Top things to do in Sydney
Attractions, tours and activities in Sydney
Recommended museums in Sydney
Where to discover culture and the arts in Sydney
Sydney: the city's best neighbourhoods
Find a great area to stay in Sydney
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Sydney CBD
In the city centre
Sydney’s 'CBD' is a hive of commercialism. Shopping is the star attraction – explore the Queen Victoria Building and Pitt Street Mall for luxury and high street shops, or venture to The Strand for boutiques. Hyde Park provides Sydney's lungs. When night falls, trendy wine bars and flashy nightclubs come to life.
Places to stay from £8 per night
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The Rocks
0.7 miles from city centre
Spend an afternoon wandering the cobbled lanes of this historic precinct, or enjoy a beer in some of Australia's oldest pubs. Marvel at the stunning 360-degree view from the Pylon lookouts at either end of Sydney Harbour Bridge, or absorb the splendours of the Museum of Contemporary Art.
Places to stay from £18 per night
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Darling Harbour
0.5 miles from city centre
You’ll never be stuck for something to do here. WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo, The Star Casino, SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium and Madame Tussauds provide hours of fun, while kids will love the playground at Tumbalong Park. King Street Wharf is a hive of activity day and night, laden with harbour side restaurants, bars and clubs.
Places to stay from £8 per night
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Kings Cross
0.8 miles from city centre
The bright lights of Kings Cross sum up its atmosphere perfectly – flashy, brash and a bit sleazy. ‘The X’ (in local lingo) is the city’s premier nightlife precinct. There’s an abundance of restaurants, clubs and bars, but the area can get rowdy on Friday and Saturday nights!
Places to stay from £7 per night
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Darlinghurst
0.7 miles from city centre
Darlinghurst is trendy, alternative and fabulously quirky. Sydney’s annual Mardi Gras takes place against the backdrop of Oxford Street’s colourful vintage, retro and boutique shops. Visit the area’s art galleries or listen to live music at the Oxford Art Factory.
Places to stay from £34 per night
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Chinatown
0.7 miles from city centre
Chinatown buzzes with colour, taste and culture all year round. Allow yourself to succumb at least once to a restaurant serving yum cha (traditional Chinese lunch). Market City is home to Asian specialty shops, as well as Paddy’s Market, which is full of fresh produce and souvenirs.
Places to stay from £46 per night
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Potts Point
0.9 miles from city centre
Tree-lined streets, historic buildings and quaint shops lend Potts Point a certain Parisian air. Take a romantic stroll through Embarkation Park to glimpse the Sydney Harbour Bridge lit up after dark. Nightlife is more refined here than in Kings Cross, but the residents still party hard! Try upscale Haus for swanky cocktails and chilled-out tunes.
Places to stay from £7 per night
About Sydney
Including tips for the best time to visit Sydney
As Australia's largest city and home to iconic landmarks like the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, it's no wonder Sydney is often mistaken for being the country's capital. Whether you're into history, nature, fashion or food, the city has all this to offer and more.
Many of Sydney's popular attractions can be found within its compact city centre, including the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and a variety of restaurants and shops. There's also a wide range of museums and galleries, including The Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Museum of Sydney and the Australian National Maritime Museum. You'll find some peaceful parks as well, in the form of the Royal Botanic Garden and the Victorian-style Centennial Park.
Venture towards the Eastern Suburbs and you'll encounter the world-famous Bondi Beach, loved by surfers for its big waves and swimmers for its consistently warm waters. Another top spot is Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, offering spectacular views over Sydney from its West Head lookout point. Aboriginal rock paintings and cave art can also be spotted across more than 800 well-preserved sites.
Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport is located around nine kilometres south of the city and can be easily reached by rail, bus and taxi.
Tonight
From £59 per night
This weekend
From £117 per night
Next weekend
From £116 per night
| Most popular time to visit | October–December |
| Cheapest time to visit | January–March |
| Local currency | AUD 10 = £5.28 |
| Language | English |
| Average weekend price | £133 per night |
| Average weekday price | £133 per night |
| Typical stay | 2 nights |
Points of interest in Sydney
Stay near the top sightseeing spots in Sydney
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Sydney Opera House
1 miles from city centre
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Harbour Bridge
1.3 miles from city centre
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North Head Quarantine Station
5.9 miles from city centre
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Paddington
1.4 miles from city centre
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Balmoral Beach
4.1 miles from city centre
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Martin Place
0.2 miles from city centre
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Sydney Lyric Theatre
0.7 miles from city centre
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ANZ Stadium
8.5 miles from city centre
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Watsons Bay
4.5 miles from city centre
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Sydney Showground
8.2 miles from city centre
Sydney reviews
What other travellers say about Sydney
Sydney was a great place to visit and hopefully will get...
13 May 2024
Sydney was a great place to visit and hopefully will get back there one day. The comprehensive Ferry terminus down at the Circular Quay in Sydney Harbour provides a great way to explore various places around the bay such as Manly Beach (similar to Bondi beach) and Toroenga Zoo. You can also catch the Bus to Bondi Beach at the back of the Quay ( no: 333). Sydney Harbour is a great place to be at night with the opera house lit up along with the bridge and surrounding buildings, and many people at the various restaurants dotted around Harbour area, Darling Harbour is also a great place to visit both day and night for similar reasons.
As an ex-Sydney person and having friends from Melbourne...
13 May 2024
As an ex-Sydney person and having friends from Melbourne with us it served the purpose on our mini 2 day holiday for going to.a symphony at the Opera House and for doing some short trips such as the ferry (take one of the slow ones preferably as that's much better then the fast ferries) to manly and back. Thi is, I consider, a must for visitors toSydney. Wonderful places to visit on a short stay eg Town Hall, St Andrews Cathedral, St James Cathedral, Opera House, Hyde park and its war memorial, Paddy's Markets, Queen Victoria Building, Art Gallery.
Sydney is a great city, it's the capital of my state,...
12 May 2024
Sydney is a great city, it's the capital of my state, New South Wales. Could you also please fix my profile? My name is listed as Maloney Roger? My given name is Roger and my surname is Maloney, so it Should be listed as Roger Maloney!
I like catching the tram to Circular Quay and the ferry to...
10 May 2024
I like catching the tram to Circular Quay and the ferry to all the stops to explore for the day. I connect with local buses. Balmain, Double bay, Darling Harbour are all worth visiting and each has different qualities and attractions. I always visit the Art Galleries and the Westfield tower especially at dusk to watch the sunset. The city has many arcades to explore and the Queen Victoria Building is a must see just for its architecture and the shops are unique and eclectic. You can Bus to Bondi and walk along an undulating coastal track. We walked to Coogee. Each cove has cafes and beaches to explore. China town food halls are great for yummy inexpensive food. Lots to see.
As a new Zealander, flying into Sydney, I find the train...
8 May 2024
As a new Zealander, flying into Sydney, I find the train from the airport is wonderful and both trains and bus trips using my Opal travel card makes this city easy to get around. I was amazed at the number of great shopping malls, theatres and lovely beaches there were. Riding the ferries is a highlight!
I know know why they call it sh….
6 May 2024
I know know why they call it sh…..they It has become to expensive, unfriendly, atrocious roads , selfish people !!! It reminds me of old time New York. Sydney clean up your act , I lived in Sydney for 25 years
Popular places to stay in Sydney
Stay in some of the best accommodation Sydney has to offer
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Close to city 2 Bedroom House Surry Hills Surry Hills, Sydney
From £165 per night
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Stylish 2 Bedroom Apartment Haymarket Sydney CBD, Sydney
From £147 per night
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Sydney Olympic Park View Bliss Modern Design Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney
From £155 per night
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Accessible 2 Bedroom Apartment Chippendale Chippendale, Sydney
From £147 per night
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Capella Sydney Sydney CBD, Sydney
From £396 per night
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Other accommodation in Sydney
Choose from a wide variety of places to stay in Sydney
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Apartments
From £26 per night
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Villas
From £359 per night
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Cabins
From £29 per night
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Cottages
From £15 per night
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Serviced Apartments
From £42 per night
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Holiday Homes
From £15 per night
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Guest Houses
From £12 per night
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Hostels
From £7 per night
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Motels
From £43 per night
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B&Bs
From £47 per night
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Homestays
From £43 per night
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Campsites
From £24 per night
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Self Catering Accommodation
From £18 per night
