Hotels near The Rocks

The Rocks is where European settlement of Australia began in 1788. Today this compact neighbourhood at the base of the Harbour Bridge is a mix of sandstone colonial buildings, narrow laneways, and weekend markets. The Rocks Discovery Museum (free entry) tells the area's story from Indigenous Gadigal people through convict settlement to modern times. Suez Canal, Nurses Walk, and Argyle Cut are the most atmospheric laneways to explore on foot.

The Rocks Markets run every Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm, filling George Street and Playfair Street with over 200 stalls selling jewellery, art, clothing, and street food. Friday night markets operate seasonally. The neighbourhood is also home to some of Sydney's oldest pubs - the Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel (1841) and the Fortune of War (1828) are both worth a pint.

Pro Tip: Join the free walking tour that departs from Cadmans Cottage at 10:30am and 2:30pm daily. The guides are knowledgeable locals and the tour covers history you will not find on signs.