Is Vivid Sydney Worth Visiting? Common Faqs W/ Answers

Is Vivid Sydney worth the visit? The short answer to this, as someone who has experienced the festival just once is, YES! But there are certain factors to take into account if you wanna make this decision yourself. 

Every year, for three sensational weeks, Sydney transforms into a multi-sensory canvas for mind-blowing 3-D projections, hair-raising music, and perception-changing workshops. This is what Vivid Sydney sounds like on paper, but there’s far more to it. 

Are you planning to check out this visionary exhibition in Sydney? Here are some FAQs and answers about the festival to help make your decision easier.

What can you see?

Perhaps what’ll catch your eye the most is the one-of-a-kind light installations, funky sculptures, 3-D artworks, trippy street arts, and other interactive installations. Vivid is truly a spectacular event, and it would be safe to say that the majority of visitors we see every  year, come just to get a good look at the new lights! 

The lighting of the sails of the Opera House, which is best enjoyed from the many Vivid Sydney cruises, is one of the major highlights of the entire festival. The mighty Harbour Bridge will be gorgeously illuminated, and if you climb to the summit of it you can watch the entire city in all its scintillating glory.  It is your golden opportunity to see the city and its famous landmarks in a whole new light!

Is it overcrowded?

The answer is obviously yes, in fact, 2022 saw the highest ever audience in the history of the festival with over 2.58 million visitors. This was expected as it was the much-anticipated return of the festival after a long 2-year hiatus, but still,  it can get quite crowded during the three-week run of the festival. Expect people from all corners of the planet. Book your accommodations, flight tickets, experiences, and anything else that requires reservations, way ahead. These tend to fill up fast.

The best tip is to avoid peak times such as the weekend or public holidays, and even if it is a weekday, time your visit towards the later part of the night as the crowds can get far lesser by then. This will allow you to immerse yourself in all the extravagant lights, music and art.

Is it expensive?

While the entire festival is technically free, apart from certain music concerts and exclusive workshops and exhibitions, the cost that covers your entire visit is going to be sky high. The accommodation within the city, flight tickets, food and drinks are gonna take a huge chunk off your wallet. 

Suppose you find a stay just outside the city, the public transport is not gonna be timely, and would require a lot of waiting since there’d be many road closures.

Can we see the lights from a cruise?

The best bet for you lot who’re looking to escape the crowds or the extensive walking around, is the Vivid cruises. They are far more soothing, and are the perfect option for visitors who are looking to make the most of their visit. But like every other thing mentioned so far on this list, do your research.  There can be quite the differences between these special runs of cruises including the menus, quality of dining, seating, comfort, views etc.

Key takeaways

• See the free installations and attractions first
• Plan your trip well in advance
• For cheaper stays, go outside the city, and use public transport
• Plan a few nights out, you can’t explore them all in just one night
• Don your winter attire and maybe pack an umbrella
• Check official websites and plan your itinerary if you got only limited time