Iconic sights, natural beauty, and a burgeoning brunch culture... Sydney has it all.
Sydney's got the lot. You want iconic sights to explore and cool bars to relax in? You've got it. Outstanding natural beauty? Sydney has that, too. Oh, and you've got unspoilt beaches, fantastic shops and boutiques and a burgeoning brunch culture. Convinced yet?
The Opera House and the Harbour Bridge are obviously incredibly popular, but if you've already ticked those off the list, there's a vast number of other activities to enjoy.
Breathtaking, relaxing and one of a kind, we’ve put together this guide containing the best things to do in Sydney to give you a flavour of why people visit again and again.
1. Take to the skies above Camden Valley
Sydney’s centre may be vibrant, but the country towns surrounding the city are just as picturesque. The Macarthur region particularly provides spectacular landscape views and is only a 50-minute drive from the centre of Sydney.
To make the most of these incredible views, we recommend taking a sunrise balloon flight. The views here are picture perfect and they’re best enjoyed at sunrise when the land is cast with golden sunshine.
While suspended 2,000 feet above the ground, you’ll be able to take stunning photographs with a completely unhindered view of the sun breaking over the horizon. While you can watch the sun rise here, there’s an even better place to watch the sun set…
2. Scale the Sydney Tower Eye
The best way to see any city is from above. If you scale the Sydney Tower Eye, you’ll be in the heart of Sydney’s CBD, the perfect spot to see the Harbour Bridge, Darling Harbour and the Opera House. On the clearest of days, you can even see out towards the Blue Mountains.
Although you’ll enjoy the breathtaking views , the opportunity is also an educational experience as you’ll have the chance to learn about the history of each monument.
To make your experience extra special, we advise heading to the top of the Tower Eye around 45 minutes before sunset.
Sydney’s the home of incredible sunsets, so if you go up to the top at dusk, you’ll be able to watch as the clear skies turn to gorgeous oranges and vibrant reds before going dark, when the lights of the city will begin to sparkle and Sydney comes to life – the photos will be incredible and the memories will last a lifetime.
3. Surf and snack… Bondi style
No trip to Sydney is complete without a visit to the beautiful Bondi Beach – there’s no better place to learn to surf.
If you book a Bondi local half-day tour, you can experience everything Bondi has to offer, including its picturesque beach. And as well as kicking back and relaxing on the beach, you can also enjoy a surf lesson with an instructor who’s perfectly matched to your skill level. This means you’ll have a fun, invigorating and challenging time regardless of your experience levels.
There’s no better way to explore an area than with a local, and this trip will help you feel like a true Sydneysider, as a tour guide will show you what all the locals do, including the best bistros in town.
4. Enjoy a dip at the Bondi Icebergs Pool
While you’re at Bondi, we’d recommend a visit to the Bondi Icebergs Club.
The Bondi Icebergs pool is the most photographed ocean pool in Oz. Located at Sydney’s most famous beach, the baths have been a local landmark for more than 100 years. The 50-metre saltwater pool is the perfect place to take a dip to cool down in the heat of the day, while the banks are popular with sunbathers looking for a relaxing afternoon in the sun with breathtaking views.
The yoga classes in summer months are also incredibly popular with locals, and are a once-in-a-lifetime experience if you’re in the area for a short stay.
5. Trek from Manly to Spit
With sandy coves, beautiful vantage points and secret beaches, a trek from Manly to Spit has to be on your list of activities, regardless of whether you’re in Sydney for the weekend or you’re planning on staying for the rest of your life.
This is the perfect activity for those looking to get active on their trip. The one-way trek is nine kilometres, and at the pinnacle of the trek, you can witness Aboriginal engravings at Grotto Point. Carved into Sydney sandstone, they include the outlines of a giant kangaroo and several small fish.
The route is signposted so you won’t need your map and compass, but don't forget your camera – the views at Castle Rock Beach are perfect for the 'gram!
6. Drink like a local at Young Henrys
Whether you’re a Sydney native, taking a weekend break from elsewhere in Australia or visiting from foreign lands, Young Henrys allows everyone to drink like a local.
If you’re thinking about where to drink in Sydney, this is the place. This inclusive bar, located just off Enmore Road, has captured the imagination of locals, offering everything from juicy IPAs, natural brews and even their very own gin.
Our tip is to get down there early to get a seat at one of the prized high tables at the brewery’s cellar door. It’s the perfect place to spend an afternoon; especially as these guys bring food trucks right to the brewery door in case you get peckish after a couple of pints.
And if you're in the mood for day drinking, hop on one of Dave's Brewery Tours. The tours will give you a taster of the Inner West's brewery scene, so you know which ones to come back for:
- Batch Brewing
- Rocks Brewing Company
- Grifter Brewing Company
- Willie the Boatman
- Wayward Brewing Company
- Staves Brewery
- Young Henrys
7. Take a trip to the Blue Mountains for the best sights around
The Unesco Word Heritage-listed National Park offers breathtaking views of the Jamison Valley, and the longest cable car in the southern hemisphere.
By booking a Blue Mountains unlimited discovery pass, you’ll receive park admission, unlimited walkway and railway use and skywalk access, so you’ll be able to take envy-inducing snaps of this gorgeous landscape.
The park is just 2 hours from Sydney by car or train, but you’ll feel a million miles away from the city centre. If you have a sense of adventure and want to get away from the beaten track, this is the place to be. The rides and walkways allow you easy access to all of these historic sights, so you don't need rely extensively on Google Maps.
If you have a fear of heights you’d love to conquer, then you can take a trip on the steepest passenger railway in the world. The carriages have glass roofs, and these provide you with spectacular views as you scale the 52-degree incline.
If you’d rather relax, then you can take a stroll on the Scenic Walkway in the ancient rainforest or traverse the Scenic Skyway, which is suspended 270 metres above a deep ravine.
8. Enjoy a fine dining brunch at A1 Canteen
Brunch is one of the millennial revolutions of the 21st century – and Sydney was one of the early adopters. At A1 Canteen, this craze is taken to the next level. Here, brunch meets fine dining and the results are delicious. It’s no wonder that A1 Canteen has quickly become one of the top restaurants in Sydney.
At this tightly packed dining location on Kensington Street, elegance meets minimalism, but the food is the star – particularly the muffuletta pressed sandwich which has reached cult status thanks to its generous 9:1 filling to bread ratio! Elsewhere on the menu, you’ll find curried eggs and bourbon-glazed ham. If you’re heading here for morning celebrations, there’s an alcohol licence from 10am, too. With a full cocktail menu and extensive wine list, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Plus, every item on the menu is Instagrammable.
9. Sea Life Aquarium
Sydney may have a number of famous attractions above ground, but there’s also a whole other world to discover under the water. The Sea Life Sydney Aquarium has 14 themed zones, 13,000 marine animals and more than 700 species, including 2 out of only 6 dugongs (marine mammals related to the manatee) in the world.
The different zones provide something for everyone to enjoy. The Day & Night on the Reef zone is the centre’s newest attraction and provides interactive experiences for the whole family – it’s the perfect way to experience the Great Barrier Reef if you don’t have time for the journey during your stay. Elsewhere, there’s an overview of the historic Jurassic Seas and the hands-on experience of the Discovery Rock Pool.
10. Cool off with a delicious gelato
If it's heating up, there’s one sure-fire way to cool down: a refreshing and delicious gelato from Ciccone & Sons, one of the best food and drink experiences in Sydney.
The surroundings here may look humble but surrounded by thrift shops and flower stalls on Regent Street in Redfern, you’ll find this beloved gem that locals adore. The gelato here is simply brilliant. It’s not too sweet, which makes it a refreshing iced treat in the sun. Our pick is the buttermilk and passion fruit, which tastes like summer in a cup.
The other treats here are just as delicious as the gelato. The locally brewed coffee is the perfect pick-me-up, while the home-made cakes can give you a sugar rush to get you through a mid-afternoon slump.
11. Sydney Combo Ticket
If your stay in Sydney is only short, you won’t want to spend your time waiting in line at the top attractions. As a result, if you like the look of the attractions in our guide, then consider a Sydney attractions combo ticket that saves time and money while allowing you access to all the best things in Sydney.
Whether you’re in Sydney for a week and want to see everything or you’re only on a day trip to the centre from the suburbs, this ticket allows you to skip the lines and save money while allowing you to keep the freedom of choosing how much you’d like to see.
You can choose from two, three, four or five attractions that includes everything from the Sydney Tower Eye to the Sydney Sea Life Aquarium, as well as other hotspots like Madame Tussauds and the Wild Life Zoo.
12. Indulge in fresh, sustainable seafood at Saint Peter
If you’re wondering where to eat in Sydney, we recommend Saint Peter.
If it doesn’t swim, you won’t find it on the menu at Saint Peter, Sydney’s ultimate seafood restaurant. Wholly devoted to the fruits of the sea, this restaurant isn’t only Sydney’s best seafood joint, but it has a claim to be among the best in the world. Plus, to ensure the freshest possible food, the menu changes daily.
Seafood dishes are the only options on the menu here and that’s what makes this restaurant stand out from the crowd. Even though Saint Peter serves the best fish and chips in the city, we’d recommend more opulent options such as the octopus or the bass curry, which contains a whole smoked eel that is blended to provide a round, rich savoury depth.
What more would you want from your trip to Sydney?
With such an impressive skyline, picture-perfect harbours, iconic architecture and golden beaches, Sydney is a gem waiting to be explored. As well as iconic landmarks, our list of things to do in Sydney caters for all tastes, from local treats to tourist attractions. Which one will you visit first?
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