Top places to visit in Canberra

• Parliament House

  Heritage · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h

  Australia's striking flag-topped Parliament, buried in Capital Hill — tour the chambers and walk on the grassed roof, free.

• Australian War Memorial

  Museum · 4.8 rating · about 2.5 h

  A moving national shrine, museum and archive of Australia's wartime history, with the Last Post ceremony each evening — free.

• Lake Burley Griffin

  Nature · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h

  Canberra's central ornamental lake — cycle or walk the shore, see the Captain Cook water jet and rent a paddle boat.

• National Gallery of Australia

  Museum · 4.6 rating · about 2 h

  The nation's premier art museum — Australian, Aboriginal and world art including Blue Poles and the Sculpture Garden, free.

• National Museum of Australia

  Museum · 4.5 rating · about 2 h

  A vivid museum of the Australian story on Acton Peninsula — social history, Indigenous cultures and land, free entry.

• Mount Ainslie Lookout

  Viewpoint · 4.7 rating · about 0.8 h

  A hilltop lookout with the classic axial view down Anzac Parade to Parliament House — spectacular at sunset, free.

• Questacon

  Museum · 4.7 rating · about 2.5 h · entry AUD 25

  The National Science and Technology Centre — hands-on interactive exhibits and the free-fall slide, a family favourite.

• National Arboretum Canberra

  Nature · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h

  A hilltop arboretum of 44,000 rare and endangered trees, with the Pod Playground, bonsai collection and city views.

• Australian National Botanic Gardens

  Nature · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h

  The largest living collection of native Australian flora, on Black Mountain — rainforest gully, eucalypt lawn and walks, free.

• National Portrait Gallery

  Museum · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h

  A gallery telling Australia's story through portraits of the people who shaped the nation, in the Parliamentary Triangle — free.

• Old Parliament House

  Heritage · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · entry AUD 2

  The elegant 1927 seat of government, now the Museum of Australian Democracy, with heritage chambers and rose gardens.

• Braddon (Lonsdale Street)

  Cultural · about 1.5 h

  Canberra's hippest strip — warehouse eateries, craft-beer bars, roasters and boutiques along Lonsdale Street.

Things to do

• Canberra Highlights City Tour Tour · 4 h · from AUD 89 per person
• Lake Burley Griffin Bike Hire Activity · 3 h · from AUD 45 per person
• Parliament House & Democracy Walking Tour Tour · 2 h · from AUD 55 per person
• Canberra District Wine Tour Tour · 6 h · from AUD 145 per person
• Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve Wildlife Tour Tour · 5 h · from AUD 99 per person
• National Gallery of Australia Highlights Tour Tour · 1.3 h · from AUD 25 per person

Day trips and tours

• Canberra Capital Highlights 4 h · from AUD 89

Where to stay in Canberra

• City Center about AUD 3,000 per night

  National capital with accommodation

• Kingston & Manuka about AUD 200 per night

  Leafy dining precincts with the Kingston Foreshore, restaurants and boutique hotels.

Hotels

• Hyatt Hotel Canberra 5-star · AUD 300 to AUD 700 per night
• Ovolo Nishi 5-star · AUD 240 to AUD 500 per night
• East Hotel 4-star · AUD 180 to AUD 340 per night
• QT Canberra 5-star · AUD 200 to AUD 420 per night
• Canberra City YHA 3-star · AUD 40 to AUD 150 per night

Where to eat

• Pilot Modern Australian · about AUD 160 per person
• Akiba Asian · about AUD 65 per person
• Morks Thai · about AUD 70 per person
• Lazy Su Asian, Fusion · about AUD 55 per person
• Brodburger Burgers, American · about AUD 25 per person
• Rye Eatery Cafe · about AUD 25 per person

Getting around

• Bus main way to get around

  Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.

• Car Rental Self main way to get around

  Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.

• Tram main way to get around

  Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.

• Walking

  Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.

Safety and scams to avoid

• Backpacker job-deposit

  Major tourist zones

  Online "casual work" offer demands $50–200 deposit for "uniform/training"; job doesn't exist.

  How to avoid it: Never pay deposit for a job before starting. Use official jobactive portal.

More in Australia

• Sydney
• Melbourne
• Brisbane
• Perth
• Adelaide
• Gold Coast