5 Best Tourist Attractions in Sydney

The Blue Mountains are the go-to spot for stressed-out Sydneysiders looking for a break from the city. Check out its charming bookshop trail, the perfect daytime activity for book lovers or seek out its magical waterfall that glows after dark. It’s also home to some of the best walking tracks in the country including a new cliff-top walk alongside picturesque gardens that are especially lovely during spring and autumn. Sydney has many secrets but one of our favourites can be found underwater. You can explore a stunning underwater world on this 600-metre-long trail with plenty of local sea life to discover along the way. We first visited Sydney on a trip around the world in 2014 and 2015.
You can wander the streets, visit Observatory Hill for epic harbour views, or make you way to walk across Sydney Harbour Bridge. If you need a place to start, Cadman’s Cottage is a fascinating heritage site that used vr experience to be a water police station. You can also go on a ghost tour and learn about famous haunted locations.

Grab all of the snacks and make the most out of the city’s thriving café culture, public facilities and free activities. Pop on their helmets and get the kids out on their two-wheelers. Grab the little ones and rustle up your own inner child — it’s time to dial up the energy with the city’s most action-packed activities. It’s no coincidence that the city’s trendiest can be found in Sydney’s inner west, inner city and eastern suburbs — it’s where all the great shopping is. While long-established chains provide luxurious lodgings, a crop of newish hotels should be considered while booking your next Sydney visit. The EVE Hotel in Redfern, Capella in the city’s CBD and the W Sydney at Darling Harbour are just a handful of the city’s most exciting offerings.
– The ferry from Circular Quay runs every 30 minutes, takes 30 minutes, and drops you right outside the restaurants. One of the unmissable experiences in Sydney was seeing an open-air performance at the harbour. You can also have a quality dining experience, sail on a cool boat or just hear some interesting information about the harbour. But it is really worth doing at least one sightseeing cruise in the harbour. You get taken to the most interesting corners of the harbour that the large ferries miss, so the views are better.

Enjoy a stroll, pack a picnic lunch, join a free guided tour (the Aboriginal Heritage Tour is a highlight) or come for one of the many memorable events held in the lush antipodean-accented parklands. Sydney’s best-kept secret is perhaps the Broughton St Lookout, located at the southern end of Bradfield Park in Kirribilli. The views of the Sydney CBD, the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House are stunning.
There’s good reason that Darling Harbour is one of Sydney’s most iconic tourist attractions (and one of the top areas to stay in Sydney). Not only is one of the best places to experience the sparkling harbour, but it offers so many things to do, see and eat that you may be there all day long. A zoo is a spectacular way to spend your time in Sydney, especially if you’re passionate about nature and conservation. Taronga Zoo is one of the most popular attractions in Sydney, offering a brilliant array of animals and flora, all against the backdrop of Sydney’s iconic harbour. It’s one of the best picks for families who want to snap photos and learn fun new facts about nature.
The Inner West Bay Run is a scenic, flat 7km loop around Iron Cove, perfect for jogging, cycling, or walking. This family-friendly route runs along the shoreline, offering picturesque views and a serene atmosphere. Despite its beauty, tourists often overlook the Bay Run, providing a local experience away from the usual tourist spots. The vibe at these ocean pools and rock pools is serene and communal, making it a perfect way to start your beach day.

Whilst we liked to have a bbq on the shoreline, you  could choose to take this in from one of the bars or restaurants on Manly Wharf. If you want to make it even more adventurous, then take a kayak from Rose Bay. Alternatively, you can get a water taxi that can drop you off and pick you up at an arranged time. This option is a bit easier if you have food and picnic stuff you want to take! Mrs Macquarie's Chair is undoubtedly one of the best sunset spots in Sydney.
Here are the best check-in places that bearing the signature of Sydney in particular and Australia in general. One of the best ways to explore Sydney’s coastline up close, it’s hard to beat the views from the deck of a ferry. Here are a few quick trips from Circular Quay for a taste of the action. Scuba diving straight off the beach in Sydney is a surprising and accessible adventure suitable for divers of all skill levels.

A book in one hand and a flat white in the other; does it get much better? Some of our favourites include Gertrude & Alice in Bondi, which is packed full with floor-to-ceiling shelves lined with novels, non-fiction and Penguin classics. Also on Oxford Street, Berkelouw Books is a beautiful bookstore with an upstairs café. Elsewhere, stop at Sappho in Glebe for Toby’s Estate coffee blend and a page-turner, or if you’re in the CBD, go to Dymocks on George Street and head to the mezzanine level cafe. Experience one of the world’s most beautiful harbours on a cruise as you wind past attractions like the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge and enjoy a delicious lunch or dinner.
So much so that it even has its own idyllic Cherry Blossom Festival that will transport you to Japan without leaving the city. The Museum of Contemporary Art often hosts exhibitions by huge international artists, including heavyweights like Anish Kapoor, Yoko Ono and Grayson Perry. The waves at Bronte Beach can get a little hairy for less experienced swimmers, but here you can enjoy the best of both worlds with a protected saltwater pool that has waves crashing at the walls. The gallery presents nearly 40 exhibitions annually, and there are workshops, talks and film screenings each week – most of which are free to access. Don't miss the aforementioned new Sydney Modern Project (named Naala Badu to honour the traditional custodians of the land, the Gadigal people).
The North Head Sanctuary, close to the Fairfax Walk, is also worth a visit. It holds special significance to the indigenous people of the Sydney area, with Aboriginal remnants such as rock engravings and middens still visible in the headland. The Burragula Lookout is one of the most impressive lookouts in Sydney, with incredible ocean and Harbour views against the backdrop of the Sydney city skyline. The Maritime Museum is a fun and educational museum that caters for all ages and is a great way to spend an afternoon in Sydney.