Canberra

Things to do in Canberra

Search attractions or local attractions & tours
Search

Explore top experiences

Top 10 attractions in Canberra

View all Attractions
Lake Burley Griffin
No. 1 of Spring Outings in Canberra

Lake Burley Griffin

4.9
4.4/5
145 reviews
The construction of this lake system intercepting the Molangelo River was completed in 1963 and has a dam. It takes its name from architect Walter Burley Griffin, who won the Canberra Urban Design Competition. In keeping with Griffin's original design, the lake is located close to the geographic centre of Canberra, and many important institutions such as the Australian National University, the National Gallery of Australia, the National Museum of Australia, the National Library of Australia and the High Court of Australia are located on its shores. , the Capitol is also not far from the lake. Its surrounding area is also quite popular with recreational users, especially during the warmer months. Although few people swim in the lake, it is commonly used for various other activities such as boating, fishing and sailing. The 33-meter-tall Scribner Dam controls the lake's rise and is designed to handle a major flood every 5,000 years. If needed during dry seasons, the water level can be maintained by releasing water from the Gugong Dam, which is located on the upper tributary of the Molangelo River.Yarralumla · 1.8km from downtown
Old Parliament House

Old Parliament House

3.4
Parkes · 412m from downtown
Australian National Botanic Gardens

Australian National Botanic Gardens

3.3
3.8/5
29 reviews
Australian National Botanical Garden The Australian National Botanical Garden is located at the foot of the Black Mountains in Canberra. It was established in 1949 and covers an area of 220 acres. It is Australia's largest native plant bank and one of Australia's important botanical research resources. The National Botanic Gardens of Australia houses scientifically collected native plants from various regions. These plants are not only for tourists to watch, but also mainly used for research on plant taxonomy and biology. At present, there are more than 90,000 plants planted in the botanical garden, a total of more than 5,500 different plant species, all plants are marked with their names and their common names. The plants in the botanical garden are divided into the following 8 different plant areas, namely Rainforest Valley, Sydney Basin Plants, Mali Plants, Sagittaria, Myrtle, Eucalyptus Grass, etc. Visitors can choose ornamental plants according to their own preferences. The Australian National Botanic Garden also has a herbarium, which has plant specimens for various scientific researches, but it is generally not open to tourists. There is also a small gift shop in the park, where visitors can buy some small objects they like as souvenirs.Acton · 957m from downtown
Chinatown in Canberra

Chinatown in Canberra

3.1
4.0/5
21 reviews
Canberra's Chinatown is an ideal place to experience multiculturalism and Asian style. Although it is small in size, it brings together a rich Asian food and cultural experience. Visitors can find a variety of Chinese restaurants, Asian supermarkets and specialty shops here. Chinatown is famous for its friendly atmosphere and diverse dining options, and is a popular gathering place for locals and tourists. There are also some small cultural events and festivals near Chinatown, especially during the Chinese New Year, when celebrations are held in the neighborhood to add to the festive atmosphere. Visitors can buy Asian specialty goods and souvenirs here and experience exotic customs. Visitors can easily reach it by public transportation. It is recommended to go there at lunch or dinner time to enjoy the food and the surrounding casual atmosphere. Canberra's Chinatown is not only a good place to taste Asian culture, but also an ideal choice to feel the vitality of the local community.Dickson · 332m from downtown
Black Mountain Nature Reserve

Black Mountain Nature Reserve

3.1
4.7/5
8 reviews
BlackMountainNaturePark is located in Canberra, Australia. There are many trees on the mountain and the scenery is pleasant and suitable for hiking. Standing on the top of the mountain overlooking the entire Canberra area, it is a good place to relax on the weekend.O'Connor · 2.5km from downtown
Stromlo Forest Park

Stromlo Forest Park

3
Stromlo · 6km from downtown
Mount Ainslie

Mount Ainslie

2.9
1.8/5
35 reviews
Mount Ainslie is part of the Canberra Nature Park, a 640-hectare nature reserve in the north. It is characterized by the beautiful scenery of the entire Canberra city from the top of the mountain. Most visitors walk, run, bike and walk their dogs up Mount Ainslie. Horseback riding uses a track that identifies equestrian. Slope meadows from above contain endangered plant and animal species. Rare plants include the Canberra spider orchid. climbBraddon · 2.1km from downtown
Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve

Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve

2.9
5.0/5
1 reviews
Tiebinbila Nature Reserve covers an area of 54.5 square kilometers and is located in Namaji National Park, a 40-minute drive from Canberra, the capital of Australia. The scope of the nature reserve includes a Great Valley House, Mount Tibbinbilla and Gibraltar. It is steep on both sides of the valley and relatively undisturbed by humans. Tiebinbila Hill is used for initiation ceremonies. The better known Aboriginal address in the nature reserve is Birriagi Rock Shelter, the oldest Aboriginal address within the Australian Capital Territory. The nature reserve is listed as a Category II protected area by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.Canberra · 24.4km from downtown
Sydney Opera House
2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Sydney Opera House

9.6
4.7/5
4.1k reviews
The Sydney Opera House is a symbol of Australia. It is recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of the 20th Century and is also a landmark in Sydney. Its white exterior, a shell-like sculpture built on the harbour, like scattered petals floating in the air, have for many years left observers in amazement. It houses a concert hall, a music theatre, a performance theatre, a children's theatre and a photography studio. Auctions, concerts and other events are held every month or even every week. △ Enjoy wonderful performances from all over the world △ Behind the scenes, walks, tours and experiences △ Admire the magnificent scenery of Sydney Harbor and enjoy a leisurely afternoon tea timeAustralia · Sydney
Mount Stromlo Observatory

Mount Stromlo Observatory

2.8
The Observatory (MSO) is the headquarters of the School of Astronomy and Astrophysics Research, located about 18 kilometers southwest of Canberra city centre, where astronomers and students from the administrative centre, mechanics, electronics and optics workshops, and computer labs operate . As most were damaged in the 2003 Canberra bushfires, there are no longer working research telescopes here, all telescopes and associated maintenance facilities are located at the Siding Spring Observatory (SSO). However, MSO was rebuilt with advanced instrumentation and was put into the construction of the solar observatory.Stromlo · 4.3km from downtown

Experiences you can't miss in Canberra

Featured Cultural experiences in Canberra

View all Cultural experiences
Canberra Highlights Audio Tour: Cultural Treasures
󱌍
Duration: 2 hrs
English
Free cancellation
Book now for today
20% off
Limited-time sale
FromNZD 12.76NZD 15.95
National Museum of Australia: Guided Tour
󱌍
Duration: 1 hr
Free cancellation
Book now for today
FromNZD 24.87
National Museum of Australia: First Australians Guided Tour
󱌍
Duration: 1 hr
Free cancellation
Book now for today
FromNZD 24.87
Canberra: National Museum of Australia Highlights Tour
󱌍
5.0/5
· 1 review
Duration: 1 hr
Free cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
5% off
Limited-time sale
FromNZD 23.70NZD 24.95
Canberra: National Portrait Gallery Guided Tour
󱌍
Duration: 1 hr
Free cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
5% off
Limited-time sale
FromNZD 17.77NZD 18.71
Best of Brisbane Walking Tour: All Sights & Hidden Gems
󱌍
5.0/5
· 23 reviews
Duration: 3 hrs
Free cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
23 consecutive positive reviews
FromNZD 113.39

Featured Day tours in Canberra

View all Day tours
Canberra Capital & Parliament House 1-Day Tour with Chinese Guide | Round-Trip from Sydney [Optional Meal Included]
󱌍
4.5/5
· 28 reviews· 339 booked
Duration: 6.6 hrs
English
Free cancellation
169 travellers saved
FromNZD 211.65
Capital Canberra embassy district 1-day tour | Chinese and English | Mint entry | Buffet lunch | No gratuities
󱌍
FromNZD 262.13
Canberra: City Highlights Day Tour with Entrance Fees
󱌍
4.8/5
· 56 reviews
Duration: 8 hrs
Free cancellation
40 consecutive positive reviews
5% off
Limited-time sale
FromNZD 223.47NZD 235.24
From Sydney: Explore Canberra Includes Buffet Lunch
󱌍
4.6/5
· 88 reviews
Duration: 12 hrs
Free cancellation
93.2% of travelers recommend
5% off
Limited-time sale
FromNZD 223.47NZD 235.24
Canberra: Guided Tour + Roundtrip Transfer
󱌍
Duration: 8 hrs
Free cancellation
FromNZD 634.18
From Sydney: Full-Day Tour to Canberra
󱌍
4.7/5
· 72 reviews
Duration: 12 hrs
Free cancellation
24 consecutive positive reviews
5% off
Limited-time sale
FromNZD 270.76NZD 285.02
Canberra: Majura Pines Junior Tree Ropes Course
󱌍
5.0/5
· 4 reviews
Duration: 2.5 hrs
Free cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
5% off
Limited-time sale
FromNZD 46.21NZD 48.65

Free things to do in Canberra

More ways to travel from Canberra

Group Tours in Canberra

View More Group Tours in Canberra

What travellers say about Canberra

user-avatar
M13***9212 June 2025
5.0
[Scenery] The scenery here is very beautiful, with clear blue skies and a few white clouds floating in the azure sky. The azure blue lake reflects the willow trees on the shore, which is refreshing.

Lake Burley Griffin

user-avatar
🎀彡🐾19 April 2020
5.0
The Australian National Botanic Gardens is a very beautiful plant kingdom, with exotic flowers and plants from all over the world, colorful and particularly beautiful. Riding on the Ferris wheel here and overlooking the entire botanical garden from a high altitude is really magnificent. Don't miss it to visit.

Australian National Botanic Gardens

user-avatar
zhweiei22 October 2020
4.0
Canberra's Chinatown doesn't have a memorial archway like the ones in Melbourne and Sydney. It's just a street full of Chinese restaurants. It's not very long. There are many restaurants of various flavors from the north to the south to the northwest of China. There are also several supermarkets, and there are a few scattered Indian and Thai restaurants. There are parking spaces on both sides, but it seems that parking spaces are quite tight.

Chinatown in Canberra

user-avatar
coo***an20 December 2019
5.0
[Scenery] Black Mountain Nature Park is located in Canberra, Australia. There are many trees on the mountain, and the scenery is pleasant, which is suitable for hiking. [Fun] Standing on the top of the mountain, you can overlook the entire Canberra area. It is a good place to relax on weekends.

Black Mountain Nature Reserve

user-avatar
崂山顽石9 March 2016
4.0
It's right behind the War Museum. Look at the map very close, not very high. Come out of the museum, prepare to climb Mount Ansley, ask the museum staff the way up the mountain. The staff were very enthusiastic, knowing that we wanted to walk up the hill and shake our heads. Help us call a taxi directly. Australians are very civilized and enthusiastic. They are also considerate of tourists. They deserve some praise. From the museum to the top of the Ansley Mountains, taxis cost about A$20. Mt Ainslie is just north of the War Memorial, 842 meters high. It's very close to the city centre and easy to reach. It can be hiked up the hill and there are footpaths leading to the Peak View Terrace. From the top of the hill, you can have a panoramic view from the Australian and New Zealand Legion Memorial Square to the central axis of Capitol Hill. The view is very beautiful both in daytime and at night. It takes about 30 to 45 minutes to climb from the north of the War Memorial to the top of Ainslie Mountain. If you don't like climbing, you can drive directly to the top.

Mount Ainslie

user-avatar
E33***724 October 2019
5.0
Great place to be in to check out koalas and wallabies!! short tracks are available but better to drive around to specific spots you want to visit

Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve

user-avatar
露小茜13 October 2026
5.0
The theater isn't very large, so the view from the second floor was excellent, and the actors' performances were very lifelike, with very interesting dialogue. Plus, the theater has a beautiful terrace with floor-to-ceiling windows; I took some lovely photos there in the afternoon!

Sydney Opera House

Popular cities near Canberra

Frequently asked questions

What are the must-do things in Canberra?

Don't miss these attractions in Canberra: Lake Burley Griffin, Old Parliament House, and Australian National Botanic Gardens. If you like Cultural experiences, try Canberra Highlights Audio Tour: Cultural Treasures. If you enjoy Day tours, try Canberra Capital & Parliament House 1-Day Tour with Chinese Guide | Round-Trip from Sydney [Optional Meal Included].

When choosing a tour, start with how much time you have and the kind of experience you're looking for. Trending options right now include Canberra Capital & Parliament House 1-Day Tour with Chinese Guide | Round-Trip from Sydney [Optional Meal Included], Capital Canberra embassy district 1-day tour | Chinese and English | Mint entry | Buffet lunch | No gratuities, and Canberra: City Highlights Day Tour with Entrance Fees. Check the real-time availability and itinerary before you book.

As of 15 October 2026, the reference price for day tours and activities in Canberra is around NZD 24.87 – NZD 634.18. Rates vary by duration, group size, transport, tickets, meals, and any special admission requirements. Before you book, please confirm the billing currency and whether the price is quoted per person or per group.

Get help anytime, anywhere within 30 secondsContact customer support

Change and cancellation policies vary by attractions and tours. Please check the product details page for more information.

Ticket prices may vary between weekdays and weekends, as well as during peak and off-peak seasons. When booking with Trip.com, you can also use Trip Coins to get extra savings. For more tips on booking discounted tickets, please visit Trip.com for the latest information.