14 Sydney Museums For a Brilliant Day Out

Don’t wait for a rainy day to lose yourself in a Sydney museum crammed with insight into life well before our time.

You don’t have to be a history buff to get swept up in the rare and wonderful memorabilia showcased within Sydney’s best museums. From ocean-navigating vessels and iconic sporting keepsakes to historical artefacts out of The Rocks, home to one of Sydney’s best markets, any given Sydney museum is a guaranteed good time.

1. Museum of Sydney

Best for: Cultural insight into First Nations people.

Nestled within the sandstone precinct of the city’s CBD, Museum of Sydney provides a comprehensive look at the structures, people and events that have shaped Sydney. Built over the remains of the city’s First Government House, this Sydney museum invites people of all ages to soak up beautifully curated exhibitions.

Determined to shed light on and broaden education into First Nations culture, programs focus on First Nations history and the museum itself is currently planning a transformation into a dedicated First Nations cultural space. Entry is free and if you have littlies in tow, there’s a great Kids’ Trail that charts tales from First Government House.

two people entering the Museum of Sydney — Learn more about the First Nations people at the Museum of Sydney.

Opening hours: 10am to 5pm, daily.
Address: Corner Phillip and Bridge Streets, Sydney

2. Justice & Police Museum

Best for: Gory details into Sydney’s most notorious crimes.

Sucker for true crime? The Justice & Police Museum in Sydney’s CBD houses a juicy treasure trove of stories and artefacts tracing the city’s most guilty. Spread across a former copshop and two courtrooms, the extraordinary Sydney museum was originally built in the 1850s and its historical relics go as far back as the bushranger era.

the police court at Justice & Police Museum — The Justice & Police Museum houses a police court and police station.

You’ll see vintage weaponry, mug shots and crime scene snaps up close and personal, plus you’ll also learn about the technological advances revolutionising Sydney’s current police force. There’s also original 1800s holding cells to explore in the flesh. Entry is free and children under the age of 15 must be accompanied by an adult.

portraits on the wall inside Justice & Police Museum — Step into the gory history of crime at the Justice & Police Museum.

Opening hours: 10am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday.
Address: Corner Albert and Phillip Streets, Sydney

3. Australian Museum

Best for: Priceless artefacts and an ongoing schedule of activities.

Celebrating all things science and nature within Australia, the Australian Museum is a mecca of wonder. You won’t miss it on approach — its grand sandstone structure, the country’s very first museum built in the 1850s, looms from the corner of Sydney’s CBD.

a group of visitors admiring a display inside Australian Museum — Marvel at the exhibitions within the Australian Museum. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Home to more than 21 million scientific specimens and extraordinary objects collected over time, there’s always something special happening to underpin its charms. Think meditation classes, animal yoga, after-hour talks and interactive playgroups for bubs. Plus, there’s always a stellar line-up of visiting attractions including this year’s Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru, exhibition.

a group of visitors inside First Australians Gallery in the Australian Museum — You’ll find extraordinary displays and installations inside. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Opening hours: 10am to 5pm, daily
Address: 1 William Street, Sydney

4. Hyde Park Barracks Museum

Best for: Learning about Australia’s convict history.

The historic site of Hyde Park Barracks Museum was originally constructed to house convicts but these days, it’s a Sydney museum that pays tribute to the thousands of citizens it sheltered as well as the First Nations community affected by Australian colonialism.

two people inside Hyde Park Barracks Museum — Explore the heritage-listed Hyde Park Barracks Museum. (Image: James Horan)

Self-guided tours throughout its beautiful restoration, dotted with artefacts stored in glass cases, shed significant light on our history and there’s also a very active educational program for school children.

artwork and displays at the UNESCO world heritage-listed Hyde Park Barracks, Sydney — Absorb yourself in the fascinating artworks and displays in Hyde Park Barracks. (Image: Destination NSW)

Opening hours: 10am to 6pm, daily.
Address: Queens Square, Macquarie Street, Sydney

5. Australian National Maritime Museum

Best for: Oceanic memorabilia and mighty impressive vessels.

Dubbed Australia’s Museum of the Sea, the Australian National Maritime Museum explores everything that floats, sails and swims in the country and beyond. Our maritime history is thoroughly charted inside the Darling Harbour complex which encompasses three navy vessels you can jump on board to discover the history of the Royal Australian Navy.

a family exploring the HMB Endeavour, an Australian-built replica of James Cook's ship on exhibit at the Australian National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbou — See the Australian-built replica of James Cook’s ship on exhibit at the Australian National Maritime Museum. (Image: Destination NSW)

The Sydney museum also owns a fleet of tall ships, a Cold War submarine and restored ancient boats that scatter the harbour. There’s always plenty of interactive activity happening inside the main building with exhibitions curated for children and adults. Tickets start from $25 for adults, $15 for children over 4-15 and free for infants under four.

a family onboard an Australian-built replica of James Cook's ship at Australian National Maritime Museum — Jump onboard to experience what it’s like to sail an ancient ship. (Image: Destination NSW)

Opening hours: 10am to 4pm, daily.
Address: 2 Murray Street, Darling Harbour, Sydney

6. Museum of Contemporary Art Australia

Best for: Discovering the best of contemporary art.

A musical chairs of more than 4,500 pieces of art consistently fill the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia located in The Rocks. The building itself is a modern masterpiece, expanded in 2012 by architect Sam Marshall who added to the original 1991 sandstone structure with a futuristic five-storey wing.

Museum of Contemporary Art Sydney. — The museum is located in the historic The Rocks. (Image: Destination NSW)

The Sydney museum now houses two gallery floors, an entire floor dedicated to educational programs, digital and multimedia studios, a lecture theatre and further event spaces including a rooftop haven offering harbour views. Past collections include Australia’s first survey exhibition by Yoko Ono. Entry is free and the MCA also runs free guided tours.

Make sure to book lunch for yourself at the newly-opened Canvas Restaurant on level four. You’ll experience delicious modern Australian fare and stunning Sydney Harbour views.

Ten Thousand Suns, 24th Biennale of Sydney 2024 at Museum of Contemporary Art — Discover the best of contemporary art at MCA. (Image: Document Photography)

Opening hours: 10am to 5pm Thursday to Monday.
Address: 140 George Street, The Rocks

7. Sydney Observatory

Best for: Stargazing and insight into astronomy.

Located atop the highest natural point in Sydney Cove, the Sydney Observatory is a romantic space to learn more about science and evolution. The heritage-listed building was built in the 1850s and has served as everything from a defence fort and a meteorological station to an events space.

Today, the Sydney museum is home to memorabilia offering deep insight into archaeology, weather measurement, historical flag communications and of course everything in the sky. If you can climb the building’s narrow staircase, you’ll be rewarded with captivating artefacts and there are also guided tours with one skewed towards children. Entry is free.

Opening hours: Nightly tours staged from Wednesday to Saturday.
Address: 1003 Upper Fort Street, Millers Point

8. Susannah Place Museum

Best for: Utterly transporting oneself to the 1800s.

You won’t find miniature models or screens showing black-and-white footage at Susannah Place Museum . Instead, you’ll step right into a life that started more than 150 years ago.

Step into an 18th-century house at Susannah Place Museum. (Image: James Horan)

This Sydney museum is a cluster of four itty bitty terrace houses that have sheltered more than 100 families since they were built in 1844.

people heading upstairs towards the entrance of Susannah Place Museum — Swing by Susannah Place Museum when you’re in Sydney. (Image: James Horan)

Retaining original structures and features, including the crockery and furniture worn in by the final tenants, their remarkable resilience makes for an incredible portal into a bygone era. Entry is free.

the exterior of Susannah Place Museum — Be transported back to the 1800s at Susannah Place Museum. (Image: James Horan)

Opening hours: 10am to 5pm, Thursday to Saturday.
Address: 58-64 Gloucester Street, The Rocks

9. The Rocks Discovery Museum

Best for: Keeping the kids occupied.

Follow the cobblestone road to find The Rocks Discovery Museum , constructed across three buildings including Samson’s Cottage which dates to 1844. Focused on celebrating The Rocks’ history as the original settlement site in 1788 and everything it witnessed in the years that followed, the Sydney museum is spilling over with temporary exhibitions and a fabulous school program.

Expect flocks of students if you’re visiting on a weekday. If it’s school holidays, kids will still linger — a ripper school holiday program filled with arts and crafts and other engrossing activities attracts families from all over the city. Entry is free.

Opening hours: 10am to 5pm, daily.
Address: 2-8 Kendall Lane, The Rocks

10. Chau Chak Wing Museum

Best for: Stickybeaking archaeological artefacts from all over the world.

Did you know the University of Sydney has three outstanding collections of antiquities, historical photography and other extraordinary bits collected over the past 150 years? Chau Chak Wing Museum gathers every piece, almost half a million items in total, and presents them in a beautiful exhibition space right on site. This Sydney museum, designed by the award-winning design organisation Johnson Pilton Walker, is filled with works spanning First Nations art, ancient Rome, Greece and Egypt relics and more than 315,000 insects. Entry is free.

Opening hours: 10am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, 10am to 9pm Thursday and 12pm to 4pm Saturday and Sunday.
Address: The University of Sydney, University Place, Camperdown

11. Sydney Bus Museum

Best for: Big boys’, and little boys’, toys.

Set in an old tram shed in Sydney’s inner west, the Sydney Bus Museum is an absolute must-visit if you’re into large-scale automobiles. As its name suggests, buses are the flavour of every month and it offers a glimpse at some of the world’s rarest sets of wheels.

the deckers in the night bus exploring the Sydney Harbour Bridge — Venture across the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge at night on a double-decker bus.

You’ll spy more than 70 vehicles including double-deckers from across the globe, Australian masterpieces from the 1920s, 1940s and 1950s plus slick Mercedes-Benz varieties from the 1990s. Tickets cost $20 for adults and $10 for children aged between four and 16.

the pre-war Sydney double-decker bus, Leyland TD4 1379, Sydney Bus Museum — The pre-war Sydney double-decker bus, Leyland TD4 1379.

Opening hours: 10am to 4pm, the first and third Sunday of every month.
Address: 25 Derbyshire Road, Leichhardt.

12. Sydney Jewish Museum

Best for: Extensive insight into Jewish culture and heritage.

Gather invaluable learnings about the Holocaust and Australia’s Jewish community at the Sydney Jewish Museum in the city’s eastern suburbs. The Sydney museum was constructed in 1992 by a group of Sydney-based holocaust survivors who longed for a place to share memories and educate the wider community.

Every piece on show within the museum tells a unique story of resilience and survival and it also serves as an events space for community discussions, book launches and more. Tickets cost $18 for adults and $11 for students while children under the age of 10 are free and entry for all is complimentary on Sunday.

Opening hours: 10am to 4pm, Monday to Thursday, 10am to 3pm, Friday, 10am to 4.00pm Sunday.
Address: 148 Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst

13. Sydney Cricket Ground Museum

Best for: Sporting fans of all descriptions.

No matter your code or allegiance, the Sydney Cricket Ground Museum is a celebration of Australia’s sporting legends and the milestones played out in the city’s most historic sporting home. Spy brilliant behind-the-scenes photographs of iconic moments in the venue’s 160-year lifespan, plus great memorabilia like prized bats and balls and life-size sculptures of everyone’s heroes.

You’ll need to sign on for the Sydney museum’s 90-minute ‘SCG Tour’ to gain access, which must be pre-booked. Prices start from $33 for adults and $20 for children.

Opening hours: 10am to 11.30am, Monday to Saturday. Closed major match days.
Address: Behind the Ladies Stand at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Driver Avenue, Moore Park.

14. Old Government House

Best for: Insight into Australia’s convict migration.

Step inside the oldest public building in the country at Old Government House in Parramatta. The magnificent Georgian house is home to an eye-watering collection of rare colonial furnishings but if you can get past the interiors, you’ll find emotional accounts from convicts and NSW’s first 10 Governors.

the property exterior of the Old Government House — The Old Government House once sheltered NSW’s first governors. (Image: Destination NSW)

Spend some time in the grounds before you leave as the manicured gardens are worthy of some glorious selfies and panoramic shots. Adult entry costs $15 and concession entry costs $12, plus children under the age of five are free.

the heritage-listed Old Government House, Parramatta — The magnificent Georgian house is set on spacious grounds. (Image: Destination NSW)

Opening hours: 10am to 4pm, Thursday and Friday, 11am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday
Address: Parramatta Park, Pitt Street entrance, Parramatta

Keep reading our epic list of things to do in Sydney for more inspiration.

Discover the magic of a Sydney staycation in summer at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney.

Sydney City is magical in summer. Warm summer evenings beg to be spent sipping cool cocktails at one of many al fresco and rooftop bars. Ferries and buses are ready to transport travellers to the best nearby beaches for salty days on the sand. National parks and rainforests are waiting to be explored. And the city’s events calendar is packed, from live music to cultural attractions. All elements that call for a Sydney staycation.

Discover where to eat, stay and play for the perfect local getaway.

Where to stay

The Fullerton Hotel Sydney

Amid the bustle of the perfect Sydney staycation, one needs a place to escape to and recharge. Enter, The Fullerton Hotel Sydney . The hotel is an icon in its own right – nestled inside the 151-year-old building that was originally Sydney’s General Post Office, its heritage-listed sandstone walls and Victorian renaissance grandeur have been carefully preserved – providing a rare chance to sleep within Sydney’s history.

Despite its fascinating history, the hotel isn’t short on modern, luxurious comforts. Rooms and suites are available in both the modern high-rise with gorgeous views over the clock tower and lively city below, or inside the historical post office building itself.

the Fullerton Hotel Sydney Heritage Long Suite bathroom — Heritage rooms maintain their old-world style.

Either way, guests can enjoy sophisticated touches, including a deluxe bed and pillow menu, Harman Kardon Bluetooth speakers, a digital concierge, a Vittoria coffee machine and amenities from the Balmain bathroom collection.

The team at this five-star hotel provides excellence and a quality experience for all their guests, while amenities like a gym help with a well-rounded stay. For a peaceful moment with sweeping city views, enter The Fullerton Club Lounge on level 28. This private haven for dining and relaxation is available to any guests staying on the hotel’s club floors and suites.

Add to this a central location in the CBD’s Martin Place, with easy access to Sydney’s top attractions, and convenience meets style.

Where to drink & dine

1. The Bar

the Fullerton Hotel afternoon tea at the bar — Indulge in the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea.

Inside The Fullerton Hotel Sydney’s lobby, The Bar does more than sling a few delicious cocktails (although it certainly does that well). Its brown leather chairs and glass ceiling create the perfect, almost al fresco, setting for the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea .

Served daily from 12 to 4 pm, the afternoon tea is a nod to the cherished social occasion it once was during the Victorian Renaissance era. People like to dress up for this afternoon tea, and if you’re lucky, a pianist often sits down at the on-site grand piano, just adding to the elegance.

The afternoon tea is served high tea style, offering reimagined British flavours of the Victorian Renaissance era with a unique blend of Australia’s culinary heritage. A sweet layer offers delights like a Malted Milk Envelope (a milk mousse layered between two biscuits), Bakewell Pudding (a super tasty egg-based pudding), and Apple Charlotte.

On the savoury layer, expect finger sandwiches with fillings like cucumber, egg and smoked salmon. While classic pinwheels and stuffed eggs almost make the menu. And, of course, all finished off with traditional scones served with cream and mixed berry jam.

Can’t fit in a whole afternoon tea? Be sure to at least order a slice of the 32-layered chocolate cake, a decadent mix of dark chocolate crémeux, fresh whipped cream, and Valrhona Azélia chocolate sauce. ⁣

2. The Place

the Fullerton Hotel the place dining — Dine in the stunning GPO atrium.

On level one of The Fullerton Hotel Sydney lives The Place – the hotel’s restaurant, in an atrium overlooking the former GPO. Here, dine on Modern Australian cuisine – think fresh, local seafood and a Riverina steak sandwich – along with a touch of Singaporean signature dishes, like Thai-style green curry or chicken satay. All in the shadow of the GPO clock tower, enjoying the GPO atrium’s natural light.

3. Local gelato

Couple enjoying ice-creams at First Fleet Park, The Rocks — Enjoy ice cream in the sunshine. (Image: Destination NSW)

What is summer without ice cream and/or gelato? Luckily, there are plenty of options just a short walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, whether you’re craving a midday pick-me-up or an after-sun treat.

What to do/see

1. GPO Heritage Tour

the Fullerton Hotel Sydney lobby — Be awed by the building’s history.

Want to know more about the building you’re staying in? The Fullerton Hotel Sydney offers a complimentary 90-minute GPO Heritage Tour. Follow a knowledgeable tour guide to discover the stories, tales and legends of the former Sydney General Post Office building.

From the iconic clock tower (completed in 1891) to the black-and-white tiled staircase at 1 Martin Place, which was once the main entrance to the GPO and today serves as a prominent feature of the building to the 24 stone faces (mascarons) on the Martin Place side of the building. Part of the 1880s-era facade (designed by architect James Barnet), each represents different states, countries and continents.

2. Circular Quay

aerial of circular quay sydney — Catch a ferry from Circular Quay. (Image: Destination NSW)

An easy walk or light rail ride away from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, lies the bustling Circular Quay. Here, you can sit for a drink and nibbles at the Opera Bar, or head into the iconic house itself for a show. It’s also a major ferry port, becoming your gateway to Sydney’s beaches, Luna Park and even Sydney Zoo.

3. Royal Botanic Gardens

view of circular quay from Sydney's Royal Botanic Garden — Wander through Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. (Image: Destination NSW)

Just beyond Circular Quay, discover Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. Wander through this 30-hectare, heritage-listed, botanical garden – exploring its differing sections, from Australian native botanicals to garden beds of vibrant flowers to towering groves of international trees.

It’s also the perfect place for a picnic, so pick up supplies before you come and enjoy a spot on the grassy meadow looking out into the harbour.

4. Theatre Royal

Just a one-minute walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, take in a show at Theatre Royal. Built in 1976, the theatre has been offering a broad range of entertainment since the 1990s. Expect a show roster that ranges from the classics (like Cats) to the modern) like Pretty Woman: The Musical).

Start planning a summer stay in Sydney worth remembering at fullertonhotels.com/fullerton-hotel-sydney.

14 Sydney museums that make for a brilliant day out