The 26 best things to do in Canberra

In a world-first, art appreciators can experience the full, monumental suite of 20 tapestries by renowned Australian artist Arthur Boyd. On display at the National Gallery of Australia in a completely free exhibition until October 18, these exquisite 2.5 by 3.4-metre masterpieces have been woven at a scale more than 20 times larger than the Victorian-born artist’s original pastel drawings. Each tapestry contains between four and 8.5 million meticulous stitches – ranking as the most complex creations the renowned Manufactura de Tapeçarias de Portalegre has ever made. You need to see these works up close to truly appreciate their scale!

Time Out tip: To accompany the exhibition, you can get hands-on (and humbled) with free monthly weaving demos, workshops and curator talks. You can explore the full program with dates here.

Canberrans, it's time to kiss those winter blues goodbye – the city's newest wellness experience has officially opened, and it's every bit as dreamy as it looks! Inspired by Tasmania's famous floating sauna at Lake Derby, this Canberra version is set on the shores of Yarralumla Beach East. There, you'll find two woodfired sauna rooms, each with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the calm Lake Burley Griffin. Steam up in the sauna (max six people), cool off with a dip in the lake, then repeat. Who's ready to take the plunge?

Time Out tip: Book a private one-hour sauna session and enjoy a hot-cold therapy experience all to yourself – or make it a group affair and bring up to five friends along for the soak and sweat.

Once a rarity exclusive to the faraway foodies of Europe, Canberrans now have some of the world's finest truffles right on their doorstep. From May to early September, you can rug up and join Canberra’s most charming truffle dog duo at The Truffle Farm for an interactive hunt through the picturesque forest of 8,500 oak and hazelnut trees in the Majura Valley. After hunting down a handful of these prized little fungi, you can retreat to the warmth of The Barn for a lavish degustation, paired with local Mada wines.

Time Out tip: Tucked away in beautiful Pialligo, Beltana Farm also hosts winter truffle hunts paired with cooking masterclasses, long lunches and cosy twilight barbecues – available from early June to mid-August.

Fall in love at first bite, 15 stories up, at this lavish winter wonderland afternoon tea collaboration between QT Canberra and the dessert wizards at Space Kitchen. As you take in stellar views of the city skyline, you’ll enjoy a tiered feast of sweet and savoury goodies. Start with king prawn tartlets and poached chicken sandwiches, before sinking homestyle scones with strawberry jam and rosewater cream, and dipping strawberries in a flowing white chocolate fountain. This high tea is hosted every Saturday, with bookings from 11.30am to 1.30pm.

Time Out tip: QT also puts on a Little High Tea for kids under 12 at $34 per person.

Just like the trees at Canberra’s beautiful Arboretum, you can rug up for this magical winter program of firelight, food and forest adventures. Warm your soul with a soothing stroll through the botanical garden’s peaceful landscapes to discover Warm Trees – a seasonal outdoor installation of trunks wrapped in vibrant, hand-knitted scarves. If you want to get creative, you can take part in family-friendly workshops covering everything from lantern making and botanical watercolour to nature journaling and Aboriginal plant use. As the sun sets, the magic continues with breathtaking night-sky stargazing experiences running every Friday and Saturday night until August 9. You can explore the full Winter in the Woods program here.

Time Out tip: After wandering through the Warm Trees exhibition, pop inside the cozy Village Centre to warm your hands. You can grab a $5 craft kit and create your very own teenie beanie to take home.

Bright, sunny days in Canberra mean one thing: an adventure to, around – or even on –  Lake Burley Griffin. Stretch those legs by following the leisurely five-kilometre bridge-to-bridge walk, which starts at Commonwealth Bridge and steers you around the lake, taking in sights like the Captain Cook Memorial Jet and the National Carillon, and finishing at Kings Avenue Bridge. You can also cycle or scooter around the 40-kilometre shoreline.

Time Out tip: If you prefer to steer a ship rather than pound the pedals, hit the high seas in your very own electric GoBoat – no licence required.

“Larger-than-life” is one way to describe Chinese-Australian artist Lindy Lee’s spectacular $14 million masterpiece, ‘Ouroboros’, which was commissioned to celebrate the National Gallery of Australia’s (NGA) 40th anniversary. By day, the shiny stainless steel sculpture reflects the imagery of the floating world. At night, visitors – limited to two at a time – can step inside the snake's 'mouth' to immerse themselves in the darkness that is illuminated by light beams radiating from 45,000 small perforations on its mirrored surface.

Time Out tip: The NGA's lakeside Sculpture Garden is free to explore, offering three hectares of manicured lawns dotted with more than 65 immersive sculptures and installations. 

History buffs will love the attention to detail displayed at this museum, which was ranked as one of the top ten best places across the globe by TripAdvisor in 2023. It’s the distinctly human angle that makes the Memorial appealing. More than just monuments, the memorial offers a genuine insight into what wartime life was like for Australian women and men, with multimedia displays, documentary footage and a moving Last Post closing ceremony at 4.30pm daily.

Time Out tip: Join one of the Memorial's free, daily 80-minute guided tours, which cover the Commemorative Area and the First and Second World War galleries. 

Much to Melbourne’s chagrin, the best coffee in Australia comes from Canberra. Ona Coffee’s founder, Sasa Sestic, once won the World Barista Championship, and his employee, Hugh Kelly, has won the Australian Barista Championship three times. Of Ona’s three shopfronts around Canberra, the flagship Coffee House in Fyschwick is our top pick. Here, classic Australian café fare, like chilli scrambled eggs and avocado toast, is crafted with precision to match the prize-winning roasts.

Time Out tip: Ona runs regular barista classes that’ll have you mastering the tools in just one day. Ideal if you’re visiting the Bush Capital short-term or running a tight schedule.

If you’re partial to a 360-degree lookout, this short and steep trail connecting up Mount Ainslie is a must. The four-kilometre walk starts at Remembrance Nature Park, just behind the Australian War Memorial. You’ll want to time your summit with sunrise or sunset to beat the heat and enjoy the best views down Anzac Parade, extending to the Parliamentary triangle, the mountains of Namadgi National Park and beyond. 

Time Out tip: If you’ve already hit your step count for the day, then you can also drive to the top of the summit with a picnic in tow.

Canberra’s a bit of a hidden gem in the Australian wine world, but it’s actually home to more than 40 boutique vineyards serving up cool-climate drops with paddock-to-plate goodness. If you’re keen to discover a new favourite drop, Canberra District Wine Region has just launched a brand new Wine Hopper tour, giving you freedom to sip, swirl and stroll through cellar doors without needing a deso driver. The hop-on, hop-off service departs from Canberra CBD at 10am on weekends and runs a continuous loop around Murrumbateman, stopping at nine hand-picked wineries, like Shaw Estate, Clonakilla and The Vitner’s Daughter. You’ll likely fit in three to four stops throughout the day, before the bus drops you back to the city at 5pm.

Time Out tip: Each of the nine wineries has multiple pick-up and drop-off times throughout the day, with three designated lunch stops at Murrumbateman Country Inn, Shaw Estate or Four Winds Vineyard. To make the most of your wine adventure, we recommend planning your itinerary in advance – that way, your day flows as smoothly as the Shiraz.

At 2pm on sitting days in Parliament, Australian politics turns into a contact sport. The name of the game is Question Time, and the debates can get heated. You can take in the drama from the viewing galleries of Parliament House (book a ticket by calling the Serjeant-at-Arms’ Office on 02 6277 4889). If you’re more interested in architecture than politics, the billion-dollar building – which is based on the shape of two boomerangs – is still worth a look. Sadly, children are no longer allowed to roll down the property’s sloping green lawns, but you can still daydream about how fun it would be to try while unmarked Secret Service vehicles do slow laps around the grounds.

Time Out tip: Check out the Lego Parliament House, which took artist Ryan ‘Brickman’ McNaught 740 hours – or almost 31 days – to build. 

For the best bullar and bread in the Berra, look no further than Under Bakery. Our Travel & News Editor Melissa Woodley reckons this humble bakery, with locations in Mawson and Fyshwick, makes the best cardamom buns in Australia. Each bite feels like a warm hug – familiar, indulgent and absolutely addictive. The soft spiral releases a comforting aroma of freshly baked dough layered with sweet spices, while the subtle cardamom flavour lingers on the palate and the sticky brown sugar glaze adds the perfect touch of sweetness. Arrive early as Under Bakery sells out of its buns and bread most days, plus their spongy, oven-fresh focaccia with toppings like potato, béchamel and crispy kale.

Time Out tip: You can check out more of our favourite bakeries in Canberra here.

You don’t have to be a green thumb to visit this sprawling 250-hectare tree museum in Canberra. Set on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin, the Arboretum is home to more than 44,000 rare and endangered trees that were planted after the Christmas 2001 and 2003 Canberra bushfires. You can wander through 20 kilometres of multi-purpose tracks that wind through the mosaic of greenery or explore the smallest of trees in the National Bonsai Collection. Good luck stringing the kids away from the nature-themed Pod Playground featuring giant acorn cubbies, nest swings and banksia pods.

Time Out tip: Once you've worked up an appetite strolling through the forest, head inside to the Café at the Arboretum for a hearty burger or fresh salad. You can also grab a house-made pie or crusty baguette to enjoy on the lawns outside. 

Australia’s Capital Territory may be landlocked, but that doesn’t mean beaut sunsets are off the cards. Dairy Farmers Hill Lookout within Canberra’s National Arboretum is a stellar locale for 360-degree views over the main drag, neighbourhoods, surrounding national forests and beyond. In as little as a ten-minute drive from central Canberra, Dairy Farmers Hill Lookout serves up sunsets behind the wave-like valleys, creating soft silhouettes of faraway flora and maybe even some fauna.

Time Out tip: How about grabbing takeaway from one of Canberra's best pizzerias for a sunset picnic? 

Fyshwick has been known for a lot of things, but these days it’s super-fresh beers pulling people to the taproom at Capital Brewing Co. Being an inclusive bunch, these guys let you bring your little humans and your four-legged friends to play, while you sink a crisp glass of Coast Ale or their famously juicy, tropical Rock Hopper IPA for those who love the fresh bitterness of hops. You can kick back in the beer garden with a burger or hot dog from the legends at Brodburger, or laze around on the 2,000 metres of lush garden space – including the only beer river in the world (we’ll take their word for it).

Time Out tip: Still thirsty? Check out our guide to the best bars in Canberra here.

Opened in 1982, Australia’s heritage-listed national gallery is home to the largest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art collection in the entire world. Its collection comprises more than 155,000 Australian, Indigenous and international masterpieces, including Jackson Pollock’s ‘Blue Poles’ and the Ned Kelly series by Sidney Nolan. The NGA’s extensive collection extends outdoors into the manicured Sculpture Garden that sits on the shore of Canberra’s tranquil Lake Burley Griffin.

Time Out tip: Try to align the conclusion of your visit with dusk, when pioneering light artist James Turrell’s permanent installation, ‘Within without’, really comes alive. Check the optimum viewing times here.

Come face-to-face with our country’s most topical and trending Australian characters at the nation’s only portrait gallery. From Archie Roach and Adam Goodes to Carla Zampatti and Cate Blanchett, these are the people and artists who have shaped our Australian identity. You can take a squiz at the hundreds of portraits, before popping just across the road to the National Gallery of Australia, Questacon or Old Parliament House. 

Time Out tip: Can't make it to Canberra just yet? You can explore the gallery's impressive collection of notorious and glorious portraits online.

Have you ever encountered a wild emu? If the answer’s no, your state of deprivation can be quickly rectified with a visit to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. Just a 40-minute drive southwest of Canberra, this sprawling wildlife park boasts sweeping views, 24 hiking trails, a huge variety of birdlife, as well as kangaroos, wallabies, platypuses and some very accessible koalas (just take the Koala Walk for an all-but-guaranteed sighting).

Time Out tip: Love hiking? Check out our ultimate guide to all the best walks and hikes in Canberra here.

Pack your baskets, bags or nanna-approved tartan shopping trolley – we’re off to the Old Bus Depot Market. Every Sunday from 9.30am to 2.30pm, you’ll find more than 200 stalls run by local and regional creatives, offering up everything from vintage records, antique china, colourful clothing and artisan fudge. While you’re shopping and snacking, you’ll be entertained by some of Canberra’s most talented musicians and entertainers, all for free. 

Time Out tip: For more market magic, we recommend the Saturday Capital Region Farmers Market and the Sunday Haig Park Village Markets.

Most East Coast Australian school children have at least one fond memory of visiting Questacon. The interactive science museum is right up there with Parliament House on the school tour route. While the showy lightning demonstrations and earthquake machine tend to linger longest in kids’ imaginations, it’s the genuine passion of the science educators on staff that will garner parental appreciation. Don't leave without experiencing the exhilaration of weightlessness as you slide down the two-storey vertical ‘Free Fall’.

Time Out tip: Save time to explore the Questacon gift shop, which is kind of like a candy land for curious minds, big and small. From slime and robots to insects and astronauts, there's plenty of science-fuelled fun to take home.

We have four words for you: bathtub selfie with tigers. Hidden inside Canberra's National Zoo & Aquarium, Jamala Wildlife Lodge offers 18 luxury, African-themed bungalows and suites dispersed within the animal enclosures. Potential hotelmates include Malayan sun bears, cheetah brothers, a pride of lions and a family of giraffes. Day-trippers can also meet native Australian wildlife, white rhinos, spotted hyenas and many more exotic animals, along with colourful reef fish, sharks and amphibians at the aquarium. 

Time Out tip: Every stay at Jamala includes two days' entry to the zoo! Arrive early to beat the crowds and catch the animals at their liveliest – they're most active during the cooler parts of the day, especially in summer.

After a jam-packed day in Australia’s capital, you’ll certainly be craving some serious R&R. Enter Australia’s first 24/7 self-guided wellness space, Reverie. Just minutes from the Australian War Memorial, this luxe wellness destination is open around the clock, offering five signature wellness treatments that you can book around the clock. Think infrared saunas, contrast therapy ice baths, LED light therapy, a dry float and the city’s first automated spray tan booth – because who doesn’t want to top up their glow at midnight?

Time Out tip: We highly recommend the dry float, which offers a weightless, water-free experience combining LED and sound therapy. You’ll feel like you’re drifting through space, and not a single drop of water touches your skin.

If you’re craving action, a few rides on the snaking 1.2-kilometre alpine slide – the longest in the Southern Hemisphere – at Corin Forrest will do the trick. Around 40 minutes’ drive from the centre of town, the slide winds through a gum forest, and it’s not unusual to spot kangaroos as you zip your way down the hill. Adult adrenaline junkies may be a little less impressed with the slide’s velocity – but its proximity to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve makes it a worthwhile stop anyway.

Time Out tip: In the cooler months, Corin Forrest cranks out the artificial snow machines (often augmented by the real deal) and offers a novel day out for Australians unused to the white stuff.

Even the little ones will feel like giants when roaming Cockington Green Gardens, a whimsical miniature village in Nicholls. Set within beautifully manicured gardens, this fantastical attraction features meticulously crafted tiny buildings from all around the world. While you’re there, hop aboard the miniature steam train, peek inside the 34-room doll's house ‘Waverley’, and finish up with homemade scones in the Garden Café. It’s small in size, but full of wonder!

Time Out tip: While you're in Nicholls, pop across the road to the National Dinosaur Museum. It boasts Australia’s largest permanent displays of dinosaurs and prehistoric fossils.

If you’ve ever wondered how your humble pint glass gets made, the Glassworks offer you the chance to get hands-on experience creating one yourself. Here you can play with fire, experiment with a ‘punty’ and walk away with something you made with your own two hands (and a 1,100-degree furnace). The Glassworks holds ‘Make Your Own’ workshops most weekends, or you can drop in on other days to watch pros at work. The building is also home to a gallery showcasing intricate glass art by local and international creators.

Time Out tip: The downstairs gallery and gift shop are free to explore, and you can watch the artists in action upstairs.