a large building with a flag on top of it

Canberra

Canberra is Australia's capital and an entirely planned city, home to Parliament House, national museums and Lake Burley Griffin.

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Canberra is the capital of Australia, about 150 km inland from the east coast, near the Brindabella Ranges in the northern Australian Alps. It was designed by the American architects Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin, and it is the only entirely planned city of its kind in Australia. The Parliamentary Triangle, enclosed by three avenues, is the centerpiece of their plan. Parliament House sits on Capital Hill, and the National Gallery of Australia, the National Library and the National Archives lie within the Triangle. The Australian War Memorial stands north of Lake Burley Griffin, at the end of Anzac Parade.

Many Commonwealth buildings, including Parliament House and the High Court, are open to the public. The Canberra region has been home to the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples for up to 21,000 years. Galambary (Black Mountain) is an important Aboriginal meeting site, so visitors should treat it with care. Floriade fills Commonwealth Park each spring and is the biggest flower festival of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Summers are warm, with January's average high near 29 °C, while winters are cold and frost is common.

Canberra in five

Time the Australian War Memorial for the Last PostEntry is free and no ticket is needed. Galleries open 10:00 to 17:00, progressively closing from 16:00, and the Last Post Ceremony is listed at 16:30. The Memorial is under redevelopment, so some galleries may be closed.Australian War Memorial
Visit the National Gallery of Australia for freeThe Gallery is open every day from 10:00 to 17:00 and admission is free. Parking in the main car park is paid until 17:00, so walk or take a bus if you can.National Gallery visit page
Tour Parliament House on a non-sitting dayParliament House is open every day except Christmas Day, with tours and free exhibitions listed on its site. You can also watch Question Time or committees when Parliament sits.
Plan Floriade for springFloriade fills Commonwealth Park with more than a million blooms each spring. Check the official site for the dates and the free shuttle arrangements before you book rooms.
Choose a car or a bus for the museum beltThe museums are spread around Lake Burley Griffin, so decide how you will move between them. Bus routes link the Gallery with the city, and bike paths ring the lake.

Things to do in Canberra

See all attractions in Canberra

Park · CanberraReconciliation PlaceBook a guided walking tour ahead of time if you want to learn more about the artworks and their cultural context.

Historic site · CanberraAboriginal Tent Embassy

Sight · CanberraNerang Pool

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to CanberraPut the places you like in Canberra on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Canberra (CBR), with flights to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane
Getting there: Flights, or a road trip from Sydney or Melbourne
Getting around: Car, bus, light rail and bike paths around the lake
Best base: City center (Civic) or the Parliamentary Triangle
Time needed: 2 days; 3 with a nature or wine day

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed

JanuaryPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh28°Low15°Hot, dry
FebruaryClear6 rainy daysHigh26°Low14°Warm, dry
MarchPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh24°Low13°Mild, clear
AprilClear5 rainy daysHigh20°Low9°Autumn color
MayClear6 rainy daysHigh15°Low5°Cool, crisp
JunePartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh11°Low2°Cold, frost
JulyPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh11°Low2°Coldest
AugustPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh12°Low2°Cold, clear
SeptemberClear7 rainy daysHigh16°Low4°Spring, Floriade
OctoberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh19°Low7°Floriade, mild
NovemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh22°Low10°Warm, spring
DecemberClear8 rainy daysHigh26°Low12°Warm, busy

Average daily high and low in Canberra, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Canberra

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 14°
Humidity: 90%
Wind: 4 km/h
Chance of rain: 100%

Canberra

09:38 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+11

Today22°11°100%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 22°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 100%.
Wed22°10°39%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 22°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 39%.
Thu20°9°32%Thursday: Partly cloudy. High 20°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 32%.
Fri20°7°0%Friday: Partly cloudy. High 20°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sat18°6°33%Saturday: Partly cloudy. High 18°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 33%.
Sun19°4°7%Sunday: Partly cloudy. High 19°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 7%.
Mon20°6°0%Monday: Clear. High 20°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 0%.

Updated 08:40 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 1.423 AUD

Amount

Converted to

AUD · Australian Dollar

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Namadgi National Parka short drive south-westBushland walks on the capital's edge; check access and any fees on the park site.
Southern Highlands villagesa drive toward SydneyCountry towns and cafes on the road north-east; a pleasant stop on the way to Sydney.
South Coast beachesa long day by carBeach towns east of Canberra; better as an overnight.

Before you go to Canberra

Stays in CanberraCivic, the lake or the TriangleCheck availability

Car hire for the road tripSydney to Melbourne with one-way dropCompare car hire

eSIM for CanberraMaps for the lake and museum beltRead the guide

Insurance for CanberraRoad trip and cancellation coverRead the guide

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Rules for Canberra, checked

Australian War Memorial: free, no ticket; galleries 10:00 to 17:00, closing progressively from 16:00; Last Post Ceremony 16:30; some galleries may be closed.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
National Gallery of Australia: open every day 10:00 to 17:00; admission is free; parking is paid in the main car park until 17:00.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Parliament House is open every day except Christmas Day.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source

Plan around Canberra

Sydney

Harbor ferries, coastal walks and where to stay

Read the guide Melbourne

Laneways, trams and the road trip south

Read the guide Blue Mountains

Sandstone cliffs and waterfalls west of Sydney

Read the guide New South Wales

Sydney, the coast and the parks

Read the guide All of Australia

ETA, regions, flights and money basics

Read the guide Flights and car hire

Long distances and one-way rentals

Read the guide

Canberra FAQ

How many days do you need in Canberra?

Two days cover the War Memorial, the National Gallery, Parliament House and the lake. A third day adds a nature or wine outing.

Is Canberra worth visiting?

Yes if you like museums, politics and public art; it is less suited to nightlife or beach seekers. It also works as a stop between Sydney and Melbourne.

Are the Canberra museums free?

The Australian War Memorial and the National Gallery both list free admission. Special exhibitions, parking and some tours may charge, so check each site.

What time is the Last Post Ceremony at the War Memorial?

The Memorial lists the Last Post Ceremony at 16:30. Galleries are open 10:00 to 17:00 and progressively close from 16:00, so arrive in the morning to see them.

When is the best time to visit Canberra?

Autumn and spring are the most comfortable, and Floriade makes September and October colorful. Winters are cold with frosty mornings and summers are hot and dry.