Best time to visit · Sydney · Australia
The best time to visit Sydney
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bidgee, CC BY-SA 3.0 au
Quick answer
The best times to visit Sydney are September to November and March to April, when days are warm, the harbour is calm and hotels cost less than in summer. December to February is beach season but also the busiest and most expensive period, peaking at New Year's Eve. Winter (June to August) is mild and sunny, good for walks, whale watching and Vivid Sydney, though too cool for most people to swim.
Key facts
- Best months
- March–April and September–November
- Shoulder season
- February, May and December
- Warmest month
- January (avg high 26°C (79°F))
- Coldest month
- July (avg high 17°C (63°F))
- Rainiest month
- March (~10 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- July–August
Seasons
Sydney has a humid subtropical climate: warm to hot summers with occasional heatwaves and thunderstorms, and mild, mostly sunny winters. Rain falls year-round, with the wettest spells usually between February and June.
December–February
Summer
Hot beach days, warm sea and long evenings, but also peak crowds and prices, school holidays, humidity and occasional heatwaves and storms.
March–May
Autumn
Warm, settled weather and a still-swimmable sea in March and April, cooling into crisp sunny days in May as whale season begins.
June–August
Winter
Mild sunny days and cold nights, low hotel rates, Vivid Sydney in early June and humpback whales along the coast.
September–November
Spring
Dry, warm weather, outdoor dining, Sculpture by the Sea and jacaranda blossom, before summer prices arrive in December.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Sea | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26°C | 19°C | 8 | 23°C | 14.2 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| February | 26°C | 19°C | 9 | 24°C | 13.4 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| March | 25°C | 18°C | 10 | 23°C | 12.4 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| April | 23°C | 15°C | 8 | 22°C | 11.3 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| May | 20°C | 12°C | 8 | 20°C | 10.4 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| June | 18°C | 9°C | 9 | 19°C | 9.9 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| July | 17°C | 8°C | 7 | 18°C | 10.1 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| August | 18°C | 9°C | 6 | 17°C | 10.9 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| September | 21°C | 11°C | 6 | 18°C | 11.9 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| October | 23°C | 14°C | 8 | 19°C | 13 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| November | 24°C | 16°C | 8 | 20°C | 13.9 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| December | 26°C | 17°C | 8 | 22°C | 14.4 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Sydney Festival — arts events across the city (usually most of January); Australia Day — harbour events and fireworks (26 January); Lunar New Year celebrations in Haymarket (late January or February) |
| February | Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras festival (February into early March; parade usually late February or early March) |
| March | Mardi Gras parade on Oxford Street (some years in early March); Sydney Royal Easter Show at Sydney Olympic Park (around Easter) |
| April | Sydney Royal Easter Show (around Easter); Anzac Day dawn service at the Martin Place Cenotaph (25 April) |
| May | Sydney Writers' Festival (usually May); Vivid Sydney — light projections around the harbour (usually late May to mid-June) |
| June | Vivid Sydney (usually until mid-June); Sydney Film Festival (usually June) |
| August | City2Surf — mass fun run from the CBD to Bondi (usually the second Sunday of August); Sydney Marathon (usually late August or September) |
| September | Festival of the Winds — kite festival at Bondi Beach (usually September) |
| October | Sculpture by the Sea — outdoor art on the Bondi to Tamarama walk (usually late October to early November) |
| November | Sculpture by the Sea (usually until early November) |
| December | Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race start on the harbour (26 December); New Year's Eve fireworks over the Harbour Bridge (31 December) |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in July–August, and the sights are quietest in July–August.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Summer | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Autumn | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Winter | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Spring | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Sydney?
The best times to visit Sydney are September to November and March to April, when days are warm, the harbour is calm and hotels cost less than in summer. December to February is beach season but also the busiest and most expensive period, peaking at New Year's Eve. Winter (June to August) is mild and sunny, good for walks, whale watching and Vivid Sydney, though too cool for most people to swim.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Sydney?
Usually in July–August. The coolest month but still mostly sunny; museums are quiet outside the school holidays, and humpback whales pass along the coast.
+What is the rainiest month in Sydney?
March, with about 10 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Sydney get?
The warmest month, January, averages highs of 26°C (79°F) and lows of 19°C (66°F).