Things to Do in Sydney: A Local-Style Travel Guide

To help you plan your trip, here’s a list of things to do in Sydney.

1. The Rocks is the oldest part of Sydney. 

With its narrow lanes, colonial buildings, sandstone churches, and Australia’s oldest pubs, this was the first neighborhood to be settled when the British first landed in Australia in 1788. It used to be a lot bigger but, sadly, a lot was torn down in the 1970s for modern high rises.

2. Hang Out at the Beach

Sydney is synonymous with its beaches and its world-class surfing. Since it’s warm and sunny most of the year, the city has a strong beach culture, and on the weekends (and many weekdays for that matter), locals flock to the sea to surf, swim, and crack open a beer. There are over 100 beaches in Sydney.

From Palm Beach and Manly in the north to the famous Bondi and Coogee in the south, Sydney has a beach for everyone. All the beaches are easy to get to via public transportation or car and there are tons of restaurants and surf shops lining them all. There’s also a coastal walk connecting the beaches together. Keep in mind that the beaches, especially the more famous ones, get really crowded and should be avoided on the weekends

3. Take the Ferry to Manly Beach

The ferry ride to Manly offers sweeping views of the harbor, Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the world-famous Opera House. It’s a picturesque 30-minute ride that offers some of the best views of the harbor and surrounding area for the cheapest price.
Manly, a suburb in the northern part of the city, is famous for its wide beach, giant waves, surfing, and kick-ass nightlife. The area has a completely different vibe to it than the central city and it’s a part of town a lot of tourists miss. There are some incredible coastal walking trails on this side of the harbor too, such as the 10-kilometer (6-mile) Manly to Spit Bridge Coastal Walk.

4. The Sydney Opera House

This has become perhaps the most iconic sight in Sydney, if not Australia. The Opera House is famous for its white-shelled roof, an impressive feat of engineering (getting the roof to stay up took the creation of a complex support system). The building took almost 15 years to complete, opening to the public in 1973. Today, more than 8 million people visit the Opera House annually, with almost half a million taking a guided tour. Daily guided tours are available for 45 AUD and give you a whole new appreciation for just how challenging the building was to design and erect.

5. See the Blue Mountains
 

Over millennia, the ancient sandstone of this national park has been weathered into gorges lined by steep cliffs and separated by narrow ridges. Some activities in the Blue Mountains include seeing the magnificent rock formation of the Three Sisters (particularly stunning at sunset and under evening floodlights) or hiking along the paths that offer excellent views of the valley, sheer rock walls, tumbling waterfalls, and magnificent forests. The area is free to visit and you can get there by train from Sydney, which takes around two hours. If you want to hike further afield, it’s best to stay overnight. 

6. The Sydney Tower Skywalk

At 286 meters (938 feet), the Sydney Tower Skywalk is as tall as the Eiffel Tower and twice as high as the Harbour Bridge. It offers amazing panoramic views of the city from its Skywalk at the top. 

7. Explore the Markets

Sydney has many amazing markets to experience. At Paddington Markets, the Fish Market, Bondi Farmers Market, the Flower Market, and a whole lot more seasonal markets, it’s really easy to spend a lot of time wandering and shopping.

8. Party in King’s Cross

If you’re looking to go out and get wild on the cheap, go to King’s Cross. This is where the beer is inexpensive and the backpackers (and locals) party late. In this part of town, you’ll find all the backpackers and young students drinking, dancing, and getting crazy. For a less touristy nightlife scene, head to Manly, The Rocks, or the CBD (Central Business District) where there are more locals, fewer travelers, and chiller bars and lounges (but more expensive cocktails and beers).

Sydney is a remarkable city. While some cities scream “run around and see stuff” (cough, NYC, Paris, London, cough), Sydney’s message to visitors is always “Relax, go outside, and enjoy the beautiful weather.” Sydney is a destination that wants you to go for a walk, sit by the beach, picnic in the park, and drink wine by the bridge.