Canberra itinerary: 1 to 2 days
Plans for one and two days in Canberra, day by day: Parliament House, the Australian War Memorial, the National Gallery, the National Library and Lake Burley Griffin first, then Old Parliament House, Questacon, Mount Ainslie and the Botanic Gardens as you add a day. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
Canberra in 1 day
Day 1
Australian War Memorial
National memorial and museum to the country's wars, with a Hall of Memory, a large collection and a daily Last Post ceremony.
National Gallery of Australia
Australia's national art gallery, with Aboriginal art, Australian and international works and a sculpture garden.
Parliament House, Canberra
Australia's Parliament, opened in 1988, free to visit with tours, public galleries and a grass-covered roof with views.
National Library of Australia
The country's main reference library, with exhibitions, a cafe and a Treasures Gallery open to visitors without charge.
National Museum of Australia
Museum on Acton Peninsula presenting Australian history, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and the land and its people.
Lake Burley Griffin
Large artificial lake at the heart of Walter Burley Griffin's plan for the capital, with parks, bike paths and views of the national buildings.
Canberra in 2 days
Day 1
Mount Ainslie
Hill north of the centre with a lookout over the Australian War Memorial, the lake and the whole of Canberra.
Australian War Memorial
National memorial and museum to the country's wars, with a Hall of Memory, a large collection and a daily Last Post ceremony.
Blundells Cottage
1858 stone cottage on the lake shore, now a small museum of the early rural settlement before the capital was built.
National Gallery of Australia
Australia's national art gallery, with Aboriginal art, Australian and international works and a sculpture garden.
Questacon
National science and technology centre with hands-on exhibits, including a free-fall slide, popular with families and children.
Old Parliament House, Canberra
The 1927 building that housed Parliament until 1988, now the Museum of Australian Democracy with rooms and exhibitions open.
National Library of Australia
The country's main reference library, with exhibitions, a cafe and a Treasures Gallery open to visitors without charge.
Day 2
Parliament House, Canberra
Australia's Parliament, opened in 1988, free to visit with tours, public galleries and a grass-covered roof with views.
National Museum of Australia
Museum on Acton Peninsula presenting Australian history, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and the land and its people.
Lake Burley Griffin
Large artificial lake at the heart of Walter Burley Griffin's plan for the capital, with parks, bike paths and views of the national buildings.
Australian National Botanic Gardens
Gardens on Black Mountain devoted to Australian native plants, with a rainforest gully, walking paths and views toward the city.
Captain James Cook Memorial
Globe and water jet on Lake Burley Griffin at Regatta Point, marking Captain Cook's voyage; the jet runs on most days.
Watch: Canberra
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Canberra
Spring (September to November) and autumn (March to May) are the best seasons, with clear sunny days and cool nights. Summers are warm to hot and dry, and winters are cold, with frosty mornings and occasional fog. The Floriade flower festival fills Commonwealth Park in September and October, and the Enlighten festival lights the buildings in March.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Canberra on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Canberra on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Canberra on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Australia from Airalo
- Last day: leave your bags in Canberra with Radical Storage and keep sightseeing
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Canberra
- Parliament House is free to visit, and tours are offered most days; check sitting days if you want to see debates.
- The Australian War Memorial holds a closing ceremony each afternoon; arrive before it to see the galleries first.
- Canberra's attractions are spread out, so use the light rail, buses or a bike rather than walking between districts.
- Many national museums and galleries are free, but special exhibitions may have a ticket; book ahead in school holidays.
- Summer days can be hot while winter nights are very cold; bring layers from May to August.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Australian National Botanic Gardens: unknown author, Fair use
- Australian War Memorial: Capital photographer ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Blundells Cottage: Bidgee, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Captain James Cook Memorial: Bidgee, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Lake Burley Griffin: JJ Harrison ( jjharrison89@facebook.com ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Mount Ainslie: Grahamec, CC BY-SA 3.0
- National Gallery of Australia: Thennicke, CC BY-SA 4.0
- National Library of Australia: Thennicke, CC BY-SA 4.0
- National Museum of Australia: Myk Dowling, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Old Parliament House, Canberra: JJ Harrison ( https://www.jjharrison.com.au/ ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Parliament House, Canberra: Thennicke, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Questacon: Bidgee, CC BY-SA 3.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
