Planning a trip to Sydney? It’s not all about the Opera House! (Though I’ll touch on that, too.) Here are my top ten recommendations, in no certain order, to help you make the most of your time in this beautiful city.
Bondi Beach and Surrounds
Its reputation precedes it, and the 35,000 people you can find there on any given summer day are a pretty solid validation. But rest assured – the beach aside, there are many other reasons why Bondi is a must-see.
Click here to see an article I wrote for travel site Weekend Notes highlighting my favorite parts of the neighborhood, from the coastal walks to the markets (I miss them regularly!) and more.


Paddington and Woollahra
Two of Sydney’s Eastern suburbs, these often overlooked beauties are well worth a visit. They’re both known for historical architecture (think terraced Victorian-era homes), a great Saturday morning market (found at 395 Oxford St. in Paddington), an abundance of good coffee shops and lots of great spots for antiquing. There are few places more lovely to go wandering without an agenda on a sunny day.

Rose Bay
I worked at a bakery in this peaceful neighborhood, which was how I discovered it. Otherwise, I would likely never have come here! Lyne Park, adjacent to the water and the site of Sydney’s first international airport (seaplanes have landed here since 1938) is a great spot to relax, read a book, listen to music or watch the sunset.

Circular Quay
This recommendation might be a bit of a cop-out; I don’t think anyone would leave Sydney without seeing the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. In fact, I’d venture to guess that it’s most people’s first stop once arriving. These two famous structures are both located at Circular Quay, one of the many inlets that make up Sydney Harbour as a whole.
Starting at the Opera House, you can walk along the water’s edge, skirting the city’s Royal Botanic Gardens, for a picture-perfect view of the two icons from favorite vantage point Mrs Maquarie’s Chair (check out my Weekend Notes article on the walk here).
Many of the city’s festivals are based in and around Circular Quay, and ferries to other points of interest such as Manly, Taronga Zoo or Watsons Bay depart from here as well, meaning you’ll probably conveniently find yourself in the area several times during your visit.
While you’re there, be sure to check out The Rocks; it’s one of Sydney’s most historic neighborhoods, located right on the south side of the Harbour Bridge.

Manly Beach
Hop on a ferry from Circular Quay for a scenic ride over to Manly. Take a walk down the Corso, the neighborhood’s main drag. Grab some fish and chips to eat on a picnic table by the beach. And for some true Aussie culture, check out The Shop Next Door, a surf shop and coffee spot (my friend Daisy’s brother Taylor owns it, but I promise I would recommend it even if that weren’t the case).
Before you leave, take a leisurely walk south along the coast from Manly over to Shelly Beach (pictured below) and then head up into the North Head Sanctuary for some beautiful bushwalking. If you’re feeling extra energetic, you can hike over to the North Head Lookout for some killer views of Sydney Harbour. (Just be sure to budget a few hours for this – we were a bit rushed and couldn’t see the whole thing.)

Meal Deals
Whether you’re traveling on a budget or not, everybody loves a good deal. Sydney can be expensive, but also has some amazing food bargains if you do a little research. Luckily, I’ve done yours for you! (Happy to help.)
I was especially partial to Dollar Dog Night at The Soda Factory, a great spot in the neighborhood of Surry Hills. Their delicious hot dogs (six to choose from) normally go for $10 but are only $1 (too good to be true, I know) on Tuesday nights from 5pm on.
The Norfolk Hotel, also in Surry Hills, has $3 tacos on Tuesdays as well (my favorite was the coffee braised beef). Flying Fajita Sisters in Glebe and Aussie chain Beach Burrito Company (several locations, highly recommended) also offer $3 tacos on Tuesdays, the latter serving up specials on other nights of the week as well, from $7 margaritas on Wednesday to $20 for a burrito and a beer on Fridays and more.
Most of the deals fall on Tuesday, for whatever reason, but if you do a little digging you can find some great incentives to treat yourself to a meal out on the other nights of the week as well. And since grocery shopping can get pretty expensive in Australia, it often works out to be cheaper to just go out. What more excuse do you need? Bon appétit!

Festivals
I was lucky enough to be in Sydney for a number of great city events and festivals, from Aroma Festival (for all you coffee lovers out there) to Vivid Sydney (so great I attended several nights to soak up as much as possible) to the Sydney Film Festival (where I saw the Australian premiere of Begin Again). There’s always a lot going on, so a quick Google search or stop at a local tourism office once you’ve arrived is definitely worth it.

Newtown
This funky neighborhood is in Sydney’s inner west and is well worth a visit (or two) depending on how much time you have. Located near Sydney University, it’s full of students and as a result has some pretty great thrift stores, restaurants, coffee shops and bookstores. No need to do too much research, just hop on a bus heading for King Street and go from there.
The neighborhood’s main road (often referred to as “Eat Street”) is so full of shops, restaurants, theatres and more that you’re likely to find yourself busy for awhile just taking it all in. Also notable in this area is the interesting street art. My personal recommendation: head to The Pie Tin to fuel up for a day of window shopping, located just off of King Street at 1a Brown St.

Watsons Bay
This area is so picturesque it almost doesn’t seem real. The multitude of sailboats floating in Sydney Harbour’s bright blue waters and set against a backdrop of the city’s hazy, distant skyline make it a challenge to find a much dreamier location in the whole city.
While you’re there, be sure to check out Camp Cove Beach, just a few minutes’ walk from the bay itself. The beach is the start of the South Head Heritage Trail, also highly recommended. This path will take you past Lady Bay Beach, one of the only nude beaches left in Sydney. (It’s relatively concealed from the pathway, but I was still treated to quite the surprising view when I walked by!)

You’ll also get to see Hornby Lighthouse, one of the oldest lighthouses in Australia. The views of the entrance to Sydney Harbour along the way are stunning. Check out my Weekend Notes article here for info on how to get there and what to see while you’re at it.

Taronga Zoo
If a more picturesque zoo is out there, I have yet to find it. A quick ferry across the harbor from Circular Quay will drop you off at the sky safari cable car terminal. Hop on for a fun ride that offers aerial views over the zoo as well as panoramic views of the city’s skyline and harbor, then spend a leisurely day enjoying the variety of animals, native and non.

A Few Extras
Head to the Dudley Page Reserve, a park in Sydney’s eastern neighborhood of Dover Heights, for great city views. I swear it’s the best kept secret of the entire city. It’s pretty far off the beaten track but can be easily combined with a visit to Watsons Bay.

Be sure to check out some of Sydney’s ocean pools and baths. Coming from the States, I had never seen anything like them before. There’s a high concentration on the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk as well as one between Manly and Shelly, plus I’m sure many more in other areas I didn’t get to.

Visit one of the city’s best art exhibits – no museum required. Forgotten Songs is a great piece of street art in Sydney’s CBD (Central Business District, or city center) tucked away just off of Martin Place. Read more about it here and here.

Have you ever been to Sydney? Is it on your list? Let me know in the Comments!

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24 Comments
Annette @ A French Collection
February 23, 2018 at 2:17 amYou’ve certainly got some of my favourites listed here. Woollahra (I’m going there tomorrow to go sailing), Paddington (lived there with my sister), Rose Bay (a haunt of ours when living at Vauclause) and the Opera House (going to a concert there tomorrow night). Thanks for showcasing Sydney. #FarawayFiles
Caity Pfohl
February 25, 2018 at 11:31 amOh I’m so envious! 🙂 I lived in Sydney for a few months while doing a Working Holiday Visa and I still miss the country very much. Such a beautiful, fun-loving place to be with so many opportunities for outdoor activities. 🙂 Thanks for reading!
Tanja/The Red Phone Box travels
February 23, 2018 at 3:36 amI’d love to visit Sydney:) #farawayfiles
Caity Pfohl
February 25, 2018 at 11:33 amI’d recommend it 100%! 🙂 There are so many fun things to see and do, even aside from what I’ve listed here. Thanks for reading! 🙂
Kat
February 23, 2018 at 4:53 amAawww, this post brings back memories of my time in Sydney many, many moons ago! I had travelled twice to Sydney in the mid-90s (I used to live in Adelaide), and the third time was a work visit for 2 months in 2005. Needless to say, I love Darling Harbour, Sydney Opera House and Circular Quay. I reckon Taronga Zoo is the best zoo in Asia-Pacific! And my favourite beach is actually Coogee Beach – I like Manly too but Bondi is over-rated for me. Glad to see that you mention other places too – i guess these are places that only locals would know – good tip for me especially if I plan to return to Sydney again 🙂 #FarawayFiles
Caity Pfohl
February 25, 2018 at 11:37 amI’m so glad to have brought back some pleasant memories! How amazing that you’ve been able to visit the country several times already. I was there from 2014-2015 on a one-year visa and I miss it regularly! I found the quality of life there to be so high. I lived in Sydney for a few months through Australia’s winter season and ended up in an apartment down the street from Bondi Beach. I think one of the reasons I was able to have so much fun exploring such a popular area was because I was largely there in the off-season and didn’t have to fight with as many crowds! I absolutely loved doing the coastal walk and seeing Tamarama, Bronte, Clovelly and Coogee! The beaches in Sydney and elsewhere just blew my mind. 🙂 xo!
Hilary
February 23, 2018 at 9:04 pmCaity, this looks amazing, and since Sydney is at the top of my husband’s list I know I’ll eventually get there! I’m excited to see the beach pools and those bird houses high in the sky looked right up my alley! Thank you so much for sharing these awesome tips on #farawayfiles
Caity Pfohl
February 25, 2018 at 11:39 amIt’s such a great city (and country!) and you will definitely love it! I always felt like the permanent residents were so lucky to have such cosmopolitan options paired with the most beautiful beaches just a short car or bus ride away. I hope you make it there soon! 🙂
Clare (Suitcases and Sandcastles)
February 26, 2018 at 9:54 amRose Bay looks absolutely gorgeous, Caity! What a dreamy find in a busy city. And those ocean pools look pretty special too. Thanks for sharing your Sydney discoveries with us on #farawayfiles
Caity Pfohl
March 20, 2018 at 11:40 amI loved Rose Bay and that was its exact appeal – it felt so calm and separated from the hustle of the busier neighborhoods! The ocean pools were so unique, too – coming from the middle of New York state, I had definitely never seen anything like that before!
Valerie Hansen
March 1, 2018 at 2:15 pmwow your pics are so amazing! I heard that beach is to die for and sure looks like it is. I hope to make it overseas this year, I have only been to Mexico, besides the US and my own country-Canada.
Thanks for sharing!
Caity Pfohl
March 20, 2018 at 11:37 amThanks so much, Valerie! It’s a long flight and can be expensive but I still highly recommend it – it’s an amazing country with so much to explore!
Lisa
March 1, 2018 at 2:22 pmThat is such a great guide! I’m really hoping to make it to Sydney soon! #FlyAwayFriday
Caity Pfohl
March 20, 2018 at 11:36 amI hope you can make it there soon, Lisa! 🙂
Esther
March 2, 2018 at 3:03 amOh, how I loved Sydney! Abslutely agree with everything in your guide!
#FlyAwayFriday
Caity Pfohl
March 20, 2018 at 11:35 amThanks so much, Esther!
Allison
March 2, 2018 at 8:29 amThis is a great list. I’d love to visit Sydney some day. #FlyAwayFriday
Caity Pfohl
March 20, 2018 at 11:32 amThanks for reading, Allison! 🙂
Katherine
March 2, 2018 at 6:45 pmDamn this is making me so homesick! You’ve got a great, comprehensive post! Thanks for taking me down memory lane. #FarawayFiles
Caity Pfohl
March 20, 2018 at 11:30 amThanks so much for reading, Katherine – I hope I did Sydney justice! It’s a city I absolutely loved living in and miss regularly. 🙂
Janine Good
March 15, 2018 at 3:00 pmThis is great! My husband is from Sydney and showed me most of these. I will have to tell him about Taco Tuesdays though! I loved Taronga zoo. Such a beautiful place. Thanks for joining Fly Away Friday! See you tomorrow!
Caity Pfohl
March 20, 2018 at 11:13 amHi Janine! That’s so lucky to have a built-in experienced Sydney guide! 🙂 It’s such an amazing city and I agree about Taronga Zoo – the views alone are incredible!
Kana
March 15, 2018 at 6:25 pmBeing so close to Australia while visiting Fiji and New Zealand, I was SO sad I wasn’t going to make it this time. Australia is DEFINITELY top on the bucket-list though! When I do go, I’ll come back to this for sure! Thanks for joining Fly Away Friday – hope to see you again tomorrow! XO
Caity Pfohl
March 20, 2018 at 11:12 amHey, Kana! I feel the same about being in Australia for a year and not making it to New Zealand! It really just came down to the fact that Australia is so big and is not exactly cheap to get around – I felt like all of my time and resources were best spent seeing as much as I could there! NZ is on the list for the future, though. 🙂