Sydney is world famous for its iconic Opera House, but this incredible city hides many other treasures to visit. As we see it, it is a essential what to see in Australia and one of the cities to which We would go to live with our eyes closed. We fell in love with its atmosphere, quality of life, gastronomic offer and number of different plans to do. In this article we reveal to you 15 things to see and do in Sydney in 3, 4 or 5 days. If that's okay with you, we share the list of places ordered by area for your convenience.
Next, we share the table of contents of this Sydney guide: what to see and do with tips for visiting the city on your own.
16 things to do and see in Sydney
First of all, tell you that the city is huge and that you will need at least 3 full days to visit all the things to do in Sydney and that we will propose to you below. We recommend you stay in the center to save time traveling. We spent three nights in The Great Southern hotel. It is on the famous George Street, just a few meters from the central station which you can reach comfortably from the airport. That said, let's go there with the places to visit in sydney (Australia).
1. Visit the Sydney Opera House, an essential thing to see in Sydney (Australia)
Everyone knows that the Sydney Opera House It is one of the icons of the city and even of Australia. We recommend you visit it both day and night. Also, if you like opera, we recommend booking in advance the show that coincides with your visit. There are also guided tours to explore the interior of the building such as the backstage tour (Thursday to Monday) and architectural tour (Saturdays). Next to the Opera House and the port there is a very good atmosphere and bars to enjoy with views of this monument.
2. Walk through The Rocks, Sydney's old town
The Rocks is a district of Sydney steeped in history, as it was originally a convict quarter. Today, after several renovations, it retains its cobbled streets and colonial architecture and it is full of life. In addition to exploring its main streets and alleys such as Nurses Walk, Is one of the places to stop to eat or have a drink in the city. We recommend Aslan Coffee. The best way to exploring The Rocks and other corners of the city center is with a guided tour like this one free tour of sydney.
3. Cross the Sydney Harbor Bridge
From The Rocks you can take the opportunity to go up and cross the Sydney Harbor Bridge, another of the places to visit in Sydney. You have to go up Bridge Stairs, we leave you the location. When you cross this bridge you will have some Spectacular views of the city, bay and Opera House. Please note that it has a length of just over a kilometer (1.149 m), it is not necessary to reach the end for the views. However, if you have time to get to the end, you will come across the legendary amusement park of Luna Park.
4. Tour the Royal Botanic Gardens, essential things to see in Sydney
The Royal Botanic Gardens, also a few steps from the Opera House, are an oasis of tranquility in the heart of the city. Of course, the gardens occupy a large part of the metropolis. Therefore, depending on how many days do you have to visit Sydney, You can dedicate more or less hours to explore it. Here you can appreciate the Australian flora and other parts of the world. There's also number of birds such as the Australian White Ibis (the bird or bird of Sydney and other places in Australia). We even saw giant lizards. This is one of the plans to do on a Sunday in Sydney if you want to see it with more atmosphere.
- ⏰ Royal Botanic Gardens Schedule: every day from 7:00 in the morning. In the Australian summer months they close at 20pm (January, February, November and December). To consult months, go to on the web.
- 💵 Free pass
After touring the gardens, we recommend taking a walk along the sea to Mrs. Macquatie's Chair for have a panoramic view of the Opera house and the Sydney skyline from another perspective.
5. Art Gallery of New South Wales, museums and galleries in Sydney to see
As you can imagine, Sydney has numerous art galleries and museums exhibiting both contemporary and traditional art. A few minutes walk from the Botanical Gardens you can visit the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Furthermore, it is one of the free things to do in sydney and you are on the way to St Mary's Cathedral (the next stop). We chose to visit one of the galleries because we were a little tired from walking so much. The chosen one was Yiribana Gallery (north building) and we loved it.
- ⏰ Art Gallery Hours New South Wales: every day from 10 a.m. to 17 p.m. Wednesday until 22 p.m.
- 💵 Free pass
There are many others museums to see in Sydneyand Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney Museum, The Rocks Discovery Museum, among others.
6. Enter St Mary's Cathedral, things to see in Sydney for free
As we said, very close to the gallery, something else what to do in sydney is to visit the church St Mary's Cathedral. This building is a clear example of Gothic architecture. Admission is also free if you want to see its beautiful interior design.
- ⏰ Schedule St Mary's Cathedral Sydney: every day from 6:30 a.m. to 18:30 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays until 19 p.m.
- 💵 Free pass
7. Cross Hyde Park to the Anzac Memorial
Since you are walking around the area, you can take the opportunity to visit another of the parks to see in Sydney: Hyde Park. This is much smaller and in less than 10 minutes you can cross it from the Archibald Memorial Fountain to the Anzac Memorial. It was also full of Australian white ibis.
This route, for the first day, is more than enough. Now let's go with more things to do in sydney, australia.
8. Go to Bondi Beach, the Iceberg Pools and walk the Coastal Walk to Coogee Beach
Bondi Beach It is famous throughout the world for its great atmosphere, waves to surf and impressive views. Once on the beach, you have to go walking down its avenue to the mythical Bondi Iceberg Pools that are next to the ocean.
Another things to do in sydney is to travel the coastal walk from Bondi to Coogee Beach. In total they are 5,5 kilometers walk, that's why we turned around in the Tamarama beach. If your visit to Bondi falls on a weekend, keep in mind that all On Sundays the Bondi Markets is held with crafts, fashion, vintage items, as well as street food.
- ⏰ Bondi beach market hours: Sundays from 10:00 to 16:00.
9. Sail across Sydney Harbor by ferry to Manly
Another activity what to do in sydney is to take a ferry to Manly. This neighborhood of the city is less than an hour by boat from the center and stands out for its spectacular beaches. The main one is the manly beach, but we invite you to walk to the swimming pool Fairy Bower Sea Pool and then the shelly beach. There is no waste! Before you leave Manly, stop by the Messina Ice Cream Parlor, brutal!
This plan is worth it because when sailing through the bay you will be able have unique views of many corners of the city. Tip: we recommend take the ferry back at sunset with views of the skyline of the city, the Sydney Opera House and Harbor Bridge. A show.
10. Buy souvenirs at Paddy's market, markets to see in Sydney
If you are looking for an remembrances or local products, in Paddy's Market find boomerangs, magnets, caps, crafts, clothing, mugs, etc. at a good price. You will also find fruit and vegetable stalls and, on the upper floors, there are type restaurants food court with stores.
- ⏰ Paddy's Market hours: Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 18:00 p.m. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
11. Eat in Sydney's China Town, what to do foodies
Just a few minutes from Paddy's market we find the neighborhood of China Town from Sydney. Really what you should visit here is its Main street full of Asian food restaurants. Without a doubt, one of the plans what to do in Sydney if you are a foodie and you are on the hunt for cheaper restaurants.
12. Enter the Queen Victoria Building and walk next to City Hall
On the other hand, very close to China town, in the Busy George Street (where we recommend you stay at the beginning of the post), there are several iconic Sydney buildings to see. We undoubtedly highlight the Town Hall, St. Andrew's Cathedral, Queen Victoria Building, Martin's Place and cenotaph or Sydney Cenotaph (war memorial). If you have the chance, enter the glamorous shopping center de Queen Victoria Building (ideal for going to the bathroom by the way). Inside, one of the Things to see in Sydney: their two giant hanging clocks.
- ⏰ Queen Victoria Building Schedule: every day from 9 a.m. to 18 p.m. Sundays from 11 a.m. to 17 p.m.
- 💵 Free pass
13. Tour King Street Wharf and Darling Harbor
Fairly close to the previous stop, you can take a walk through the lively King Street Wharf until Darling Harbor. Here there is numerous bars and restaurants to enjoy a meal or a drink with views of the harbor. Here you will also find numerous sydney tourist places (that we would never visit) such as Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, Sydney Zoo and Madame Tussauds Sydney. We walked to the fish market or Fish Market, But It is not one of the essentials in Sydney (and even less so if you come from Spain).
It is possible that with this other batch of essentials you have already filled out your list of sites what to see in Sydney in 2 days. Now we continue sharing more places to see in Sydney in 3 days or more, It all depends on how long you are in Manly and Bondi.
14. Walk through Newtown, a hipster neighborhood to see in Sydney
One of the days of our visit to Sydney we walked through the neighborhood of Newtown, known for its bohemian and artistic atmosphere. Here you can enjoy unique cafes, independent shops, vegan restaurants, among others. We passed by to reach another of the city's tourist attractions that we will tell you about in the next paragraph.
15. Eat at The Grounds of Alexandria
The Grounds of Alexandria is another plans to do in Sydney for foodies and even Instagrammers. Let's say that it is a set of restaurants decorated with a lot of style, both in garden terraces, as in its a la carte restaurants and cafes. Furthermore, in the corridors between their restaurants there are usually themed decoration with corners perfectly prepared to take photos. We went in November and they already had the Christmas decorations. It was almost impossible to walk with all the people taking photos. TIP: don't throw away your meal ticket if you want to see this famous hallway instagrameable.
16. Paddington's neighborhood and its market, another beautiful neighborhood to see in Sydney
This residential neighborhood to visit in Sydney is less touristy. However, here we highlight the architecture of its Victorian houses o terrace houses (wrought iron balconies, entrance with porch and two floors). Besides, this area is one of the most trendy from sydney with super cool stores, art galleries and numerous cafes where to stop for a drink.
Paddington is also one of the gay neighborhoods of this great Australian city. Finally, every Sunday the Market of paddington markets with positions street food, crafts y local designers. This is the oldest flea market in Sydney, having been held since 1973.
- ⏰ Paddington Market Hours: every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 16 p.m.
Places to see in Sydney and surroundings
Excursion to the Blue Mountains, what to do near Sydney
If you had another day and you want to know What to see near Sydney, the Blue Mountains are a must. You can do it round trip the same day, since they are just 80 kilometers west of Sydney. The region of the Blue Mountains is an area declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This recognition is due to its biological diversity and its natural landscapes. The bluish hue of the mountains, which gives the region its name, is the result of light scattering caused by oil particles released by the eucalyptus trees. Here the famous rock formation known as The three sisters. Also point out the viewpoint Echo Point Lookout, Wentworth Falls and Scenic World with panoramic views from its cable car.
Are there Koalas in the Blue Mountains?
Although the Blue Mountains have extensive eucalyptus forests, lThe koala population in this area has declined due to several factors, including habitat loss, disease, forest fires and urbanization. For those who want to see koalas easily, they will have to visit one of the New South Wales shrines, where koalas can be seen up close. We were lucky to see three koalas in their natural habitat during the route along the Great Ocean Road. If you are interested in knowing more, take a look at our tips on this road trip Australian. You also have more recommendations in the post about what to see in Melbourne and vicinity.
Map of places to see in Sydney
Next we share with you the map of the places to see in Sydney in 3 days that we did. We do not include the Blue Mountains in the itinerary, we prefer to see the city in a more relaxed way. We tell you in the following video.
Sydney video: places to visit in 3 or 4 days
If you want to see everything you have read in this article on video, we will tell you about it in our YouTube channel. Here you will find the entire list of our trip through Australia on your own.
Best areas to stay in Sydney
As we mentioned at the beginning, we recommend staying as centrally as possible in Sydney. After investigating value for money and area, we found him The Great Southern hotel. It was a total success in the middle of George Street. Without a doubt, we believe that it is one of the best areas to stay in sydneyas it is next to the central station (to coordinate your arrival/departure from the airport). It is also within walking distance of Sydney's main tourist attractions. In this way, you will be able Maximize your time in the city by saving time on transfers. Finally, another point in favor is that on the last day the hotel He let us take a shower in one of the bathrooms in his common areas at no extra cost (our flight left at 22pm). Furthermore, in the bar-restaurant had luxurious food.
Travel insurance to travel to Australia with IATI
If you don't yet have travel insurance for your Australian adventure, we invite you to take a look.istazo to all the policies offered by IATI. We always book it with them and so far it has always gone well. Luckily we haven't had to use it for very serious things. This time we reserved the IATI Backpacker that covers accidents during adventure sports, since we did hiking in Tasmania and snorkeling at Airlie beach. We have a 5% off for all readers of our blog and it applies to all destinations and policies.
Unlimited data in Australia with Holafly
Finally, the last travel tip that we want to share with you for your trip to Australia is the Holafly eSIM or virtual sim. With Holafly will have unlimited data throughout the country so you can navigate, use maps and share your experiences without worrying about the roaming . We also have a 5% discount for you and you can check their rates and conditions for Australia at this page (the discount is applied at the end and only from our link).
And here ends our Sydney guide for free travel. We hope it has been helpful to you and if you have any questions, we will be happy to answer you in the comments. If you want to continue exploring Australia with us, take a look at our article on what to see in Tasmania and of Airlie beach and the Whitsundays. We also invite you to discover our blog with guides to other countries that we visit and, of course, our specialist destination and where we live: Gran Canaria. Your next adventure is just a click away! LocalGuideGranCanaria.com!
Hello! I am Ruth, Canarian with a traveling soul. With training and experience in the tourism and digital marketing sector. In this blog I tell you all the tips you need to get to know the most authentic side of Gran Canaria on your own. I also share my travel guides to all the places in the world that I am visiting so that you can discover the destinations like a local and save time planning. In addition to traveling, I love gastronomy and sports. I run and hike in the mountains with my “dog-children” (Silver and Plata). In all these adventures my partner accompanies me, Jorge, which you will also see a lot on this blog.
All very interesting and I would add that it is a very safe city