Rainy day · Sydney · Australia
6 things to do in Sydney when it rains
Indoor sights that make a wet day feel planned rather than lost.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Coekon, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Art Gallery of New South Wales, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia and Australian Museum. Together the 6 picks below take roughly 9–11 hours across 6 areas; 4 are free. March is usually the wettest month, with about 10 rainy days.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 6
- Free entry
- 4
- Time to see them all
- 9–11 hours
- Areas
- The Domain, Circular Quay and Hyde Park
Sydney on a rainy day
Gallery · The Domain
1.Art Gallery of New South Wales
Walk the short path between the two buildings and finish on the newer building's outdoor terraces, which look across Woolloomooloo to the Finger Wharf.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Gallery · Circular Quay
2.Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
Pair it with a wander through The Rocks next door; it is also the obvious shelter when a summer thunderstorm rolls in.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Rainy day
- Views
Museum · Hyde Park
3.Australian Museum
Combine it with a walk across Hyde Park to St Mary's Cathedral and the Hyde Park Barracks on Macquarie Street.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Free
- Rainy day
- History
- Nature
Historic site · Macquarie Street
4.Hyde Park Barracks
Don't skip the top floor, where rows of hammocks recreate the convicts' crowded sleeping quarters.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Aquarium · Darling Harbour
5.SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium
Go at opening time or late in the afternoon; school groups and holiday crowds peak around midday.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
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Architecture · Sydney CBD
6.Queen Victoria Building
Use the underground walkway that links the QVB with Town Hall station for a dry route across the CBD on a wet day.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Architecture
- Shopping
- Free
- Rainy day
- History
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| The Domain | Art Gallery of New South Wales | 2–3 hours |
| Circular Quay | Museum of Contemporary Art Australia | 1–2 hours |
| Hyde Park | Australian Museum | 2 hours |
| Macquarie Street | Hyde Park Barracks | 1–1.5 hours |
| Darling Harbour | SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium | 2 hours |
| Sydney CBD | Queen Victoria Building | 45 minutes |
Booking and timing
Of these 6, 4 free, 1 low cost, 1 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Art Gallery of New South Wales; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (The Domain and Circular Quay): Art Gallery of New South Wales → Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Hyde Park and Macquarie Street): Australian Museum → Hyde Park Barracks, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Darling Harbour and Sydney CBD): SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium → Queen Victoria Building, at least 3 hours.
The wettest months
- March: highs of 25°C (77°F), about 10 rainy days, busy crowds. Still warm and good for swimming, though humid and among the wetter months; crowds thin after the summer holidays.
- February: highs of 26°C (79°F), about 9 rainy days, busy crowds. Hot and humid with the warmest sea of the year; schools are back, so beaches are calmer on weekdays.
- June: highs of 18°C (64°F), about 9 rainy days, moderate crowds. Winter begins with mild sunny days and cold nights; Vivid Sydney draws big evening crowds to Circular Quay and Darling Harbour.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Circular Quay and The Rocks — Sandstone lanes, historic pubs and the ferry hub between the Opera House and the Bridge
- Sydney CBD — Office towers, Victorian arcades and the car-free light rail along George Street
- Darling Harbour and Pyrmont — Waterfront promenades, the aquarium and family attractions west of the CBD
- Potts Point and Darlinghurst — Art Deco apartment blocks, wine bars and leafy streets just east of the city
More of Sydney
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Sydney?
Art Gallery of New South Wales. The gallery spans two buildings in the Domain parkland: the sandstone original with Australian, European and Asian collections, and the newer Sydney Modern building, opened in 2022 with terraces over Woolloomooloo Bay.
+Which of these are free in Sydney?
Art Gallery of New South Wales, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Australian Museum and Queen Victoria Building.