What are the best things to do in Sydney?
- Kim Atkinson
- Forbes Travel Guide Editor
- Atlanta, GA
With its ample supply of sun and water, Sydney is the kind of place where you'll want to spend your entire day outside. I recently visited, and after a few days exploring this dynamic, fun-loving city, I found that these were a few of the best things to do in Sydney:
See some culture. During my visit in spring 2013, I caught an incredible performance of Carmen by Handa Opera staged on a temporary stage on the Sydney Harbour. The grounds of the Royal Botanic Garden were transformed into a Spanish taverna, where sparkling wine, tapas and coffee were served at kiosks and enjoyed on rustic barrel stools and tables before, during and after the show. The performance was outstanding, the setting incredible and the scene festive (guests came dressed to the nines). There is always a show taking place at the city's incomparable Opera House—worth a visit for the pre- and post-show views of the harbor and incredible acoustics alone.
Go to the beach. The ferry ride to the Sydney suburb of Manly is one of the city's cheapest and best ways to view its beautiful harbor. Boats leave every half hour from Circular Quay and drop you a quick stroll to the charming beach town's public beach. You can pick up a beach towel, sunscreen and just about anything you need at the many surf shops lining the town's main drag; in the afternoon, grab a quick lunch of tacos and fresh guacamole at Chica Bonita (Mexican food is newly trendy in Sydney) or take a seat overlooking the water inside the ferry terminal at the upscale Hugo's, where the Neopolitan-style pizzas come in nearly a dozen flavors and the wines by the glass list is extensive.
Explore the Royal Botanic Garden and The Domain. A massive stretch of greenspace that spans the city's central business district and harbor to the wharfs of Woolloomooloo, the Royal Botanic Garden and Domain is a peaceful place to spend an afternoon, with plenty of cafes for grabbing a quick bite. A path runs from the Opera House to Woolloomoolloo and makes a great stretch for jogging. Consider lunch at the Andrew (Boy)Charleton municipal pool—the onsite cafe serves bistro style dishes like burgers and chicken milanese in a contemporary setting overlooking the pool, which in turn overlooks the water. Entrance to the pool will set you back only $6, and provide a unique spot for sunning or lounging.
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On May 10Kim Atkinson answered the question:
What are the best things to do in Sydney?
With its ample supply of sun and water, Sydney is the kind of place where you'll want to spend your entire day outside. I recently visited, and after a few days exploring this dynamic, fun-loving city, I found that these were a few of the best things to do in Sydney:
See some culture. During my visit in spring 2013, I caught an incredible performance of Carmen by Handa Opera staged on a temporary stage on the Sydney Harbour. The grounds of the Royal Botanic Garden were transformed into a Spanish taverna, where sparkling wine, tapas and coffee were served at kiosks and enjoyed on rustic barrel stools and tables before, during and after the show. The performance was outstanding, the setting incredible and the scene festive (guests came dressed to the nines). There is always a show taking place at the city's incomparable Opera House—worth a visit for the pre- and post-show views of the harbor and incredible acoustics alone.
Go to the beach. The ferry ride to the Sydney suburb of Manly is one of the city's cheapest and best ways to view its beautiful harbor. Boats leave every half hour from Circular Quay and drop you a quick stroll to the charming beach town's public beach. You can pick up a beach towel, sunscreen and just about anything you need at the many surf shops lining the town's main drag; in the afternoon, grab a quick lunch of tacos and fresh guacamole at Chica Bonita (Mexican food is newly trendy in Sydney) or take a seat overlooking the water inside the ferry terminal at the upscale Hugo's, where the Neopolitan-style pizzas come in nearly a dozen flavors and the wines by the glass list is extensive.
Explore the Royal Botanic Garden and The Domain. A massive stretch of greenspace that spans the city's central business district and harbor to the wharfs of Woolloomooloo, the Royal Botanic Garden and Domain is a peaceful place to spend an afternoon, with plenty of cafes for grabbing a quick bite. A path runs from the Opera House to Woolloomoolloo and makes a great stretch for jogging. Consider lunch at the Andrew (Boy)Charleton municipal pool—the onsite cafe serves bistro style dishes like burgers and chicken milanese in a contemporary setting overlooking the pool, which in turn overlooks the water. Entrance to the pool will set you back only $6, and provide a unique spot for sunning or lounging. -
On May 9Kim Atkinson answered the question:
What are the best things to do in Sydney?
With its ample supply of sun and water, Sydney is the kind of place where you'll want to spend your entire day outside. I recently visited, and after a few days exploring this dynamic, fun-loving city, I found that there were a few of the best things to do in Sydney:
See some culture. During my visit in spring 2013, I caught an incredible performance of Carmen by Handa Opera staged on a temporary stage on the Sydney Harbour. The grounds of the Royal Botanic Garden were transformed into a Spanish taverna, where sparkling wine, tapas and coffee were served at kiosks and enjoyed on rustic barrel stools and tables before, during and after the show. The performance was outstanding, the setting incredible and the scene festive (guests came dressed to the nines). There is always a show taking place at the city's incomparable Opera House—worth a visit for the pre- and post-show views of the harbor and incredible acoustics alone.
Go to the beach. The ferry ride to the Sydney suburb of Manly is one of the city's cheapest and best ways to view its beautiful harbor. Boats leave every half hour from Circular Quay and drop you a quick stroll to the charming beach town's public beach. You can pick up a beach towel, sunscreen and just about anything you need at the many surf shops lining the town's main drag; in the afternoon, grab a quick lunch of tacos and fresh guacamole at Chica Bonita (Mexican food is newly trendy in Sydney) or take a seat overlooking the water inside the ferry terminal at the upscale Hugo's, where the Neopolitan-style pizzas come in nearly a dozen flavors and the wines by the glass list is extensive.
Explore the Royal Botanic Garden and The Domain. A massive stretch of greenspace that spans the city's central business district and harbor to the wharfs of Woolloomooloo, the Royal Botanic Garden and Domain is a peaceful place to spend an afternoon, with plenty of cafes for grabbing a quick bite. A path runs from the Opera House to Woolloomoolloo and makes a great stretch for jogging. Consider lunch at the Andrew (Boy)Charleton municipal pool—the onsite cafe serves bistro style dishes like burgers and chicken milanese in a contemporary setting overlooking the pool, which in turn overlooks the water. Entrance to the pool will set you back only $6, and provide a unique spot for sunning or lounging. -
On April 30Shitika Anand answered the question:
Where is the best nightlife in Sydney?
Hugos Lounge: This posh cocktail bar and nightclub is located in the heart of Sydney's nightlife district, but up here, you won't be bothered with the rowdy crowd on the main street. With guest DJs from around the world, there's a pretty good reason why this club has won the 'Nightclub of the Year' tag, five years in a row.
Goodgod Front Bar: A small club that looks like it has emerged from the 1960s and appeared on a busy street of Sydney. Women are clad in A-line skirts and men carry combs in their pockets; all in all, it gives you a reason to escape from all the Jay Zs and Kanye Wests of the world. Goodgod would show you a classic, swing musical night.
The Ivy: A club that might seem a little pretentious at first, somehow manages to draw in the most well-dressed professionals on a Friday night. This sophisticated club has something for everyone: relaxed lounges, a pumping dance floor, an open pool, a dedicated RnB space and plenty of intimate corners. Just be vary of the unisex toilet situation.
Marquee: Straight from Vegas, the Sydney branch of this famous club draws in some of the best DJs and artists from the industry, Snoop Dogg, Will.I.am, Lil Jon and Steve Aoki, to name a few. If you haven't been to the Vegas one, compensate for it with its Down Under soul sister. You're guaranteed to break a sweat.
There are also tons of Karaoke bars in the south end of George Street, which could lead to some pretty great (bad) singing and dancing nights. And check out Oxford Street in Surry Hills for an array of gay and lesbian clubs. -
On April 30Shitika Anand answered the question:
What is the best thing to bring home from Sydney?
Just like every other city, Sydney is also inundated with souvenir shops. You’ll find them at Circular Quay (most expensive here), the Rocks, Bondi Beach, in Chinatown and on almost every main street of Sydney CBD. But the art of souvenir shopping is one that’s hard to perfect. You could either get sucked in with duplicate ‘Made in China’ t-shirts or end up with boomerang that wouldn’t even pass through customs.
Depending on what you wish to take back – traditional or quirky - below are my suggestions for the best souvenir shops in Sydney, and what they offer.
Paddy’s Market: This shopping haven has a history that goes back 150 years, especially for the availability of fresh produce, handmade goods and novelty items. However today, Paddy's Market is home to really affordable jewellery, home decor items and clothes. You won't find the best quality items here, but it's a great place to purchase cheap, one-time-wear sundresses and tees from.
The Rocks Market: A tourist must-do activity, these markets at the central hub of The Rocks have exclusive and original pieces of art, furniture and souvenirs. There are food stalls, face-painting stalls, traditional Aboriginal arts and craft and live music. Open every weekend from 10am-5pm.
Supermarket: If you spend even a couple of hours in Sydney, you probably would hear all about Tim Tams – a chocolate-wafer biscuit – that is only available in Australia. It’s an Aussie tradition that tastes like a party in the mouth. Try it and take a suitcase-full for friends back to your homeland.
Items that you must take back with you:
- A didgeridoo
- A boomerang: You'll be able to find some beautiful painted ones at The Rocks Market.
- Crocodile and Kangaroo jerky - it's like beef jerky, but not.
- Fridge magnets
- A piece of original, traditional Aboriginal art -
On April 30Shitika Anand answered the question:
What is the best time to visit Sydney?
The best time to visit Sydney is during the summer months of November - February. The white sandy beaches are in their best behaviour and you can actually head down for a swim in all parts of Australia during those months. The temperature in Cairns, where The Great Barrier Reef is, reaches the top of 35-38C. Melbourne goes up to 40C with relatively cooler nights of 20C. Sydney and Brisbane summer is more bearable with the maximum being 32C on average and a low of 18-24C.
The surf conditions around this time are beautiful as well, except for a fortnight or two of summer storms in November.
I highly recommending spending New Years Eve in Sydney and watching the harbour fireworks. They’re world-renowned and look spectacular against the water. Winter in Australia (May - August) isn’t very intense, except for the Southeast region of the country i.e. Melbourne, Canberra and Tasmania. If you’re not planning a beach holiday, then these months are great to visit during that time. -
On April 30Shitika Anand answered the question:
Should visitors rent a car in Sydney?
Renting a car isn’t really recommended for travellers because parking in the city is a nightmare and incredibly pricey. Majority of streets in the CBD are one-way only, so during peak hour traffic, it could get very tiresome to drive around and find a parking spot. There is street parking out in the suburbs, but again, it comes at a very high cost. There’s a free Sydney CBD Shuttle (route 555) that runs every 10 minutes to and fro from Circular Quay to Central Station. This is a hop-on-hop-off bus, hence convenient for travellers.
The public transport system in Sydney is well planned and convenient. We have buses, trains, ferries and taxis as options for locals and travellers. The train lines are really well connected, as they go from city center out to the suburbs, and even to the Blue Mountains and Newcastle. The ferries connect most water-facing suburbs and all leave from Circular Quay or Darling Harbour, which are the two main docks. There are also nightride buses that run on every half hour basis, especially designed for all the party animals around town. Check this website for all public transport info. You can also download an app called TripView Lite on all iPhones and Android devices to get instant updates.
If you’re really eager to rent a car in Sydney, check of GoGet.com.au for easy renting in the Eastern Suburbs – a good option if you want to explore all the beaches. -
On April 30Shitika Anand answered the question:
What is the tipping etiquette in Sydney?
There are no mandatory gratuities expected when you’re eating and drinking out in Australia. Even though, there’s a 10% Goods and Services tax [GST] included in the total figure of the bill. The basic wage rates in Australia are pretty good, so tipping isn’t really expected off you. However, if you’re pleased with the services offered to you, then 10% of the total bill appears to be a usual, suited tipping figure. Some bars and cafes might have a “Tips” jar, which would eventually be shared out amongst all staff. -
On April 30Shitika Anand answered the question:
What is the one must-do activity when visiting Sydney?
This one is particularly difficult to answer because there’s so much to see and do in this harbour city.
Even before you land in the city, you’d probably hear all about the harmonious architectural beauty of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, making it the one sight to not miss. However, these two modern wonders of Australia are best viewed in their most unconventional form and figure.
If you only had time to do one thing whilst your time in Sydney, then pack a picnic (some sneaky wine) and follow the directions below:
1) Take a bus, ferry or train to Circular Quay station.
2) Walk in the direction of the Opera House. Don’t go up the stairs, but around it. Stay close to the water-end at all times.
3) There’s a walkway that will take you around the Opera House; it’s almost like a loop.
4) You’ll start to see a long walkway and the Botanical Garden.
5) Pick a spot under the tree, lay your picnic mat out and enjoy the view of the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, yachts and the shimmering water view.
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On April 30Shitika Anand answered the question:
What restaurants have the best views in Sydney?
The food experience in Sydney transcends every tourist’s expectations, as there is more to the dining experience than the food and drinks. Here are my top five recommendations of restaurants with the best views, some which might be too picturesque for your food to go down.
O Bar and Dining: This 360-degree revolving restaurant sits 47-storeys above street level and gives the best views of the city skyline. Cuisine: Modern Australian.
Jonah’s: Set 45-minutes north of Sydney, and completely worth the drive, this crisp venue offers sand, ocean and cliff views. Want it to be fancier? Get a seaplane from Rose Bay. Cuisine: Modern Australian with French influences.
Doyles on the Beach: A fifth-generation wonder that’s been serving the finest seafood in Sydney since 1885, this Watson’s Bay old-fashioned fish and chips wonder is not to be missed. Especially when it offers you the best views. Cuisine: Fine-dining seafood.
Bather’s Pavillion: All lazy brunches should be organised here at the sun-draped seating located at the yacht-filled pavilion of Balmoral Bay. Cuisine: All-day breakfasts.
ARIA: Sitting conveniently opposite the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, this five-star and top-class dining experience is a little heavy on the pocket but highly accommodating for the taste buds. Recommended to go for an early dinner, as the sun sets in the cityscape. Cuisine: Modern Australian. -
On April 25Shitika Anand answered the question:
What are the best bars in Sydney?
Unlike other metropolitan cities, Sydney’s bar scene isn’t street specific. Instead the city is throwing down bars across the city centre through to the salty-aired outposts in the suburbs.
Watch the sunset at the quaint setting of the Opera Bar on the harbour with the city’s most spectacular views.
Head off to the surreal fairy light setting of The Winery for chilled vinos or step in pop-art heaven for espresso martinis at the Pocket Bar, both in Surry Hills.
If brushing shoulders with celebrities and socialites is on your agenda, Icebergs Dining Room and Bar and The Bucket List (both facing the world-famous views of Bondi Beach) should be on your itinerary.
Keep this on the hush, but Sydney is also known to house the country’s best speakeasy-style bars. Try Palmer & Co. nestled behind Establishment or acquaint with 20th century cocktails at Eau de Vie in Darlinghurst.
