center for details on the area.
POPULAR TOURISM ACTIVITIES AND ATTRACTIONS IN CANBERRA
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Sample wines and spirits around Canberra
Canberra's reputation as a culinary destination is relatively recent. In the last 10 years, Canberra has discovered its culinary identity based around a cool climate wine region and an explosion in the number of locally brewed beers. Make the Bentspoke Brewing Co. pub as your first stop, and discover the wide variety of beers and cider that are all made in this pub. Next, enjoy fresh beer and burgers at Capital Brewing. Here, you'll find seasonal drink releases from the lounge bar and delicious aromas from Brodburger's fire-baked menu. A short drive from Canberra's city center will take you to gorgeous wineries like Lerida Estate, Mount Majura Vineyards and Capital Wines. Book a stay at the Naked Cubby Co. cone tent.
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Dine at Canberra's best eateries
Canberra's culinary scene serves up everything from coffee to cocktails. Come to ONA Coffee for a taste of the perfect "flat white" coffee. Enjoy a delicious pasta and pizza lunch (available Tuesday through Friday) at Italian and Sons, or any other interesting menu at XO. For dinner, choose from several high-end restaurants, including Eightysix, Monster, and Aubergine. End your evening with a lullaby from one of Canberra's bustling bars, such as Molly and Hippo Co.
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Shop at the Old Bus Depot Markets
Canberra's large student population and a thriving media industry have made the city a vibrant creative place, and one of the best ways to enjoy it is at the once-weekly Old Bus Depot Markets. From the latest styles of clothing and furnishings to fresh organic produce and great coffee, the market is filled with interesting things to buy, eat and taste. Plus, the market is the perfect place to socialize with the locals every Sunday from 10am to 4pm. The homemade ice cream at Home Made Sweet Delights is simply evocative. If it's not market day, head to Lonsdale Street, Braddon to find local jewelery, furniture, and fashions and art on the vibrant streets.
Read more about Braddon here -->
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Stay at a design hotel
A number of well-known hotels have opened new branches in Canberra, notably the Ovolo Nishi, a luxury Australian retro-style hotel locatedin the beautiful Nishi building. Not far away is QT Canberra, a five-star hotel with a cheerful political theme with a distinctive pop-art aesthetic. Little National is a modern 120-room hotel with fine concrete and a minimalist style, while the five-star Hotel Realm basically offers its own lifestyle area that includes a number of classy restaurants and bars.
Read more about best bar in Canberra here -->
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Getaway to the great outdoors close to the city
The dense Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve is only 40 minutes from Canberra, but the reserve is teeming with wildlife, including emus, kangaroos and cockatoos. Even closer to the city (20 minutes away), is the Uriarra Crossing. Walk, picnic or fish the beautiful shallows of the stunning Murrumbidgee River, which flows along 1,600 km of the Australian Alps. If you really want to get up close and personal with wildlife, you can stay at Jamala Wildlife Lodge. This charming hotel, located inside the National Zoo and Aquarium in Canberra, right in the city center, features glass-walled bungalows overlooking the zoo, and suites over tree houses, complete with balconies for watching the zoo's giraffes.
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Browse beautiful galleries
As the capital of Australia, Canberra houses some of Australia's most important artworks, including an invaluable collection of Aboriginal art. The National Gallery of Australia is Australia's leading art pool and houses more than 7500 Australian, Asian and Aboriginal art in 13 different galleries. Not far from there is the National Portrait Gallery, which exhibits painting of various body portraits (from Mick Jagger to Barry Humphries), which initially was only a temporary exhibition entitled Uncommon Australians.
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See democracy in action at Parliament House
Australia's Parliament House is an impressive example of modern architecture that only opened in 1988. Visitors can take free guided tours of the building every day at 9.30am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm and 3.30pm. You can also watch the Question Time session (from 14.00 onwards), where government ministers are asked questions by other members of parliament. The building is also home to a number of public exhibitions and galleries.
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Admire the panoramic charm of Floriade
This annual Floriade Festival lasts one month, from September to October each year (exact date changes), and attracts flower lovers and gardeners from around the world for its colorful display. Perched on top of an 8,000 square meter (two acre) inner city garden, over a million flower buds bloom to form a stunning display of color and texture, and are beautifully styled for Australia's largest spring celebration. The event was also enlivened with a lively evening entertainment program and beautifully lit flower beds during the Floriade NightFest. You can view the flowers for free for a whole month.
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Visit the National Arboretum
If you admire natural beauty, Canberra's stunning National Arboretum is also worth a visit. This 250 hectare land was scorched by bush fires between 2001 and 2003; then, the city held a competition for the architects to redesign the area. Selected designs feature 100 forests and 100 gardens that focus on endangered, rare and symbolic trees from around the world along with Australia's national collection of bonsai trees. The arboretum is also home to cafes and restaurants, plenty of sightseeing spots and a number of public works of art worth immortalizing your Instagram, including the incredible lines quoted from Australia's acclaimed poem My Country, which is painted on this landscape in letters that stand taller than ever adults.
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Crossing a stunning lake
Lake Burley Griffin, a beautiful stretch of water used for leisure activities in Canberra, including cruising, kayaking, kayaking and hot air ballooning. There are only a few cities in the world that provide hot air balloon tours on a consistent basis.Canberra's steppe area ensures hot air balloon tours remain available regardless of wind direction. Fly with Balloon Aloft or Dawn Drifters. Alternatively, you can also rent a bicycle to circle this 35-kilometer (22-mile) perimeter lake - easy walking trails will take you past cafes and tourist destinations such as the National Gallery of Australia. There are many cycling trails around Lake Burley Griffin, and Cycle Canberra will even drop your bike to your hotel. If you're in the mood for the water, take a cruise on one of the electric picnic boats from GoBoat.
