Everything You Need To Know About Shopping In Sydney
Sydney is one of the best cities in Australia not only for its amazing natural beauty, art and gastronomic scene, but for its fashion too. As one of the world's greatest fashion capitals, Sydney offers a plethora of shopping areas. From grandeur shopping centres and unique boutiques to lively markets and historic arcades like Queen Victoria Building and the Strand Arcade, shopping in Sydney is an experience of a lifetime.
But before you hit the main shopping streets, don't forget to drop off your belongings at a luggage locker in Sydney. This way, you can enjoy Sydney shopping to the fullest!
Shopping Centres
Harbourside Shopping Centre
Located on Darling Harbour you will find one of the best shopping malls in Sydney, boasting amazing views of Sydney Harbour and Sydney's gorgeous skyline. Harbourside Shopping Centre is the best shopping place for families looking to have some fun over the weekend or to enjoy Sunday lunch. Spread across two floors, the mall will keep you busy walking up and down hopping from one retail shop to another. Expect to find brands like Cotton On, Tarocash, YD, Temt and more, selling clothing, shoes and accessories for men, women and kids.
Hungry visitors can grab a bite to eat at one of the many eateries and waterfront spots, such as the Waterfront Grill, Thai Food, Toros Tapas & Bar among others. If you are looking for entertainment there are facilities to entertain any age, such as 9D Action cinemas, M9 Laser Skirmish and Kingpin Bowling Alley. You can get to the shopping centre by any means of transportation, or take a short walk from Sydney Central Business District (CBD).
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 10am-9pm
Westfield Mall
Located off Pitt Street Mall, in the heart of Sydney Central Business District is Westfield Sydney, a shopper's paradise packed with high-end shops and designer names. Unless you are shopping on a budget, this mall will have your wallet empty by the time you leave. Expect to see fancy stores like Miu Miu, Chanel and Calvin Klein, as well as popular high-street fashion brands like Gap and Cotton On. If you are looking for makeup, head down to the Zara and Nars makeup counters or Sephora. You will also find tech and homeware stores like Dr Boom, Marimekko, and Bed Bath N' Table and two of the largest department stores in Australia, Myer and David Jones.
When you are done shopping, relax in the popular food court and choose from a variety of international cuisine like Zeus Street Greek, Mad Mex Fresh Mexican Grill, or dine in style with a view at Infinity at Sydney Tower. The Westfield Mall is easy to get to. Located underneath the Sydney Towers, it is just a 4 minute's walk from Queen Victoria Building. If you are taking the train, the nearby stations are St James, Martin Place and Town Hall Station. You can access the mall via Pitt Street Mall or Market Street.
Opening Hours: Monday-Wednesday & Friday-Saturday: 9:30am-6:30pm; Thursday: 9:30am - 9pm; Sunday: 10am-6pm
The Strand Arcade
The Strand Arcade is one of the nicest looking buildings in Sydney and one of the best places for shopping in the city. Located on George Street, just a 3 minute's walk from the Sydney Tower, the mall is housed in a Victorian-style building dating back to the 1890s. Since it is the only remaining arcade of its kind in Sydney, it was added to New South Wales State Heritage Register in 2011. While the building is historic, the boutiques are ultra modern and offer exclusive shopping in Sydney. Since it is located in the heart of Sydney CBD, the Strand Arcade is a popular place to stop by for a drink, lunch and shopping.
Shoppers can choose from over 80 high end brands including popular Australian brands like Farage, Ginger&Smart, Jac+Jack, Aje and a few others along with a select number of eateries like Penodlino Restaurant, Taka Tea Garden and The Nut Shop. Even if you don't feel like shopping, spending some time in this one-of-a-kind arcade with cedar staircases, tiled floors, and tinted glass roof will be the highlight of your day. If you prefer this style of shopping, Queen Victoria Building should be the next on your list.
Opening Hours: Monday-Wednesday & Friday: 9am-5:30pm; Thursday: 9am-9pm; Saturday: 9am-4pm; Sunday: 11am-4pm
Shopping Streets
Oxford Street
This street is a major thoroughfare, known as the centre of the gay community in Sydney and one of the best shopping areas in the city. The 2.8 miles long street stretches from the southeast corner of Hyde Park all the way to Bondi Junction. This main street is quite lengthy if you want to walk but the bus stops are pretty frequent.
You will find everything you need here, starting with restaurants to satisfy all tastes, coffee shops, bars, cafes, independent boutiques, popular retail stores, parks, churches, and even parts of universities, such as the University of Notre Dame and the University of New South Wales. Shops you will come across are C&M clothing store, Sarah & Sebastian jewelry store, Great Dane, a luxury Scandinavian furniture store and many more unique shops. Oxford Street is definitely worth a stroll if you want to see everything in one street. Makes for a great day out shopping with friends or family. What's the best way to get here? Take a look at our guide on how to get around Sydney, here!
George Street
George Street is the main street in Sydney and one of the busiest. The 1.8 miles long is home to many important buildings and precincts like Sydney Town Hall, St Andrew's Cathedral and Queen Victoria Building shopping centre but art galleries, hotels, and some of the best places for shopping too. George Street stretches from the north end of Sydney in The Rocks, near the Sydney Harbour Bridge, all the way to the southern end of the city, near Central Station.
Here you will find Sydney's main department store Myer along with Pitt Street Mall, one of the busiest shopping precincts in Sydney. Walking along the main street you will come across brands like Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., Boss, Kookai, Nudie Jeans Co., Vans, and Longchamp among others. Cruising down George Street is a wonderful experience, whether you are shopping or not.
Outlets and Vintage Shops
Birkenhead Point Outlet Centre
Located near the harbour, just 3.7 miles from Sydney CBD, is Sydney's largest brand outlet. There are over 130 stores selling anything from fashion, homeware & gifts, accessories, technology, footwear, liquor, jewelry and more offering the best deals year-round. Outlet stores to look for are Furla, Michael Kors, Nike, Ginger & Smart, Boss, Tommy Bahama, The North Face and many more. Beauty salons, food markets and eateries like Gozleme Turkish House, Donut King, Muffin Break and Coles can also be found in the Birkenhead Point Outlet Centre.
The outlet's location near the harbour makes for an excellent day out shopping, especially with the open-air environment, so make sure you visit. Getting there is easy too. If you are driving, you get three hours of free parking, but public buses make frequent stops near the outlet center too.
Opening Hours: Monday-Wednesday & Friday: 10am-5.30pm; Thursday: 10am-7.30pm; Saturday: 9am-6pm; Sunday: 10am-6pm
Real King Vintage Sydney
Walking along King Street you will come across many second-hand stores, charity shops and upcycled boutiques. One of the most popular ones is Real King Vintage Sydney where you'll find tons of trendy vintage clothing from brands like Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, Nautica, Puma, Ralph Lauren, Harley Davidson, Gap, Champion and more at very reasonable prices. This is one of the best places to look for unique pieces, so make sure to visit.
Opening Hours: Monday & Wednesday: 12am-6pm; Wednesday-Friday: 11am-6pm; Saturday & Sunday: 10am-6pm
Markets
The Rocks Market
The Rocks Market is a weekend market set up on George Street inside the historic shopping precinct The Rocks. There are over 200 stalls by up-and-coming fashion designers and artists from all over Sydney. You will find all kinds of arts and crafts, clothing, jewelry, souvenirs, homewares, and a wide range of food and beverages. Foodies may want to check out the special food Rocks Market that takes place on Fridays from 9am-3pm.
When you get the munchies or crave an incredible brunch, the Rocks Market will fill your belly with a wide selection of food like lamb kebabs, barbecue, gourmet wraps, or burgers. Even if you are not planning on shopping, walking down the cobblestone lanes and soaking up the lively atmosphere of this open-air waterfront market will make you feel like a local for the day.
Hours: Saturday&Sunday: 10am-5pm
Bondi Markets
Established in 1993, Bondi’s open air market opens shop every Sunday in front of the Bondi Beach Public School. It is considered one of the best markets in Sydney, and with the right. From the perfect colorful beachfront to stalls selling a variety of goods, this place offers a wonderful shopping experience for locals and tourists alike.
You will find individual artisans selling all sorts of crafts from bikinis, jewelry and sunglasses to Turkish beach towels and retro clothing but also vinyl records, vintage furniture, homeware and a lot more. Shopping in Bondi Markets means you are shopping for unique pieces. Located on Australia's most famous beach and Sydney's trendiest beach town, Bondi, it is easy to get to with public transport.
Hours: Sunday: 10am-4pm
Market City & Paddy's Market
Most Chinatowns in major cities provide excellent shopping experiences, and Chinatown in Sydney is no exception. Head down to Sydney's Chinatown for the day and wander the street markets for hours. You will find a large selection of not only fresh produce and flowers, but homeware, antiques, cosmetics, clothes, technology, souvenirs and hundreds of knock-off items.
Market City centre spreads across three floors, and Paddy's Market occupies the ground floor. Paddy's Market follows the concept of a typical Southeast Asian flea market, and as such sells fakes of all kinds for bargain prices. When you are done shopping in Paddy's Market, check out some of the factory outlets on the upper floors, such as the Authentic Factory Outlet and Bonds Outlet for some great deals. When you have worked up an appetite you can stop by Nando's, Hakata Maru-Ramen or Gozleme and savor the flavors of international cuisines.
Hours: Monday-Wednesday&Friday-Sunday: 10am-7pm; Thursday: 10am-8pm
Glebe Markets
Located in the inner-city suburb of Glebe is one of Sydney's most popular vintage markets. Glebe Market is packed with locals and tourists every Saturday. Here you will find over 200 stalls selling diverse goods starting from antiques, books, jewelry, souvenirs, art and craft, original and retro clothes, second-hand items, accessories and more.
There are also food stalls offering all sorts of food, which you get to enjoy sitting on the grass while listening to some live music, for free! Glebe Markets is a great place to hang out with family and friends on a sunny Saturday. The nearest station is Central Station with a 20 minute walk and if you are taking the bus, most George Street buses will stop near the markets.
Hours: Saturday: 10am-4pm
Shopping in Sydney
Sydney is one of the best places to visit on Earth, boasting breathtaking nature, the most beautiful harbor in the world, and of course, the most famous landmark, the Sydney Opera House. But Sydney is also known as a shopper's paradise! Whether you choose to shop at Pitt Street Mall, Westfield Centre, Chinatown, or the street markets, shopping in Sydney is sure to tick all the boxes. All you need to bring along is your good mood and a full wallet.
