A buzzing cosmopolitan hub and the largest city in Australia is the vibrant city of Sydney. Surrounded by a glorious harbor and spectacular beaches, world heritage sites, and acclaimed wine regions, It is a city that definitely must be on your bucket list! The beautiful city has a lot to offer to travelers ranging from multicultural cuisines to historical museums to a buzzing nightlife, there is something for everyone and something that fits all budgets! So without further ado, here’s the ultimate travel guide to help you plan an exciting and unforgettable trip!
1. Climb the Sydney Harbor Bridge
The iconic Sydney Harbor Bridge was constructed in 1932 as a government employment project during the great depression. There are two ways to experience the panoramic views that the bridge offers- climb the bridge by joining a climbing tour or walk or cycle across the bridge for free! If you’ve decided to go for the option that gets your adrenaline pumping, then you shall be geared up with all the appropriate climbing gear and safety essentials, before you start the exciting climb up the bridge! The view during the climb is phenomenal, and is truly one heck of a way of experiencing a bridge!
2. Stroll through the Royal Botanical Gardens
Spend your morning strolling through the 200-year-old Royal Botanical Garden which is truly a green oasis set in the midst of a concrete jungle. A mere 5 minutes’ walk away from the scenic Sydney Harbor and the iconic Opera House lies a garden filled with a huge variety of trees and flowers. Don’t forget to pack a small breakfast picnic to enjoy at the park!
3. Join a Beach Walk
The best way to visit all the beaches along Sydney’s eastern suburbs is to join a beach walk. This is a 6 km long walk that starts from the famous Bondi Beach and ends at the beautiful Coogee Beach. Along the way, you’ll be visiting Tamarama, Bronte, and Clovelly Beaches, parks, bays, and rock pools, all of which are simply stunning places to relax at and soak in the pretty views! Don’t forget to carry along your swimsuits!
4. Trek in the Blue Mountains!
A very scenic 90-minute train ride from Sydney will bring you to the majestic Blue Mountains. The Blue Mountains are characterized by steep cliffs and narrow ridges, with majestic waterfalls crashing down into the lush valleys underneath. There are a number of hiking trails to pick from, all of which offer stunning views of the scenic panorama!
5. Sydney Opera House
A visit to Sydney cannot be said to be complete without a visit to the stunning and world-famous Opera House! You can opt for a guided tour or explore it by yourself and marvel at the architectural beauty of the Opera House. There are plenty of shows and events that take place in the Opera House which you could buy a ticket to or you could enjoy a meal at a restaurant on the premises!
6. Visit the Taronga Zoo
The city has built a zoo with natural environments that are suitable for all the animals and birds such as koalas, wallabies, giraffes, penguins, and many more. A day trip to the zoo can be a fantastic activity if you’re visiting Sydney with your family! It is also possible to sleep for the night in the zoo in safari-style tents!
7. Take a day trip to The Rocks
The Rocks are the oldest settlement in Sydney. In fact, it was the first site of British Settlement in Australia and hence has streets lined with colonial buildings, sandstone churches, and narrow cobbled lanes. The area is well known for its weekend markets, art museums, street entertainment, delicious restaurants, and beautiful views of the harbor, Opera House, and Harbor Bridge!
8. Go Museum Hopping
Sydney has a plethora of museums to choose from! So if art is your thing, you’re in for a treat! You can visit the Art Gallery of New South Wales for its wide display of modern art, the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia at The Rocks, the Nicholson Museum for its collection of antiquities, the Australian National Maritime Museum at Darling Harbor, the White Rabbit Gallery to marvel at some contemporary Chinese art and also enjoy its teahouse and The Rocks Discovery Museum; all of which are free of cost! A great museum that has done a fantastic job of depicting colonial life is the Hyde Park Barracks museum which is actually set in an old convict barrack!
9. Wine tasting in the Hunter Valley
Spend a day in the Sydney countryside amidst acres of vine plantations along the hills! You can opt for a guided bus tour from Sydney or hire a bicycle and ride along the winding countryside roads! As a part of the tour or otherwise, you can visit different wineries and take part in wine tasting sessions! Spend a night at Hunter Valley to make the most of the countryside!
10. Sky walk in the Sydney Tower
Sydney Tower offers spectacular 360° views of the entire city from the observation deck on the top floor. The tower is as tall as the Eiffel Tower and twice the height of the Harbor Bridge. Do visit the Sydney Tower near about sunset time to get enjoy a stunning sunset before the bright city lights, light up the night sky! If you’re a braveheart, then do sign up for the Sky Walk to walk around the outer glass perimeter of the tower and take in the breathtaking views of unfurling underneath you!
11. Ferry to Manly Beach
Get out of the city by hopping on a picturesque 30-minute ferry ride from Sydney so as to reach Manly, which is pretty much one of the coolest parts of the north end of the city! Manly has one of the best beaches in the city with huge waves that are perfect for surfing on. You could also kayak, scuba dive, or even book a shark diving experience here! Apart from the beaches, Manly also has a number of fantastic bars and restaurants that add to the lively nightlife in the area!
12. Join a pub crawl walking Tour
Yup, you heard us right! There is a 4-hour walking tour that takes you to 4 of the oldest pubs in the city! Join a Pub Crawl tour to know more about the fascinating history of the pubs, interesting events that have taken place in the area, and sometimes even about unsolved murders, all while you enjoy some of their iconic drinks! This is definitely not your regular ordinary tour!
13. Hop on a sightseeing Cruise
A number of sightseeing cruises are available from Circular Quay to Darling Harbor, which offers sweeping views of the iconic Opera House, Harbor Bridge, and the city’s skyline all the while cruising in the blue waters of the harbor! Most of the cruises are catered if you opt for a day-long cruise. If not, do book a sunset cruise because that is a sight that you wouldn’t want to miss!
14. Visit the Cockatoo Island
Cockatoo Island is situated in the middle of Harbor and is easily accessible by ferry. Cockatoo Island is an important historic spot as the island to this date houses barracks and other evidence about the forced labor and convicts transportation by the British in Australia. Some parts of the island are UNESCO World Heritage Sites! Walk around the island to delve into Australian history! Apart from this, the beautiful island is also a popular camping spot!
Read More About Australia
- Cafes In Sydney – The Best to Visit
- Melbourne Places to Visit
- Hunter Valley Guide
- Blue Mountains Australia
- Lesson on Australian Wines
Frequently Asked Questions About Sydney
Q. What is Sydney famous for?
A – Sydney — a coastal metropolis whose five million residents make it the largest city in Australia — is famous for many things. The glittering harbor, complemented by landmarks like the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The dozens of sun-bathed beaches peppering the spectacular coastline.
Q. Is Sydney very expensive?
A – Sydney is now the only Australian city ranked among the top 100 most expensive locations for expatriates to live, having dropped 24 places to 97th position on ECA International’s index.
Q. Is Sydney a boring city?
A – Sydney’s pitfalls have been highlighted in a new report which claims the city is boring and too expensive. The Benchmarking Sydney 2019 report from the Committee for Sydney outlined a number of key areas affecting growth in the city.
Q. What is the most popular food in Sydney?
A – 8 Best Foods to Eat
- Barramundi.
- Sydney rock oyster.
- Australian prawns.
- Avocado on toast.
- Bacon and egg roll.
- Lamington cake.
- Potato cake.
- Yellowfin tuna.
Q. What can you do in Sydney for 3 days?
A – Below are the things you can do in 3 days
- Opera House at Sunrise.
- The Rocks & Circular Quay Neighborhood.
- Darling Harbour Neighborhood.
- Bondi Beach.
- Tamarama and Bronte Beaches.
- Three Sisters – Blue Mountains.
- Olympic Rock Lookout along Leura Cascades to Gordon Falls Hike.
Q. How much money do you need per day in Sydney?
A – On Average WeSwapper’s spend a total of $126 (£79) per day in Sydney, Australia. This reflects what everyday travelers tend to spend in Sydney. Think mid-range – most of the major attractions, a few cab rides, maybe a big night out, and a bit of shopping on the side.
Q. Can you go inside the Sydney Opera House for free?
A – The Opera House is a building that you can visit at any time.
Q. How much does a meal cost in Sydney?
A – While meal prices in Sydney can vary, the average cost of food here is AU$47 per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Sydney should cost around AU$19 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner.
Q. Can you walk across the Sydney Harbour bridge for free?
A – There is a pedestrian walkway on the eastern side of the Harbour Bridge that offers some of the best views of the Harbour and access to the walkway is completely free! You can do your own “guided walk” across the bridge, stopping to admire the Opera House and Circular Quay on the way.
Q. Is the Sydney Opera House tour worth it?
A – The Opera House is fascinating, it was worth the money -not only did Sydney gain a world-class Opera House.
Q. Is Sydney a safe country?
A – In general, Sydney is a very safe city to visit or live in. As in any major city, there can be issues of assault, drug use, and crime of opportunity in and around the central business district/nightclub complex after midnight.
Q. Is Sydney Australia a safe city?
A – Sydney was the safest city in Australia, ranking fourth overall. It also ranks highest in the world in terms of digital security.
Q. Is it expensive to live in Sydney?
A – Summary about cost of living in Sydney, Australia: A family of four estimated monthly costs is 3,817$ (5,228A$) without rent. The estimated monthly cost for one person is 1,050$ (1,438A$) without rent. Sydney is 16.25% less expensive than New York (without rent).
Q. Is Australia safer than Canada?
A – Australia is generally considered safe from the threats of terrorism, but they are also notoriously proactive when it comes to ensuring the safety of their citizens. Australia is ranked 63rd and Canada is even more secure at 73rd.
Q. What’s Sydney famous for?
A – Sydney is most famous for:
Harbour Bridge.
Opera House.
Amazing zoos (Taronga & Sydney Zoo) -Iconic Beaches (Bondi, Coogee, Manly to name a few)
Luna Park And more!
Q. Is Sydney good for tourists?
A – One of the most beautiful cities in Australia, It is surrounded by a lot of fascinating day trip destinations. The World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains have some of the best hikes in Australia; The beautiful Hunter Valley is a hot spot for foodies; And the nation’s capital, Canberra, is only a three-hour drive away.
Q. What is the most visited place in Sydney?
A – Top Attractions
Opera House.
Taronga Zoo Sydney.
Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk.
Manly Beach.
Australian Museum.
Sea Life Sydney Aquarium.
Wildlife Sydney Zoo.
Queen Victoria Building.
Q. What food is Sydney famous for?
A – 8 Best Foods to Eat
Barramundi.
Sydney rock oyster.
Australian prawns.
Avocado on toast.
Bacon and egg roll.
Lamington cake.
Potato cake.
Yellowfin tuna.
Q. What are the two major landmarks in Sydney?
A – The most famous attractions include the Opera House and the Harbor Bridge. Other attractions include the Mardi Gras, the Royal Botanical Gardens, Luna Park, the beach, and the Sydney Tower.
Q. Sydney or Melbourne is better?
A – Sydney is the most spectacular city in Australia with its wonderful harbor views, excellent weather, and picturesque beaches. Melbourne has many of the hippest and coolest suburbs in Oz and on average most people live in suburbs that are of a better standard than Sydney.
Q. How can I have fun in Sydney?
A – Let’s explore the best things to do in Sydney:
See a show at the Opera House.
Stroll Darling Harbour.
Get a local perspective with a free walking tour.
Visit the iconic Paddy’s Markets.
Bondi Beach.
Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Have dinner at Circular Quay.
Visit the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Q. How many days are enough to visit Sydney?
A – 4-5 days is fine for Sydney, if you had friends here you would stay longer. Water temperatures are cooler in October so you are unlikely to spend days on the beach on end. 1 day Bondi Beach and surroundings. 2 days looking around the city area, if possible a bridge climb, a ferry to Manly and the zoo.
Q. What is a typical breakfast in Australia?
A – An Australian breakfast can take many forms but the most common is the Big Fry! Nothing beats a platter of beautifully cooked farm-fresh eggs, smoky bacon, grilled tomatoes, and mushrooms. Sausage, hash browns, or beans can be optional additions!
Q. What is the famous food of Australia?
A – Famous Australian takeaway foods (ie fast food) include meat pies, sausage rolls, pasties, chico rolls, and dim sims. Meat pies, sausage rolls, and pasties are often found in milk bars and bakeries, where they are kept warm in pie warmers; Meat pie is also a staple at AFL football matches.
Q. What do they call those who live in Sydney?
A – Residents of the city are known as “Sydneysiders”.
