If you’re visiting the Land Down Under, chances are you’ll be visiting Sydney or at least passing through. And if you are visiting for the first time or for a short amount of time, it can be hard to wrap your head around all of your options. The list of things to do in Sydney Australia is long and prices for attractions can be expensive so figuring out what things to with your time in Sydney without blowing the budget can be challenging. Keep reading for all of the most popular things to do in Sydney along with our personal favorites.
We also have done our best to give you a cost estimate of what the Sydney attraction will cost you so that you can keep to your Australia travel budget. Additionally, we’ve listed the approximate time we spent at each destination so that you can plan your own Sydney itinerary.
Things To Do In Sydney Australia
Top Things To Do In Sydney For First Time Visitors
Sydney Opera House
Cost: $43 AUD/person | Time: 1 hour
If you play Pictionary with someone and they have to draw Australia, they will draw a koala or the Sydney Opera House – trust us. So it is no wonder that the Sydney Opera House is one of the most popular things to do in Sydney. There are millions of visitors each year that come to see a performance or witness the incredible feat of engineering that is the building itself. It is so amazing, that UNESCO has even listed it as a World Heritage Site.
There are a few different ways to experience the opera house. First, you can simply take in the sights from outside. This is free. Next, you can take a tour of the opera house. That is what we did. The tours focus on the architectural wonders of the building and the challenges of making it happen. The best part of our tour was when we got to sit in on a practice session for the evening performance. This is a super awesome bonus that frequently happens on tours. Lastly, you can choose to take in an actual show at the opera house. For a listing of shows, check out their calendar here.
Sydney Harbour Bridge
Cost: FREE | Time: 30 minutes
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of the most iconic sights in Sydney making it one of the most popular places to visit. While climbing the bridge is available for the adventurous, we think everyone should walk along the bridge. You can walk or bike over the 1.1 km bridge and take in the viewpoints from both sides of the bridge. This stop doesn’t take long and you will get great views of the Sydney Opera House from the viewpoints located along the bridge’s walkway.
On the south side of the bridge, you can also visit the Pylon Lookout. Here, you’ll get to climb up the – you guessed it – south Pylon for amazing views of the city. There is a charge to go to the viewpoint, but it is more affordable than the bridge climb.
Hit The Beach
Cost: FREE | Time: 2-4 hours
With relatively warm temperatures year round and a perpetually laid back vibe, Sydney locals love their beaches. And so do tourists. Everyone visiting Sydney should visit a Sydney beach. There are plenty to choose from and they are all connected by a coastal walkway that spans all of Sydney’s coast. The most popular beach in Sydney is Bondi Beach. However, we liked Manly Beach and Coogee Beach as well. The beaches are beautiful. But they can also get crazy crowded, especially on the weekends. So if you are visiting on a weekday, try to visit the beach then.
Sail On Sydney Harbour
Cost: $5AUD+/person | Time: 15+ minutes
A ferry ride across the Sydney Harbour is one of the best ways to see the iconic Sydney skyline with both the Opera House and the Sydney Bridge visible from the water. Plenty of companies offer guided tours from the water and if you’re interested, we’ve included a few options below. However, if you are on a budget taking a ferry ride is one of the best ways to see the skyline without breaking the bank. We took a ferry to the Taronga Zoo but you could also take a ferry to Manly Beach. Ferry prices vary depending on where you are boarding/departing. You can check out the ferry routes in Sydney here.
Outdoor Activities In Sydney
Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney
Cost: FREE | Time: 1-2 hours
This is another thing to do in Sydney that is popular with locals and tourists alike. Which means it also gets really busy on the weekends. Here, you’ll see people stretched out enjoying the sun and the views of Sydney. There is an exhibition space here with a rotating special display of plants. You can also visit Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair which gives you an amazing view of Sydney Harbour, the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House.
Coastal Walk
Cost: FREE | Time: 1-2 hours
The Coastal Walks pepper nearly all of the ocean frontage in Sydney and are a popular way to see the city. Choose a stretch of walkway and enjoy the sights. We walked the Bradleys Head to Chowder Bay section, because it was near where we were staying and a nice thing to do at sunset. However, popular sections are Bondi to Bronte/Coogee or Manly to Spit Bridge. Set aside an hour of two to take a walk about right in the city.
Sydney Fish Market
Cost: FREE | Time: 30 minutes
The Sydney Fish Market is a great experience to have, even if you don’t buy any fish. However, we think you should buy some fish. The market opens at 7 AM every morning and the fish are there until they are gone. You can find virtually every type of seafood here so come with a dinner plan in place and you’ll find the ingredients.
Walk Hyde Park
Cost: FREE | Time: 1 hour
Spend some time wandering the gardens of Hyde Park. This is the oldest public park in Australia and is home to lots of history, including the Anzac Memorial. Don’t forget to catch a glimpse of St Mary’s Cathedral, a beautiful Catholic church bordering the park.
Things To Do In Sydney For Families
National Museums And Galleries
Cost: FREE | Time: 1-2 hours each
One of the best things about Sydney is that all of the main museums are FREE. We visited the Museum of Contemporary Art and spent a whole 30 minutes only looking at what interested us and left. Then we went to The Art Gallery of New South Wales and learned a lot about Aboriginal art over the course of an hour. Then we went to the Australian Museum to learn about the history of Australia for a few hours. So many museums in so little time!
So my point is, museums and galleries are one of the best things to do in Sydney, specifically for families, because they are such an affordable option with a really low commitment level.
Free museums in Sydney include:
Australian National Maritime Museum
Cost: $25AUD/person | Time: 2+ hours
The National Maritime Museum is a fun learning experience for kiddos and adults alike. The museum is actually made up of several ships as well as an indoor gallery space. You can tour old wooden sailboats or modern battleships. However, keep in mind that you could easily spend all day here. However, the attention span of most moderate ship likers won’t last as long as the entire tour of the museum would.
Taronga Zoo
Cost: $46AUD/adult | Time: 2 hours
The Taronga Zoo is one of the largest zoos in Australia and home to lots of wildlife from around the world. There is something for everyone to see here. However, keep in mind that animals tend to be more active in the morning and evening hours when the temperatures are cooler so time your visit accordingly.
Adventurous Things To Do In Sydney
Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Cost: $344+AUD/person | Time: 3+ hours
This is one of the most popular things to do in Sydney, simply because it is so unique. How many places can you climb to the top of a giant bridge? Not many. You go up the edges of the bridge to the tipity top of the arch. You go with a group and you are safely strapped in to plenty of safety gear. However, you do climb quite high so this is not for the faint of heart. Because of the unique nature of this adventure, it does come with a steep price tag and may well be the most expensive thing you do in Sydney.
Learn To Surf
Cost: $110AUD/person | Time: 2 hours
Go to any beach in Sydney and you will see someone surfing. So if you really want to live like a local, take a surfing lesson and try your hand at this favorite pastime. Bondi beach and Manly beach are both really popular places to learn to surf with lessons offered daily, so long as conditions allow.
Get High At The Sydney Tower
Cost: $95AUD/person | Time: 1 hour
If you want sweeping city views, the Sydney Tower Skywalk is the place for you. You can ride to the top for sweeping views of the city from the observation deck. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, you can also visit the outdoor observation deck.
Sydney Day Trips
Hiking The Blue Mountains
Time: 1-2 days
If you are going to escape the hustle and bustle of Sydney for the wide open natural spaces of Australia, there is no better place to go than the Blue Mountains. Just a few short hours outside of Sydney, and connected to town via the trains, this is one of the most popular Sydney day trips. You can visit in one or more days. The most popular thing to do in the Blue Mountains is hike along the mountainous cliffs and visit the Three Sisters. You can also visit waterfalls and cave systems in the area as well.
Day trips to the Blue Mountains are also offered with tour groups, which include transportation from Sydney.
Wine Tasting In Hunter Valley
Time: 1 day
The Hunter Valley is one of Australia’s primary wine regions, made famous for some amazing red wines. You can visit on your own. However, drinking and driving is not permitted in Australia so visiting with a tour group allows everyone in your group to sample wines. Day trips from Sydney include transportation and generally a few stops at wineries.
So we hope this post has inspired you to visit Sydney. While other large cities urge you to spend hours indoors, Sydney is the best large city we’ve ever been to for outdoor activities. So many things to do in Sydney are outdoors or adventurous, which is our travel vibe. If you’re like us, Sydney is your place. So use all of these things to do in Sydney to pepper your own Sydney itinerary with the best of the best. But whatever you do in Sydney, don’t forget to embrace the outdoor culture and spend plenty of time relaxing or wandering around outside.
