Vivid Sydney 2024Credit: Destination NSW
Views of the Sydney Opera House from the Overseas Passanger Terminal during Vivid Sydney 2024.
Transform your Vivid Sydney 2025 experience by viewing the world’s most spectacular light displays from all sorts of different angles. Climb to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge or cruise the harbour, devour the glittering views from harbourside bars and restaurants or discover arresting vistas from lesser-known landmarks – here are some of the many ways you can enjoy a new perspective on Sydney’s annual festival of light.
Ascend to new heights
Scaling Sydney Harbour Bridge’s iconic arches is a thrill at any time of the year, but the BridgeClimb Sydney experience transmutes into a magical event during Vivid. Join a nightly Vivid Sydney Climb for an exhilarating front-row seat to the mesmerising tapestry of light and colour stretching out below you, with the illuminated sails of the Sydney Opera House and the kaleidoscope of lights enveloping The Rocks and Circular Quay taking the wow factor up a notch or three.
While you can’t take a camera or a phone with you on your bridge climb, for everyone’s safety, aspiring photographers can learn how to create incredible night images from a lofty Sydney Harbour Bridge perch during a Vivid Sydney Photography Masterclass on each Monday night of the festival. Enjoy exclusive access to the Gun Deck – a World War II-era anti-aircraft gunnery position atop the bridge’s southeast pylon – as your expert tutor from Sydney Photographic Workshops helps you capture the dizzying array of lights spread out below. (You’ll need your own camera with manual settings and tripod for these three-hour workshops.)
Prefer a more grounded viewpoint while composing your photographs? Lace up your walking shoes, charge up your camera, pack a tripod and meet your professional instructor at Circular Quay for a three-hour Vivid Sydney Night Photography Course, roaming sections of the Light Walk as you learn the tricks to snapping jaw-dropping images of the festival’s colourful installations.
Vivid Sydney 2017 Credit: Destination NSW
BridgeClimbers enjoying harbour views from on top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge during Vivid Sydney
Vivid Sydney 2017 Credit: Destination NSW
BridgeClimbers enjoying harbour views from on top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge during Vivid Sydney
Seek out free vantage points
Think outside the square and you’ll be rewarded with unique vistas during Vivid. Follow Sydney’s savviest festival-goers and take the glass-walled lift at the eastern end of the Circular Quay plaza to discover Cahill Walk, a pedestrian walkway that runs alongside the Cahill Expressway and links Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Royal Botanic Garden. From your raised viewing position you’ll be captivated as the facade of the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia comes alive with Indigenous artist Vincent Namatjira’s thought-provoking King Dingo projection to your left, before turning your gaze to the spell-binding seven-minute animation Kiss of Light playing across the Sydney Opera House to your right.
Alternatively, make your way to North Sydney by ferry or train to see the Opera House, the bridge and Circular Quay lit up from the foreshore park in Lavender Bay – you can even get the lights of Luna Park into the frame for a quintessentially Sydney photograph.
Vivid Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
The Luna Park precinct along Sydney Harbour during Vivid Sydney.
Vivid Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
The Luna Park precinct along Sydney Harbour during Vivid Sydney.
Make a splash on the harbour
Immerse in the magic of Vivid on a Moonlight Sea Kayaking Experience around the Darling Harbour waterfront precinct with Sydney Harbour Kayaks. As the Dreaming story of Tunku and Ngaadi plays out on the roof of Australian National Maritime Museum, you’ll board a two-seater kayak at the museum’s marina for a 90-minute guided tour of the inner harbour. You’ll paddle under Pyrmont Bridge and get up close to the trio of luminous waterfalls of the Samsung Space to Dream installation lighting up Cockle Bay, before heading over to the Balmain East ferry terminal for uninterrupted views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge light show.
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On the northern side of Sydney Harbour, Sydney Kayak Experience guides you in single-seater kayaks from a secluded bay in Kirribilli to a prime viewing position almost under the Sydney Harbour Bridge for ring-side seats to the pulsating panorama playing out across the water during the 90-minute City Lights Night Paddle – Vivid. Take in the ever-changing spectacle in front of you before paddling past Kirribilli House, the Sydney home of the Prime Minister, on your way back to your launching point.
Vivid Sydney 2023 Credit: Destination NSW
Our Connected City, lights up during Vivid Sydney 2023 Sydney Kayak Experience kayaks at Lavender Bay Suffusing our skyline with kaleidoscopic colour and spellbinding lighting design, Sydney transforms in a uniformed ribbon of light running across the Sydney Harbour Bridge and through The Rocks, Circular Quay, the Sydney Opera House and beyond.
Vivid Sydney 2023 Credit: Destination NSW
Our Connected City, lights up during Vivid Sydney 2023 Sydney Kayak Experience kayaks at Lavender Bay Suffusing our skyline with kaleidoscopic colour and spellbinding lighting design, Sydney transforms in a uniformed ribbon of light running across the Sydney Harbour Bridge and through The Rocks, Circular Quay, the Sydney Opera House and beyond.
Vivid Sydney 2024 Credit: Destination NSW
View of Sydney harbour during Vivid 2024
Vivid Sydney 2024 Credit: Destination NSW
View of Sydney harbour during Vivid 2024
Cruise past the lights
Surrender to luxury and let the light installations effortlessly glide into view on a Vivid-themed harbour cruise. Feel spoilt for choice of dining and sightseeing voyages with Captain Cook Cruises – options include multiple departures from Darling Harbour and Manly and range from family-friendly dinner cruises catching the drama of the Lights On moment to a six-course degustation Gold Dinner cruise. Savour a buffet dinner with a side dish of exceptional views on a nightly Vivid Festival of Light Sydney Harbour Cruise with Sydney Princess Cruises, or nibble on canapés and sip a welcome drink as you set sail on a chilled-out sunset cruise from Monday to Thursday with Journey Beyond Cruises.
Warm up your vocal chords for Tribal Warrior’s Vivid Karaoke Cruise, boot-scoot your way onto a Vivid Honkey-Tonk Cruise featuring a live country band, or simply enjoy one of the Aboriginal-owned and operated cultural cruise operator’s sightseeing cruises departing from the iconic Man O’War Steps beside the Sydney Opera House.
Vivid Sydney 2024 Credit: Destination NSW
Vivid Cruise boat on Sydney Harbour during Vivid Sydney 2024.
Vivid Sydney 2024 Credit: Destination NSW
Vivid Cruise boat on Sydney Harbour during Vivid Sydney 2024.
Indulge all of your senses
From sky-high bar bars offering bird’s eye views to buzzing restaurants offering dress-circle seats, there are plenty of fabulous spots to wine and dine as you enjoy Vivid’s visual feast.
Gaze up at the artwork illuminating the Sydney Opera House as you make your way to Bennelong, housed beneath the opera house’s smallest sail, to savour a sensational three-course Vivid dinner in the Dress Circle or sip the restaurant’s bespoke Vivid cocktail Dream Theatre in the Bennelong Bar. Be blessed with the same great view of Circular Quay and the harbour bridge at the Sydney Opera House’s casual pan-Asian eatery House Canteen, or toast the spectacle surrounding you from a prime spot at the open-air Opera Bar.
Across the water, secure a table at Bennelong’s sister restaurant Quay for dining that dazzles as brightly as the panorama on display beyond its windows, or choose from one of the nearby restaurants at the atmospheric Campbell’s Stores waterfront dining precinct.
Take to the skies and take in the light displays of Circular Quay in a single glance as you sip a hand-crafted signature cocktail at Blu Bar on 36, high above the harbour at Shangri-La Sydney in The Rocks. At the other end of Circular Quay, indulge in a dream-themed tasting journey as Aster, the rooftop bar at InterContinental Sydney, combines culinary surprises and superb views in Dreamscapes at Aster.
In Darling Harbour, peer down at the floating waterfalls of the Samsung Space to Dream installation as you dine on French-inspired fare at Atelier Bar and Restaurant in Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour or witness the iridescent display from the equally electric Living Room bar at W Sydney mere metres from the water’s edge.
Vivid Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying food and drinks at Aster Bar at the InterContinental Sydney during Vivid Sydney
Vivid Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying food and drinks at Aster Bar at the InterContinental Sydney during Vivid Sydney
Vivid Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a drink at Opera Bar at the Sydney Opera House during Vivid Sydney
Vivid Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a drink at Opera Bar at the Sydney Opera House during Vivid Sydney
More Inspirational Stories
Lilypad, Palm Beach Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying the sunset and views from the deck at Lilypad in Palm Beach
Soak up the views from an Insta-worthy bathtub
Many Sydney stays feature luxurious tubs for escapes within escapes – where plush surrounds and private panoramas feel just as soul-warming as the water itself. Drift off to another level of peace beneath the Southern Pylon of the Sydney Harbour Bridge at Pier One Sydney Harbour, where the coveted Admiral Suite was designed to frame the Coathanger, Luna Park and the Sydney Opera House. With floor-to-ceiling windows, a private balcony deck, and a standalone alfresco tub, it delivers a front-row seat to all the harbourside happenings.Thoughtful, effortless-luxe details continue throughout this pet-friendly waterfront retreat, from modern-chic furnishings to its private dining room and harbourside bar.
Nearby, pour yourself a glass of bubbly and soak in a luxe bubble bath at Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour, where the enormous freestanding tub in your Darling Harbour View luxury room lets you watch the city lights twinkle below. With 590 elegant rooms and 35 lavish suites spread across 33 floors in Darling Harbour’s tallest building, this refined hotel delivers panoramic views along with three stylish bars and its lauded signature restaurant, Atelier by Sofitel.
For water views you can reach out and touch, Lilypad Palm Beach is a one-of-a-kind floating villa just metres from the golden shores of Palm Beach. From May to July, this exclusive stay levels up for winter with the addition of an outdoor hot tub on its scenic deck – the perfect place to breathe in the salt-air serenity and uninterrupted Pittwater views.
Back in the heart of town, the Hilton Sydney offers oversized spa baths with bewitching city vistas, while the glam design and urban-resort stylings of Redfern’s Eve Hotel Sydney have made it a firm social media favourite, with some of its 102 chic rooms boasting sumptuous tubs and photogenic private terraces.
Cosy up in a boutique stay
Set in character-filled neighbourhoods, Sydney’s boutique hotels are curated with care – each one a window into the city’s vibrant character. From harbourside enclaves to the energy of Western Sydney, these stays don’t just reflect the spirit of the city, they draw you into it, with thoughtful luxuries, warm hospitality and just the right amount of playfulness to keep you inspired.
Feel right at home in the buzzing Inner East, where heritage buildings have been reimagined as design-led sanctuaries, blending sophistication with creativity. In Surry Hills, Paramount House occupies the former headquarters of Paramount Picture Studios, its 29 guest rooms a tapestry of heritage and modern touches. Just up the road, the Crystalbrook Albion offers 35 elegant–eclectic rooms, a rooftop garden oasis with views over the city, and an intimate, unpretentious vibe.
Nearby in Paddington, Oxford House nails the inner-city cool factor with light-filled rooms, handpicked artworks, luxe textures, calming colourways and sleek furnishings, as well as its popular bar and poolside terrace. Also on Oxford Street, Mrs Banks Boutique Hotel was originally built as a bank in 1914. Today, its heritage suites – once the bank manager’s residences – feature all the mod cons and put you in pole position to hop through Paddington’s cafés, bars, innovative galleries and iconic Intersection shopping precinct.
In the restaurant and nightlife hub of Potts Point, luxury and character combine at Spicers Potts Point, with 16 elegant rooms, four grand suites, and private balconies where you can watch the neighbourhood’s colourful life unfold. And just a 10-minute walk away, the Kirketon Hotel’s 40 chic rooms blend historic touches and contemporary flair in a quiet pocket where Potts Point, Darlinghurst and Kings Cross converge.
Further afield in Western Sydney, boutique stays reflect their sport-loving surrounds. The five-star William Inglis Hotel in Warwick Farm is an equine-themed sanctuary with a rural soul, featuring 144 individually designed rooms, a luxe rooftop pool, and sweeping views over the Warwick Farm racecourse. And the Pullman Sydney Penrith – born from a collaboration between Accor and rugby league’s Penrith Panthers precinct – offers sleek interiors, a specialised sleep-therapy menu, and a choice of onsite bars.
Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying food and drink at Club Millésime inside Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour.
Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying food and drink at Club Millésime inside Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour.
Oxford House, Paddington Credit: Anson Smart
Taking its cues from the understated and stylish aesthetic of Palm Springs, Oxford House - Paddington's first lifestyle hotel - recently opened its doors on the iconic inner-city strip of Oxford Street. Featuring all day street level dining, a first level poolside bar, OH! as the hotel is affectionately known, provides an urban oasis just a short stroll from the bustling street and nightlife.
Oxford House, Paddington Credit: Anson Smart
Taking its cues from the understated and stylish aesthetic of Palm Springs, Oxford House - Paddington's first lifestyle hotel - recently opened its doors on the iconic inner-city strip of Oxford Street. Featuring all day street level dining, a first level poolside bar, OH! as the hotel is affectionately known, provides an urban oasis just a short stroll from the bustling street and nightlife.
Hit refresh in a heated pool
Whether you’re ready to fire up your heartrate with a few fast laps of freestyle, or float away on a daydream, the water’s warm all year round at Sydney’s standout stays. Along the harbour’s edge, winter’s most decadent waterholes promise balmy temperatures, luxurious amenities and epic views – making every dip both rejuvenating and awe-inspiring.Dive into the decadence of Crown Sydney’s infinity pool, where 28°C waters, private poolside cabanas and a living postcard view across Barangaroo and the harbour set the scene for winter rejuvenation. Just an eight-minute walk away in Darling Harbour, W Sydney pairs sleek interiors with a futuristic façade and two inviting heated options: a 30m rooftop pool on Level 29, flanked by daybeds and Darling Harbour views, and a 24-hour indoor pool on Level 22.
The heated H2O highlights continue indoors. At the Shangri-La Sydney, if you can tear yourself away from the award-winning spa, sky-high dining and dreamy suites, the Health Club’s picturesque 13m pool awaits. At The Langham Sydney in Millers Point, a star-dappled ceiling elevates the tranquil ambience of its 20m indoor pool, while the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney offers a 15m pool tucked within beautifully reimagined heritage surrounds.
Warm your soul beside a roaring fireplace
Ranging from harbourside sanctuaries to boutique stays with inner-city flair, many Sydney hotels feature fireplaces to fire up your winter storytelling sessions. Be entranced by the flickering flames as you cosy up with a glass of red in the grand lobby of the Sir Stamford at Circular Quay – also renowned for its Juliette balconies, antique furnishings, exceptional art collection and lavish High Tea experiences. Or, take your fireside sessions to the Little National Hotel Sydney’s rooftop, where a circular fireplace is the inviting centrepiece of a charming lounge filled with oversized couches – a sumptuous setting to relax with friends and clink glasses at day’s end. Prefer a cosy night in, surrounded by icons? Treat yourself to a stay in the Park Hyatt Sydney’s extraordinary Sydney Suite. Not only does it have a private fireplace, it also boasts its own, exclusive outdoor terrace for panoramic views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, a spa bath, dry sauna, steam room, and, of course, butler service!
Crown Sydney, Barangaroo Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a coffee and harbour views from their luxurious Crown Towers hotel suite at Crown Sydney, Barangaroo.
Crown Sydney, Barangaroo Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a coffee and harbour views from their luxurious Crown Towers hotel suite at Crown Sydney, Barangaroo.
Little National Hotel, Sydney Credit: Little National Hotel
The rooftop lounge at the Little National, in Wynyard in Sydney.
Little National Hotel, Sydney Credit: Little National Hotel
The rooftop lounge at the Little National, in Wynyard in Sydney.