Known as the Harbour City, Sydney is beautiful, vibrant and iconic. From its picturesque beaches, stunning architecture, dazzling harbour and bustling social scene it’s the perfect introduction to Australia. After exploring Sydney while on our round the world trips we’ve put together our sightseeing guide to Sydney: it’s a guide to our 10 best things to do and the best sights in Sydney. Enjoy!
1 | Sydney Opera House
The Opera House is a symbol of Sydney and standing on the edge of the harbour admiring the iconic building is a breathtaking moment of any visit to Sydney. The soaring sails of the Opera House are instantly recognisable and the building is a UNESCO World Heritage site. As well as appreciating the beauty of it’s exterior, the Opera House hosts hundreds of events and performances as well as guided tours so be sure to get a look inside this stunning venue.
2 | Sydney Harbour Bridge
Known as the Coathanger, the Sydney Harbour Bridge is synonymous with Sydney and visible from all across the city. Admire it from afar, walk it, or if you’re feeling adventurous, it’s possible to climb the Bridge, the views of the harbour and the city are stunning from the summit!
3 | Bondi Beach
A trip to Sydney is not complete without visiting the beautiful Bondi Beach where blue waters, golden sands and rugged waves are in abundance. Just 10km from the centre of the city, it’s jammed full of locals and tourists sunbathing, swimming and surfing or hanging out at the beach side bars and restaurants.
The famous Bondi Baths, a massive saltwater pool at the south end of Bondi Beach, is part of the Bondi Icebergs Club. On a rough day the winds drive the sea water over the baths and crowds draw to watch the swimmers brave the crashing waves! Be sure to take a swim in the iconic baths – the pool is open to the public all year round, or pop upstairs to the dining room and enjoy a meal with a view.
4 | Bondi to Cogee Walk
The 6km coastal cliff walk from Bondi to Cogee. The walk will take you past beaches, cliffs and rock pools and the views are stunning along the way. It takes about two hours to complete and, if you run out of steam, there are cafes and restaurants on the route! Visits in the winter months might coincide with the amazing Sculpture’s by the Sea Festival, Australia’s largest annual outdoor sculpture exhibition and a real treat!
Sydney sightseeing tip: be sure to bring a hat, water and sunscreen if you are doing the walk in the summer!
5 | Drinks with a view
We love nothing more than chilling out with a beautiful cocktail and drinking in the amazing views of a new destination and the iconic skyline of the Sydney deserves to be appreciated. There are countless bars, be it harbour side or from the sky, to drink in the breathtaking views of the city. Our current favourites are Zephyr at the Hyatt Regency and the Bucket List on Bondi.
6 | The Royal Botanic Garden
Frequented by locals and tourists alike, The Royal Botanic Garden is a relaxing and enchanting garden with stunning views of the Bridge and the Harbour. It’s an amazing green space in the heart of Sydney with a beautiful variety of plants and trees.
7 | Jump on a ferry
The Sydney Ferries are both an awesome way to travel and a great way to see the city from the water. We hopped on the ferry to Manly, a beach suburb and one of the best surf spots in Sydney. Cruising on the harbour also offers some of the best views of Sydney – we loved the unobstructed views of the Opera House and Bridge from the ferry!
8 | Eat Pie and Mash at Harry’s
Sydney is a foodie dream but sometimes a little comfort food can go a long way! Harry’s Cafe de Wheels is among some of the best street food in the city. The pies, with a dollop of mashed potato, mushy peas and gravy, are delicious and the hot dogs immense!
9 | Blue Mountains
The UNESCO listed Blue Mountains are a popular day trip from Sydney and the landscape is made up of jutting sandstone outcrops, cavernous valleys and dense eucalyptus forests. The Blue Mountains are so named because of the blue haze which lingers – it is created by the eucalypti forests which release tiny droplets of oil and mix with water and sunlight to create the blue hue. The Three Sisters rock formation is the most famous sight and is said to represent three sisters who were turned to stone. The park is home to scenic walking trails, the world’s steepest railway and a glass bottomed cable car which glides over the forest below.
10 | Palm Beach aka Home and Away
A sururb on one of Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Palm Beach is a little piece of paradise! The town is instantly recognisable as Summer Bay from the Australian television series Home and Away which is still hugely popular across the globe. The Surf Club, the Diner and the Beach are located in Palm Beach and we had a blast reliving our youthful days of Home and Away watching!
