Things to Do in Canberra
Prices, opening hours, best times to visit and the stuff nobody tells you, everything you need for a first trip to Canberra, Australia, plus one pigeon's opinions on all of it.
Right, Canberra. Purpose-built capital, planned down to the last roundabout, a war memorial well worth the detour, and considerably more interesting than its reputation as merely a government town would suggest. This is the proper, no-nonsense guide to things to do in Canberra: what things actually cost, when to go, what to skip, and which bits are worth the walk. Six main stops below, plus a quiz elsewhere on this site to see if you were paying attention.
Why Canberra Exists
Canberra was purpose-built to become Australia's capital as a compromise between Sydney and Melbourne, neither city wanted the other to hold the title, so a new capital was built roughly between them, a rare example of a capital city existing purely to settle a rivalry between two others. Canberra's layout was designed by American architect Walter Burley Griffin following an international competition, his winning design incorporated geometric patterns and an artificial lake now named after him, Lake Burley Griffin, the centrepiece of the whole planned city.
Understanding this backstory changes how you experience Canberra, this isn't a city that grew organically, every avenue, vista, and building placement was deliberately designed, worth keeping in mind as you explore.
The Australian War Memorial
Canberra is home to the Australian War Memorial, honouring the country's involvement in military conflicts, one of the most visited and respected memorials in the country, combining a museum and shrine in a moving, thoughtfully designed complex. The Hall of Memory, the Roll of Honour listing over 100,000 names, and the daily Last Post ceremony at closing time are all worth building time around, this is not a rushed visit.
The museum galleries cover Australia's military history in real depth, aircraft, tanks, and personal artefacts alongside the more solemn memorial spaces, worth allowing a proper half-day to see it all.
Hours Daily, roughly 10am–5pm; Last Post ceremony daily at close
Address Treloar Crescent, Campbell, Canberra
Lake Burley Griffin
An artificial lake at the heart of Griffin's original city design, named after the architect himself, and now the recreational and scenic centre of Canberra, walking and cycling paths circling the water, with several of the city's major institutions (the National Gallery, the National Library, Old and New Parliament House) positioned around its shores.
The Captain Cook Memorial Jet, a large water fountain on the lake, and paddleboat or kayak rental both make for a pleasant afternoon if the weather's good, a properly relaxed contrast to the more formal museum visits elsewhere on this list.
Best time Any time; sunset for the lake and surrounding buildings lit up
National Gallery of Australia & National Museum
Canberra's concentration of free national institutions is one of the best reasons to visit, the National Gallery holds a significant collection of Australian and international art, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander work displayed with real prominence, while the National Museum of Australia covers the country's history, from Indigenous culture through to modern Australian life, in real depth.
Both are free for general admission, a proper contrast to how much major museums cost in most world capitals, worth building a full day around both given the quality and the fact that neither will cost you anything beyond your time.
Hours Daily, roughly 10am–5pm
Address Around Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra
Parliament House
Australia's Parliament House, built into a hill and topped with a huge flagpole visible across much of the city, is properly open to visitors, free guided tours cover the building's design and function, and the public galleries let you watch parliamentary proceedings when sitting. The rooftop lawn, designed so visitors can literally walk over the top of the building, offers sweeping views back across Lake Burley Griffin and the wider city.
It's an accessible piece of civic architecture, worth the visit even if politics isn't usually your interest, the building's design and openness say something real about the city's founding ideals.
Hours Daily, roughly 9am–5pm
Address Capital Hill, Canberra
Mount Ainslie Lookout
A short drive or a proper hike up from the War Memorial, Mount Ainslie offers the best panoramic view over the whole planned city, letting you see Griffin's original design laid out clearly from above, the avenues, the lake, and the deliberate sightlines connecting major buildings all suddenly make sense from up here.
It's free, and one of the better ways to appreciate just how deliberately Canberra was designed, worth the trip for the view alone, particularly at sunset.
Best time Sunset
Getting there A short drive from the War Memorial, or a hiking trail from the same starting point
Best time to visit Canberra
March through May and September through November give the most comfortable weather for the amount of walking and lake activity this list involves, mild without summer's heat or winter's real cold, Canberra sits at a higher elevation than the coast and gets noticeably colder winters as a result.
Floriade, Canberra's annual spring flower festival held each September and October in Commonwealth Park, is worth timing a visit around if your trip lines up with it, a striking, free display.
Getting around Canberra
Canberra was designed around cars, and while central sights near Lake Burley Griffin are walkable to each other, the city as a whole is fairly spread out. Buses cover the wider city; a car gives more flexibility for reaching Mount Ainslie and outlying attractions.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Canberra worth visiting?
- Yes, particularly for the Australian War Memorial and the genuinely excellent free national museums and gallery, often underrated compared to Sydney or Melbourne but offering real depth of its own.
- How many days do you need in Canberra?
- Two to three days covers the War Memorial, Parliament House, and the national museums comfortably.
- Is Canberra expensive?
- No, genuinely affordable, most of the best things to do here (the War Memorial, the national museums, Parliament House, the lake) are entirely free.
- What is Canberra famous for?
- Being Australia's purpose-built capital, a compromise between Sydney and Melbourne, the Australian War Memorial, and its planned design by architect Walter Burley Griffin around Lake Burley Griffin.
That's everything I've got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
