Flights to Canberra (CBR)

When is the best time of year to fly to Canberra?

Canberra is a rare gem among Australian cities. Whatever time of year you fly to Canberra, you’ll be sure to find plenty of things to do.

Spring

Spring (September to November) is exquisite, the city is bursting with colour under a blue sky, and it’s a great time for cycling around Lake Burley Griffin and for bushwalking. It’s a very popular time to fly to Canberra for the famous Floriade, Canberra’s celebration of spring.

Summer

Summer (December to February) is another great time to explore the outdoors – Canberra has oodles of lakes, superb parks, reserves and rivers – all so close to the city. But don’t forget the sunscreen, Canberra can surprise you when she turns on the sun.

Autumn

Autumn (March to May) is a stunning time of year to fly to Canberra, you’ll watch Canberra’s city transform with rustic colours as the season transitions. It’s also a season packed to the brim with cool events - including Enlighten Festival, Summernats Rare Sparts Rev Rock n Roll, Canberra Balloon Spectacular, Symphony in the Park, Canberra Comedy Festival – and much more.

Winter

Winter (June to August) is chilly, yet the sun still shines on. It’s an ideal time to enjoy winter activities – visit the galleries and museums, have a chance to wear your winter finery, and enjoy a hunt at the Truffle Festival.

>What are Canberra's top attractions?

Canberra offers so much to see and do - from historic buildings, art and culture, nature, events and festivals galore. Canberra offers something for every type of traveller.

Questacon

Travel to the centre of an earthquake, the heart of a beehive, or all the way to outer space! Questcon, the National Science and Technology Centre, is a quirky unconventional museum which includes displays like Awesome Earth – a geology installation with an earthquake simulator, and MinQ – a child-friendly exhibition for budding scientists. Questacon houses more than 200 interactive exhibits.

Parliament House

See democracy in action at Australia’s iconic Parliament House - the epicentre of Australia’s political scene. Frequented by the country’s ministers and representatives, this key federal building is also a hotspot for tourists, with a large portion of its 4,700 rooms open to the public. Book your tour for Question Time and watch first-hand the politicians making decisions on behalf of the nation.

Old Parliament House

Old Parliament House, until 1988 the meeting place of Australia’s politician, now plays host to a rotating roster of events - from exhibitions to concerts. Home to the Museum of Australian Democracy (MOAD), Old Parliament House is the perfect place to learn more about the country’s rich political history. Make sure to check out the new Zine lounge too.

Royal Australian Mint

“The Mint” is a working factory, Commonwealth Heritage Site, and a multi-tourism award-winning attraction. See how coins are made through the Factory viewing platform and interactive multimedia displays. Spot Titan, the Mint’s dancing robot, whose job it is to pour coins into a hopper. With a free guided tour, the Mint offers an interactive experience and the opportunity to mint your very own coin.

Lake Burley Griffin

A centrepiece of Canberra, Lake Burley Griffin is the ideal water playground, whether you’re into rowing, sailing, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding or fishing. Wrapped around it is a 40km shoreline, a great place to walk, cycle, or have a picnic.

Australian War Memorial

Bringing together a world-class museum, shrine and research centre, the Australian War Memorial pays tribute to the armed forces and supporting organisations that have fought on behalf of Australia. A must-do attraction to fit in when you book your flight to Canberra. 

National Gallery of Australia

Located on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin, the National Gallery of Australia boast one of the largest collections in the country. A mecca for art enthusiasts and curious travellers. Complete with pieces from medieval times to the modern day, the 166,000 artworks that call the gallery home include everything from contemporary Aboriginal artists; to classic European artists like Rodin, Picasso and Monet; to the Ned Kelly series by Sidney Nolan and the famous ‘Blue Poles’ by Jackson Pollock.

National Museum of Australia

Stories come alive at the National Museum of Australia, located on the shoreline of Lake Burley Griffin. The museum showcases the rich and diverse stories of Australia and her people. Spanning more than 50,000 years of Indigenous and European heritage, this fascinating cultural centre charts a journey through time, from prehistory and federation to modern surf lifesaving. For families, check out KSpace - the Museum’s kids’ adventure game played in teams of 4, kids design a time-travelling robot and then send it to a mystery location in Australia’s past.

Where to eat in Canberra?

With an eclectic mix of dining styles and experiences Canberra is paradise for foodies. With award-winning restaurants, nearby vineyards, and the Truffle Festival on in the winter, people have been known to fly to Canberra just for a food affair.

Canberra is also home to exceptional, award-winning coffee, a fine example being at The Cupping Room - host to champion baristas including Matthew Lewin, 2019 Barista Champion of Australia.

It’s not just wine Canberra locals love to sample, they’re also a tad fond of their beer – and you’ll find plenty of hip breweries to product test.

Where to find the best Cafes?

Canberra offers a range of slick cafes across the City, Braddon, Kingston, Acton and Fyshwick. For breakfast and brunch try Rye Café - a scandi-inspired space, for a healthy-hit try Local Press Café, The Cupping Room headed by their world champion barista Sasa Sestic, or Silo Bakery and Café – to quote New York Times “part Brooklyn, part wartime Parisian bakery.”

If you just need a coffee hit try Kyo Coffee Project or Barrio Collective in Braddon, or Coffee Lab in the City. You won’t find it hard to grab a great coffee in Canberra.

Where to find the best fine dining?

Canberra offers a fine dining bucket list, dishing up some of the most delicious offerings in the country. Try Les Bistronomes for French cuisine, The Boat House for Australian fare, Raku for excellent Japanese, or Sage for European fine dining – the list goes on. You’re spoilt for fine dining choice in Canberra.

Where to find the best food markets?

Canberra offers a great range of food markets. Some top picks are Capital Region Farmers Market with its 130 stalls, Old Bus Depot Market at Kingston, Southside Farmers Market, and the more ‘local secret’ (until now) is Hartley Hall Market where you’ll find gourmet meats, cheeses, and delectable baked goods on offer.

Where to find the best cheap eats?

It’s been a long day exploring the museums, and you need a quick cheap eat to avoid hangry-hour. Don’t fret as you’ll easily find a place to stop for a meal under $10. Roti House in the city offers Indonesian fare, Sanya Bar in Braddon a delicious and cheap range of Beijing-fusion tapas, for something healthy pop into The Goods Wholefoods (located in No Name Lane), or Pressed Coffee Co for a tasty Jerusalem-style bagel.

Where to shop in Canberra?

Shop ‘til you drop in Canberra. The shopping scene is bursting with boutiques, big department stores, Canberra Outlet Centre, a fabulous vintage shopping trail in Fyshwick, Three Sixty Fashion Market, and the award-winning Handmade Market – just for starters.

For bargain hunters

More renowned as an artsy-mecca, Canberra has a smattering of value shopping on offer. From Canberra Outlet Centre in Fyshwick offering everything from Cue to Adairs, a host of op-shops including Red Cross, plus outlets such as Kathmandu on Lonsdale Street.

For fashionistas

Braddon is a treasure trove of high-end designer finds – from Rebel Muse, with their Australian designer pieces arranged in ‘stories’, to Pink Ink Boutique offering high fashion collector pieces by designers such as Karen Walker.

For International and Australian designers head to Momento Dezigns – with 100 plus labels, everything from Camilla & Marc to Nolita.

For the lovers of vintage!

Bring a spare suitcase on your flight to Canberra, because you’re about to fall into vintage heaven.

Take your time to meander the Vintage Shopping Trail in Fyshwick – offering ‘industrial eclectic’ collectables where you’ll find the likes of Designer Op Shop Emporium - for quality vintage one-off finds your friends will squeal over, Material Pleasures - for up and coming designers, Dirty Janes Canberra – with a tag line ‘the best of vintage’ you know you’re in trouble, various Antique stores – Fox Antiques, Down Memory Lane and Canberra Antique Centre - plus so much more. Another must-visit is Village Antiques in Bungendore, specialising in timeless antique furniture.

For everything in between

For all your other retail needs discover the abundance of stores in Canberra CBD. Canberra Centre is seen as a destination for fashion, showcasing over 260 stores. Another centre is Melbourne Building, fashion set in a historic setting. You’ll find brands to suit all budgets in and around the city centre and surrounds.