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Darling Harbour
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Darling Harbour

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See all things to do
Darling Harbour
4.5
About
Scenic entertainment complex that features shops, restaurants, museums and other tourist attractions.
Suggested duration
2-3 hours
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The area
How to get there
  • Town Hall • 8 min walk
  • Wynyard • 9 min walk
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
4,660 within 3 miles
The Ternary
905
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Asian • Grill • Australian
Caffe' Amici
281
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Italian • Pizza • Cafe
The Baxter Inn
897
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Pub
Fortune Village Chinese Restaurant
868
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Chinese • Asian • Cantonese
Medusa Greek Taverna
1,353
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Mediterranean • Greek • Vegetarian Friendly
Little Snail
1,012
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • French • European • Vegetarian Friendly
Primi Italian
116
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Italian • Pizza • Neapolitan
Atelier by Sofitel
662
0.2 mi$$$$ • French • European • Grill
The Malaya
1,301
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Asian • Malaysian • Vegetarian Friendly
Social Brew Cafe
539
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Cafe • Australian • Vegetarian Friendly
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Attractions
780 within 6 miles
Madame Tussauds Sydney
1,813
514 ftSpeciality Museums
Pyrmont Bridge
122
0.1 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Bridges
Bradleys Head Trail
69
0.1 miNational Parks • Hiking Trails
WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo
1,978
0.1 miZoos
Welcome Wall
19
419 ftPoints of Interest & Landmarks
Sea Life Sydney
44
508 ftAquariums
Sea Life Sydney Aquarium
5,015
0.1 miAquariums
Dancing Brolgas Fountain
1
458 ftFountains
Cockle Bay Wharf
247
0.1 miNeighborhoods • Piers & Boardwalks
Australian National Maritime Museum
2,073
0.2 miSpeciality Museums
See all
See what travelers are saying
  • JackofPBFL
    Palm Bay, Florida1,270 contributions
    Nice harbor.
    We went to darling harbor this morning when we had some time to kill as it was close to our hotel. We were wanting to sit outside somewhere and have a coffee and we’re disappointed that there was nothing open until around noon time. It is a pretty harbor to look at and the Maritime Museum is located there. This evening they had fireworks that we could see from our hotel room by watching them reflect off of another building. They lasted about 15 minutes.
    Visited December 2022
    Traveled as a couple
    Written December 9, 2022
  • dilip m
    Pune, India317 contributions
    Darling Harbour
    Darling harbour is made up of a large recreational and pedestrian precinct that is situated on western outskirts of the Sydney central business district. It has many bars, restaurants and cafés to offer. There are many tourist attractions in and around the cove. Prominent are International Convention Centre, Sydney, Australian Maritime Museum, Sydney Aquarium, IMAX theatre, etc. Pyrmont Bridge across Cockle Bay is one of the oldest operating wingspan bridges in Australia and was built over a century ago. Today over 5 million pedestrians cross it every year, because it offers the best view of Darling Harbour at night across the harbour to the city’s twinkling lights.
    Visited November 2022
    Traveled as a couple
    Written December 11, 2022
  • Dan L
    Bunbury, Australia7,271 contributions
    Great tourist area
    Our hotel was located in Murray Street, a short walk to Pyrmont Bridge and views of Darling Harbour from this vantage point. Great restaurants and we luckily sampled the offerings at a number, numerous bars and other attractions including Madame Tussauds, Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, Sydney Wildlife World, National Maritime Museum, Welcome Wall, Chinese Gardens, boardwalks, ferry services and a plethora of watercraft. Not much shopping on offer, most of Harbourside Shopping Centre vacant and scheduled for redevelopment. The area is much changed since my last visit in 1986 when rehabilitation and development of the area had just commenced.
    Visited November 2022
    Written December 11, 2022
  • ramAustralia2018
    Greater Sydney, Australia211 contributions
    Much Better Now
    This location has improved dramatically since the construction nearby and on it has finally finished. Many restaurants and many new restaurants not yet listed on Trip Advisor yet. Prices are usually competitive and so it the food and service. Poor restaurants and bars just don't survive the extreme competition (and rents) of this high traffic location.
    Visited December 2022
    Traveled on business
    Written December 14, 2022
  • Ron H
    Columbia, South Carolina288 contributions
    Major renovations to come
    Apparently they are planning some major renovations/rebuild for the area. Much of it is closed and boarded up. Many restaurants are open on the city center side, but that's about. It was a nice walk around the water and viewing the skyline but that was about it.
    Visited January 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written January 25, 2023
  • Emlen Dudenie
    Sydney, Australia1 contribution
    A beautiful place
    If you're looking for a place to have fun, relax and enjoy the views of Sydney, then Darling Harbour is the place for you. It's named after a governor who was so darling that he named it after himself. You can find all kinds of attractions here, from museums and aquariums to casinos and ferris wheels. You can also eat and drink at some of the best restaurants and bars in town, or just chill at one of the many cafes and watch the world go by. Darling Harbour is so darling that you'll never want to leave.
    Visited March 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written March 7, 2023
  • Ansell Parradine
    Sydney, Australia3 contributions
    Very beautiful and impressive
    A vibrant destination for recreational and cultural activities in Sydney. It offers a variety of attractions, such as museums, aquariums, gardens and entertainment venues. Darling Harbour is also accessible by public transport, ferry or footbridge from the city centre.
    Visited March 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written March 7, 2023
  • Aubrie Annon
    Sydney, Australia5 contributions
    Nice scenery
    Vibrant and lively destination in Sydney, Australia. It offers a diverse range of entertaining attractions, such as museums, aquariums, gardens and restaurants. Whether you are looking for culture, nature or fun, Darling Harbour has something for everyone.
    Visited March 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written March 7, 2023
  • marriott946
    London, United Kingdom666 contributions
    To Rival Pier 39 San Francisco
    What a great harbour this is as the industrial side has gone. Grand Maritime Museum, Sea Life, restaurants and so much more. Surely nobody visits Sidney without coming here. And don't forget the fireworks on Saturday evenings!
    Visited March 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written March 14, 2023
  • Rajan 👍
    Hamilton, New Zealand3 contributions
    Nice place, nice view
    An iconic destination with a bustling atmosphere and picturesque views. From the lively markets to the lively waterfront, there is something for everyone to enjoy. With great restaurants, shopping and entertainment, it is the perfect spot to spend the day. The views are stunning, and it is the perfect place to take some amazing pictures. Highly recommended!
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 5, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
11,386 reviews
Excellent
6,771
Very good
3,564
Average
817
Poor
179
Terrible
56
jenny j
Canberra, Australia26 contributions
Great walkable location for restaurants
Feb 2020
Stayed at the Adina Apartments in King St (entrance on Shelley St) - cross the road and you are right in Darling Harbour where there is easy and flat walking. There is a huge choice of restaurants/bars. Many are a bit on the expensive side but some offer very reasonable prices. For a really fabulous seafood meal try Nick's Seafood Restaurant at the Cockle Bay Wharf end of Darling Harbour - best seafood we have had in a long time; they really know how to cook calamari. It is easy to walk to Barangaroo from Darling Harbour, or to walk into the city over the walkway at the end of Shelley/King Sts (there is a lift as well as stairs). You can catch the ferry from Darling Harbour at Wharf 1 or 2 to Circular Quay, Balmain, even to Parramatta.
Written February 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Darlene J
14 contributions
A reasonable area to visit.
Jan 2020
If it wasn't for the access of a couple of things we wanted to see here I don't think I would bother coming back here. Whilst we came in Summer, Sydney put on a drizzly day. - if you didn't have a rain coat (too hot for one) or umbrella there was no major area to take dry cover. Crossing over the bridge we found a shopping centre which did keep us dry but shopping wasn't in the game plan. When the drizzle stopped we did enjoy visiting the Maritime museum and spent a good couple hours here. Madam Tasseuds, Sea Life & Wild Life Sydney Zoo are there to visit as well. Gondolas, Cruises and other boat activities are docked in the wharf. Food areas are more to one side of the bridge. The dock side is more travel kiosks. Just depends on what you are wanting to do there depends on your thoughts though. I found Sydney Harbour more fun
Written March 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pdhgirl
Sydney, Australia130 contributions
Lovely views!
Jan 2020
We come into the city quite often and this is our 4th time coming into Darling Harbour to celebrate Australia Day. No problem finding seating in the morning but was a very hot day so more shade could have been installed. We stayed mostly at the Watershed Hotel/Pub which was opposite the stage for live music on the day. What a shame it played mostly latino music for Australia Day!....while we enjoy a lot of different music this was not really enjoyable and there was no Aussie band playing at all! Even the DJ who came on later played all random nightclub stuff which no one enjoyed as there were lot's of complaining where we were. A small amount of water ski displays were shown with no fireworks (as previous years)...well not near the harbourside area anyway. We usually enjoy the ambience of Australia Day in Darling Harbour but this year was a fail. Probably not going to return to this area again anytime soon.
Written January 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shane T
Sydney, Australia819 contributions
Family queen’s birthday adventure
May 2021 • Friends
Took the kids on what we called an adventure. Caught the bus and train to darling harbour. Would of preferred to drive as it would if knocked 2 hours of our return trip but public transported it for the kids.
Plenty to do as we first let the kids play on the playground which is packed but ample size to play comfortably. If it was summer they could play in the water features but too cold yet some kids were in the water still. There was a festival for kids which included a ice rink but queues were to great to bother so we went to the maritime museum to go on the ships. These were great fun for the kids unfortunately the submarine was already booked out so maybe next time.
Lots to do but time got away from us. Advice if you want to eat in a restaurant there book ahead as we had to eat in the food hall as all restaurants were booked out with waiting times 1 hour +
Written June 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kerry Werchon
Adelaide, Australia96 contributions
Visit to Darling Harbour
Jan 2020
My 12 year old grandson, Anton and I took a train in from Mascot Tain station to Sydney city. The train ride was smooth and efficient being double story. There were lots of people and the train stations can be like rabbit warrens but so long as you have your phone charged, you could find your way around, and attendants were happy to help with the navigation. From Sydney Central train station we navigated our way through the Queen Victoria Building and viewed the Sydney Eye Tower. We then asked for directions from a street side fruit seller and we took the short walk to Darling Harbour. There were people climbing one of the buildings which was briefly entertaining to watch. We then made our way over the bridge to the Australian Maritime Museum. It was a beautiful sunny day and people were walking around enjoying the environment. I had been to Darling Harbour a few times before, the last in 2012 with my daughter, Yaz, when we stayed at the lovely Novotel Hotel. We visited lively restaurants with great service while we were there and also Madam Tassaulds museum. The late night visit to play a game of ten pin bowling with champagne on ice was a real treat! Before that, we visited in 2002 when going to the nearby Chinese gardens which was lovely and had huge goldfish.
Written July 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SimonTaylor13
Griffith, Australia23 contributions
Great location, plenty of attractions, easy to get to
Jan 2020 • Family
Spent about 2 days of our 5 day trip here.

It’s very busy however is great for families, the shopping centre has a good variety of food to fill the family up.

There was a neat little bungy jump type ride in the food caught, my 9 year old loved it, pity it wasn’t there on Tuesday when the kids wanted more!

The maritime museum eats a fair amount of time, as do the other attractions on the other side.

Watching Pyrmont bridge spin around was great too.
Written January 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kdr07
Sydney, Australia72 contributions
plenty to do in a everchanging environment
Jan 2020
loads of restaurants. The eateries vary in price so whatever is your budget you can find a nice place to eat at any time of the day. Darling Harbour accomodates for the young and the old and it can get pretty full on the weekend with loads of people walking along its promenade. There are clubs and bars and kids fun there is fun for everyone. Tourist attractions and also souvenirs to buy. Its a great place to be the vibe is magical.
There are plenty of hotels to stay at at a good price and your location to the Casino is just perfect a block away so entertainment is definately at your fingertips in this location.
Written January 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Loveagreathotel
Hobart, Tasmania489 contributions
Great Location. A lot of restaurants not open or on limited times
Apr 2021
Staying in Darling Harbour is great if attending the Convention Centre. Lots of hotels to select from. Restaurants are starting to go back to normal but be aware lots of either not opened or have restricted hours or days. The Harbourside Shopping Centre is very quiet and several stores not opened or closed. All part of the effects of Covid.
There is a light rail that goes to Central Station however does not go into the City Centre however it is a $10 Taxi Fare to the Centre of town.
Written April 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Edgewood48
Llangollen, UK331 contributions
Stunning
Mar 2020 • Couples
What a fantastic place this is. Waterside restaurants and bars. The Maritine Museum is worth spending a couple of hours with the destroyer and the submarine. Dont miss the wall showing details of immigrants and some quotations. Madam Tussauds and the Aquarium, we felt were far too expensive.
There is so much to do and see in this area with access from the L1 Tram, ferry boats from Circular Quay and walking from near China Town. A lively interesting place during the day and lovely restaurants at night.
Written March 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MonanMatt
Adelaide, Australia144 contributions
Convenient area to stay in
Jun 2019
We stayed in an apartment just of Murray St, it accommodated 5 Adults easily The local shopping centre Harbourside has most things you need and there is a Coles Supermarket around the corner across the road from the Star Casino. All of this is within a 10 minute walk. You can get on the Light Rail (Tram) to go into the city, take the ferry around to Circular Quay under the Harbour Bridge or walk (approx 20 min walk to Pitt St) central shopping district being mindful that there are quite a lot of hills.
Written February 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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