Sydney Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Sydney
Cronulla Beach which includes waves
Sydney
Sydney
Sydney showing a bay or harbour, skyline and night scenes
Blessed with more than 100 beaches and buzzing with youthful vitality, when it comes to the good life it’s hard to beat the Harbour City.

Although it’s not the capital, there is little doubt that Sydney remains Australia’s premier city. The Harbour City, home to over 4.5 million people, offers a blend of vibrant bars and beaches that’s a draw for young people, but it also has a laid-back and self-confident vibe that will appeal to visitors of all ages.

Sydney is symptomatic of an evolving Australian culture, often being described as one of the most cosmopolitan and charismatic cities on the planet. Sydney residents are also renowned for going out of their way to make visitors feel at home, making this an ideal holiday destination.

Sydney plays host to some of the world’s most recognisable tourist attractions, with the inner harbour housing the distinctive Sydney Opera House and the ocean side boasting the warm golden sands of Bondi Beach, perennially lapped by clear blue waves.

There is much to explore elsewhere within the city, however. In the CBD, Sydney Tower provides breath-taking views over the city, and is the starting point for the popular Skywalk—a guided tour around the outside of the tower, 268 metres above the ground. If heights aren’t your thing, Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens provide a beautiful backdrop for a relaxing harbour-side stroll, and lead visitors to the iconic Sydney Opera House. From here, it’s a short walk to Circular Quay, where you can catch a ferry to many harbour locations, or just enjoy the round trip. Dock into Darling Harbour and explore the award-winning Sea Life Sydney Aquarium and the fascinating Australian National Maritime Museum.

Sydney’s waterfront throngs with diverse restaurants and bars. The Surry Hills, Darlinghurst and Potts Point areas are famed for the fine-dining choices they offer. Numerous scenic parks provide a relaxing location to enjoy food and drink if you prefer the self-catering option.

If you’re looking for some scenic thrills, don’t miss Luna Park with its roller-coaster, Ferris wheel and other traditional amusements, right under the famous Harbour Bridge. If you have a head for heights, try the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb for spectacular views.

Kids will love Taronga Zoo, home to many species of native Australian animals, while the inner-city suburbs of Paddington and Newtown will appeal to adults with their café culture and eclectic mix of boutiques and galleries. For some retail therapy, make your way to Bondi Junction, and the well-stocked Westfield mall.

Above all else, Sydney’s uniquely Australian natural beauty shines through at all times, with the Bush, beaches and the Harbour City’s coastline only a stone’s throw away. A relatively mild climate, stunning scenery, excellent transport networks and no end of things to do make Sydney a simply unmissable experience.

Where to stay in Sydney

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Sydney Central Business District

4.5/5(343 area reviews)

Known for its captivating waterfront views and popular shops, there's plenty to explore in Sydney Central Business District. Check out top attractions like Circular Quay and Sydney Opera House, and jump on the metro at Martin Place Station or St. James Station to see more of the city.

Sydney Central Business District
Darling Harbour showing city views, a city and night scenes

Darling Harbour

4.5/5(93 area reviews)

Known for its captivating waterfront views and popular shops, there's plenty to explore in Darling Harbour. Check out top attractions like Star Casino and Australian National Maritime Museum, and jump on the metro at Pyrmont Bay Light Rail Station or The Star Station to see more of the city.

Darling Harbour
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Sydney Olympic Park

Unique features of Sydney Olympic Park include the theatres and live music. Make a stop by Accor Stadium or Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre while you're exploring the area.

Sydney Olympic Park
Parramatta showing a city and general coastal views

Parramatta

Travellers come to Parramatta for its abundant dining options, and you can see top attractions like Westfield Parramatta Shopping Centre and Riverside Theatres while you're in town.

Parramatta
Circular Quay - The Rocks which includes street scenes, heritage architecture and a city

The Rocks

A noteworthy feature of The Rocks is its captivating waterfront views. While you're in town, be sure to stop and check out Circular Quay and Museum of Contemporary Art.

The Rocks
Manly Beach featuring a coastal town, tropical scenes and a beach

Manly

A noteworthy feature of Manly is its stunning beaches. While you're in town, be sure to stop and check out Manly Wharf and Shelly Beach.

Manly
Hyatt Regency Sydney

Hyatt Regency Sydney

5 out of 5
161 Sussex Street, Sydney, NSW
The price is ₹13,761 per night from 23 Jul to 24 Jul
₹13,761
₹15,137 total
23 Jul - 24 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Sydney. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, 4 bars/lounges and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the bar in their ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,753 reviews)
"Lovely hotel, we all enjoyed our stay. The buffet breakfast is ok, slight underwhelming tho."

Reviewed on 14 Jul 2025

Hyatt Regency Sydney
Shangri-La Sydney

Shangri-La Sydney

5 out of 5
176 Cumberland Street, The Rocks, NSW
The price is ₹15,142 per night from 27 Jul to 28 Jul
₹15,142
₹16,656 total
27 Jul - 28 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this spa hotel in Sydney. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a full-service spa and 2 restaurants. Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant in their reviews. ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (2,312 reviews)
"Everything was a top notch. Starting from the reception courtesy, car courtesy to the room that was amazing. Beautiful view. I even got a treat for my early birthday celebration with cake and champagne. The room was spacious and very clean and well organised. The restaurant was lit, shout out to ..."

Reviewed on 14 Jul 2025

Shangri-La Sydney
Rydges Sydney Airport Hotel

Rydges Sydney Airport Hotel

4 out of 5
8 Arrival Court, Sydney International Airport, Mascot, NSW
The price is ₹11,714 per night from 21 Jul to 22 Jul
₹11,714
₹12,886 total
21 Jul - 22 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Sydney. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, 2 restaurants and 2 bars/lounges. Our guests praise the breakfast and the bar in their ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (2,847 reviews)
"Stayed for the night befor my flight the bed was really comfortable and the room was super quiet and dark."

Reviewed on 15 Jul 2025

Rydges Sydney Airport Hotel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
YEHS Hotel Sydney Harbour Suites

YEHS Hotel Sydney Harbour Suites

4 out of 5
252 Sussex Street, Sydney, NSW
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly aparthotel in Sydney. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a fitness centre and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the pool and the helpful ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (2,170 reviews)
"Just renovated. Not too bad. They have dish washer in the room but no washing machine"

Reviewed on 12 Jul 2025

YEHS Hotel Sydney Harbour Suites
Meriton Suites Sussex Street

Meriton Suites Sussex Street

5 out of 5
234 Sussex Street, Sydney, NSW
Stay at this 5-star luxury aparthotel in Sydney. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a fitness centre and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,377 reviews)
1st time in Sydney
"I had a good stay at the Meriton on Sussex. Everything was as pictured. It felt great to be able to have the ability to store leftovers from restaurants, reheat things later, or even cook if you wanted to stay in due to the weather. Also its in a good location. I was able to walk to a lot of the ..."

Reviewed on 11 Jul 2025

Meriton Suites Sussex Street
Meriton Suites Kent Street, Sydney

Meriton Suites Kent Street, Sydney

5 out of 5
528 Kent Street, Sydney, NSW
Stay at this 5-star luxury aparthotel in Sydney. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a fitness centre and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (2,115 reviews)
"The check in was seamless. The people behind the desk were very friendly & accommodating. The room was clean & a great size. I was cooking in the room & having family come to eat. Housekeeping provided me with more plates & cutlery. Great location for the Sydney Film Festival"

Reviewed on 24 Jun 2025

Meriton Suites Kent Street, Sydney
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Reviews of Sydney

4.7
Top destination
5 - Excellent
168
5 - Excellent 71%
4 - Good
63
4 - Good 26%
3 - Okay
6
3 - Okay 3%
2 - Disappointing
1
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

An amazing city , it certainly has plenty of iconic sights to see, and lots to do, with amazing shops too.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Fantastic

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

very central for visiting other areas, trains to Blue mountains and Southern Highlands

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Sydney is a city like so many others however the Harbour Bridge, the opera house and Circular Quay make it unique

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Really enjoyed our time in Sydney. The hotel was perfect location for The Opera House, Sydney Bridge, Restaurants, bard, shopping and all transport.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Loved our visit. Definitely worth hopping on the ferries to get to other city areas, cheap and frequent. Good museums, Plenty of reasonably priced places to eat.

Cities near Sydney