Things to do in Chinatown Sydney

Locals, tourists and backpackers in Sydney flock to Chinatown for shopping, eating and entertainment. Famous for both food and shopping with market stalls in abundance including fresh produce.

Here's our list of Things to do in Chinatown Sydney.

Although not the most glamorous place to shop in the markets, it is full of bargains including clothing, shoes, games, technology, jewellery, beauty products and the list goes on. Don't forget to have fun bartering with the stallholders, you may be able to get a cheaper deal with them.

On the upper levels of Market City you will discover a wide range of shops, designer outlets and a food hall. There is also an IGA supermarket. Market City is also home to The Eight, a modern Chinese restaurant offering an authentic modern Chinese dining experience and a variety of Chinese delicacies.

The fresh produce stalls at Paddy's Market offer a range of fruit and vegetables as well as flowers. Paddy's has over150 years of supplying Sydney with the largest and freshest range of fruit and vegetables.

Paddy’s is great value and is the best way to shop for the freshest fruit and vegetables for the week.

Paddy's is open Wednesday - Sunday 10.00 am to 6.00 pm.

If you love Asian food then go no further than Chinatown. A walk up Dixon Street will make choosing a restaurant really hard because there are so many. Walking through the laneways of Chinatown can be a bit overwhelming if you are not a local and it's not just the hoards of people. There are neon lights, noise and the hustlers at the restaurants trying to entice you to try their cuisine.

Very close to Market City is Marigold and is the place to go for yum cha. Marigold is always busy and that's because the food really is that good!

If it is all too hard to choose from then try a Chinatown food tour and be shown the best places from those in the know.

Sydney's Chinatown is the country’s largest Chinatown, and is full of amazing authentic Chinese restaurants, shopping, culture and a huge market called Market City which is a combination of market stalls including fresh produce, a modern shopping centre, entertainment complex and food hall.

Chinatown is centred around Dixon Street which is a pedestrian only walkway and home to authentic Chinese restaurants and shops and stays awake a lot later than many other parts of Sydney. Chinatown is the where you go for traditional Chinese medicine and herbs.

If you prefer, there are an umber of guided tours around Chinatown Sydney where you can discover the best places to eat and visit by those in the know.

Chinatown is host to a number of performances throughout the year in line with the Chinese calendar celebrations. Sydney's Chinese New Year Festival is held in Chinatown over 3 weeks in February and is a spectacular festival.

There are numerous hotels and airbnb in the area. Across the harbour is the stunning Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour. I stayed there when it first opened, the views are stunning, fantastic service and amenities.

Or you could try Airbnb or a more an apartment such as Fraser Suites Sydney, one of my favourite places to stay near Chinatown. You can read my review here.

• Take a photo by the Paifang (The ornate dragon gates at either end that have fake bamboo tiles, golden Chinese calligraphy and ornamental lions to keep evil spirits at bay)

• Dine at the vast number of Chinese restaurants (you will be spruiked as you walk along Dixon Street)

• You can get Yum Cha for breakfast and lunch

• Shop at the traditional Chinese retailers

• Spend time at Paddy's Markets

• Visit a traditional Chinese Herbalist

• Take a guided tour

• Visit the Chinese Gardens of Friendship (in Darling Harbour)

• Enjoy a traditional Chinese massage

• Check out the movie theatre

Chinatown is an easy 15 minute walk from Central railway station. A light rail service operates from Central to Haymarket, just outside Chinatown. The nearest Sydney Explorer stop to Chinatown is stop number 17. Chinatown segues into Koreatown and Thaitown nearby both offering amazing choices of food. The district is also close to World Square shopping centre.

Parking at Market City is accessible via Quay Street offering 600 secure undercover parking spots with Market City Wilson Parking.

Chinatown is close to Darling Harbour and the Chinese Garden of Friendship, pictured below.

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Deb Carr is the editor and publisher of this website and others promoting lifestyle, nature, spirituality and an online jungle design store. When she is not blogging she is helping others get into their own business.