Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA)

Perched on Circular Quay and open six days a week, the MCA is Sydney's year-round destination for new-age and left-of-centre art. 

Once the administration offices of the Maritime Services Board, this harbourside museum was overhauled head to toe (well, almost) with light, airy, uncluttered interiors, more floor space and a boxy new facade. Thankfully, they kept the building clad with sandstone that was long ago quarried at Maroubra.

Inside, the gallery spaces themselves are clean, logical and open – with long vistas to entice and draw you in further. While the design of the exterior is about drawing attention, the opposite is the case for the interior – the look and feel is simple, so the art can shine. “The most important thing is the art,” says architect Sam Marshall. “In the perfect gallery there would be no architecture visible. For most of the MCA’s exhibitions they install walls, change colours and put different surfaces in. That requires a really simple space with a really simple circulation system.”

The restaurant on the rooftop is also worth checking out – even if you're not hungry, the views from up there are some of the best in Sydney, since it looks over the water across to the Sydney Opera House.

It's easy to get to the MCA, considering it's a short walk from Circular Quay Train Station and ferry wharves. 

General entry is free, though some exhibitions, events and programs are ticketed.

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