31 Best things to see & do in Sydney

Movie stars do it, footballers do it, mums and dads do it, even old ladies do it. Bridge Climb is the top attraction in Sydney – and must surely rank as one of the world’s greatest bucket list experiences.

Apart from a few short ladders at the start, it’s a surprisingly gentle ‘climb’ and not nearly as scary as it looks. Views of Sydney Harbour are (literally) breathtaking, and you’ll also learn the fascinating history of the bridge and the Sydney Opera House as you go. So be brave; this unique experience is a must.

With its scalloped white roofs, instantly recognisable anywhere in the world, Jorn Utzon’s architectural masterpiece – now a UNESCO World Heritage Site – is rightly regarded as one of the greatest buildings of the 20th Century.

Rather than a single auditorium, the Opera House is a complex of performance spaces hosting music, theatre, ballet and, of course, opera. Book a seat for one of the performances or take the behind-the-scenes tour of this enchanting Sydney icon.

The historic Royal Botanic Garden is the oldest scientific institution in Australia, stretching back to the First Fleet, and featuring 30 hectares packed with exotic and native plants.

But what makes this a stand-out amongst botanical gardens is its location, in the most scenic part of the city, right on the harbour. A footpath starting at Sydney Opera House will take you alongside the harbour and through the garden, for a fantastic one- or two-hour walk.

Look out for giant eels in the pond, loud, squawking cockatoos, and huge roosts of giant (and harmless) fruit bats, which hang from many of the trees; they’re a compelling sight.

With its beehive hairdos, leather cowboy chaps, glitter balls, Dykes On Bikes, dancing queens, and outrageous costumes, the Mardi Gras Parade is a unique global phenomenon, attracting partygoers, performers and spectators from every corner of the planet.

Now in its 44th year, the ‘Mardi Gras’ is actually a whole program of Gay and Lesbian themed events spread over two weeks, including film, comedy, art and plenty of parties. But it’s the world-famous Saturday evening parade that people come for, and which is the undisputed star of the show.

In all, over 65,000 glammed-up marchers and 160 outrageous floats wend their way along Oxford Street, Taylor Square and Flinders Street, in front of tens of thousands of cheering spectators lining the streets. The atmosphere is festive, and at times, electric. Plenty of (straight and gay) locals mix in with tourists and it’s very inclusive – crowds typically include families and plenty of children (who love it).

The parade finishes up at Fox Studios, where an enormous party is then staged, continuing until dawn, for gays, straights and everyone in between.

Editor note: at the time of writing, the parade was being held at the Sydney Cricket Ground due to Covid restrictions.

When British settlers arrived in Sydney Cove in 1788, they found that a rocky headland nearby was an excellent source of building material. The Rocks became Australia’s first slum, complete with rat-infested tenements, brothels, rowdy pubs and bond stores.

Threatened with demolition in the 20th Century, The Rocks has not only survived but prospered and is now one of Sydney’s must-do experiences – complete with charming streetscapes, a sparkling harbour, up-scale restaurants and a brace of galleries and shops and you have a winning formula.

History buffs will find three of Australia’s oldest pubs (The Lord Nelson, Fortune of War and The Australian) in this historic precinct.

One of the world’s most famous beaches and home to Sydney’s beautiful people, this sweeping curve in Sydney’s affluent Eastern Suburbs has evolved from a backpacker destination into a global pleasure palace, brimming with up-market eateries and specialist retail outlets.

Bondi has largely shed its working-class roots and is now home to outdoor gyms, swish cocktail bars and vegan greengrocers. Only the thundering Pacific waves, sunbathers and vigilant lifesavers are unchanged.

Make time in your itinerary for a day at the beach – apart from being rejuvenating and a nice break from sightseeing, it’s a great way to get a taste of the Sydneysider lifestyle.

Sydney’s harbour is considered by many to be the most beautiful in the world, so getting out and exploring on the water – be it by yacht, motorboat, jetboat or even sea kayak – is a must-do.

A range of boating options is available, from short sightseeing pleasure cruises, to days spent moored up (and swimming) off hidden sandy coves, to romantic sleepovers on board.

If you don’t fancy the cost or are not enamoured of boats, at least take the Manly ferry from Circular Quay and back for a similar, if less intimate, harbour experience. For a mere few dollars, it’s outstanding value.

Australia is blessed with a wealth of unusual and exotic species you won’t find anywhere else – koala, kangaroos, wombats, echidnas, platypus. And Sydney’s beloved Taronga Zoo – built into the side of a harbourside cliff and surrounded by bushland – is the ideal place to see them all.

Combine all that with a scenic ferry ride and terrific views across the harbour and a trip to the zoo

is worthwhile for everyone – even if zoos are not usually your thing.

Open up your creative mind and contemplate the rich collections here of Australian, Aboriginal, Asian and European art.

This venerable cultural institution has just emerged from a major refurbishment, including the addition of a new wing called Sydney Modern – due to open at the end of 2022. The gallery’s existing works, numbering around 30,000, are being divided between the two adjacent buildings, with Sydney Modern focussing on the work of contemporary artists from Australia and around the world.

There are helicopter rides in most cities, and if you’ve done one, there’s an instinctive tendency to think ‘done them all’. In Sydney’s case, it’s definitely worth another outing. If you’ve never done one, then it’s a must. The views really are that special.

What other city has such a beautiful harbour, and such unique and compelling landmarks as the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House?

Flights range from a 20-minute scenic flight over the city and beaches, to longer trips to nearby regional attractions. You can take flight to go hiking in the Blue Mountains wine tasting in the Hunter Valley, or whale-watching in the Kangaroo Valley.

Another option to consider is booking your scenic flight upon arrival as your airport transfer – as well as instantly ticking off one bucket list experience, seeing the city and coastline from above is a great way to get your bearings.

This stunning 6km coastal walk along the picturesque clifftops between Bondi and Coogee beaches is one of Sydney’s signature experiences, popular with visitors and locals alike.

The clifftop path takes from Bondi Beach, alongside craggy cliffs filled with wild vegetation, past the lovely Tamarama, Bronte and Clovelly beaches. There are rockpools, headlands, bays, parks and even a rather scenic cemetery.

You can stop half-way at the pleasant clutch of cafés at Bronte Beach for a burger or a fresh juice (and turn back again for a shorter walk). Take your swimming togs and have a dip along the way.

Launched in 1991 as a young upstart rival to the Art Gallery of NSW (AGNSW) across town, the MCA now plays a major role in the cultural life of Sydney.

As its title suggests, the focus of this waterfront gallery is contemporary art from Australia and abroad. Its own collection of 4,000 works spans all art forms, including painting, photography, sculpture and the moving image.

Its permanent collection consists of works by contemporary Australian artists, including leading indigenous painters. But the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) also prides itself on making modern art accessible to those who generally don’t visit galleries by featuring the work of artists such as Christo, Jeff Koons and Roy Lichtenstein.

The MCA also hosts a large number of temporary exhibitions during the year.

Recognised as one of the world’s most beautiful waterways, Sydney Harbour offers plenty of hidden coves, islands and secret beaches to visit – perfect for kayaking. It’s also a great way to get out and appreciate Circular Quay and the major landmarks from a different perspective – the Opera House, for one, looks very different from the water side.

Guided tours leave from several locations, but Rose Bay and Balmoral Beach are particularly scenic, with sandy beaches, flash waterfront property and plenty of luxury boats. If you want to see some of the city’s famous landmarks, then book a small group tour from the Domain.

Anyone interested in Australian history should head to this fascinating museum that showcases and explores Australia’s naval war history, Aboriginal history and its white settler history. Don’t miss the fully-restored, 19th-century tall ship the James Craig.

Australia has been obsessed with surfing since 1915 when Hawaiian legend Duke Kahanamoku toured the country. Since then, Bondi Beach, Sydney’s most accessible beach, has been synonymous with board riding of every kind – from longboarding to boogie boarding.

Bondi Beach is considered one of the best beaches for novice surfers because it offers consistently good surf – although the southern end of the beach, with its powerful right-handers, is generally reserved for more experienced riders. Many Sydneysiders have learned to surf here and Let’s Go Surfing, the resident surf academy, has been operating at North Bondi since 1995.

This small museum, set in two former police courts and a former police station, was the original legal hub at the time of the settlers. Today it preserves the history of crime and punishment in the city, with exhibits on famous criminals, collections of weapons and restored prison cells.

Founded in 1845, the Australian Museum is the fifth oldest natural history museum in the world, with a vast collection of plant and animal specimens, fossils, dinosaurs and cultural artefacts from indigenous communities across Australia and the South Pacific.

An ambitious AU$60 million renovation project has transformed a well-loved institution into something truly outstanding, and the smart new gallery spaces now allow the museum to host major travelling exhibitions.

There is a full program of tours, talks and special exhibitions, plus a wide range of educational activities for children, such as the Prehistoric Playground. General admission is free.

For three weeks every year, Sydney forgets about the cost of electricity and saturates the skyline in coloured light.  Billed as a festival of ‘light, music and ideas’, this free festival attracts some of the world’s greatest digital studios. Installations range from multicoloured 3D light shows to spectacular laser beam action and giant neon-lit sculptures.

Although most of the action takes place around Circular Quay and the Opera House, festival-goers will find pop-up installations at Darling Harbour, Royal Botanic Garden, Barangaroo and suburban Chatswood. Check the Vivid website for a list of attractions, events and locations.

This annual three-week January festival is the major showpiece of Sydney’s vibrant and internationally renowned performing arts scene. It’s Australia’s premier arts and culture festival and a highlight of the city’s vibrant annual event calendar.

It attracts big-name musical, theatrical and dance acts – primarily international performers, with a smattering of local and indigenous acts – many of whom would otherwise never come to Australia.

From major spectacles to small-stage performances, the rich programme of over 100 events involving more than 1,000 artists offers something for all ages and tastes. Dip in and dip out.

This beloved, heritage-listed amusement, famous for its iconic entrance gate, opened in 1935. Today, it’s a blend of the modern and old-fashioned, including one of the last remaining wooden wild mouse rollercoasters in the world.

A delightful piece of urban renewal, this unique industrial-style precinct, housed in a converted historic tram shed, is a slice of foodie heaven. Food stalls and trendy restaurants to satisfy any appetite.

Manly Beach is perhaps second only to Bondi in terms of global fame, but since it lies on the North Shore of Sydney Harbour has its own unique charms – and unlike Bondi there is plenty of street parking. Flanked by Norfolk pine trees, this 1.5km-long strip of golden sand is family-friendly, suitable for surfers and swimmers.

Soaring high above the sparkling waters of Sydney Harbour in a seaplane is surely one of the world’s top travel experiences – whether you’re skimming the waves in Rose Bay, banking over the Opera House or thundering over the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Taking off and landing on water is an experience in itself.

Those with limited time can choose a 15-minute scenic flight over the harbour, Manly and Bondi. Others might opt for a charter flight up the coast to Pittwater, the Hawkesbury River or even the Central Coast.

If you have time, a day trip to Palm Beach, one of Sydney’s ‘northern beaches’ and a playground of the super-rich, is arguably the pick of the trips. The day trip includes lunch at a local restaurant, kayaking and a stroll along the famous white sands.

It’s noisy, crowded and usually smelly, but the Fish Market is a much-loved part of the Sydney culinary scene. The site is home to a retail and wholesale fish market, plus a small working port and excellent seafood cooking school.

Drop in for a plate of sushi, some fresh oysters or piping hot fish n chips. It’s worth the trip just to wander around the kaleidoscopic displays of shellfish, giant tuna and lobsters. These are the dying days of the market – a brand spanking new facility is under construction across the water in Blackwattle Bay; due to open in 2023.

Sydney is famed for its ocean and harbourside pools and this stunning harbourside pool is a stand-out. The Botanic Gardens are on one side, harbour views on the other. Great swim and sunbathing; there’s a fine cafe on site too.

Sydney’s infatuation with the ocean means that the Blue Mountains do not get the attention they deserve. Just 50kms from the city, the Blue Mountains National Park comprises 260,000 hectares of native forest, cascading waterfalls and towering sandstone escarpments. The blue tinge you see is a result of eucalyptus oil in the air.

While day trippers are content to view the landscape from a car park, you should really try to experience its rugged beauty firsthand. Guided rock climbing, canyoning or mountain biking are all excellent. Or just pull on a pair of good boots and tackle one of the many accessible hiking trails into the national park – anything from 1 hour to multi-day hikes.

The 10km path winds around the harbour from Manly beach to the Spit Bridge in Middle Harbour, through a national park of native bushland. The walk takes around four hours, with magnificent views and plenty of good swimming spots.

Built during the Crimean War, this little historic gem sits in the middle of Sydney harbour. It’s now a museum, with fascinating exhibits like a canon gun powder store and a tidal gauge room. Daily ferries go from Circular Quay.

This beautifully-restored Edwardian bathing facility, a short walk from Coogee Beach, offers a stunning ocean swimming pool, historic wooden changing sheds, a small café and wrap-around ocean views. Open daily.

Every city has an aquarium these days, but this is a good one, and great for kids with specimens from the Great Barrier Reef.

For almost 3 weeks every October/November, this internationally lauded (and free) outdoor exhibition sees 100 or so sculptures arranged around the (stunning) coastal footpath between Bondi and Tamarama beaches.