Sydney, Australia Hotels and City Guide

Sydney - Attractions

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Sydney is known for its natural beauty, stunning harbours, waterfalls, and its raw physical appeal. But under all of that is a beautiful culture. Sydney is one of the most diverse cities in the world: people of European, Asian, and African descent coexist peacefully and their cultures have both remained distinct, as we see in Chinatown and Little Italy, and have melted together to create a truly unique identity for Sydney. You can see the heritage of the city in the architecture, the art, the dance, the music, the food. Sydney offers the visitor exciting opportunities and possibilities, the best of which is to experience this marvelous culture up close.

We've selected the top must-see sights in Sydney below, but you can find a more detailed write-up on what to do and see in Sydney here.

Sydney's Main Attractions

Sydney Opera House
Bennelong Point, Circular Quay, +61.02.9250.7111
You cannot discuss Sydney attractions without mentioning the renowned Sydney Opera House. From its unique design to its incredible performances, this is definitely one of the most coveted destinations in the world. There are always new and exciting shows, and it is worth splurging – order your tickets ahead of time. Children and students receive special rates. You must experience a performance here: you will never forget it.

Sydney Aquarium
Darling Park, Darling Harbour, +61.02.8251.7800
This is a great stop for families: kids and adults both will be thrilled by the sharks, fish, seals, and penguins. Walk through underwater glass tunnels for a truly aquatic experience. The Open Ocean Floating Oceanariumm allows you to walk under the ocean and see one of the best selections of sharks in the world. See live coral and tropical fish. This is a feast for the eyes, and a wonderful way to learn about ocean life.

Bondi Beach
Eastern Suburbs, 7 kilometers east of Business District
Bondi is Sydney’s most famous beach. One kilometer long, the beach has facilities for changing and showering, as well as sun lounge, and umbrella rentals. There are plenty of cafes and ice cream stands for refreshment and when you need a break from surfing amidst the beautiful cliffs or playing volleyball. Popular and exciting, Bondi is almost always crowded with those looking for fun in the sun. For a little less excitement, visit Bronte Beach, just 2.5 kilometers away from Bondi. You can take a walking tour and stroll along at your own pace. It’s a beautiful walk, and you’ll be able to see the sights and hear the waves crashing on the beaches.

Sydney Tower
100 Market Street, +61.02.9333.9222
Conquer your fear of heights and visit the Sydney Tower, the tallest observation deck in the southern hemisphere. See the Pacific in the east and the beautiful Blue Mountains in the west. On the Tower Skywalk is a must for thrill-seeking sightseers. Walk around the Tower’s roof and view Sydney from above. It is simply amazing. Restaurants and shops round out the experience.

Art Gallery of New South Wales
Art Gallery Road, The Domain, +61.02.9225.1744
The Art Gallery is the largest in all of Australia and houses an extensive collection of both aboriginal and Asia art. See the roots of Sydney culture, and experience free aboriginal dance performances and concerts featuring the didgeridoo, a wind instrument of the Aboriginal people.

Circular Quay West, The Rocks
140 George Street, +61.02.9245 9245
A great visit for art lovers and budget-conscious travelers, the MCA offers a broad look at contemporary art from Australia and the world. There are also superb exhibits of Aboriginal art that you should not miss out on. The museum offers free admissions on most exhibits, and it is worth paying a few dollars to see the wonders of the traveling events and features.

Australian Reptile Park
Somersby, Gosford NSW, +61.02.4340.1022
Some of the rarest reptiles in the world call the Reptile Park their home. You can see incredible pythons and crocs, as well as koalas and kangaroos. Spider World is a must, as are the daily wildlife shows. The creepy, crawly exciting world is a special treat for families. Arachnophobics beware!

Royal Botanical Gardens
Mrs Macquaries Road, +61.02.9231.8111
Over 30 hectares of space are dedicated to beautiful rose and cacti gardens, and even a rain forest display. Take advantage of the free tours that are offered every morning at 10:30am, and then stop for lunch at the Botanic Gardens Restaurant, with a beautiful view of the Palm Grove. Stop and smell the roses.

Mrs. Macquarie's Chair
Sydney Harbour (close to the Botanic Gardens and Art Gallery)
Who is Mrs. Macquarie? Chances are you’ll see her famous chair. It is really a sandstone rock cut into a bench on Sydney Harbour. It was carved in 1810 by convicts for the governor’s wife: Mrs. Macquarie. She used to sit there, enjoying the view and watching ships come into the harbour. It’s a great place to see the most beautiful sights in Sydney, and snap a picture.

Bicentennial Park
Australia Avenue, Sydney Olympic Park, +61.02.9714.7888
Bicentennial Park is a lovely destination for tourists and residents alike. Wide open spaces, shade trees, playgrounds, public facilities, free parking, free electric barbeques, and 8 kilometers of beautiful bike and walk paths make this the ideal way to spend your days. Even better, plan to host your event there, whether a family party or a wedding, you can have the best setting in Sydney for your special day.

Sydney Organic Food Market
Orange Grove Public School, Leichardt
There is no shortage of outdoor markets in Sydney. Popular with residents, visitors, and especially chefs, these are great places to sample fresh Sydney food. The Organic Food Market in Leichardt is open every Saturday and features an amazing selection of organic foods. Create your own picnic or gather ingredients for dinner. Either way, it is delicious, fresh, and healthy.

Belvoir Street Theatre
25 Belvoir Street, Surry Hills, +61.02.9699.3444
The Belvoir Theater features unique Australian theater, with highly original, innovative, and experimental productions. Come and see Company B perform. Geoffrey Rush said of the theater, “This is the cradle of theater – what it’s all about.” Award-winning actors, exciting shows – the Belvoir is a wonderful venue and worth a look while you are in Sydney.

Sightseeing Overview

Here is a very important fact for those visiting the beautiful city of Sydney: it is only cloudy or rainy a total of 23 days of the year. Whenever you arrive in Sydney, chances are it is going to be a perfect day to hit the beach. Though Sydney is quite large – it is 97 kilometers (60 miles) from top to bottom, and 55 (34 miles) kilometers across – you are almost always very close to a beach. Take advantage of the harbours, the ocean, and the sun. There’s almost an embarrassment of riches as Sydney is home to Palm, Bondi, Manly, Coogee, Curl Curl, Dee, Why, Narabeen Beaches… and the list goes on and on and on. Visitors and residents alike surf, dive, snorkel, play a game of volleyball, or just picnic and watch the tide.

Thrilling waves may sound great to surfers, but what if you have children? The more mellow Bronte and Balmoral Beaches are perfect. Bronte has a gentle “swimpatch,” or pool formed by rocks, a playground, and a barbeque and picnic area. Balmoral is a sheltered swim area – sharkproof, parents! – without dangerous waves or undercurrents. Kids will love the playground and grass, and parents will love going to dinner at the nearby Bather’s Pavilion.

Work on your tan, read a beach novel, and have a great time: you could visit a different Sydney beach everyday of your travels! But make sure to clean the sand off your feet and visit some of the city’s other noteworthy attractions. Sydney is famous for its wildlife, and the care that zoos and sanctuaries take to recreate the natural habitats of endangered species, such as koalas. Visit Sydney Wildlife World, where you can see animals from the bush, rainforest, swamp, and desert. Taronga Zoo also features species native to Australia, as well as the rest of the world on 23 hectares of land. This is a great place to take children and learn about animals. Featherdale Wildlife Park and the Sydney Aquarium are also interesting treats for any visitor. Stroll through the beautiful Botanic Gardens or take an exciting whale watching cruise. Sydney provides ample opportunities for nature lovers to get out and experience the world.

Sydney does not lack for high culture, either. The iconic Sydney Opera House attracts millions of visitors who come to hear not only opera, but the Sydney Symphony, Philharmonia Choirs, Australian Chamber Orchestra, and ballet performances. The construction of the Opera House was funded not out of public funds but an innovative project, called the Opera House Lottery. Australians bought tickets, and the building was constructed over the course of 15 years. It is truly a community effort, and today, the Opera House repays the city by offering some of the most grand performances in the world. Do not miss out on this historical landmark, whether it is a concert, performance, or a tour.

With the huge shadow of the Opera House, it would be easy to miss smaller theaters. But it would also be a shame, because there are several world-class venues in the city, such as the Capital Theater, the Lyric Theater, and the Ensemble. Sydney is an internationally recognized center for the arts. See the Sydney Dance Group and the Bangarra Dance Theater group. See some of Sydney’s actors in action at Tropfest, a wonderful festival for filmmakers. Just as Sydney presents visitors with a dazzling array of beaches, the cultural options are equally staggering. Visit the many museums and galleries that dot the city, such as the Art Gallery of NSW, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and Australian Museum.

From whale watches and ferry rides to football matches, bike paths, festivals, and walking tours, there is so much to see and do in this incomparable city. There is more than enough to satisfy any outdoor enthusiast as well as ample offerings for the cultural high-brows. The wonderful diversity of the city presents itself in both its friendly people and its myriad attractions.

Hotels in Sydney, Australia