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There’s no doubt that the Christmas to New Year’s period is the most popular time of year for international travellers to Sydney.
It’s an exciting time to visit our beautiful city, but also the busiest. So, what’s Christmas time like in Sydney? What’s open on Christmas Day and what’s not? What’s the best way to spend the day? Here, we break down everything you need to know.
Being Southern Hemisphere summer, it can get very hot in Sydney where temperatures can potentially rise to above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), and humidity can be in the 80 – 90% range. So, it’s important to keep yourself well hydrated, and wear sun lotion (high SPF 50+), and sun-protective clothing and sunglasses, especially around the glare of the harbour (which thankfully will generally offer a nice breeze).
That said, Christmas Day weather can be temperamental, and a little “four-seasons-in-one day” at times, but fingers crossed for a lovely, sunny day.
What’s great about this time of year too is that it’s daylight saving time, so you get more hours in the day to enjoy the city with daylight generally lasting until after 8pm.
For more on visiting Sydney in summer and other seasons, see our guide on the Best Time to Visit Sydney.
Without a doubt, Christmas Day is one of the busiest days of the year at Sydney’s major beaches (the other main one being New Year’s Day), when Sydneysiders and tourists flock to the likes of famous Bondi Beach for some serious sun, sand and surf. So, if you’re planning a beach Christmas, it’s a good idea to head there early and claim your patch of sand.
Like we mentioned earlier, it can get very hot and humid this time of year in Sydney, so again, make sure you’re well hydrated and come well stocked with suntan lotion so you don’t end up looking like a Christmas lunch lobster! And grab a beach umbrella too if you can for shade.
Also, be sure to swim between the red and yellow flags which symbolise where it’s safe to swim. Dangerous riptides are at play which often catch tourists (and also Aussies), off guard. And, not to be alarmist, but warmer weather means warmer water which can attract more sharks closer to the coast. So be sure to listen out for lifeguard announcements for possible shark sightings.
Despite it being Christmas Day, some major Sydney attractions around the Sydney harbour will remain open, some offering special festive events. Take a Christmas climb on the Sydney Harbour Bridge with BridgeClimb, where you may just get a chance to take a pic with Santa if he swings by, some 134 metres above the harbour. Or head to Taronga Zoo for a Christmas buffet before touring the zoo’s wildlife. And dine amongst the sails of the Sydney Opera House with a three-course meal of fine cuisine at Bennelong Restaurant. (But note that the rest of the Opera House, including for performances and Sydney Opera House tours, will be closed on Christmas Day).
Taking a lunch cruise is also a great way to see the Harbour on Christmas Day and you can even up the lux factor with lunch on superyacht! Or go thrifty with a self-cruise on the harbour on a famous Sydney ferry, with the main departure terminal located at Circular Quay.
Sydney knows how to light up for the Christmas season so it’s a great time for a night stroll to check out all the decorations. A centrepiece is the opulent giant Christmas tree in Martin Place where you can enjoy carol singing, and a festive light and music show every 15 minutes from 8pm. And take a walk under the Canopy of Light in Pitt St Mall, featuring 80,000 lights and 10 huge stars.
Over at St Mary’s Cathedral, opposite Hyde Park, the Gothic Revival architecture becomes the backdrop for festive projections in the nightly lightshow at 8.30pm. They’ll also be food and gift stores as well as festive performances. The Woolworths building, opposite Town Hall on George and Druitt Streets, meanwhile will be covered in a sparkly LED light curtain comprised of over 90,000 lights and on show from 7.30pm nightly. And down at Darling Harbour, experience the razzle-dazzle of the floating Christmas tree.
Although Sydney’s beautiful, heritage-listed Queen Victoria Building won’t be open on Christmas Day, do try and visit another day to take in the opulent decorations featuring a massive, floors-spanning Christmas tree, said to be Australia’s largest indoor Christmas tree.
The Australian Museum, Art Gallery of NSW, amusement park Luna Park, Sydney Tower Eye, and Chinese Garden of Friendship will be closed on Christmas Day.
Other attractions such as Wild Life Sydney Zoo, Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, Madame Tussauds Sydney, IMAX Sydney and CBD cinemas remain open. Use our handy Sydney Travel Ideas and Tips page with links through to attraction websites where you can book tickets and check on opening hours as some attractions may be operating on reduced hours on Christmas Day.
Public transport generally runs on a reduced public holiday schedule on Christmas Day, so there may be less services than normal but still plenty of ways to get around, from trains to buses, light rail to ferries. Keep in mind that train trackwork from December 26-30 may impact some services in the city, so it’s a good idea to check the Transport NSW website for updates. The Trip Planner section on the site is also a great way to plan your public transport journey around the city.
While they’ll be plenty of restaurants closed on Christmas Day, there are still heaps of options for a fine festive meal. A little taste: head to Chinatown in Haymarket for yum cha at Royal Palace Seafood, enjoy a sumptuous set menu Christmas lunch at Woodcut in Crown Sydney at Barangaroo, try some Italian Japanese fusion cuisine at LuMi in Pyrmont, or a Greek feast at Etheus at Bondi Beach. For those restaurants that are open, be aware that they’ll generally be a public holiday surcharge in place. We recommend booking if that’s an option.
You’ll find some cafes will be open across the CBD and inner-city suburbs, generally at reduced hours, for a coffee break too. Pick up a yummy jam doughnut and a coffee at Shuk (The Rocks, Bondi, Surry Hills, Elizabeth Bay), a fresh meat pie at Lode Pies in Surry Hills, sip a coffee in style at Parlour at QT Sydney Hotel on Market St in the CBD, or enjoy a fusion croissant at Boon Cafe & Restaurant in Haymarket.
In general, major retail stores are closed on Christmas Day. Likewise with grocery stores, so it’s a good idea to stock up on essentials if need be (that said, you may find that some smaller, independent grocery stores will be open). Some petrol stations, convenience stores and pharmacies will remain open.
So, pardon the pun, but that’s a wrap! The YSG team wishes all our valued guests past, present and future, a very Happy Christmas and a particularly sparkly one if you’re visiting Sydney over Christmas time.
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