Top things to do in Sydney
Attractions, tours and activities in Sydney
Recommended museums in Sydney
Where to discover culture and the arts in Sydney
Sydney: the city's best neighbourhoods
Find a great area to stay in Sydney
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Sydney CBD
In the city centre
Sydney’s 'CBD' is a hive of commercialism. Shopping is the star attraction – explore the Queen Victoria Building and Pitt Street Mall for luxury and high street shops, or venture to The Strand for boutiques. Hyde Park provides Sydney's lungs. When night falls, trendy wine bars and flashy nightclubs come to life.
Places to stay from £8 per night
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The Rocks
0.7 miles from city centre
Spend an afternoon wandering the cobbled lanes of this historic precinct, or enjoy a beer in some of Australia's oldest pubs. Marvel at the stunning 360-degree view from the Pylon lookouts at either end of Sydney Harbour Bridge, or absorb the splendours of the Museum of Contemporary Art.
Places to stay from £18 per night
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Darling Harbour
0.5 miles from city centre
You’ll never be stuck for something to do here. WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo, The Star Casino, SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium and Madame Tussauds provide hours of fun, while kids will love the playground at Tumbalong Park. King Street Wharf is a hive of activity day and night, laden with harbour side restaurants, bars and clubs.
Places to stay from £8 per night
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Kings Cross
0.8 miles from city centre
The bright lights of Kings Cross sum up its atmosphere perfectly – flashy, brash and a bit sleazy. ‘The X’ (in local lingo) is the city’s premier nightlife precinct. There’s an abundance of restaurants, clubs and bars, but the area can get rowdy on Friday and Saturday nights!
Places to stay from £7 per night
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Darlinghurst
0.7 miles from city centre
Darlinghurst is trendy, alternative and fabulously quirky. Sydney’s annual Mardi Gras takes place against the backdrop of Oxford Street’s colourful vintage, retro and boutique shops. Visit the area’s art galleries or listen to live music at the Oxford Art Factory.
Places to stay from £34 per night
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Chinatown
0.7 miles from city centre
Chinatown buzzes with colour, taste and culture all year round. Allow yourself to succumb at least once to a restaurant serving yum cha (traditional Chinese lunch). Market City is home to Asian specialty shops, as well as Paddy’s Market, which is full of fresh produce and souvenirs.
Places to stay from £45 per night
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Potts Point
0.9 miles from city centre
Tree-lined streets, historic buildings and quaint shops lend Potts Point a certain Parisian air. Take a romantic stroll through Embarkation Park to glimpse the Sydney Harbour Bridge lit up after dark. Nightlife is more refined here than in Kings Cross, but the residents still party hard! Try upscale Haus for swanky cocktails and chilled-out tunes.
Places to stay from £7 per night
About Sydney
Including tips for the best time to visit Sydney
As Australia's largest city and home to iconic landmarks like the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, it's no wonder Sydney is often mistaken for being the country's capital. Whether you're into history, nature, fashion or food, the city has all this to offer and more.
Many of Sydney's popular attractions can be found within its compact city centre, including the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and a variety of restaurants and shops. There's also a wide range of museums and galleries, including The Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Museum of Sydney and the Australian National Maritime Museum. You'll find some peaceful parks as well, in the form of the Royal Botanic Garden and the Victorian-style Centennial Park.
Venture towards the Eastern Suburbs and you'll encounter the world-famous Bondi Beach, loved by surfers for its big waves and swimmers for its consistently warm waters. Another top spot is Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, offering spectacular views over Sydney from its West Head lookout point. Aboriginal rock paintings and cave art can also be spotted across more than 800 well-preserved sites.
Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport is located around nine kilometres south of the city and can be easily reached by rail, bus and taxi.
Tonight
From £59 per night
This weekend
From £118 per night
Next weekend
From £132 per night
| Most popular time to visit | October–December |
| Cheapest time to visit | January–March |
| Local currency | AUD 10 = £5.20 |
| Language | English |
| Average weekend price | £157 per night |
| Average weekday price | £150 per night |
| Typical stay | 2 nights |
Points of interest in Sydney
Stay near the top sightseeing spots in Sydney
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Sydney Opera House
1 miles from city centre
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Harbour Bridge
1.3 miles from city centre
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North Head Quarantine Station
5.9 miles from city centre
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Paddington
1.4 miles from city centre
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Balmoral Beach
4.1 miles from city centre
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Martin Place
0.2 miles from city centre
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Sydney Lyric Theatre
0.7 miles from city centre
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ANZ Stadium
8.5 miles from city centre
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Watsons Bay
4.5 miles from city centre
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Sydney Showground
8.2 miles from city centre
Sydney reviews
What other travellers say about Sydney
Sydney is a wonderful cosmopolitan city.
25 April 2024
Sydney is a wonderful cosmopolitan city. Great food, good coffee, lots of walking so take comfy shoes, I wouldn't bother with Taranga Zoo, animals in enclosures far too small, a really depressing environment so wished I'd missed that out. Great trip to Manly on Ferry. Nice northern beaches. Opera on the waterfront was superb. Lots to do in Sydney and always busy. Opal cards to get around were brilliant. Public transport is second to none. All in all a great place for a visit. However, booking.com was super hard to get hold of when on arrival in Australia the trip started to unravel with no driver to collect us from airport and when we did finally get to our accommodation under our own steam, the accommodation was abysmal and ruined our entire trip being subjected to the rude lazy staff at veriu camperdown coupled with the issue of getting hold of anyone in booking.com to help sort it out. Once they have taken your funds about a week prior to arrival its too late. No one is interested after that. Felt helpless. A horrible experience that I'd never want to repeat. Will never book with booking.com again. Too risky for service.
We took our grandchildren to the Australian Museum which was...
25 April 2024
We took our grandchildren to the Australian Museum which was wonderful Then the next day to the aquarium which was also great, however, very expensive, for two children and two concessions $170, was abit over the top alot of families would not have been able to afford this and would miss out 😔
Transport system is great & using the Opal card we could...
24 April 2024
Transport system is great & using the Opal card we could travel on trains, trams, buses & ferries for only $2.50/day. Lots of museums, galleries & restaurants, there's something for everyone.
Weather was horrid drizzle and cold wind.
23 April 2024
Weather was horrid drizzle and cold wind. Never felt 100% safe on the street. Museum Ramses 2 great (do the VR) Outdoor theatre was magnificent with Opera house , bridge and city scape in the background. Had a horrible experience when leaving airport security confiscated a electronic lighter that was a gift left a very sour taste in my mouth about travel to Sydney. Other than that lots to see and do, easy enough to get around, food was good and accommodation ok.
Sydney in March/April is such a beautiful time to visit.
21 April 2024
Sydney in March/April is such a beautiful time to visit. Get around by ferries, walk around Barangaroo, and visit Bennie the Sydney Opera House seal who comes to sit on the steps each day. A visit to Sydney should not be without a coastal walk from Bronte to Bondi (and back again), stopping for lunch at Bondi Ice Bergs. Public Transport is easy and affordable, however, I try to avoid the trains as they didnt feel very safe. Highlight restaurant was Penelopes at Circular Quay
City transport (trains, buses and ferries) is very efficient...
21 April 2024
City transport (trains, buses and ferries) is very efficient and having an Opal card facilitates travelling and minimises cost. If you are a senior, make sure to obtain a gold card for the significant savings they offer. Plenty of great eateries and pubs to choose from and prices generally in line with out of state venues (eg Tasmania). Plenty of entertainment options on offer for all ages. Take a comfortable pair of walking shoes!
Popular places to stay in Sydney
Stay in some of the best accommodation Sydney has to offer
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3 Bedroom House Family Friendly Surry Hills 2 E-Bikes Included Surry Hills, Sydney
From £135 per night
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Good for Family 3 Bedroom House Darlinghurst with 2 E-Bikes Included Darlinghurst, Sydney
From £135 per night
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Cozy 2 Bedroom Apartment Darling Harbour Sydney CBD, Sydney
From £146 per night
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Sydney Olympic Park View Bliss Modern Design Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney
From £130 per night
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Capella Sydney Sydney CBD, Sydney
From £390 per night
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Other accommodation in Sydney
Choose from a wide variety of places to stay in Sydney
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Apartments
From £26 per night
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Villas
From £354 per night
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Cabins
From £29 per night
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Cottages
From £14 per night
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Serviced Apartments
From £42 per night
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Holiday Homes
From £14 per night
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Guest Houses
From £12 per night
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Hostels
From £7 per night
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Motels
From £43 per night
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B&Bs
From £46 per night
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Homestays
From £42 per night
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Campsites
From £23 per night
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Self Catering Accommodation
From £18 per night
