No visit to Sydney would be complete without a visit to Sydney Tower, the city’s tallest building and one of its most popular attractions. Also known as Centrepoint Tower or the Sydney Tower Eye, Sydney Tower has been an iconic part of Sydney’s skyline since it opened in 1981. At 309 meters tall, the tower is not only the tallest building in Sydney, but also the second tallest observation tower in the southern hemisphere. Despite the tower’s staggering height, it takes just 45 seconds to reach the top thanks to the high-speed lifts. From the tower’s indoor observation deck, you’ll enjoy 360° views of the city. Those who want to extend the adventure can buy tickets for a 90-minute guided tour of the tower’s open-air Skywalk platform.

What to Expect When Visiting Sydney Tower

If possible, plan to visit Sydney Tower on the first day or two of your trip to Sydney. Getting a bird’s eye view of the city early on in your visit will help you to quickly get a feel for the layout of the city and where key attractions are in relation to one another. Visiting first thing in the morning on a weekday will give you the best shot at beating the crowds, but the views at sunset may be worth fighting for a spot on the observation deck.

• Tickets to Sydney Tower are timed, and while you can walk up and buy a ticket on the day you want to visit, it is advisable to secure tickets online in order to ensure that you get your preferred time slot and the best deal. See the next section for more information on ticket options and prices. Once you have your ticket, you’ll want to arrive at the tower within your fifteen-minute booking window in order to avoid a wait.

• Once you’ve passed through the admission area and before heading to the lift, you’ll enjoy the 4D Experience, which is included in the price of admission. This immersive film experience takes guests on a four-minute tour of Sydney’s most iconic attractions, providing visitors with an excellent introduction to the city and an up-close-and-personal view of some of the landmarks that can be seen from the observation deck. Following the 4D Experience, you’ll head to the lift for the ride to the observation deck.

• The indoor observation deck sits 250 meters above street level and offers 360° views of Sydney through massive windows that encircle the room. You’ll have all the time you like to make your way around the deck, using the naked eye, binoculars, and telescopes to identify various landmarks.

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Landmarks to Spot from Sydney Tower

There’s much to see from the Sydney Tower observation deck, and you’re guaranteed to spot some of the city’s most famous landmarks. Visibility varies, of course, but on a clear day, you can even see the Blue Mountains, which are over 80 kilometers away. Other noteworthy attractions that can be spied from the tower include:

• Sydney Opera House
• Sydney Harbour Bridge
• Bondi Beach
• St. Mary’s Cathedral
• Luna Park

Sydney Tower Skywalk

Those who aren’t content to enjoy the view from Sydney Tower’s indoor observation deck will want to purchase tickets for the Skywalk experience. This ticket includes the 4D Experience, access to the indoor observation deck, and a 90-minute guided tour on the open-air glass platform that surrounds the tower.

Guests who opt to book a Skywalk will need to wear pants or shorts (no skirts or dresses) so that they can easily pull the required jumpsuit on over their own clothes. Before stepping out on to the Skywalk, guests will stow all loose belongings in a locker and attach tethers to their jumpsuits that will secure them to the railing that surrounds the Skywalk platform. During the Skywalk, two experienced guides will share a bit about the tower’s history and point out noteworthy landmarks and highlights of the Sydney skyline.

Check In to Amora Jamison Hotel, Step Out to Sydney Tower and Skywalk

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Hours & Getting Tickets to Sydney Tower

Here’s everything you need to know before visiting Sydney Tower.

Hours

Sydney Tower and Skywalk is open 365 days a year. Standard operating hours are 9am to 9pm with the last entry at 8pm. On Christmas Day, the hours are 10am to 6pm with the last entry at 5pm. On New Years Eve, the hours are 9am to 7pm with the last entry at 6pm.

Tickets

There are a few ticket options for visitors to the Sydney Tower and Skywalk. All tickets include the observation deck, the 4D Experience, and a Weather Promise, which ensures that those who visit on a day with poor visibility as decided by management can return for free within seven days. Children under three may visit the observation deck for free. All children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Children under 10 and/or under 90cm are not allowed on the Skywalk.

• Standard Saver Online Ticket – prices vary by date and time with off peak tickets starting at $23.20 AUD for adults and $16 AUD for children.
• Fully Flexible Ticket – visit any time in the next 12 months and skip the lines. Flexible tickets are $29 AUD for adults and $20 AUD for children.
• Skywalk Tickets – prices vary but start at $75 AUD for adults and $50 AUD for children between the ages of 10 and 16.
• Multi-Attraction Tickets – tickets to Sydney Tower and Skywalk can be bundled with tickets to other attractions in the Sydney Darling Harbour area for a discounted price.

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Rotating Restaurants – 360° Dining & Sydney Tower Buffet

When you visit Sydney Tower, you’ll have two dining options within the tower itself. Both the more formal 360° Dining and the Sydney Tower Buffet are rotating restaurants that ensure that every table gets to appreciate the full range of views that the tower offers. 360° Dining offers two-, three-, and six-course meals and a guaranteed window seat. Sydney Tower Buffet provides a less expensive, more casual serve-yourself experience with the same incredible views. A full rotation of the restaurants takes about 70 minutes, allowing plenty of time for a leisurely meal.

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Getting There

Sydney Tower and Skywalk is conveniently located in the heart of Sydney’s CBD. Visitors will access the admissions desk from within the Westfield Sydney mall.

Public Transportation

Sydney Tower and Skywalk is convenient to three railway stations. St. James Station on the City Circle Line is the closest, just a two-minute walk from the tower. The Martin Place and Town Hall railway stations are each a five to ten-minute walk from the tower.

Sydney Tower can also be accessed by any bus with a route that runs along George Street, Castlereagh Street, or Elizabeth Street, all of which have stops near Westfield Sydney.

Taxi or Ride Share

Ask your driver to drop you off at the corner of Market and Castlereagh or the corner of Market and Pitt.

Drive Yourself

If you opt to drive yourself to Sydney Tower, you will find several paid parking lots with a few blocks of the tower. Citipark Car Park and Darling Park Car Park are among the lots that offer discounted parking for visitors to the tower.

Check In to Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park, Step Out to Sydney Tower and Skywalk

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