Museum of Contemporary Art
Museum of Contemporary Art
4
10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Welcome to Australia's Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA), dedicated to exhibiting, collecting and interpreting the work of today's artists.
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: The Rocks
The first residents of the Rocks were convicts and sailors from the old nation. As the oldest neighbourhood in the city, the area's cobblestone streets host more than 100 heritage sites and buildings, including the oldest house in Sydney, Camden Cottage, which was built in 1816. Taste a “midi “ or a “schooner” of beer and dine “al fresco” on the waterfront at some of the oldest pubs in Sydney. The weekend markets at the Rocks are where you can find local artists' hand-made souvenirs, organic food and designer jewelry in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. To enjoy some of the best Australian and international contemporary art, the MCA museum is open every day and select evenings. At the end of a long day of sightseeing, be sure to save energy to dance the night away at the area's many late night entertainment venues.
How to get there
  • Circular Quay • 3 min walk
  • Wynyard • 10 min walk
Reach out directly
See what travellers are saying
  • Nalini N
    Greater Sydney, Australia556 contributions
    Do Ho Suh at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA)
    Amazing and intelligent exhibition! I am in awe of the artist. Well curated exhibition experience of South Korean art. The large-scale sculptures and installations found an ideal location for an exhibition at the MCA. The historic building located in Sydney Harbour overlooking the Opera House is a perfect stroll from Circular Quay Station. The promenade is popular with tourists. I recall a ground floor restaurant and café on roof top so spoilt for choice. Look out for exhibitions at the MCA and hopefully there is something of interest.
    Visited December 2022
    Written 19 December 2022
  • Alison S
    Sydney, Australia2,269 contributions
    Fabulous, mind blowing exhibition.
    Much publicised exhibition of Do Ho Suh was amazing. The size of some of the installations was incredible. Plenty of information was available from video presentations as well as the support from commentary online. Most worthwhile visit.
    Visited January 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 9 January 2023
  • ramAustralia2018
    Greater Sydney, Australia214 contributions
    Very Interesting Place, Provovative Art
    The entrance faces Circular Quay. Most of the exhibits are free and still quite good. Almost all are provocative. My wife and I will certainly be back for a more extended visit. Worth a few hours to explore periodically. The staff are polite, very knowledgeable, and helpful. Highly recommended.
    Visited January 2023
    Written 25 January 2023
  • grwpl
    1,301 contributions
    Go to the Do Ho Suh exhibition
    Visited to see the Do Ho Suh exhibition and really enjoyed the experience. It is really worthwhile to sit and watch the film about the artist before you go round the exhibition, this film is on the third floor and lasts 10 to 15 minutes. The exhibition itself is interesting and illuminating and the exhibition space is big, light and cool, even though it was busy when we were there it never felt crowded. For me the star of the show was the house that the artist lived in when he was young in Korea, that is worth seeing at the end of your tour. I did look at the other exhibits which again are in big, bright and airy rooms but the star of the show was the work by Do Ho Suh. Museum located right on Circular Quay and if you leave by the back entrance you are in the Rocks district with lots of shops, bars and restaurants.
    Visited January 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 28 January 2023
  • Jovana D
    Brisbane, Australia235 contributions
    Showcase of Australian Contemporary Art
    I visited the museum for the first time recently on my trip to Sydney. The museum has a number of exhibitions on multiple levels and is a great showcase of Australian contemporary art. While I was there I also had a look at the shop on the ground level. I recommend going up to the rooftop where there is a cafe but also amazing views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. Highly recommended if you have a few hours while visiting Sydney.
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 13 May 2023
  • johnmodesto
    Modesto, California713 contributions
    Contemporary art museum with lovely harbor views
    Conveniently located steps from Circular Quay. Free admission. Lovely view of the harbor from the top floor café terrace. I like the way they have converted the building into an art gallery. Diverse exhibits and your experience will depend on what you like and what they happen to be showing as temporary exhibits.
    Visited May 2023
    Written 4 June 2023
  • ECWorld
    Hong Kong, China2,719 contributions
    Just so so
    I had expected rather a bit more from this museum, housed as it is in a magnificent building. The interior is not particularly spacious, top floor is all about food, and the exhibitions are neither well curated nor all that interesting. Give it a quick look if you are in the area, just do not expect too much
    Visited July 2023
    Written 14 August 2023
  • Digger
    16 contributions
    Australian Contemporary art museum and its best kept secret the fabulous cafe.
    An interesting modern art museum which is free entry. There are several displays of both traditional aboriginal art and "wacky" modern installations. The best kept secret, though, is the fabulous cafe on the 4th floor which has great views of the Sydney harbour bridge. Great coffee, lovely cakes and a range of lunch items all at very reasonable prices
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 12 November 2023
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4.0
1,226 reviews
Excellent
470
Very good
445
Average
204
Poor
74
Terrible
33

Digger
16 contributions
Nov. 2023 • Couples
An interesting modern art museum which is free entry.
There are several displays of both traditional aboriginal art and "wacky" modern installations.
The best kept secret, though, is the fabulous cafe on the 4th floor which has great views of the Sydney harbour bridge.
Great coffee, lovely cakes and a range of lunch items all at very reasonable prices
Written 13 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TGDF
phnom penh71 contributions
Oct. 2023 • Solo
Some really interesting pieces - a photo exhibit that I paid extra to see but the museum is otherwise free. Not a huge number of offerings but an interesting range. Well worth the visit.
Written 26 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

123P&P
United Kingdom85 contributions
Sep. 2023 • Couples
Very disappointed in this museum. The sound installation was interesting but I didn’t understand the point of most of the exhibits. It was all Australian so maybe as a European that’s why it didn’t work for me.
Great location for a cafe though and the museum is free.
Written 27 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ECWorld
Hong Kong, China2,719 contributions
Jul. 2023
I had expected rather a bit more from this museum, housed as it is in a magnificent building. The interior is not particularly spacious, top floor is all about food, and the exhibitions are neither well curated nor all that interesting. Give it a quick look if you are in the area, just do not expect too much
Written 14 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

coldvalley
World128 contributions
Aug. 2023 • Family
A big building in an amazing location. The staff were nice. The elevator worked. That's all I can really say that's positive. The displays are a mixture of odd, boring, appalling and sparse. Can we all agree to turn this into a really great science centre or really anything else?
Written 4 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

johnmodesto
Modesto, CA713 contributions
May 2023
Conveniently located steps from Circular Quay. Free admission. Lovely view of the harbor from the top floor café terrace. I like the way they have converted the building into an art gallery. Diverse exhibits and your experience will depend on what you like and what they happen to be showing as temporary exhibits.
Written 4 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Derrick Aw
Singapore, Singapore787 contributions
May 2023 • Solo
Well, as the name suggests, its modern art and a great deal of modern art is abstract - you either “get it” or you don’t. One museum that automatically came to my mind when i visited this museum was the Tate Modern in London.

Come with an open mind. And be prepared that some installations and sections will not be available as they are still setting up. A bit whimsical, a bit fun, and a whole lot of imagination. 1.5 to 2 hours is more than enough.
Written 31 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jovana D
Brisbane, Australia235 contributions
Apr. 2023 • Solo
I visited the museum for the first time recently on my trip to Sydney. The museum has a number of exhibitions on multiple levels and is a great showcase of Australian contemporary art. While I was there I also had a look at the shop on the ground level. I recommend going up to the rooftop where there is a cafe but also amazing views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. Highly recommended if you have a few hours while visiting Sydney.
Written 13 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

934declanh
Lanzarote, Spain6 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
Walked in whist passing through the Rocks, and came across the MCA by chance. I was happily enjoying the Aboriginal artworks on the ground floor, when I was approached by a male staff member a few minutes later. I thought he was going to ask if I had any questions or give me more information on the works, but he asked me to take my very small backpack off my pack and wear it on my front! I was baffled by this and asked why. He said it's in case I hit any of the artworks. Bearing in mind the gallery was empty, and my bag was small, I found this very odd, and irritating. A pleasant experience was spoilt by a needless interruption. This is not a good way for visitors, tourists or anyone to be greeted and immediately put me off staying so unfortunately I left with a bad taste in my mouth. This is a real shame. I would also like to point out the toilets, which are unisex. I can see the thinking behind this. It is buying into the 'inclusivity' narrative but as a woman, I would rather have some privacy in the bathroom, not have to put the toilet seat down and be able to fix my hair, liptsick etc without being gawked at by a bloke!
Written 11 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Hotairballoon
Paris, France55 contributions
Feb. 2023 • Solo
Step into a bizarre world in Sydney. Which will take you down a mind melting tunnel of art with different exhibitions all from different artists. Had the luxury of being involved in an exhibition. A must see while you are here
Written 5 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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