EDIT - Thank you so much everyone for all your lovely replies!! I feel so much better about my trip now and I'm really looking forward to it. Thank you all for reassuring me about the scary unknown. Of course I will always remain alert and aware, but I'm feeling much more confident now! Looking forward to seeing your beautiful city.
Hi Sydney. Excuse my possibly silly question. I'm from a small country town and not very used to travelling in cities. I am visiting Sydney soon and will need to get back to my hotel from the Lyric theatre at 10pm at night on a weeknight, by myself. The bus route I could take has me do a little walk down Crown st, from Stanley st to William st. It's only 220 metres or something, but because I'm unfamiliar with it, I'm just wondering if this is a safe place for a female to walk alone at night? Are there lots of people around? I can afford to take an uber if needed (but I've never done that either), but it seems silly if the bus will get me nearly all the way there. Any other getting around Sydney tips for a country bumpkin also appreciated! Thanks so much!
You'll be fine
That area is very public and it's quite a short walk, I'm sure you'll be right mate
Very safe, you'll be absolutely fine.
You will be fine. I am 71 years old and live in this area. I come after theatre late at night all the time. Never had issues. Well lit. Lots of people about. Enjoy your Lyric Theatre event.
I'm a local, female, work on Crown, and would have very few concerns about this walk. It's busy to quite late, open and well-lit, and very residential.
Stay in lit areas. I don’t think that area is particularly dodgy.
It is not. I’m a local.
Username doesn't quite check out...
Technically true though. They are not on Parramatta Road.
Parramatta rd isn’t t exactly Timbuktu. How local do you need to qualify as local? Geez.
There are a lot of suburbs between Darlinghurst and Parramatta road!
If one were to be pedantic about it, Parramatta Rd starts at Victoria Park so there's only really Chippendale and Surry Hills in between them....
a couple, sure. it's not that far. not exactly campbelltown.
Good one Sherlock. Did you pause to think that I may have created my username when I actually lived off that road. I could change it to ‘offWilliamStreet’ for you.
You should be fine. Depending on the night of the week Stanley and William are both pretty busy well lit streets. No guarantees anywhere in the world but for a 200m walk you could be in much worse places
I’m a local and I see many women walking around the area. Stanley Street is full of people with restaurants and bars. The part of Crown Street you’ll be walking (to William) goes past a 24 hour gym. The area is well lit.
Yeah it'll be totally fine.
Lived there for a few years myself. Used to bump into Hugh Jackman and the guys from Thirsty Merc all the time on a weeknight. Of course, it's even more gentrified now. You'll be fine 😊 skip the uber
Pockets of pubs and restaurants on crown street. Some dodgey characters on the Redfern end of crown street but you should be fine, it's generally a busy street.
I work on crown street.
Redfern end would be fine as well.
Will stand by my comment. I work near the light rail stop for the last 6 years.
Generally I'll witness an incident/altercation/threatening behaviour once every few months in broad daylight. This includes towards general public, cafe staff, female colleagues and also myself once while waiting for a coffee.
OP will most likely be fine. But should also be aware.
I live in Redfern and I'm a woman. Yes, there are some weirdos around, but OP would be totally fine.
I was followed walking off crown st on Surry hills end. I criss-crossed the road 3 times and the young man crossed every time. He knew where I worked as I quickly ran into my office. This was in broad daylight. I’ve lived in Surry and Redfern and as a female I would say keep your wits about you it’s never 100% safe.
If this happens again just walk straight into a shop and let them know you're waiting for him to pass. Shop staff are always friendly and can call the cops if needed. As a local I wouldn't say the area is full of creeps, especially if this is happening in broad daylight, but he might have been having a mental or drug episode which can lead to erratic and dangerous behaviour.
OP mentions Stanley Street which is in Darlinghurst not Surry Hills.
It's a busy area with restaurants it will be fine at that time of night. I am a local.
I’m a girl and yeah it’s perfectly safe
I'm a dude - but id say there's a 99% possibility you will be fine - the inner city has pretty active streets at night.
I don't think 99% is quite as reassuring as you might be thinking.
Fortunately I also think it's safer than that and you're lowballing
There's a 1% chance you encounter a cockroach, freak out, trip over a kerbstone and break your neck.
Agreed - Always gotta account for the anomaly though.
Good for you for checking this before you go! You'll probably find it quite comforting when you see how many people are out and about at that time. Also remember, despite our bad name for being unfriendly, Sydney people can actually be really kind if you ask for help so do reach out to people if you need directions or are concerned about your safety. Have fun and enjoy!
Not a silly question at all! Sensible to think ahead! That’s a very safe route :) if you want you can stop on Stanley St for a late night bite, or have brekkie at Stop Valve just near there the next morning (delish!). Enjoy your trip.
I live around very close to the area. It is well lit, there are always a few people around. Even up to midnight, 1 am most nights, theres a 24 hr staffed gym even on crown St "city gym" drop in if u feeling unsafe. Stanley st theres people until 10pm most nights. I walk around this area regulalry between 9 and midnight every week, its entirely safe.
You are unlikely to encounter any trouble at all. Theres often young and drunk backpackers about, theyre totally harmless and friendly tbh. Office workers walking home late, gays coming back from clubs or meet ups, so a few people about and generally friendly to be around.
Very occasionally there are a few meth heads around, like proper mental illness, cooked brains. They are mostly harmless unless having an episode. If u hear any of these types yelling, talking random stuff, walkikg in an agitated fashion, keep an eye on and distance away from them. Walk on other side of rd. Dont look at or engage them and if they do say something like ask for money just be polite and say sorry no money, etc, this occurs but is rare , happens like 1x a month to me and they just go away. Theres not this risk of assault, knife crime, youth gangs or rape around here.
Tbh if its a nice night id skip the bus and walk back from lyric, across darling harbour, thru the CBD, Hyde Park, up Oxford or William Street, itll be about 30 to 40mins, well lit, people about until about midnight and completely safe. Ive done this plenty of times as well (tho im a guy so I understand its different).
As a woman, I wouldn't walk through Hyde Park alone at night (although well lit), I would walk around. But totally agree, this route is a lovely summer night's walk!
no problem at all.
It's fine. I and/or my wife literally do that walk nearly every night. There's a cafe/bar/plant shop that's usually open on the corner and City Gym is there and is open late on weeknights so I think you could drop in if you felt unsafe. I think it's still staffed at that time (I usually leave before 10pm).
Stanley has a lot of bars and restaurants that may still be open depending on which weeknight too. There's a Woolworths Metro on the other side of William St if you need another destination.
Am a woman and I would comfortably do this. Have a great trip
I’m a woman that lives within blocks of here. You’ll be absolutely fine. 👌🏻 Enjoy the new sights and sounds of the city at night. Lots of pubs and restaurants that will be open around the route, from the Colombian Hotel at Oxford to The Stanley on William.
You'll be fine, I've walked through that area blind drunk many times at weird hours of the morning, day and night. In the the highly unlikely situation where someone approachs you just politely say, your in rush, don't know, don't have cash, etc.... frankly I feel more unsafe walking around Albury/Wodonga theses days.
Your bank account will have PTSD, otherwise fine
Sydney in general, you won't feel unsafe at night. The streets are either quiet (but not in an ominous way) or busy with relaxed crowds.
Mind, I'm a decently tall straight male. But a lot of women I know feel the same way.
You're probably the wrong gender to be attracting attention alone at night in Darlinghurst.
Jeez, you lot a really lovely. Let me be the 30th person to say a: that's a safe walk, you will be fine and b: its a very cool slice of sydney, if you have the energy after the theatre you should grab a drink or a dessert from somewhere on your walk home.
Totally safe! I've (young-ish, short, female) done the walk all the way down Crown Street by myself sober, not sober, day, night, late night, early morning for the last 15 years. There's always people around. And even on the side streets, there are restaurants and bars tucked away.
I wouldn’t worry. I’m a young female and often walk down crown sometimes a lot later than that and always felt and stayed safe. At worst you’ll see a couple of characters but I’ve not had anyone try to engage. It’s well lit up and still quite a few people around and businesses still open at that time
Female local here. I would have zero concerns doing this walk at this time of night.
Obviously you still need to have some situational awareness but no more than in any other place/time. You'll be absolutely fine.
Hey! I also grew up in a small country town and lived near Crown St for a while in the Surry Hills end. I would say quite safe. Theres restaurants and pubs around so it’s not quiet. At most, just don’t dawdle in the dark areas
You can catch the Light Rail from The Star where Lyric Theatre is located. Get off at Capitol Square. Walk up George St towards Town Hall (QVB/Galeries/Woolies are across the road) and then take a right on Park St (Galeries side). Walk past Hungry Jacks and there is a bus stop in front of Gadigal station (Stand G). You can catch the 324 which will head down William St. Map with directions.
The alternative is to walk down Pyrmont Bridge, down Market St and take a right onto George St. Then a left down Park St which turns into William St Walking Route. This one is well lit up all the way
Sounds like she is planning to take the 389 direct from the casino to Stanley St, hence the walk down to William St.
As someone who has helped country relos plan trips in the city, take the bus without any changes, it’s just easier. And you will be just fine doing the walk. Be aware as always, but it’s not at all dangerous.
100% fine :)
Plenty of people around in a cool part of town, can be very confident you will be very safe and have a great night
Stanley st is a very busy area for nice restaurant bars etc, it’s always bustling with people as is William st. You’ll be absolutely fine.
Crown street is very busy most of the times. You’ll be fine.
99.9% i believe you'll be fine.. i used to walk around crown st from work around 11.30pm weekdays and felt safe.. 0.1% chance on friday night there might be someone drunk and screaming but police station is just around the corner of crown and campbell st, enjoy your lyric theatre!!!
All good, relax and enjoy the show. You’d be incredibly unlucky to have any problems.
It's safe. Full of people and businesses
I live 5 blocks away. Happy to be an escort, if you need. Otherwise, I’m sure my wife would help out as well.
Lived behind the clock hotel on crown until very recently. You will be fine. I would blast gaga and stomp home from oxford st and wunderlich lane 1am to 5am many times, no dramas at all! Have a blast.
Others might have mentioned this but Crown street covers a lot of territory. Some parts are a bit isolated and sketchy but the area you mentioned is fine.
Plenty of people around and lots of restaurants and other places still open. You might come across some loud people and mucho bravado but they’re all harmless.
Enjoy the show and enjoy your visit
Don't walk into the stupid advertising billboards the council agreed to install. They are in the middle of the footpath
you can walk down dark back alleys in Sydney drunk and swinging expensive jewellery around at 3am and you’ll be completely fine. We’re not London.
There’s literally nothing to fear in inner Sydney.
Why not try your first uber?