CanberraCapital
Australia · Country profile
Canberra is the capital of Australia, the purpose-built city of the national institutions that the federation raised on the green river plains between the two great metropolises, a planned capital of the bush capital character ringed by the hills of the low mountains. The city was designed by the American architect of the city beautiful school, and its layout, with the lake of the Burley Griffin at the centre and the great avenue of the parliamentary triangle anchoring the monumental axis, gives the capital its formal, handsome geometry. The national institutions of the country, the parliament, the galleries, the museums and the libraries, fill the circuit of the city with the treasures of the whole nation, and the suburbs of the bush capital, with their gardens and their parks, spread into the surrounding hills. Quiet, orderly and genuinely beautiful, Canberra is the serene, civic heart of the Australian nation.
About Canberra
Canberra is the capital of Australia. The city's documented population is around 466,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Australian Dollar (AUD) and English is spoken; the dialling code is +61.
The Purpose-Built Capital of the National Institutions
Canberra is a planned, leafy capital of national monuments and institutions, a city of lakes, avenues and low, bush-clad hills that rewards a relaxed, curious pace. The national institutions, from the parliament and the war memorial to the galleries and the museums, are the heart of the experience, and the lake and the hills frame the green setting. The city is safe, orderly and quiet, with a university town feel. It is a place of museums and memorials rather than nightlife and crowds, and it deserves a full, unhurried couple of days between the faster pleasures of the coastal cities.
The Four Seasons of the Bush Capital and the Light Rail
The climate of the highland capital is one of the more continental of the country, with the warm summers, the cold, frosty winters and the crisp, pleasant spring and autumn. The parliament, the war memorial and the national museums are the essential circuit, and the lake and the hills with their lookouts fill the green side. The Australian dollar is the currency and the cards work everywhere. The city is easy to get around, with the buses and the light rail of the centre and the lake as the organising feature, and the national institutions, most of them free, deserve the generous time.
The Lake, the Monuments and the Lookouts of the Hills
The lake of the Burley Griffin with its bridges, its jetties and its cycle paths is the organising centre of the city, and the paddle boats, the cruises and the riverside walks frame the recreational life of the capital. The parliament of the country, with its grassed roof and its public galleries, and the memorial of the war on its hill, anchor the monumental axis, while the national gallery with its extraordinary collections of the art of the region and the national museum and the science centre fill the cultural circuit. The observatory and the lookouts of the hills, from the mount with its views over the whole capital, complete the picture of the handsome, serene civic city.
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- Country
- Australia
- Population
- 466,000
- Coordinates
- -35.2976, 149.1013
- Capital
- Canberra
- Region
- Oceania
- Currency
- Australian Dollar (AUD)
- Languages
- English
- Calling code
- +61
- Country code
- AU
Entry requirements for Australia
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting Australia for tourism.
Getting to Canberra
The nearest airports we list:
Cities in Australia
Other cities we cover in Australia:
Frequently asked questions
Is Canberra the capital of Australia?
Yes — Canberra is the capital of Australia.
What currency do I need in Canberra?
The local currency is the Australian Dollar (AUD). Languages spoken in Australia include English.
What is the dialling code for Australia?
The international dialling code for Australia is +61.
Which airport is nearest to Canberra?
The nearest airport we list is Sydney Airport (SYD), about 242 km away.
How far is Canberra from the nearest airport?
Canberra is about 242 km from Sydney Airport.
Do I need a visa to visit Australia?
It depends on your passport. For the origins we track, the current tourism visa status is Morocco (visa required), United Kingdom (e-visa) and United States (e-visa). Check the entry requirements tool for your own nationality.
Flying out of Canberra? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.