Updated in October 2026, this Art Gallery of New South Wales guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking or transport, accessibility and what to see.
The Art Gallery of New South Wales is a state art museum in The Domain, on the eastern side of the Sydney CBD. It now has two buildings, Naala Nura and Naala Badu, and older guides may describe only the original building. The Gallery stays open until 10pm on Wednesdays. This guide was last updated in October 2026 and confirms the two-building layout and the current hours.
Quick facts: the Art Gallery of New South Wales
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 10am to 5pm daily. Until 10pm on Wednesdays. Closed Christmas Day and Good Friday. |
| Ticket prices | Free general entry ($0). Entry fees apply to some special exhibitions. |
| Address | Art Gallery Road, The Domain, Sydney NSW 2000 |
| Nearest transport or parking | St James and Martin Place stations are about a 10-minute walk. Domain Car Park is the closest car park. |
| Typical time needed | About 2 hours to half a day |
The Art Gallery of New South Wales opening hours
The Gallery is open 10am to 5pm every day. On Wednesdays it stays open until 10pm. It is closed on Christmas Day and Good Friday.
The Gallery’s library and its food and drink outlets have different hours. Check the official website for those times.
On Wednesday evenings a courtesy bus leaves the bus stop on Art Gallery Road every 20 minutes from 7pm to 10pm. It goes to the transport hub at Town Hall, at the corner of Castlereagh and Park Streets.
Five great things to do while you’re in Sydney
- Take a small group tour to the Blue Mountains – with a Parramatta River cruise thrown in.
- See the landmarks and secret beaches – on a Sydney Harbour cruise.
- Discover Sydney’s most historic neighbourhood – on a Rocks walking tour.
- Go on a whale-watching cruise – and admire migrating humpbacks.
- Learn to surf at Bondi Beach – with beginner surfing lessons.
The Art Gallery of New South Wales ticket prices
Entry to the Art Gallery of New South Wales is free and needs no ticket. There are no charges to visit most of the displays and exhibitions.
- General entry: free.
- Special exhibitions: a few require a ticket, which is sometimes timed entry. Prices vary by exhibition.
- Concessions: Seniors Card, Health Care Card, Veterans Affairs Card, Pensioner Card, NAVA Membership Card and Full Time Student Card holders. Show the card at the exhibition entry.
- Companion Card: a carer is admitted free to paid exhibitions.
- MobTix: heavily discounted tickets for Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and other First Nations visitors.
- Members: receive member prices or free tickets after logging in.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in October 2026. Tickets can be booked online or at the welcome desk in Naala Nura or the welcome hub in Naala Badu.
How to get to the Art Gallery of New South Wales
The Gallery is on the eastern side of the CBD, next to the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Domain. It is a 15-minute walk from the city centre and just down the road from St Mary’s Cathedral.
- On foot: it is about 5 minutes’ walk from Macquarie Street, across the Domain, or from Hyde Park.
- By train: St James and Martin Place stations are each about a 10-minute walk.
- By bus: bus 441 leaves from the York Street side of the Queen Victoria Building (Stand D) and stops near the Gallery.
- By taxi or rideshare: a drop-off and pick-up zone is on Art Gallery Road near the front.
Parking at the Art Gallery of New South Wales
There are metered bays and nearby car parks. Metered parking is on Mrs Macquaries Road and other streets around the Gallery. Rates and time limits vary, so check the signs.
The closest car parks are the Domain Car Park and The Wharf Woolloomooloo Car Park. Both can be booked in advance online.
Bicycle parking is along Art Gallery Road, at the front of Naala Nura and outside Naala Badu. Buses can use the drop-off and pick-up zone on Art Gallery Road, but there are no dedicated bus parking spaces.
Accessible parking: three dedicated spaces are in front of the Gallery. Holders of mobility parking permits do not pay for metered parking.
How long to spend at the Art Gallery of New South Wales
Plan about 2 hours to half a day. This is a planning estimate, because the Gallery does not publish a recommended visit time. The Gallery has two buildings, so allow extra time to see both.
A timed-entry exhibition entered at 4pm allows one hour of viewing time.
Accessibility at the Art Gallery of New South Wales
Prams are welcome and all spaces are pram accessible. A limited number of free wheelchairs and mobility scooters are available to use inside the Gallery.
A new accessible pathway through the Art Garden links Lincoln Crescent in Woolloomooloo with the city. It has public stairs open 24 hours or two lifts that run from 6am to 11pm.
Accessible toilets are in both buildings. Changing Places facilities are on lower level 2 of Naala Nura and lower level 4 of Naala Badu. Parents and carers rooms are also available.
For access enquiries, phone the Visitor Experience team on 02 9225 1700.
What to see at the Art Gallery of New South Wales
The Gallery has two buildings. Naala Nura, meaning ‘seeing Country’, is the historic building facing the Domain parklands. Naala Badu, meaning ‘seeing waters’, is the newer building overlooking Sydney Harbour.
In Naala Nura, the Grand Courts show a range of artworks in red-walled galleries with domed ceilings. The building also has the 20th-century galleries and an ongoing display of Asian art.
In Naala Badu, the ground level shows the collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. It includes works from across Indigenous Australia.
The Nelson Packer Tank is an underground art space on lower level 4 of Naala Badu. The building also has a viewing terrace and a stepped terrace on the ground level.
Outdoor works include Francis Upritchard’s Here Comes Everybody on the Welcome Plaza and Yayoi Kusama’s Flowers that Bloom in the Cosmos on a terrace. The Art Garden between the two buildings is open to visitors.
Each year the Gallery also hosts the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes and a program of special exhibitions. Check the What’s On page for current shows.
The library, archive and children’s art library are on lower level 3 of Naala Nura. The Gallery also runs the Brett Whiteley Studio in Surry Hills.
Practical visitor tips
| Topic | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | The Gallery stays open until 10pm on Wednesdays. The courtesy bus runs from 7pm to 10pm. |
| Crowds | Timed-entry exhibitions have set sessions. Book online in advance, because dates and times can sell out. |
| Layout | Naala Nura is the historic building to the south and Naala Badu is the new building to the north. The Art Garden is between them. |
| Entry process | General entry needs no ticket. Small bags are allowed if worn on your front or carried at your side. |
| On-site logistics | Large bags, backpacks, luggage, skateboards and scooters go in the free cloaking areas. Flash, selfie sticks and tripods are not allowed. |
Frequently asked questions about the Art Gallery of New South Wales
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the Art Gallery of New South Wales free to enter? | Yes. General entry is free. Fees apply to some special exhibitions. |
| Is the Art Gallery of New South Wales suitable for children? | Yes. Prams are welcome and the Gallery has a kids and families program. Ask staff at the welcome desk for activities. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for the Art Gallery of New South Wales? | General entry needs no booking. Ticketed exhibitions are best booked online in advance. |
| Is the Art Gallery of New South Wales open on Sundays? | Yes. The Gallery is open daily from 10am to 5pm, except Christmas Day and Good Friday. |
| Are bags allowed at the Art Gallery of New South Wales? | Small bags are allowed. Large bags, backpacks and luggage must go in cloaking. |
Things to do near the Art Gallery of New South Wales
- Royal Botanic Garden Sydney: a harbourside garden right next to the Gallery.
- The Domain: the parkland around the Gallery, where visitors may picnic. Includes Mrs Macquarie’s Chair.
- St Mary’s Cathedral: the Catholic cathedral just down the road from the Gallery.
- Hyde Park: a city park about 5 minutes’ walk from the Gallery. Home to the Anzac Memorial.
- Brett Whiteley Studio: the former workplace and home of the artist Brett Whiteley, run by the Gallery in Surry Hills.
Alternative attractions
- Museum of Contemporary Art Australia: a contemporary art museum at 140 George Street in The Rocks, on the western side of Circular Quay.
- White Rabbit Gallery: a gallery of Chinese contemporary art at 30 Balfour Street in Chippendale, Sydney.
- Gosford Regional Gallery: a regional gallery at 36 Webb Street, East Gosford, on the Central Coast north of Sydney.
- Wollongong Art Gallery: one of the largest regional art museums in Australia, at 46 Burelli Street in Wollongong.
- Newcastle Art Gallery: a gallery at 1 Laman Street in Newcastle, about 2.5 hours’ drive north of Sydney. It holds a group of Rodin sculptures.
More Sydney travel
Other Sydney travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Sydney’s top historic museums – including the Justice and Police Museum, Susannah Place Museum, Hyde Park Barracks and Museum of Sydney.
- Australian Museum visitor guide: Including opening hours, parking and which sections to focus your time on.
- 7 fantastic attractions in Sydney that most visitors overlook – including the Sirius anchor, the Macquarie Lighthouse, the Anzac Memorial, the Quarantine Station, the State Library of NSW and Elizabeth Farm.
- Guides to Sydney’s beaches: Avalon Beach, Bilgola Beach, Milk Beach, Queenscliff Beach, Shark Beach, Yarra Bay Beach.
- Swimming in Sydney: The best open-air pools, including the Maccallum Seawater Pool and Marranawi Cove.
