Civic

The CBD: light rail, ANU, Civic Square and big nights out

Civic is the centre of Canberra and the easiest place to land if you only have a day. The light rail runs through it, the ANU sits on the western edge, Civic Square anchors civic life, and Garema Place still pulls a crowd on a warm night. It covers everything from chain retail and the Canberra Centre through to the city's biggest live music rooms, late bars and weekend club nights. The walk to the lake is short, the National Gallery and Library are a short cycle away, and Braddon's food strip is five minutes north. It's not pretty in every direction, but it works.