Even we admit, sometimes it’s way too cold for the beach and too muddy for a bushwalk (not that it’s stopped us from the latter before…). But these things to do in Sydney on a rainy day will keep you warm and not even remotely bored.
When it’s a cool, wet winter’s day in Sydney, we tend to catch cabin fever staying at home and find ourselves looking for something to do. So, we’ve built a steady list of go-tos that aren’t the pub, bowling or the movies. This is Sydney, after all; there’s plenty to do!
Go to a museum or art gallery
Usually our go-to when travelling to a new city and caught in bad weather, going to a museum or gallery is a great way to play tourist at home or check out a new exhibit.
Spots like the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the Australian Museum often have temporary exhibit spaces alongside the permanent collection, so there’s always something new to see. The main collection is free to see at both if you’re on a budget, while special exhibits may come at an extra cost.
In fact, most of the galleries and museums in Sydney are completely free. And the few that aren’t are well worth the price tag. Heck, they’re cheaper than going to the movies most of the time!
Here’s a few of the temporary exhibits on at Sydneys museums and galleries:
- Art Gallery of New South Wales: Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes 2026 (Paid), And Still I Rise, works by Australian women artists (free)
- Australian Museum: Current temporary exhibits include Ngurruwarra/Derndernyin, displaying the culture fro the Wellesley Islands off the north coast of Queensland, and Weaving Memory: Mexican Textile Art (both free)
- White Rabbit Gallery: Black Myth, art inspired by Chinese mythical stories (Free)
✅ We’ve done this! We’ve been to…
Take a class
Over the past year or so, we’ve been seeing seeing loads of pottery and jewellery making studios popping up all over the place. Breweries and distilleries are offering make-your-own mixes or cocktail classes. And, of course, there’s the classic paint-and-sip spots.
There’s no shortage of classes to take that won’t ever include an exam but have a great take-home aspect. Here’s a few we have our eye on to try:
- Seafood cooking class at Sydney Fish Market: $205
- Resin art making workshop: $139
- Pottery making workshop: $54
✅ We’ve done this! We’ve done a rum spicing workshop at Brix (which has unfortunately shut) and have been to a few paint-and-sip locations, which have unfortunately since closed down.
Challenge yourself in an escape room
We never really got the appeal of an escape room until we did our first one for a friend’s birthday. Now we’re hooked!
Some are certainly better than others, but if you’re into games or puzzles and are looking for something to do, give them a go.
The best one we’ve tried is the Cipher Room in Newtown (with a few of the rooms nearby in St Peters), but Escape This had some pretty creative puzzles in there as well.
Prices vary a bit depending on where you go, with the Cipher Room charging $65-$79 depending on how many people are playing, and Escape This charging $65 per adult, $55 per child.
✅ We’ve done this!
Be a tourist… indoors
Sometimes it’s nice being a tourist in your own city, but this time, avoid the Opera House and give the soggy bridge climb a miss. (Just think of those winter winds!) Don’t take a ferry in the rain, either.
We’d say skip the zoo, too, but we’ve actually got a great alternative to that. Cuddly Australian animals without stepping a foot outside? We’ll tell you more…
If you ever wanted an excuse to visit touristy spots like SEA LIFE Sydney, WILD LIFE Sydney or Madame Tussauds, a rainy day could be it. They’re all indoors and less likely to be visited by tourists during the off-seasons, too.
They aren’t huge and will probably take just a few hours each, but they are all next to each other if you wanted to make a day of it.
Get tickets here:
- SEA LIFE Sydney: $44 per adult, $32 per child on weekdays (Weekends are $55 per adult, $40 per child
- WILD LIFE Sydney: $39 per adult, $26 per child on weekdays (Weekends are $49 per adult, $39 per child
- Madame Tussauds: $39 per adult, $26 per child on weekdays (Weekends are $49 per adult, $39 per child
- Multi-Passes: From $54 per adult for two locations or $59 for three or $64 for four
Tip: The multi-pass option is valid for 30 or 60 days, depending on which option you choose and works out to much cheaper than buying individual passes.
Paddle your way through a beer tasting
When to go: Opening hours vary by brewery. Some are closed on one or two days mid-week.
Price: Beers usually sit in the $8-$12 range, depending on the size and type. Tasting paddles will set you back about $18-$25.
We’ve lived in Sydney’s Inner West for 15 years and love the local brewery scene. Scattered throughout Marrickville, St Peters, Newtown and Camperdown, there are well over a dozen breweries (and distilleries if beer isn’t your thing) to choose from.
So much so that there’s even a designated Inner West Ale Trail to sip your way through. But, that’s best left for a nice, sunny day.
When it’s cold and wet, you probably won’t want to walk from brewery to brewery, but settle into one for the afternoon. Most of the ones in the area offer a paddle or flight option, so you can sample the best of what they’ve got. Here’s a few we recommend checking out and why:
- Batch: A staple that’s close to Sydenham Station with a food truck from Wednesdays to Sundays, too.
- Philter: A cosy pub-like atmosphere with brewery tours available on Saturdays for $40, including a beer during the tour and a tasting paddle after.
- Sauce: Always offering some unique flavours on tap. It’s known for its beer garden, but they’ve also got seating that’s surrounded by the working brewery, too!
Read more about breweries in Sydney:
Eat your way through the fish markets
When to go: Open daily from 7am-10pm, but individual vendor hours may differ. We recommend doing during the day tiem.
Price: It’s free to enter, but you’ll need to pay for food and drink. Prices vary between stalls, but expect to spend $20-$30 per person for a meal. Restaurants are likely to cost more.
Re-opened at a shiny new venue in January 2026, the new and improved Sydney Fish Market is a must for any seafood lover. And, can be visited rain or shine!
Sure, it’s always nicer to chow down on seafood on a sunny day, but all the vendors are indoors and you’ll be much more likely to actually find a seat if the weather isn’t as good. While tables are outside, most of them are covered making any precipitation a non-issue.
According to the fish market’s website, there’s also a winter parking special where it’s free to park between 3-5pm on weekdays. Otherwise, you can either pay or walk over from nearby streets that have plenty of 2P parking other times of the day.
✅ We’ve done this! We’ve had food from a few vendors in here, including Claudio’s Seafoods, Get Sashimi, Nicholas Seafood Traders and Peter’s, . You can also buy drinks at Fisherman’s Fine Wines and drink them on-site if none of the drink vendors are serving what you’re after.
