Streetscapes, The RocksCredit: Destination NSW
The Rocks Market along Playfair Street, The Rocks.
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Load up on seasonal produce, vintage finds and handmade arts and crafts at these popular weekend markets around Sydney. Pack your picnic rug to soak up the atmosphere and the sunshine.
Food and produce markets
Join the locals who make the weekly pilgrimage to Bondi Farmers Market, held every Saturday morning in the grounds of Bondi Public School. Enjoy a picnic breakfast on the lawns before stocking up on a great selection of quality, fresh produce direct from local farmers. On Sundays, head to the Bondi Markets to shop an eclectic mix of clothing, handmade jewellery, vinyl records and vintage homewares.
A 10-minute walk from Redfern Station, Carriageworks Farmers Market is held every Saturday in an industrial railway workshop dating back to the 1880s. This award-winning market features seasonal produce from over 70 farmers and artisan producers across NSW. Find organic and biodynamic produce, artisan bread, boutique wines, single-origin coffee, herbal teas, meat, eggs, fresh honey and freshly cut flowers.
Each Sunday morning, loyal visitors from across Sydney head to the Addison Road Community Centre in Marrickville for the Marrickville Organic Food Market. Stop by Brooklyn Boy Bagels for a poppy seed bagel with cream cheese, lox, dill and capers. Be sure to put aside some time to explore this diverse suburb, which has a vibrant music and art scene.
The bi-weekly Cambridge Markets EQ at the Entertainment Quarter in inner-city Moore Park offers produce and gourmet goods from more than 50 stallholders. Every Wednesday and Saturday you can find seasonal produce straight from the farm, beautiful fresh flowers, crafts and accessories and lots of delicious food.
Fashion, art and design markets
Held every Saturday morning, the Paddington Markets began trading in 1973, as a way to connect local fashion designers, craftspeople, jewellery makers and artists with the community. Nestled in the grounds of the heritage-listed Paddington Uniting Church on Paddington’s Oxford Street in the Eastern Suburbs, the market now has over 150 unique stalls selling everything from fashion and accessories to homewares and baked goods. Afterward, relax in the lovely Paddington Reservoir Gardens a quick stroll down the street.
In character-filled Glebe, in Sydney’s Inner West, the Glebe Markets is one of the city’s best-known markets for vintage wares and hand-crafted fashion, jewellery, accessories and art. It has become a local institution on Saturday mornings. Grab a bite from one of the many food stalls, such as gozleme, kebabs, dumplings or doughnuts, and kick back on the lawns to the sounds of local musicians.
At The Rocks Markets (Friday to Sunday), carefully curated artisanal wares, gourmet street food and harbourside views come together on Sydney's historic cobblestone streets. Meet local Sydney artists and photographers, sample handmade beauty products, or allow one of the many food vendors to fuel your hunger. The markets are within walking distance of the city centre and just footsteps from the ferries, trains and buses of Circular Quay.
Located at Milsons Point directly next to the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Kirribilli Markets offer one of the best views in Sydney. On Saturdays, the market features over 220 stalls selling new and recycled fashion along with accessories, antiques and collectables, and homewares. On Sundays, the market has a more of a focus on artisans, with stallholders offering art, design and emerging local fashion. Enjoy live music and international foods as you browse.
For an extensive selection of second-hand wares, bric-a-brac and antiques, head to the Rozelle Collectors Market in the Inner West suburb of Rozelle. The outdoor market has been running for more than 20 years and features food stalls, local providores and live entertainment. Afterward be sure to explore leafy Balmain, with its lovingly restored cottages and heritage pubs.
EQ Village Markets, Moore Park Credit: James Horan; Destination NSW
EQ Village Markets at the Entertainment Quarter at Moore Park
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EQ Village Markets, Moore Park Credit: James Horan; Destination NSW
EQ Village Markets at the Entertainment Quarter at Moore Park
Glebe Markets Credit: James Horan; Destination NSW
Glebe Point Road Markets, Glebe
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Glebe Markets Credit: James Horan; Destination NSW
Glebe Point Road Markets, Glebe
Specialty markets
On the third Sunday of every month, The Entertainment Quarter in Moore Park is transformed for the Sydney Vegan Market, a one-stop destination for all things plant-based, cruelty-free and vegan. Shop from around 100 committed vegan stalls and enjoy a line-up of entertainment and activities, such as free yoga, Pilates, mindfulness for kids and a free educational series of “TENT Talks”.
Dine on flavour-packed street food, such as yum cha, teppanyaki, sushi and pho, at the Friday Night Markets in Chinatown (Friday 4pm to 11pm). The markets reflect the culture, creativity and energy of Sydney’s thriving Chinatown precinct and allows revellers to taste their way through Asia, from Hong Kong to Hanoi. The market also showcases more than 50 stalls operated by students, presenting the works of local artists and designers with Asian heritage.
Experience the bustling atmosphere of Sydney Fish Market, a working fish market located on the harbour in Blackwattle Bay, Pyrmont, a 20 minute stroll from Darling Harbour. This is the largest market of its kind in the southern hemisphere, selling a range of seafood and fresh produce; also on-site are cafés, restaurants, a wholesale auction, and the Sydney Seafood School.
Paddington Markets, Paddington Credit: Destination NSW
Paddington Markets - over 150 Australian fashion, art, jewellery, homeware and food stalls on display each Saturday at Paddington Uniting Church.
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Paddington Markets, Paddington Credit: Destination NSW
Paddington Markets - over 150 Australian fashion, art, jewellery, homeware and food stalls on display each Saturday at Paddington Uniting Church.
Sydney Fish Market Credit: James Horan; Destination NSW
Outdoor dining at Sydney Fish Market, Pyrmont
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Sydney Fish Market Credit: James Horan; Destination NSW
Outdoor dining at Sydney Fish Market, Pyrmont
More Inspirational Stories
Art Gallery of New South Wales, SydneyCredit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying a visit the the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney.
#feelnewsydney #ilovesydney
Come alive with the possibilities as you delve into Sydney’s dynamic arts scene and cultural institutions. Feel moved as you immerse in striking contemporary artworks at public and private galleries, and take in cutting-edge performances and exhibitions across the city.
Be moved by must-see cultural landmarks
Marvel at the ‘sails’ of the Sydney Opera House as you approach this iconic performing arts venue, then join one of several fascinating tours on offer here. Discover the building’s unique history and construction on an Architectural Tour, or go behind the scenes on a Backstage Tour. See a show from an ever-changing program of theatre, dance and music in one of the venue’s many impressive performance spaces, then head to the Opera Bar to take in the front-of-house harbour view as you enjoy seasonal fare and a refreshing drink.
Appreciate the striking art deco façade and waterfront location of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA), across the water from the Sydney Opera House at Explore the diversity of Australian modern art as you view highlights of a collection of more than 4,000 works, including a significant body of works by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. Take time out and digest the wonderful works you’ve just seen as you enjoy panoramic views across Sydney Harbour from the museum’s rooftop café.
Feel far away from the bustle of the city centre as you enter the Domain parklands next to the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and make your way to the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the leading museum of art in the state. Step back in time to view colonial and 19th-century Australian works and European masters, as well as a dedicated gallery of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. Then explore Sydney Modern, the AGNSW’s dynamic new addition, to discover site-specific works by leading Australian and international artists.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoy a tour in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
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Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoy a tour in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, The Rocks Credit: Destination NSW
Friends arriving outside the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia in The Rocks, Sydney...Artwork: Moon in a Dew Drop.Artist: Lindy Lee
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Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, The Rocks Credit: Destination NSW
Friends arriving outside the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia in The Rocks, Sydney...Artwork: Moon in a Dew Drop.Artist: Lindy Lee
Immerse in art in cutting-edge galleries
Lose track of time as you explore a myriad of inner-Sydney art galleries. Delight in a dip into one of the world’s most significant collections of Chinese contemporary art at the White Rabbit Gallery in Chippendale, on the fringe of the city centre. Be intrigued by the selection from philanthropist Judith Neilson’s collection of almost 3,000 works created in China since 2000 by around 750 artists, before taking in the tranquil vibe at the gallery’s Teahouse as you snack on handmade dumplings and fine Chinese and Taiwanese tea. (You can also plan ahead and enter the ballot for tickets to cutting-edge performances at Phoenix Central Park, Judith Neilson’s risk-taking cultural centre a short walk from White Rabbit Gallery.)
Lean into the grand scale of Carriageworks, a multi-arts centre housed in expansive former railway workshops in Eveleigh, a five-minute drive or around a 15-minute walk from White Rabbit Gallery. Keep an eye on Carriageworks’ events page for visual arts exhibitions and new performance works.
Take your time exploring the many art galleries dotted around the hip inner-city suburb of Surry Hills. Enter the fascinating world of significant Australian artist Brett Whiteley at Brett Whiteley Studio, tucked away in a side street off Crown Street, one of the main streets running through Surry Hills. Take in the singular atmosphere of the late artist’s former home and workplace, with its unfinished paintings, art equipment, books and graffiti wall of quotes and images, and view one of the changing exhibitions of the artist’s works.
Find yourself challenged and stimulated by the conceptual and design-driven art at independent Surry Hills gallery China Heights, then take the short walk under the train tracks to 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art in Haymarket. Learn about the Asian diaspora in Australia via contemporary art at this fascinating gallery run by the non-profit Asian Australian Artists’ Association Inc.
Thrill to a sense of discovery as you find leading commercial art galleries tucked away in the leafy streets of Paddington in Sydney’s inner east. Roam the side streets of this fashionable suburb to find the likes of Saint Cloche, where gallery director Kitty Clark fosters the city’s emerging artistic talents; Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, one of the most influential commercial art galleries in Australia; and Olsen, founded by Tim Olsen to represent the late John Olsen, one of the country’s greatest painters, and showcase contemporary Australian artists.
White Rabbit Gallery, Chippendale Credit: Destination NSW
Women walking through an exhibition at the White Rabbit Gallery, Chippendale.
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White Rabbit Gallery, Chippendale Credit: Destination NSW
Women walking through an exhibition at the White Rabbit Gallery, Chippendale.
Brett Whiteley Studio, Surry Hills Credit: James Horan; Destination NSW
Brett Whiteley Studio in Surry Hills
#feelnewsydney #ilovesydney
Brett Whiteley Studio, Surry Hills Credit: James Horan; Destination NSW
Brett Whiteley Studio in Surry Hills