Circular Quay
Circular Quay
4.5
About
Circular Quay is a colorful port where ferries and cruise ships board and depart, and boat watching can be as good a pastime as people watching. While street performers entertain outside, those wanting a more cultural experience can head into the Museum of Contemporary Art where a sculpture garden on the roof is as much a view as the waterways below.
Duration: 1-2 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience Circular Quay
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 • 3 min walk
- Martin Place • 10 min walk
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
5,331 within 5 kms
Attractions
1,062 within 10 kms
See what travellers are saying
- JaneWW-COSurprise, Arizona179 contributionsLots to See and DoWhat a wonderful day in Sydney. Loved Circular Quay and loved not being in the hustle/bustle of Sydney proper. Lots to see and do -- the Opra House, restaurants, shopping and access to transportation. We were there Sunday and loved the Street Market with so many talented artisens. One of my favorite stops in Australia.Visited November 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 30 November 2023
- JJOHDoha, Qatar703 contributionsNice spot near the cruise ship terminalNot far from (adjacent) the Rocks this is close to the end of 5he harbour bridge and the cruise terminal. Good views of the bridge and opera house. The enormous cruise ships park her3 and are an impressive site. There are some fairly upmarket places to eat here. Good quality but at a priceVisited December 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 7 December 2023
- london057Dublin, Ohio683 contributionsThis is the Best Quay Down UnderFirst of all this is the best Quay Down Under. Second cruise 🚢 ships 🛳️ park here . Third Ferrys also park here too . Fourth they are restaurants on this quay too. Lastly, you get a view of the Sydney Skyline 🏙️.Visited January 2024Travelled with familyWritten 26 January 2024
- FlyAtNightBrooklin, Canada3,631 contributionsNever tire of visiting Circular QuayI have been fortunate to have made 5 trips to Australia and every one has included a trip to Circular Quay. The views of the Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge and the water are outstanding. Restaurants are good, but priced as one would expect in a tourist area. I found travel convenient by train from the western suburbs.Visited July 2023Travelled soloWritten 4 February 2024
- Sarah CAshtead, United Kingdom1,294 contributionsBuzzy transport hub and great sightsAlways our first stop when in Sydney, this just evokes the whole flavour of this wonderful city. We chatted to cruise passengers, marvelled as always at the Opera House and revelled in the warm sunshine. Great views every whichway and lots of maritime activity. Never a dull momentVisited March 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 27 February 2024
- jmashTurnersville, New Jersey1,433 contributionsVisit to Circular QuayMy wife and I along with another couple recently stayed in Sydney before a cruise vacation. While there, we visited Circular Quay. This is a really nice area with many eateries, cafes, and shopping. There are a lot of ferry services there and it is a short walk to the botanical gardens and the famous opera house. We really enjoyed this area and recommend it highly.Visited April 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 1 April 2024
- TommoMelbourne, Australia55,980 contributionsBustling hub of SydneyCircular Quay is a bustling hub where ferries arrive and depart as well as a train station and tram stop. There is a cruise terminal located here as well. Vivid is located here as well. You can also walk to the great Rocks Market from here. Lots of eateries and bars are also loccated close by. Dont forget the great views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.Visited May 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 14 June 2024
- Simon BCity of Greater Geelong, Australia4,145 contributionsIconic Transport HubTrams, trains & ferries in a stunning city seascape. Really hard not to be wowed by this area. One night stay in Sydney & made this a key part of tourist adventure. Tram up George to CQ. Caught a ferry to Manly. Enjoyed the magnificent views: harbour, bridge, O.H., ships, big & small. A must-do Sydney location.Visited July 2024Travelled soloWritten 4 August 2024
- Quang Kiet LeHo Chi Minh City, Vietnam1,079 contributionsA perfect gateway to explore SydneyNot only a ferry station where we took our daily trip for whale watching and Manly beach, but also a perfect hub to explore Sydney since it is only a few minutes to the Opera House and The Rocks. Shops and restaurants were around. Train station, bus station were also nearby, super convenient to travel around.Visited August 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 20 August 2024
- The Goulding I5 contributionsExcellent DayWhat an amazing place, it was an amazing day and a great place to people watch. We took in the history, visited the gallery, walked through the rocks, opera house then had lunch at the opera bar and canteen, enjoyed an ice cream cone, watched a cruise ship disembark and just soaked in the atmosphere. MagicVisited September 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 23 September 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
4,376 reviews
Excellent
2,440
Very good
1,556
Average
328
Poor
39
Terrible
14
Hello in 10 Languages
England, UK166 contributions
Jan 2020
Come here anytime of the day and it seems busy. The morning's are full of cruise ship passengers disembarking, early afternoon has tourists and street performers doing their thing, late afternoon's are filled with cruise ship passengers rushing not to miss their ship. The Quay has a nice atmosphere, feels safe, and there's much ice-cream to be had on a hot day. Come just as the sun's going down and you'll be sharing the Quay with Sydney's resident flying foxes...a must see :)
Written 5 April 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.
Wufang
Greater Perth, Australia97 contributions
Nov 2019
Circular Quay is one of the few places in the world which I have always found fascinating. The hustle and bustle of commuters and tourists hopping on and off ferries or catching a bus or the underground at this central hub. There are dozens of eateries offering the best of food from all over the world. For a first time visitor a stroll to the nearby iconic Sydney Opera House is a must, together with a short rest stop at one of the sidewalk cafes offering a spectacular view of Sydney harbour, its famous bridge and perhaps a giant ocean liner just docking right alongside the ferries. Take a guided history harbour cruise or simply hop on any ferry and enjoy a ride to Manly beach for a swim or to Toronga Park zoo, one of the world‘s greatest! Ferries are children friendly and a great outing for families as well as wheelchair bound invalids or the elderly. A number of concession tickets are available. Just ask at any of the ticket offices. Take my word, you will never tire of an outing to circular quay!
Written 18 February 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.
Nicola H
Reading, UK147 contributions
Aug 2019 • Family
Circular quay has undergone a huge modernisation over the last decade. Trains and buses and the new tram. However the jewel in the crown is the beautiful ferries which take you to all parts of Sydney along the Parramatta river. These are inexpensive and have great views of the city and surrounding areas.
Written 23 February 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.
rusty2112
Geelong, Australia134 contributions
Oct 2019 • Family
Circular Quay, and the Harbour, combine to make a wonderful experience. The Quay itself is a very busy place with its multitude of train and ferry passengers. From the Quay you can launch yourself by foot towards the Opera House or towards The Rocks. By ferry you have your choice of destinations, with probably Toronga Zoo being the most popular. Your best bet is to buy the combined ticket which covers ferries and buses. By day or night, it’s a beautiful place to be with plenty to see and do and a wealth of places to eat and drink.
Written 2 February 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.
Sarox210
Townsville, Australia334 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
Circular Quay can be utilized in so many different ways. It’s definitely a huge transport hub with ferries, cruises, trams, trains, buses etc. People are on a mission to get somewhere. There are also a number of street performers, heaps of people watching opportunities, a wide variety of food vendors, coffee shops and restaurants. You can wander down to the Opera House, view the Harbour Bridge or head over to the Rocks. Not to mention the ferries to just about anywhere else you’d like to go around the Harbour.
Written 12 January 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.
TWal1
Canberra, Australia2,942 contributions
Nov 2019 • Business
Most tourists, particularly those arriving by ship will experience Sydney’s Circular Quay. It is a hive of activity with ferries, bars and restaurants, street performers and Early European history. There is always plenty to see and do in the area. For day trippers, a harbour cruise or a ferry ride to Manly are great options. A good time to explore is by running or walking through the area early in the morning.
Thanks for your vote.
Thanks for your vote.
Written 6 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.
nocatnow
Melbourne, Australia796 contributions
Mar 2020
Ferries, buses and the new trams all congregate at Circular Quay. Trains, too, take you from the airport to Circular Quay. The Overseas Cruise Terminal is also situated there.
With so many people coming and going, Circular Quay offers a wide range of cafes, restaurant and bars. At one end is The Rocks, and sat the other end, the Opera House. It's the heart of Sydney.
With so many people coming and going, Circular Quay offers a wide range of cafes, restaurant and bars. At one end is The Rocks, and sat the other end, the Opera House. It's the heart of Sydney.
Written 12 April 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.
SMMaxwell
Victoria, Canada249 contributions
Nov 2019
There is so much to explore at Circular Quay. Watching the people climbing the Harbour Bridge (Cost between $200 and $400 to do yourself!) and touring the Opera House are the two major attractions, but there are lovely restaurants, a glass floor with a complete model of Sydney that you can walk over and get an idea of where various places are. There is also a small ferry tour that can be part of the Hop On, Hop Off bus tours as well, that takes you to see various sights such as Mrs. MacQuarries Chair, the Naval base, Watson Bay and Manly beach as well as travelling under the Harbour bridge to Darling Harbour. It was a lovely way to stay cool on a very warm day. After exploring Circular Quay we walked through the Royal Botanical Gardens that are right at the base of the Opera House beside Circular Quay. This area is great for all.
Written 18 February 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.
TweetieTravels
Bellevue, WA493 contributions
Jan 2020
An endless parade of boats and streams of people, long with street entertainers. Here is where you will get your water taxi and tram tickets, enjoy a flat white in a sidewalk cafe, or stroll through the shops as you make your way to the Opera House. Easy access to The Rocks as well.
Written 12 January 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.
wadlyn
Sydney, Australia94 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
If you ever get the chance cruise into Sydney's Circular Quay(pronounced like 'key'). Spectacular pulling into the harbour and then slowly sliding into your berth. Everything is at your finger tips if not your feet as you are smack dab in the city of Sydney and just minutes away by foot to all the restaraunts,harbour/city activities etc. Wonderful place to be for the New years celebrations as its right over head with lots of boom crash opera. Circular quay is also a great starting off point for all your cruises as most cruise lines now have a 'must stop off/start from' in Sydney itenerary.
So no more procrastinating..get going and go walk about Circular quay or hop on a cruise line and go go go.
So no more procrastinating..get going and go walk about Circular quay or hop on a cruise line and go go go.
Written 23 February 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.
Where is a good place to buy quality tee shirts in Sydney?
Written 24 October 2019
There e many tourist shops around Sydney the best ones are either Circular Quay or Darling Harbour.
Written 25 October 2019
We’re is a good place to hire s car close to cruise terminal Sydney
Written 26 September 2019
Hello. You can also try No Birds car rental in William Street, East Sydney. Very good rates. A short taxi ride from Cruise Terminal Circular Quay.
Written 30 September 2019
So many places around.... we love the central location of city extra. It’s casual dining and the pancakes are always a hit with the kids.
Written 9 June 2019
What are Rules/Regulations at Customs and Immigration when arriving in sydney port ?
Written 25 August 2018
Sorry, not sure really what is required, however you might want to have a look at the website:
Australian Government
Department of Home Affairs
Arriving into Australia
Written 27 August 2018
if you arrive early can you store your luggage until boarding
Written 20 October 2017
I'm not sure, sorry. Might depend on which boat you are taking -perhaps contact the company?
Written 22 October 2017
Showing results 1-10 of 10
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing