Shopping · Sydney · Australia
Shopping in Sydney
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Maksym Kozlenko, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Sydney shopping runs from the Victorian arcades and department stores of the CBD to fashion boutiques in Paddington and weekend markets in The Rocks, Paddington and Glebe. Most shops open seven days, and Thursday is the traditional late-shopping night. Best souvenirs: Aboriginal art, Opals and Native-botanical skincare.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 4
- Top souvenir
- Aboriginal art
Where to shop
Pitt Street Mall and the QVB
The CBD's main shopping strip, with the QVB, the Strand Arcade, Westfield Sydney and the David Jones and Myer department stores within a few blocks.
Paddington
Australian fashion labels, bookshops and galleries along Oxford Street and William Street.
Newtown
Vintage clothing, record stores and independent bookshops along King Street.
Bondi
Surf and swimwear labels near the beach, with a large shopping centre at Bondi Junction.
Markets
The Rocks Markets
Craft, design and food stalls under white canopies on George Street in The Rocks at weekends.
Paddington Markets
A long-running Saturday market in the grounds of the Paddington Uniting Church on Oxford Street, known for local designers.
Glebe Markets
A Saturday market in the grounds of Glebe Public School with vintage clothes, crafts and food stalls.
Paddy's Markets
A large indoor market in Haymarket selling souvenirs, clothing and fresh produce.
What to buy
Aboriginal art
Buy from galleries and museum shops that work with community art centres and name the artist; the MCA and Art Gallery of NSW shops are good starting points.
Opals
Australia is the main source of precious opal; reputable jewellers explain the difference between solid opals, doublets and triplets.
Native-botanical skincare
Australian skincare made with ingredients such as Kakadu plum and lemon myrtle is sold in pharmacies and boutiques.
Sheepskin boots and merino wool
Sheepskin boots and merino knitwear are sold across the CBD; check the label for Australian-made products.
Supermarket classics
Tim Tam biscuits, Vegemite and macadamia nuts are light, cheap gifts from any supermarket.
Streets and markets worth a wander
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Neighbourhood · The Rocks
The Rocks
Sydney's oldest European neighbourhood is a tight grid of sandstone lanes, stairs and 19th-century pubs below the southern end of the Harbour Bridge.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Food
- Shopping
- Architecture
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Architecture · Sydney CBD
Queen Victoria Building
The QVB fills a whole block of George Street with a Romanesque Revival arcade completed in 1898, crowned by a copper dome and lit by stained glass.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Architecture
- Shopping
- Free
- Rainy day
- History
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Meat pie, Flat white, Manoush and Pavlova. Bakeries across the city, Harry's Café de Wheels in Woolloomooloo, and at any rugby league or AFL match. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | $$$ | Waterfront promenades, the aquarium and family attractions west of the CBD |
| Surry Hills | $$$ | Victorian terraces, small bars and some of Sydney's best restaurants south of the CBD |
| Potts Point and Darlinghurst | $$$ | Art Deco apartment blocks, wine bars and leafy streets just east of the city |
| Newtown | $$ | Student energy, live music and good-value food on King Street in the inner west |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in AUD. Tipping is not expected because hospitality wages are relatively high. Leaving about 10% at a sit-down restaurant for good service is appreciated but optional, and tipping at cafés and bars is uncommon.
- Wear a top in cafés, shops and on public transport even near the beach; swimwear stays on the sand.
- BYO restaurants let you bring a bottle from a bottle shop, which costs far less than ordering wine.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in July–August; the busiest months are December–January.
- January: Sydney Festival — arts events across the city (usually most of January)
- 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)
- May: Sydney Writers' Festival (usually May)
- June: Sydney Film Festival (usually June)
- September: Festival of the Winds — kite festival at Bondi Beach (usually September)
Staying near the shops
$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping and solo travellers
Sydney CBD
Office towers, Victorian arcades and the car-free light rail along George Street
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Sydney?
Aboriginal art, Opals, Native-botanical skincare and Sheepskin boots and merino wool.
+Where is the best shopping in Sydney?
Pitt Street Mall and the QVB: The CBD's main shopping strip, with the QVB, the Strand Arcade, Westfield Sydney and the David Jones and Myer department stores within a few blocks.
+What are the best markets in Sydney?
The Rocks Markets, Paddington Markets, Glebe Markets and Paddy's Markets.