Circular Quay is made up of walkways, pedestrian malls, parks and restaurants. It hosts a number of ferry quays and a train station. Sydney Cove was the site of the initial landing of the First Fleet in Port Jackson.

Circular Quay was originally mainly used for shipping and slowly developed into a transport, leisure and recreational centre. Circular Quay was originally known as "Semi-Circular Quay", this being the actual shape of the quay.

The Circular Quay railway station was opened on the 20 January 1956 and the elevated Cahill Expressway was opened on the 14 March 1958. Circular Quay was the focal terminal point of most electric tram services to the eastern suburbs, then as now allowing easy transfer to ferries.

For many years, 27 regular services operated from Circular Quay. As many Sydney bus routes follow the previous tram lines, the tram terminus has become a major bus terminus for many bus routes. The railway station is the only station on the City Circle that is above ground.

Circular Quay is a focal point for community celebrations, due to its central Sydney location between the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It is one of the main congregation points for the New Year's Eve and Australia Day fireworks displays. Circular Quay is also the home of Sydney's Museum of Contemporary Art and the City of Sydney Library.