Top places to visit in Sydney

• Sydney Opera House

  Heritage · 4.8 rating · about 1.5 h · entry AUD 43

  UNESCO World Heritage-listed performing-arts centre with sail-shaped shells on Bennelong Point — Sydney's defining icon.

• Bondi Beach

  Beach · 4.6 rating · about 2.5 h

  Australia's most famous surf beach — golden sand, patrolled swimming, surf schools and a buzzing cafe strip.

• St Mary's Cathedral

  Church · 4.8 rating · about 0.8 h

  Sydney's Gothic-revival Catholic cathedral in sandstone, facing Hyde Park with twin spires and stained glass.

• Queen Victoria Building

  Heritage · 4.6 rating · about 1 h

  A grand Romanesque-revival 1898 arcade filling a city block — stained glass, ornate galleries and boutique shopping.

• Darling Harbour

  Nightlife · 4.7 rating · about 2 h

  A lively waterfront precinct of restaurants, museums, the aquarium and fireworks — the hub of family attractions.

• Taronga Zoo Sydney

  Wildlife · 4.5 rating · about 3.5 h · entry AUD 51

  Harbourside zoo with native and exotic wildlife and knockout skyline views from the Sky Safari cable car.

• Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

  Nature · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h

  Historic harbourside gardens beside the Opera House, with Mrs Macquarie's Chair viewpoint and free entry.

• Three Sisters, Blue Mountains

  Viewpoint · 4.6 rating · about 2 h

  Iconic rock formation above the Jamison Valley at Echo Point, Katoomba — the highlight of a Blue Mountains day trip.

• Art Gallery of New South Wales

  Museum · 4.7 rating · about 2 h

  The state gallery of NSW with Australian, Aboriginal, European and Asian art, plus the striking Naala Badu wing — free entry.

• Manly Beach

  Beach · 4.7 rating · about 2.5 h

  A classic ocean beach reached by a scenic ferry ride, with a surf-lined promenade and the Manly-to-Shelly walk.

• Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk

  Nature · 4.8 rating · about 2.5 h

  A 6 km cliff-top walk past beaches, rock pools and parks between Bondi and Coogee — spectacular ocean scenery.

• Sydney Harbour Bridge

  Heritage · about 1.5 h

  The great steel arch spanning the harbour — walk the pedestrian path or climb to the summit for sweeping views.

Things to do

• BridgeClimb Sydney Adventure · 3.5 h · from AUD 388 per person
• Sydney Harbour Sunset Cruise Cruise · 2 h · from AUD 89 per person
• Blue Mountains Day Tour Tour · 10 h · from AUD 189 per person
• Bondi to Coogee Guided Coastal Walk Tour · 3 h · from AUD 45 per person
• Sydney Opera House Guided Tour Tour · 1 h · from AUD 43 per person
• Manly Kayak & Snorkel Eco Tour Adventure · 3 h · from AUD 99 per person

Day trips and tours

• Sydney Highlights & Bondi Day Tour 8 h · from AUD 145

Where to stay in Sydney

• Circular Quay about AUD 8,000 per night

  Iconic waterfront with luxury hotels

• Bondi about AUD 6,000 per night

  Famous beach with surf culture

• Darling Harbour about AUD 5,500 per night

  Modern waterfront district

• The Rocks about AUD 380 per night

  Historic cobblestone precinct steps from the Opera House and harbour ferries — premium, walkable, iconic views.

• Surry Hills about AUD 240 per night

  Trendy inner-east enclave with the best cafes, small bars and boutique stays, a short walk to the CBD.

Hotels

• Park Hyatt Sydney 5-star · AUD 900 to AUD 2,200 per night
• Sydney Harbour YHA 3-star · AUD 45 to AUD 180 per night
• QT Sydney 5-star · AUD 320 to AUD 650 per night
• The Old Clare Hotel 4-star · AUD 260 to AUD 480 per night
• Wake Up! Sydney Central 2-star · AUD 40 to AUD 150 per night

Where to eat

• Quay Modern Australian · about AUD 300 per person
• Bennelong Modern Australian · about AUD 250 per person
• Mr. Wong Cantonese, Chinese · about AUD 85 per person
• Chat Thai Thai · about AUD 35 per person
• Harry's Cafe de Wheels Australian, Pies · about AUD 15 per person
• Icebergs Dining Room and Bar Italian · about AUD 160 per person
• Bourke Street Bakery Bakery, Cafe · about AUD 20 per person

Getting around

• Bus main way to get around

  Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.

• Ferry main way to get around

  Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.

• Train main way to get around

  Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.

• Walking

  Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.

Safety and scams to avoid

• Backpacker job-deposit

  Major tourist zones

  Online "casual work" offer demands $50–200 deposit for "uniform/training"; job doesn't exist.

  How to avoid it: Never pay deposit for a job before starting. Use official jobactive portal.

More in Australia

• Melbourne
• Brisbane
• Perth
• Adelaide
• Gold Coast
• Cairns