As Sydney transforms into a sparkling holiday wonderland, it’s the perfect time for some festive Christmas light spotting around the city centre.
If you're out with family and friends, or on a solo Christmas light-spotting adventure, these displays bring Sydney's holiday spirit to life in the most magical way.
Here are the must-see spots in the city.
Barangaroo
Where: Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo
Barangaroo has that festive feeling this year! Explore Barangaroo's 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 Taleena Simon’s stunning artwork, these towering trees tell stories of connection, community and heritage.
Darling Harbour
Where: ICC Sydney forecourt, Darling Harbour
You’re not going to want to miss this dazzling Christmas tree floating on Darling Harbour.
By day, its dazzling 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.
The Rocks
Where: Streets and laneways in The Rocks
The historic streets of The Rocks are transforming into Christmas wonderlanes.
Enjoy a feast for the senses around every golden sandstone corner, with twinkling Christmas lights, a stunning Christmas tree and tiny Christmas villages around every corner.
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.
Martin Place
Where: Martin Place, Sydney
Martin Place is getting a jolly-good makeover with the tallest Christmas tree in NSW. Decorated with more than 110,000 LED lights 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 between 6pm and 8pm throughout December, you’ll hear various choir concerts filling Sydney’s streets with carols and music.
Pitt Street Mall
Where: Pitt Street Mall between Market and King streets
Nothing says Christmas more than a canopy warm twinkling lights - 80,000 of them to be exact! Discover Christmas magic right along Pitt Street as you stroll underneath this canopy of suspended fairy lights and past 10 huge 2m high stars.
The Strand Arcade
Where: 412-414 George Street, Sydney
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.
Queen Victoria Building
Where: 455 George Street, Sydney
The QVB is pulling out all the stops to celebrate the silly season with a light show outside, and even more to discover inside.
The Australian native Wollemi pine-inspired Christmas tree (Australia’s largest indoor tree!) is a collaboration of First Nations artists from Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative. Seeing this tree is a truly immersive experience, with a soundscape of endangered birds from Songs of Disappearance by The Bowerbird Collective above you while you discover the beautifully handcrafted flannel flower ornaments covering the tree, which spans 3 levels of the QVB.
There’s also an exclusive augmented reality experience on level 2 where Dr Bronwyn Bancroft’s southern royal albatross inspired bird decorations come to life from the ground floor and fly around the Christmas tree.
Sydney Town Hall
Where: 483 George Street, Sydney
Stop by Sydney Town Hall on your light-spotting tour of town 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 lights. Each of these decorations represent 9 different types of Australian flowers: banksia, waratah, bottlebrush, wattle, eucalyptus gum flower, kangaroo paw, flannel flower, pink wax flower.
While you're there, check out the twinkling light display on the Woolworths building on the other side of George Street.
St Mary's Cathedral
Where: 2 St Mary's Road, Sydney
Christmas at the Cathedral is back and as bright as ever!
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.
David Jones
Where: corner of Market and Elizabeth streets, Sydney
The David Jones Christmas window is a beloved Sydney tradition, bringing holiday cheer and wonder to all who visit.
Each year the iconic department store unveils an enchanting display of themed windows, meticulously crafted with intricate scenes that capture the magic of Christmas. From animated characters to festive landscapes, every window tells a story, delighting both children and adults alike.
This year David Jones is kicking off the festive season with animated Christmas windows showcasing celebrated children’s book A Very Wombat Christmas.
After you've peeked through these festive windows, check out the decorations inside from Christmas trees to Santa's workshop.
Christmas is waiting to be discovered
Now that you know where to find Sydney’s most enchanting Christmas displays, it’s time to set out on your own light-spotting adventure!
With 12 festive locations waiting to be explored, this tour promises a holiday experience filled with sparkle and cheer. From the iconic 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 as you go!
