Things to do

Fashion and Shopping

Shopping precincts

George Street, The Rocks. Image James Pipino

Must do

Second hand bookstore in Newtown, Image James Pipino

Highlights

Shopping in Sydney

A Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 10 per cent applies to most goods and services. It is included in the ticket price of goods and in restaurant menus. Departing travellers may be able to claim a refund for GST paid on goods bought in Australia under the Tourist Refund Scheme.

Explore Sydney’s shopping precincts

Looking down from the top floor of the Queen Victoria Building. Image Gerry Colley

Be prepared to discover your own sense of style at Sydney’s best shopping destinations. From window-shopping along shady streets to immersing yourself in vast shopping malls, it’s no wonder shopping is one of the most popular things to do in Sydney.

In the city centre, historic city arcades are surrounded by slick new fashion centres, including Westfield Sydney on Pitt Street Mall. Make sure you also pop into the beautifully restored Queen Victoria Building, with its vast array of high street fashion, designer-style, jewellery, antiques and art.

The Strand Arcade is the place to go for young Australian designers and handcrafted jewellery. You’ll also find plenty of home-grown fashion talent in David Jones and Myer department stores and at The Intersection in Paddington.

Find inspiration in the creative inner city hubs of Surry Hills and Paddington, while Balmain offers a unique mix of fashion, homewares and café-culture. Also in the inner-west, Newtown with vintage fashion, funky homewares and quirky boutiques.Nearby, Birkenhead Point Outlet Centre at Drummoyne has some great designer labels at up to 70 per cent off regular retail prices. Snap up deals on Witchery, Laura Ashley, Ksubi and Oroton.To the north of the city, stylish Mosman has chic boutiques and cafes.

Browse Sydney’s many outdoor markets at any time of the year. Paddington Market, held every Saturday, is probably Sydney’s most popular market shopping destination - many Australian designers made their breakthrough with a Paddington market stall. Other weekend markets are in Balmain and Rozelle, Surry Hills, Kirribilli and The Rocks.

Retail therapy, Paddington style

Paddington Markets on Oxford Street. Image Pierre Toussaint

With so many stylish fashion boutiques, Australian designers and specialty stores, Paddington is one of Sydney’s favourite shopping destinations. Paddington Markets is the perfect place for gifts, homewares and emerging new designers while nearby streets such as Glenmore Road and William Street have hip boutiques, hairstylists, chocolate shops and bespoke shoe shops.

Shopping Precincts in Sydney

From the vibrant colours of the changing windows of its clothing stores, Sydney is a rainbow of inspiration when it comes to shopping and fashion. As one of the most loved things to do in Sydney, you can spend days visiting vast shopping malls, hip boutiques, vintage shops, buzzing markets, antique showrooms and contemporary art spaces. Fashion provides visitors and residents alike the chance to unleash their creative spirit in Sydney.

Outdoor markets continue to bustle and boutique stores host creations from many local and international designers. Don't miss the Bondi Sunday market and Glebe markets, where you'll find cool clothing designs, vintage pieces, jewellery, homewares and crafts. For luxury labels and cutting-edge creations right through to the more wallet-friendly high street stores, Sydney's CBD and surrounding suburbs have the potential to revamp your wardrobe and warm your heart, one step at a time.

Street fashion, Australian and international designers alike come alive in the multitude of mini-boutiques hidden away in the shopping precincts of Surry Hills, Paddington and Darlinghurst. Darling Street in Balmain is one of Sydney’s coolest shopping arteries. Journey along Darling Street from Rozelle Markets to Balmain Markets for a fun shopping experience. Bondi, Glebe and Kirribilli markets are also happy hunting grounds for those in search of vintage chic and fashion stars of the future.

In the maze of shops and historic arcades of the city centre, you'll uncover a world of fashion that's unique to Sydney. The Strand Arcade is the place for young Aussie fashion and exquisite handcrafted jewellery, while the top shopping spots are the Queen Victoria Building, David Jones and Myer department stores and Pitt Street Mall, which is home to the new Zara outlet. Don't miss the new Westfield Sydney in the city centre.

You'll find a gathering of art galleries and jewellery stores in The Rocks, as well as the chance to browse some fantastic paintings, photography and market stalls. Queen Street in Woollahra houses the city's top antiques stores and Crown Street in Surry Hills is cool-central, with an interesting mix of hip homeware shopping spots and cosy cafes.

Wherever you go, you're bound to find something to suit your Sydney shopping mood.

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