The fact that we were traveling the world full-time since 2008 and it was our First of all the visit to Australia is pretty crazy. Needless to say, we were excited to finally be here and see what this iconic city has to offer!
Sydney is one of those cities that delivers immediate results: iconic landmarks, world-class beaches, endless dining options, and a laid-back vibe that makes it easy to enjoy.
Best Things to Do in Sydney
We spent 5 days in Sydney in early April, and I’m happy to say that the city lived up to our (high) expectations. In this article, I will share our favorite things to do in and around Sydney for first-time visitors.
1. Sydney Opera House
As soon as I saw the white “shells”, I had a huge smile on my face…we had finally arrived in Sydney!
Ask anyone what to do in Sydney and see the Opera will be at the top of their list. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has been featured in films like The Fall Guy, Mission Impossible and Great Gasby. Its unique architecture makes it a very recognizable site.
There are several ways to discover the Opera. You can see it by land or by boat (more on that below), and you can (of course) come in to see a show or take a tour of the building.
Tickets for the Opera book up quickly! Click here to reserve your place on a guided tour of the incredible building, and click here to book tickets for a very affordable performance of Opera Australia.
2. Cross the Harbor Bridge
For stunning views of the harbor and Opera House, cross the Harbor Bridge on foot – either on the bridge, or up of this…
This is something I had no desire to do!
If you’re not afraid of heights, one of the coolest things to do in Sydney is Ascent of the bridge on the other side of the Harbor Bridge. It’s a very safe and exciting experience and we saw a lot of people doing it during our time in Sydney. Click here to find out more and reserve your place!
If heights aren’t your thing, you can simply walk across the bridge from the east side. The west side of the bridge is reserved for cyclists.
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3. Go on a dinner cruise
A dinner cruise in Sydney is one of the most memorable ways to experience the city after dark. You’ll pass the Opera House and Harbor Bridge (both listed above), enjoy a multi-course meal or buffet, usually accompanied by drinks and live entertainment.
Seeing the skyline during the day is great, but watching it light up from the harbor at night is one of the most memorable things to do in Sydney.
There are many cruises to suit different styles, from classic dinner cruises to elegant glass boat experiences with panoramic views. Some cruises feature live music, cabaret or DJs, making the evening more than just a meal.
Whether you’re celebrating something special or just want to experience the harbor in a unique way, it’s one of Sydney’s most iconic nightlife experiences. Click here to find a cruise and price that suits your style.
4. Visit the Royal Botanical Gardens
The Royal Botanic Garden is one of the city’s most beautiful and accessible green spaces, located right on the edge of Sydney Harbour. It’s a short walk from the CBD, where we were staying YEHS Hoteland right next to the Sydney Opera House, making it an easy stop for exploring the city.
We walked through these beautiful gardens towards Mrs Macquarie’s chair (more details below).
The gardens cover a large area with a mix of manicured lawns, themed plant collections and shaded walking paths – which is always lovely on hot Sydney days! It’s a place where you can take a walk, pack a picnic or simply take a break from the city without leaving it.
Entrance and opening of the gardens are free daily, making it one of the top free things to do in Sydney. You’ll also find guided tours, nearby cafes and seasonal events depending on when you visit.
Click here for more details on the gardens, and Click here for directions on Google Maps.
5. Sunset on Mrs Macquarie’s chair
You’ve probably seen sunset photos of the Harbor Bridge and Opera House and wondered where to take the perfect photo! Well, it’s here, in Mrs Macquarie’s chair.
The sandstone chair dates from 1810 and was carved for Elizabeth Macquarie, the wife of Governor Lachlan Macquarie. She was known to sit here and admire the view of the harbor. Nowadays, it’s one of the best photo spots in Sydney, especially at sunrise or sunset, when the light hits the horizon perfectly.
We visited here at sunset and enjoyed an epic view of the sun setting behind the Harbor Bridge. Additionally, huge battleships were docked here. Click here for the Google Maps link.
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6. Join a walking tour
Whenever we visit a new city or country, we always try to take a walking tour. It’s a great way to see the country, learn about the history and culture, and of course, get local restaurant and bar recommendations!
Some walking tours are free (tipping), while others require a fee. We find the free versions to be pretty good, but you usually end up with a large group of people. While paid ones are more intimate and personalized.
In Sydney you can join this free walking tour this will take you to many of the main sights in this article, including the Opera House, Royal Bontanic Garden, The Rocks, Parliament House and much more.
If you prefer to take a paid walking tour, this one includes everything listed above, is rated 5.0 and has over 500 positive reviews.
Additionally, the group tour is small (around 6 people) and you get a free craft beer or juice of your choice! Click here to find out more. You can reserve your spot now and pay later (there is also free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour).
7. Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk
This was one of the highlights of our trip to the city and is definitely one of the best day trips from Sydney. Bondi Beach became quite famous thanks to the reality TV show “Bondi Rescue» (I’ve been binge-watching these guys on YouTube lately).
The beach here is one of the busiest in Australia, but conditions can be unpredictable and difficult – always follow the advice of lifeguards.
However, we weren’t there to hang out on Bondi Beach, we were there to have some nice coastal walkway from there to Coogee!
The full 6 km (3.7 miles) walk takes you through different towns, beaches and coves. While enjoying breathtaking views of the ocean throughout the route. I loved watching the surfers at Tamarama Beach!
I recommend starting the walk earlier in the day as it is exposed all the time. Bring a hat, a water bottle (there are refill points along the way) and also wear appropriate shoes (that said, Nick did this walk in flip flops!). This is definitely one of the best things to do in Sydney.
To get there you will have to take the train to Bondi Junction. Then board bus 333 at stand A3 to Bondi Beach. Depending on what time you leave and where you take the train from, it could take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.
8. Eat Michelin Ramen
The food choices in Sydney are endless. Whatever type of cuisine you’re craving, you’ll find it here. For us, having already spent a lot of time in Australia (and eaten a lot of pies and parmys), during our 5 days in Sydney, we went for 100% Asian cuisines!
There were a lot of highlights, but if you like ramen, Mensho Tokyo is set in a cool alleyway and serves unique bowls of rich ramen soup.
The original San Francisco and Tokyo branches are recommended by Michelin, but as there is no such rating in Australia, technically the Sydney branch is not recommended by Michelin – even though it claims to be.
In any case, it was very good. Nick opted for the Signature Toripaitan which only had one touch of truffle flavor, and I chose the Classic Toripaitan and added a perfectly candied egg. Click here for directions to Mensho Tokyo on Google Maps.
9. Take a ferry to Manly
Of all the things to do in Sydney, a visit to the suburb of Manly was a highlight for me! Bondi Beach gets all the hype but in my opinion Manly was the winner.
The wide, expansive coastline backed by rows of pine trees gives it a laid-back, postcard-perfect vibe that’s hard to beat.
Getting there is half the experience, with the ferry ride across the harbor offering some of the best views in Sydney. Once you arrive, you’ll find a lovely pedestrian walkway filled with shops, restaurants and bars, as well as a long waterfront promenade that runs along the beach.
The layout of Manly is great. We spent a few hours walking along the walking street, then along the beach, and continued around the headland to Shelly Beach, which was perfectly calm and suitable for swimming.
If you like Thai food, check out the lunch special at Manly Thai Gourmet (12 AUD!), have a drink at Boathouseand end the day with a delicious ice cream Anita Gelato. Getting to Manly is easy with the Manly Fast Ferry from Circular Quay. Cl click here for current details.
10. Get a Bird’s Eye View in a Helicopter
Seeing Sydney by boat or on foot is great, of course… but seeing it from above would definitely be next level!
We’ve done scenic helicopter tours in a few other places (like Chicago and when we got engaged in France!), but unfortunately we didn’t get the chance to do that in Sydney.
Still, we saw a lot of helicopters flying around (both for sightseeing and finding sharks) and the views they would see would be fantastic.
Check This A popular 20-minute flight over Sydney: it’s a great way to see all the sights in one go! This 5-star airline lets you book now, pay later, and offers cancellation up to 2 days before travel. Click here for more details.
11. See the Sydney Tower Eye
Another great way to see Sydney from above – and get your bearings around the city – is the Sydney Tower Eye. Dominating the skyline, this monument rises above the CBD and offers a completely different perspective on the city.
Take the elevator up to the observation deck (which sits approximately 250 meters above the streets below) and you’ll be rewarded with incredible 360-degree views.
The floor-to-ceiling windows make it easy to see everything, but if you’re looking for something a little more memorable (or terrifying, depending on how you look at it!), the Aerial gateway allows you to safely exit onto a glass platform above the city. Click here to find out more about the Skywalk and book your tickets.
12. See Hyde Park and St. Mary’s Cathedral
Right in the heart of Sydney, Hyde Park is the city’s oldest public park and a great place to relax and stroll. That’s exactly what we did after our flight landed in Sydney and checked into our hotel.
With its wide paths, towering fig trees and open lawns, it’s a great place to take a break from the busy streets. You’ll also see St. Mary’s Cathedral from here: its tall Gothic towers are hard to miss. You can simply visit it from the park or go inside to see the stained glass windows, high ceilings and calm interior. Click here to find Hyde Park on Google Maps.
13. Shop (or gawk) at the Queen Victoria Building
Every time we walked out of our hotel, we were greeted by this grand building – and it never gets old! Built in the late 1800s, it was originally designed as a market, but today it is an elegant shopping center right in the heart of the CBD.
What makes it special is not just the shops, but also the architecture. Inside, you’ll find towering ceilings, stained glass windows, intricate ironwork, and a series of large domes that make it feel more like a cathedral than a mall.
The building spans an entire city block along George Street, and walking around it is an experience in itself. Click here to find the QVB on the map.
👉 Click here for the best neighborhoods and accommodation in Sydney
14. Walk around the rocks
The Rocks is located just below the Harbor Bridge and is one of Sydney’s most characterful neighborhoods. With its cobbled lanes, historic sandstone buildings and mix of cafes, shops and bars, it’s a great place to stroll.
Our Australian friends told us that we must visit Sydney’s oldest district. Unfortunately, on the day we planned to go to The Rocks, we weren’t feeling well, so we only really saw one lane near the harbor!
This area is touristy of course, but for good reason. After exploring the streets, enter Fortune of warwhich is the oldest pub in Sydney! Click here to find The Rocks on Google Maps.
15. Learn to surf
Australia and surfing go hand in hand, and you don’t have to go far from Sydney to find good waves – for beginners or more advanced surfers.
When we took day trips to Manly and Bondi Beach, we saw lots of people enjoying the surf. If you are a beginner, it is best to learn from a professional. Check this 2 hour lesson with a guide, it’s perfect if you’ve never surfed before, or if you want to refresh yourself a bit.
In conclusion
Spending 5 days in the city was a good amount of time, but we could have easily spent a week in Sydney! We really liked the layout of the city and the ease of getting around by metro, on foot and by ferry. Whether you love beaches, culture, food or craft beer, Sydney has something for everyone.