How to spend the perfect Sunday in Canberra
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From shopping at local markets to touring national institutions, booking into a stretch sesh and filling up on a roast, here’s how to spend your Sunday in Canberra.
But before we dive in, we need to be honest: there’s no true answer for how to spend your perfect Sunday.
For some, it might be an unscheduled day where you use your time slowly and mindfully, letting your body guide you through what you need. For others, it might be about finding that balance between relaxation and preparation – planning the meals for the week, refreshing your space and setting the goals you’d like to achieve in the days ahead.
Whatever your preferred approach is, here are a few things that you can do around Canberra that will elevate the end of your weekend.
Morning
Start the morning in the classic Canberra way with a walk around Lake Burley Griffin with a coffee or matcha in hand from one of the lakeside cafes – Margot, The Jetty, Walter Café, On-Lake Café and Dockside Café – while catching up with friends and soaking in the sunshine. Snapper & Co also serves a special breakfast on Sundays, if you’d like to go somewhere with water views that’s not near the bridge-to-bridge.
But if that kind of morning movement isn’t for you, a Sunday stretch session is always a good idea. With endless Pilates and yoga studios around Canberra (SiSU, GroundUP, NRG Pilates, and Muse Pilates are some that come to mind), you can choose a slow and simple class or get your heart racing with something a bit sweatier.
Then, pop into the Haig Park Village Markets or the Old Bus Depot Markets to explore the local stall holders, grab a fresh pastry and some fresh flowers for a romantic way to start your day.
Afternoon
For those planning for the week ahead, a stop at the Fyshwick Fresh Food Markets will see you leave with plenty of fresh produce for some nutritious work-day meals. With retailers (all of which are locally and independently owned) selling fruit and vegetables, meats, seafood, delicatessens and bakery products, you’ll have plenty of options.
And live music from local musicians setting the vibe and plenty of places to stop for lunch depending on what you’re craving (Italian? Korean? Vietnamese?), it’ll turn grocery shopping into a relaxed experience. Make sure to pop into Book Lovers Lane to pick up a new book and Plonk for an afternoon aperitif.
For those looking for a rainy-day Sunday activity or somewhere with air conditioning, visiting one of the national museums and galleries offer a few hours of escape and for those who would rather spend your Sunday afternoon focused on self-care, a session at Reverie – Australia’s first self-guided 24/7 wellness space – will go down a treat.
Evening
Curling up at home is always a lovely way to spend a Sunday evening and we have plenty of recipe suggestions for a cosy night in – think: baked potato and brie, crispy baked gnocchi and pumpkin soup.
But for those who don’t want to cook, there’s nothing like a Sunday roast. Here are five spots for a hearty Sunday feed, where you can get your serving of protein and sides without the stress.
