Customs House
Customs House
4
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Central Business District
The Sydney Central Business District is abuzz with energy. Power brokers run to and from high rise buildings and after-work drink places, high-end shoppers tour venues like the QVB, and fine diners frequent the many celebrity chef restaurants. For a dose of culture, walk to the NSW Art Gallery, or visit the Sydney Museum. To escape the hustle and bustle, reconnect with nature at the Sydney Botanical Gardens or picnic lunch at High Park. No matter your interest, be sure to check the full calendar of events hosted by the city, from the Sydney Festival in January to October’s Good Food Month at Hyde Park.
How to get there
- Circular Quay • 1 min walk
- Wynyard • 9 min walk
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Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
4,579 within 5 kms
Attractions
786 within 10 kms
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.0
212 reviews
Excellent
66
Very good
103
Average
38
Poor
3
Terrible
2
AllanJGJ
Wellington, New Zealand3,831 contributions
Oct. 2023 • Couples
A handsome Georgian building with a range of facilities inside including the Tourist Office but what particularly appealed to us was the vegetation in the forecourt which included wheat and vegetables & herbs as well as a range of flowers. Really innovative and very cheery.
Written 19 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.
Marty ..
Ballina, Australia403 contributions
Mar. 2023 • Solo
I went to visit Gateway Plaza ( which is the plaza out the front of the noticeable Custom House ) .. as last time I visited Sydney - there was impressive & colourful flower gardens on the plaza .. however this time , there was just not being utilised - garden chairs & table ( due to the rain )
Written 14 March 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.
Linda
Sydney, Australia1 contribution
Feb. 2023
Beautiful historical building, a great collection of books, here. It's a shame that the staff are just SO hateful.
Written 2 February 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.
Dan L
Bunbury, Australia7,271 contributions
Nov. 2022
Spotted the building while heading to the trams and decided to have a peek. Impressive architecture, the building dating to 1844 and housing a variety of Government Departments during the ensuing years. Nowadays it is described as the "ultimate inner-city escape which can be enjoyed in multiple ways including the grand atrium, helix staircase, library on two levels, exhibition spaces and fine dining on the upper floor." Useful information desk with basic maps and brochures and staffed with enthusiastic personnel. At ground floor level, we looked through the glass floor to the fantastic scale model of Downtown Sydney. Interesting historical photos and information signage are mounted on the walls. So many other attractions but the Customs House is worth visiting.
Written 13 December 2022
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.
Mark A
Ottawa, Canada82 contributions
Sep. 2022
I would say meals were uneven. First night we had some of the best roasted chicken I have ever had. My wife had schnitzel which she liked. Second night I had a pizza that was just plain horrible. So food was uneven. Service was like most pubs, you go to bar to order get your drinks and your food shows up. Service was good, people pleasant. Place seems to be very popular with drinking crowd as the place was always packed after offices closed.
Written 24 October 2022
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.
B T
London, UK1,194 contributions
Oct. 2022
The building looks nice from the outside, worth visiting. There is not much inside to see, there is a restaurant a library and on a couple of the floors they have some old photos of sydney around the walls
Written 20 October 2022
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.
Peter M
Melbourne, Australia1,301 contributions
Mar. 2021
I last reviewed this in 2017 and as more than three years can review it again. It is located on land reclaimed from the harbour in the 1850s near where the Tank Stream entered Sydney Cove. It is of Classical Revival design It was built in 1845. There was a original much smaller Customs House. The customs function relocated to a new site in 1990. The ownership was transferred to the Sydney Council in 1994. It was refurbished in 2003 and became home of the City of Sydney library. The ground floor of the building houses a 14 by 31 feet scale model of Sydney's city centre viewed through a glass floor. There is another scaled model in the Sydney City Council Town House in Kent Street. The Visitor Information Centre has moved from a kiosk in the forecourt to a centre inside the building.
Written 3 May 2021
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.
RonWamberal
Sydney, Australia13,239 contributions
Jan. 2020
A building of history, charm and integrity right at the entrance to Sydney, i.e Circular Quay. Dominates the landscape as you wander around the Quay, so much more interesting than the new buildings surrounding it. Lots to like inside including the newspapers, history murals, library etc. but best of all is the miniature Sydney under the glass - absolutely fascinating.
Written 20 March 2020
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.
Retno Sujono
Singapore, Singapore634 contributions
Feb. 2020
Located nearby Circular Quay, the place is worth to visit. Under the floor glass, you can see the miniature of Sydney city. No need to pay tix to get in, you can also join the free tour with a guide that give you more details information.
Written 13 March 2020
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.
Sofi NS
Athens, Greece13,638 contributions
Dec. 2019
You can enter the basement and see a model depiction of the Sydney city under a glass floor which really gives you a nice perspective of the scale of the buildings and harbors of the city. Free entrance.
Written 20 December 2019
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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Claim your listingCustoms House: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Customs House
- According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Customs House:
- Convicts and The Rocks: Sydney's Walking Tour Led by Historian (From AU$52.94)
- Explore The Rocks Sydney In A Series Of Fun Cryptic Clues (From AU$22.02)
- Explore Sydney's Secrets In A Series Of Fun Cryptic Clues (From AU$25.46)
- Sydney Self-Guided Audio Tour (From AU$24.53)
- Ultimate Sydney Walking Tour (From AU$66.17)
- Hotels near Customs House:
- (0.17 km) Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel at Circular Quay
- (0.19 km) Sir Stamford at Circular Quay Hotel Sydney
- (0.21 km) Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour
- (0.19 km) InterContinental Sydney, an IHG Hotel
- (0.27 km) Four Seasons Hotel Sydney
- Restaurants near Customs House:
- (0.01 km) Quay Bar
- (0.02 km) Ryans Paragon hotel
- (0.02 km) Cafe Sydney
- (0.02 km) Paragon Hotel
- (0.03 km) Hero Sushi