Sydney

Better Read Than Dead

One of the Inner-west's largest book stores with a large selection of biographies and hard-to-find titles.

Birkenhead Point

Shopping mall right beside the harbour, with a number of designer factory outlets for fashion on the cheap. The food hall sells fresh Gozleme for $7, and pick up a table outside by the water. Buses along Victoria Rd toward Ryde stop close to the centre.

10AM-5:30PM

Brewery Yard Markets

A small market set on the green adjacent to Central Park shopping centre. This market specialises in street art, crafts, jewelry and clothing with smatterings of food stalls and live music throughout.

10AM-4PM, 1st & 3rd Sun every month

Broadway Shopping Centre

A convenient shopping centre on the edge of the city that includes a large cinema complex and area views from the top of the car park.

Capitol Square

A small mall that is best known for Technocity, a maze of over 20 retail stores that focus on electronics; a great option if the Sony store looks a little out of your price range. Many get most of their sales from web front ends or eBay, but it is a very competitive environment to buy computers and electronics. You can also find a few eateries within an arcade filled with games and Purikura photo booths to keep everyone entertained.

Central Park

This shopping centre is part of a larger complex that includes parklands and apartments. There is a wide selection of unique fashion and homeware stores along with general retail and a supermarket. Central Park is also great for its wide range of food and dining options, from cafes to restaurants. If you visit, be sure to check out their website for events that include workshops, art galleries, local markets and the BYO Cinema.

10AM-8PM

Chinatown Night Markets

An open air night market is set up in Dixon Street, selling Asian cuisine, jewellery, clothing, socks, lights, scented candles, sweets and many arts and crafts products. A pale shadow of the markets it is inspired by, but still enjoyable nonetheless.

Fri 4-10PM

DFO

Direct Factory Outlets

Mainly factory outlets for Australian brands. It's a little hard to get to, can be congested, and the deals aren't always that good. Still it manages to draw crowds of locals and visitors alike. Get the 525 or 526 bus from Strathfield station if you're without a car.

DFO Homebush

Just outside of the Sydney Olympic Park precinct, this is an outlet shopping centre with a food court.

David Jones

The city stores of this illustrious department store are on Elizabeth Street (main store, women's fashion) and Market Street (men's fashion, homewares, food store). In operation since 1838, David Jones is not only Australia's oldest department store, but also the oldest department store anywhere in the world still trading under its original name.

Galleries Victoria

The modern answer to the historic QVB opposite. Some fashion and food, but also electronics, computer games, and gifts.

Gleebooks

Fairly typical independent bookshop with a cafe - new books are on the ground floor and second hand books on the top floor. It also hosts regular events. Another branch is in the inner-west suburb of Dulwich Hill.

Gould's Book Arcade

A chaotic mix with specialities including Marxism, Labour history, magazines, and Australian history.

Open from 10am until midnight daily.

KVB Kunlun

This large trading company mainly deals with businesses and big amounts but they also exchange money for individuals with smaller amounts. They charge you $10 if you exchange under $2,000 but their rate is so competitive that it's still worth going there for changing a few hundreds. They have by far the best rate in Sydney. Be prepared to wait as some travellers have been reporting to be there for over an hour.

MLC Centre

A shopping arcade, primarily focused on luxury clothes and accessories, and a food court downstairs. Belinda in the MLC Centre stocks European designers that don't have standalone stores in Australia. Has some reasonable cafes in the courtyard facing Martin Place.

Market City Shopping Centre

This mammoth place has a fresh produce market on the first level, factory outlets on the second level and more food from more places than you can imagine on the third level. You'll find Paddy's Markets here too.

Maroubra Beach Surf & Skate

Sells surf gear, stocking some of Maroubra's own clothing designs.

Daily 10AM–5PM

Paddy's Markets

A famous, large market place in the Haymarket. Lots of clothing, sunglasses, souvenirs, and food. Probably not too many bargains to be had, however. Closest station is Central. Closest bus stop is corner of George and Hay. Light rail stops just outside the door. Parking in Market City.

Wed-Sun 9AM-5PM

Queen Victoria Building

the QVB

The building is an attraction in itself. The site of a market place since 1810, its current Romanesque facade was completed in 1896 and was extensively restored in the late 1980s as a prestigious shopping centre. 5 Floors of shopping. Don't miss the Christmas tree to Christmas, going through all the levels. Fashion, books, cafes, and a range of specialty and gift shops.

Rhodes Waterside

The shopping centre is home to the first IKEA megastore in Sydney. Also has a multiplex cinema.

Sappho Books Cafe & Wine Bar

A large general second-hand book store with an upstairs area and café in its leafy courtyard, which becomes a wine and tapas bar at night. Decent books and decent coffee.

Strand Arcade

The last of the Victorian arcades to be completed (1891) in Sydney, home to a number of shopping levels featuring design, fashion, antiques and jewellery (the arcade links George Street with the Pitt Street Mall).

Sydney Fish Market

The largest seafood market in the Southern Hemisphere, which moved to shiny, modern digs in early 2026. The restaurants here are by and large tourist traps, but the fresh fish is excellent: grab a selection of sashimi or some of the precooked treats (prawns, crab, lobster) and a bottle of vino, then head across the road to Wentworth Park for a picnic. They also run a well-regarded cooking school. Sydneysiders stock up on seafood in the week before Christmas, and at Easter, making it exceptionally busy. Ample parking available.

Sydney Luggage Centre

Made it all the way down under and that wheel has fallen off your suitcase? Come here to get the spare, or buy a sturdier replacement. This long-established luggage retailer is one of the largest in Sydney (CBD store also). Service over the phone can be limited.

Mon-Fri 8:30AM-5PM, Sat 8:30AM-3:30PM, closed Sun

Westfield Burwood

Opened in 1966, it is the largest shopping mall in the Inner West with 247 stores and is conveniently located within a few minutes walk of Burwood Station. Once inside, you could be in any shopping mail, anywhere. Contains several supermarkets and a cinema.

9AM-5PM

Westfield Sydney

7 levels of Myer department store and a food court (level 1) on west side; hundreds of specialty and fashion stores plus an upscale food court (level 5) on east side. Entry to Sydney Tower at level 5 east side. Connects underground to the Queen Victoria Building from level 1 west side.

Woodstock Artisans Market

Art, craft and artisan produce are found at this market held on the grounds of a listed mansion which is now used as the Woodstock Community Centre, a short walk from the bustling Burwood town centre.

10AM-3PM, Sundays

World Square

A large shopping precinct on George St, with many specialty stores, including a Sony Store. Avoid the convenience stores for food and supplies. Coles in World Square is a good place to shop for supplies.

Paddington Markets

Every Saturday 10AM-5PM. Held in the grounds of Paddington Uniting Church, just off Oxford St. Paddington Markets has been in operation since 1973 and is a stylish stall venue for designers, jewellers and craftsmen. Not many true bargains to be had, but perfect for unusual gifts and clothing, as well as some mainstream items. Fantastic for people-watching.

Rocks Market

The far northern end of George Street, open every weekend, Sa Su 10AM-5PM, managed by the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, info. With over 150 stalls under colourful canopies, pick and choose from art and crafts, jewellery, photography, indigenous artwares and tasty food stalls.