As Sydney transforms into a sparkling holiday wonderland, it’s the perfect time for some festive Christmas light spotting in the city centre.
If you're out with family and friends, or on a solo Christmas adventure, these displays bring Sydney's holiday spirit to life in the most magical way.
Here are the must-see spots around town.
Barangaroo
Barangaroo has that festive feeling this year. Explore the Native Living Christmas trees, a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and Australia’s native plants. Designed by Nadia Duran and adorned with Rubyrose Bancroft’s stunning artwork, these towering trees tell stories of connection, community and heritage.
Barangaroo Avenue
Barangaroo
Darling Harbour
You’re not going to want to miss this dazzling Christmas tree floating at Darling Harbour.
By day, its baubles sparkle in the sunlight, and by night, it transforms into a glowing beacon of holiday cheer.
Find out more and add this to your route.
ICC Sydney forecourt
Darling Harbour
The Rocks
Enjoy a feast for the senses around every golden sandstone corner, with twinkling Christmas lights, a stunning tree and tiny villages.
This year, the 7m Christmas tree is adorned with native florals and wooden baubles designed by Wiradjuri artist Shelby-Rae Lyons, symbolising Country, family and connection.
Find out more about Christmas in The Rocks.
Streets and laneways
The Rocks
Martin Place
Martin Place is getting a jolly-good makeover with the tallest Christmas tree in NSW. Decorated with more than 110,000 LED features and 330 specially created glossy baubles, this beauty is the perfect stop along your Christmas light-spotting adventure.
The tree’s 800 branches are dressed with 15,000 flowers representing 9 different kinds of Australian flowers: banksia, waratah, bottlebrush, wattle, eucalyptus gum flower, kangaroo paw, flannel flower, pink wax flower and white wax flower.
Plus, if you get there from 6pm to 8pm on certain evenings, you’ll hear various choir concerts filling Sydney’s streets with carols and music.
Martin Place
Sydney
Pitt Street Mall
Nothing says Christmas more than a canopy of warm twinkling lights - 80,000 of them to be exact. Stroll underneath this canopy of suspended fairy lights and past 10 huge 2m-high stars.
Canopy of Light
Pitt Street Mall between Market and King streets
The Strand Arcade
In an ode to the beauty of the Australian landscape, the Strand Arcade is adorned in Christmas decorations inspired by native flowers. More than 3,500 individual twinkling Christmas lights cover each of the ornaments from tip to toe.
412-414 George Street
Sydney
Queen Victoria Building
The QVB is pulling out all the stops to celebrate the season with festive lighting outside and even more to discover inside.
The largest indoor tree in Australia, the native Wollemi pine-inspired Christmas centrepiece is a collaboration of First Nations creatives from Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative. Seeing this tree spanning 3 levels is a truly immersive experience, with a soundscape of endangered birds from Songs of Disappearance by The Bowerbird Collective while you discover the beautifully handcrafted flannel flower ornaments.
455 George Street
Sydney
Sydney Town Hall
Stop by Sydney Town Hall to see the famous clock tower in lights and the colourful 9m tall Christmas tree.
The tree features 170 hand-made baubles and showcases an amazing 224 native floral decorations and 3,200 warm white LED effects. Each of these decorations represent a different type of Australian flower: banksia, waratah, bottlebrush, wattle, eucalyptus gum flower, kangaroo paw, flannel flower, pink wax flower.
While you're there, check out the curtain of light displayed on the Woolworths building on the other side of George Street.
483 George Street
Sydney
St Mary's Cathedral
Christmas at the Cathedral is back and as bright as ever.
From 17 to 25 December, witness the façade of St Mary's transform with a kaleidoscope of colourful projections, digital animations and of course, a couple of fabulous Christmas trees.
2 St Mary's Road
Sydney
Christmas is waiting to be discovered
Now you know where to find Sydney’s most enchanting Christmas displays, it’s time to see them for yourself.
With 10 festive locations waiting to be explored, the Christmas light-spotting tour promises a holiday experience filled with sparkle and cheer. From the Martin Place tree to the magical Canopy of Light at Pitt Street Mall, each stop brings a new kind of wonder to discover.
Download the City of Sydney's Culture Walks app to have this tour in your pocket.
