From late November, Sydney's city centre fills with Christmas lights, giant trees and markets, and whole suburban streets switch on their own displays. This guide covers the best Christmas lights in Sydney, the Christmas markets worth a visit, and how to see them by train from Marco Polo Motor Inn Sydney in Summer Hill, where every booking includes free secured parking and rooms start from $140.
The city's Christmas lights
The Martin Place Christmas tree is Sydney's centrepiece, more than 20 metres tall and lit nightly with light-and-music shows, with choirs performing beside it on December evenings. A short walk away, the Queen Victoria Building's indoor Christmas tree rises through the centre of the building under the stained-glass dome, and Pitt Street Mall and George Street are decorated end to end.
The City of Sydney switches the lights on in late November and announces its full program, including the light shows and choir times, in November each year. The best time to see the lights is after 8 pm, when the shows run and the shops are still open late.
- Martin Place Christmas tree and light shows: train to Martin Place or Wynyard
- Queen Victoria Building Christmas tree: train to Town Hall
- Pitt Street Mall and George Street decorations: Town Hall or St James
- Darling Harbour Christmas lights and festive events: Town Hall, then a short walk
- Circular Quay and the Opera House forecourt: train to Circular Quay
Christmas markets in Sydney
Martin Place hosts Christmas markets through December, with gift stalls, festive food and the lights overhead, in recent years from Thursday to Saturday evenings. The Rocks Markets run every weekend with extra Christmas stalls, and Carriageworks, Paddington and the Glebe markets all add Christmas editions. Suburban councils run twilight Christmas festivals and markets on December weekends, including Randwick's twilight Christmas festival.
Dates and opening hours are confirmed each November, so check the organiser's page before you go.
Suburban Christmas light displays
Sydney's most famous residential displays are in the suburbs, where whole streets coordinate their lights and welcome visitors most December evenings. Displays are often listed on community Christmas-lights maps that update each year. Many are a short drive from the hotel, and with your own free parking spot at the hotel you can head out after dinner and return whenever you like.
Closer to home, Summer Hill, Ashfield and Haberfield have their own well-known streets, and Carols in the Domain on Saturday 19 December 2026 is a direct train ride away at St James.
Late-night Christmas shopping
City stores keep extended trading hours in December, with late-night shopping on several evenings a week in the lead-up to Christmas and the Boxing Day sales straight after. Shop in the city by train, then store the haul in your room with no city parking fees.
Where to stay for the Christmas lights
Marco Polo Motor Inn Sydney is a four-minute walk from Summer Hill station, with direct trains to Town Hall, Martin Place, Wynyard and Circular Quay in about 15 to 20 minutes. Rooms are from $140 a night Monday to Thursday and from $180 on weekends and public holidays (Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Eve from $300), with one free secured undercover parking spot per booking and reception open 24 hours. Rooms sleep from one to five guests.
There is no restaurant on site, and Summer Hill's cafés and restaurants are a short walk away.
Why guests choose us
See the lights, skip the parking
- Direct trains to Martin Place, Town Hall and Circular Quay
- One free secured undercover parking spot per booking
- Reception open 24 hours for late returns
- Rooms from $140 a night
- Family rooms for up to five guests
- Carols in the Domain on Saturday 19 December 2026
Gallery
A look around & nearby
Photos: (1)Queen Victoria Building Christmas 2013 by Sardaka (talk) 06:43, 23 December 2013 (UTC), CC BY 3.0; Martin Place (2049726201) by Phil Whitehouse from London, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0; Martin Place with Christmas tree - panoramio by Maksym Kozlenko, CC BY-SA 3.0; (1)Queen Victoria Building-3a by Sardaka, CC BY-SA 4.0; SydDomStage1 by Stuart midgley, CC BY-SA 4.0
Coming up over Christmas
- Rise Against1 Dec 2026 · Sydney Opera House - Forecourt
- James Blake2 Dec 2026 · Sydney Opera House - Forecourt
- Randwick Twilight Christmas Festival4 Dec 2026 · Royal Randwick Racecourse
- Wolf Alice | Australian Tour 20264 Dec 2026 · Sydney Opera House - Forecourt
- 2026/27 WS Wanderers A League Season (v Perth Glory)5 Dec 2026 · CommBank Stadium
- Ministry of Sound Summer Dance Festival - Sydney5 Dec 2026 · The Domain
- Rosehill Garden Raceday5 Dec 2026 · Rosehill Gardens Racecourse
- 2026/27 A-League Sydney FC v Melbourne Victory FC6 Dec 2026 · Allianz Stadium
Frequently asked questions
When do the Sydney Christmas lights switch on in 2026?
The City of Sydney switches on its Christmas lights, including the Martin Place tree, in late November, and they run until Christmas. The exact date and the light-show program are announced in November.
Where are the best Christmas lights in Sydney?
In the city: the Martin Place Christmas tree and light shows, the Queen Victoria Building tree, Pitt Street Mall and Darling Harbour. In the suburbs, coordinated street displays that are listed on community Christmas-lights maps each year.
Are there Christmas markets in Sydney?
Yes. Martin Place hosts Christmas markets through December, The Rocks Markets add Christmas stalls on weekends, and many councils run twilight Christmas festivals and markets on December weekends.
How do I get to the city Christmas lights from the hotel?
Walk four minutes to Summer Hill station and take a direct train to Town Hall, Martin Place or Circular Quay, about 15 to 20 minutes. Parking at the hotel is free.
Book online here
Stay for Sydney's Christmas lights
Rooms from $140 with free secured parking, 24-hour reception and direct trains to the city.