Top things to do in Sydney
Attractions, tours, and activities in Sydney
Sydney: the city's best neighborhoods
Find a great area to stay in Sydney
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Sydney Central Business District
In downtown
Sydney’s "CBD" is a hive of commercialism. Shopping is the star attraction – explore the Queen Victoria Building and Pitt Street for luxury and brand-name stores, or venture to The Strand for boutiques. Hyde Park is Sydney's heart. When night falls, trendy wine bars and flashy nightclubs come to life.
Places to stay from $10 a night
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The Rocks
0.7 miles from downtown
Spend an afternoon wandering the cobblestone lanes of this historic district, or enjoy a beer in some of Australia's oldest pubs. Marvel at the stunning 360-degree view from the Pylon Lookout at the top of Sydney Harbour Bridge, or absorb the splendors of the Museum of Contemporary Art.
Places to stay from $22 a night
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Darling Harbour
0.5 miles from downtown
You’ll never run out of things to do here. WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo, Star Casino, SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium and Madame Tussauds provide hours of fun, and kids will love the playground at Tumbalong Park. King Street Wharf is a hive of activity day and night, filled with harbor-side restaurants, shopping, bars and clubs.
Places to stay from $10 a night
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Kings Cross
0.8 miles from downtown
The bright lights of Kings Cross sum up its atmosphere perfectly – flashy, brash and a bit loud. "The X" (in local lingo) is the city’s premier nightlife area. There’s an abundance of restaurants, clubs and bars, and the area can get rowdy on Friday and Saturday nights!
Places to stay from $8 a night
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Darlinghurst
0.7 miles from downtown
Darlinghurst is trendy, alternative and fabulously quirky. Sydney’s annual Mardi Gras takes place against the backdrop of Oxford Street’s colorful vintage, retro and boutique stores. Visit the area’s art galleries or listen to live music at the Oxford Art Factory.
Places to stay from $42 a night
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Chinatown
0.7 miles from downtown
Chinatown is bustling with color, taste and culture the whole year round. Allow yourself at least once to be drawn into one of the restaurants 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 $56 a night
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Potts Point
0.9 miles from downtown
The tree-lined streets, historic buildings and quaint shops give Potts Point a Parisian feel. Heaven for foodies, there’s no shortage of bars and restaurants. Stroll down to Embarkation Park. Nightlife is more refined here than in Kings Cross, but the residents still party hard! Enjoy Beach Haus or partying at "The Backroom."
Places to stay from $8 a night
About Sydney
Including tips for the best time to visit Sydney
As Australia's largest city and home to the iconic Opera House, it's no wonder Sydney is often mistaken as the country's capital. Whether you're into history, nature, fashion or food, this city has it all.
Many of Sydney's most popular attractions are in the compact downtown area, including the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, and countless restaurants and shops. There's also a large selection of museums and galleries like The Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Museum of Sydney, and the Australian National Maritime Museum. And for some fresh air, be sure to visit both the Royal Botanic Garden and the Victorian-style Centennial Park.
On the way out to the Eastern Suburbs, you'll find the world-famous Bondi Beach, frequented by surfers and swimmers alike for its big, warm waves. Another main attraction is Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, offering panoramic views over Sydney from its West Head lookout point. Then check out some Aboriginal rock paintings and cave art at any one of +800 well-preserved archaeological sites.
Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport is about 5 miles south of the city and can be reached easily by train, bus, and taxi.
Tonight
From per night
Next weekend
From $154 per night
| Most popular time to visit | October-December |
| Cheapest time to visit | January-March |
| Local currency | AUD 10 = $6.45 |
| Language | English |
| Average weekend price | $161 per night |
| Average weekday price | $155 per night |
| Average stay | 2 nights |
Points of interest in Sydney
Stay near the top sightseeing spots in Sydney
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Harbour Bridge
1.3 miles from downtown
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ANZ Stadium
8.5 miles from downtown
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Watsons Bay
4.5 miles from downtown
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Capitol Theatre
0.7 miles from downtown
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Cockatoo Island
2.7 miles from downtown
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Queen Victoria Building
0.2 miles from downtown
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Potts Point
0.9 miles from downtown
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Sydney Tower Eye and SKYWALK
In downtown
Sydney reviews
What other travelers say about Sydney
Sydney is an exciting g place to visit, so much to see and...
September 27, 2023
Sydney is an exciting g place to visit, so much to see and do. Obviously very busy and full of visitors but it’s not difficult to find places that are quieter, away from the crowds. Trips on the ferries are a cheap and easy way to get around and see the city from a different perspective.
So much to see and do in Sydney and not enough time.
September 26, 2023
So much to see and do in Sydney and not enough time. Beautiful gardens, great beaches, great restaurants, lots of sightseeing and friendly people. We managed to eat at quite a few great restaurants, walked around Bondi beach, traveled to Manly beach by ferry, climbed the harbour bridge, went to the Rocks market, walked around Hyde park, went to a cat cafe and did some shopping in the five days we were there.
As far as cities go, it was not as busy as we expected it to...
September 26, 2023
As far as cities go, it was not as busy as we expected it to be. Circular Quay, The Rocks and Darling Harbour did not disappoint. What was outstanding was the public transport. Never waited longer than a couple of minutes and it was so clean. Best way to get around for sure!
We stayed in the suburb Barangaroo which I found to be very...
September 25, 2023
We stayed in the suburb Barangaroo which I found to be very central to all the tourist attractions we had planned. It's also within walking distance to almost everything, including the Lyric theatre if you are heading to Sydney to watch a show. The hotel was also only 1 block away from the waterfront where there are a heap of dining options. We booked a 3 entry ticket which got us into Madame Tussauds, Sealife and the rooftop Zoo next door - this was a good deal. We had a blast at Madame Tussauds and the Aquarium. The zoo was different to any I've exprienced because the animals are so close to you. They only take maybe 45 minutes to an hour each to go through. I highly recommend the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb if you have time. The views are amazing and the guides give you interesting facts about Sydneys history as well as the history of the bridge. Taronga Zoo is also a must - seeing an array of animals with the ocean and city backdrop is a Sydney must do.
We stayed at Darling Harbour,Pyrmont,easy to get to...
September 24, 2023
We stayed at Darling Harbour,Pyrmont,easy to get to everything Light Rail,Ferry,Walking distance to Fish Market,Casino,Coles, across the bridge to Central City walking distance to everything or use the light rail,,malls everywhere,,lots of people,,get out early to avoid the thousands,visted Manly on the fast Ferry well worth the visit.
Sydney is a great place to visit.
September 22, 2023
Sydney is a great place to visit. There are a lot of attractions just in the CBD (central business district) alone. It is a 'walkable' city with a lot of footpaths and extensive public transport options. The views especially along the coast/quay are splendid. There are also a lot of eateries scattered around town, some more famous and easier to get to than others. Also a lot of places for shopping. There are a lot of other attractions outside of CBD, of course. Most of these are accessible via public transport, which is very reliable. But because Sydney is big, some journey may take a long time, and will need prior planning.
Popular places to stay in Sydney
Stay in some of the best accommodations Sydney has to offer
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1 Cascade street Paddington Sydney Eastern Suburbs, Sydney
From $258 per night
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Spectacular Views of Sydney Harbour with Free Parking McMahons Point, Sydney
From $383 per night
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Alora Apartment in Sydney CBD - Darling Harbour Sydney Central Business District, Sydney
From $245 per night
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Cosy studio with a big view Greenwich, Sydney
From $116 per night
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Other accommodations in Sydney
Pick from a wide variety of places to stay in Sydney
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Apartments
From $32 per night
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Villas
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Cabins
From $42 per night
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Cottages
From $17 per night
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Serviced Apartments
From $51 per night
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Vacation Homes
From $17 per night
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Guest houses
From $15 per night
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Hostels
From $8 per night
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Motels
From $53 per night
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B&Bs
From $57 per night
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Homestays
From $52 per night
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Self-catering Accommodations
From $22 per night
