Things to Do in Sydney 45 Attractions

Therefore, it is almost inevitable that there will be queues in front of the ticket counters at the top attractions. To avoid waiting in line, you can buy tickets for the most popular highlights in advance. Heading off to Uni can be incredibly exciting, but leaving behind the safe and familiar to embark on a new challenge – often in a new city, filled with new faces and experiences – can also be quite daunting.
It starts at 12 pm and lasts for just over 2 hours, which is plenty of time! Darling Harbour is a really beautiful and touristy sydney attractions part of Sydney, all tourists should visit. With one of the most unique and diverse water fleets in the world, the Australian National Maritime Museum is great for adults and kids to spend a day.

It takes around 30 minutes one way, and the best views are when you walk from north to south. You can’t see much to the west, but you get awesome harbor views on the eastern side, so this is definitely worth doing. Bondi is also famous for surfing, so if you’ve ever wanted to learn, it’s the ideal place. You can book this 2-hour, small group lesson with a professional instructor who’ll show you all of the basics, so it doesn’t matter if you’ve never surfed before. Plus, this particular surf school is super reputable around Bondi and known for being friendly and welcoming.
The Royal Botanic Garden is within walking distance from Martin Place and St James Stations, but is closest Circular Quay Station, so it’s well worth doing in the same day as the Sydney Opera House. Walking through nature’s lush trees and flowers is a great way to take a break from Sydney’s hustle and bustle. The Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney’s CBD is a tranquil and beautiful attraction, and provides a peaceful, beautiful getaway when you need to escape city life. It’s within walking distance from the Opera House and Circular Quay. Lazy, lapping waves and golden sands make Bondi Beach a picturesque location in Sydney’s eastern suburbs and one of Sydney’s most vibrant attractions.

The Sydney Tower Eye is easy to find since it’s right in the middle of the Sydney CBD and is an eight-minute walk from Town Hall Station. They’re just seven-minute walk from Circular Quay, or you can also reach the neighbourhood by taxi or ferry. The only Sydney attractions more iconic than the Sydney Opera House is the dashing Sydney Harbour Bridge. At 503 metres long and almost 134 metres tall, it’s a sight you have to see to believe.
Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night you can take a 90 minute Ghost Tour around The Rocks. Discover the creepy Sydney of a Sydney attraction and Sydney’s CBD. I went on a Sydney tall ships cruise on my 30th Birthday and absolutely loved it!
We're not normally huge fans of modern art museums, but the MCA in Sydney is definitely worth a look, and often has unique exhibitions. If you're there in October/November, then you may see the Jacaranda in bloom, where these trees turn a vibrant purple! It's a beautiful contrast to the greenery of the rest of the gardens. The Botanic Garden is another gem on the harbour and one of our favourite free things to do in Sydney. This beautiful green space couldn't be better situated, sitting on the shore line and looking back over the water. That can make it hard to know what to prioritise on a short visit, so we've compiled a comprehensive list of the best things to do in Sydney after five years living in this amazing city.

If you’re a fan of cutting-edge Australian and international modern art, a visit to the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) on the western side of Circular Quay is an absolute must. Built in the late 1980s, the beautiful Chinese Garden of Friendship is a heritage-listed green space situated at the south end of Darling Harbour, only a short stroll away from Darling Harbour. Built in the 1890s, the heritage-listed Queen Victoria Building (better known as the QVB) is one of Sydney’s many historical buildings, located in George Street in the middle of the CBD. Whilst it’s not the easiest of suburbs to get to, Palm Beach is worth a visit if you’re staying in Sydney for more than just a couple of days.
Tours – Alternatively, 1-hour guided tours go beneath the sails and explain the building’s construction. Arrive early to explore the interior and enjoy a drink in one of the bars while watching the sunset over the harbour. Visitors pay a visit to this public square to enjoy the reflection of the evening city lights on the water. From its sprawling harbour and coastal national parks to famous brewery crawls and nostalgic drive-in cinemas, there are heaps of exciting experiences and activities in Sydney to get around. Made for the out-of-towners, the actively dating, or even the longtime Sydneysider ready to get their adventure on, we have you covered. A fascinating place to visit, Cockatoo Island lies at the heart of Sydney Harbour, easily reachable by ferry.

The cliffs of Royal National Park are very picturesque and offer stunning views of the ocean and the south coast of NSW. We have seen whales here so many times in season so keep an eye out and definitely one of the best day trips from Sydney. This beautiful area is home to several secluded beaches and offers great views back towards the harbour. The best way to see Watsons Bay is on one of the walking trails, we outline them both in this post. By the late 1800s, the area had degenerated into a slum filled with taverns and brothels where crime ran rampant through the narrow streets. In the 1970s, the city began a huge restoration project to save the district’s historic homes and warehouses.
This is still a fantastic wildlife and natural haven to explore, with plenty of cycling, hiking, walking, swimming, picnicking, and even waterfall-seeking opportunities. Stretching across 500 meters, Bilgola Beach is a surf beach in Sydney that features a single sand bar with two shifting beach rips & permanent rips against rocks at each end. It is a famous day-trip destination that garners interest of a myriad of visitors towards its sunset views. Manly Beach is one of the prettiest beaches in Sydney due to its landscape and the deep blue sea surrounding it.
The opera offers several one-hour guided tours in small groups during the day. Get up close to Australian and international wildlife at Sydney’s zoos and wildlife parks, many set against beautiful harbour or natural backdrops. Spend time swimming, surfing, or relaxing on the sand, or explore the spectacular coastal walking tracks that link beach suburbs. No Sydney visit is complete without seeing these world-famous landmarks. Join a guided tour, enjoy a performance, or simply admire them from Circular Quay or nearby viewpoints. Walk along the foreshore, watch ferries glide past, enjoy free harbour views, or take a cruise for a different perspective of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.