Cidade Turismo
Australia
Sydney

Nova Gales do Sul · Australia

Sydney

The Opera and the Harbour Bridge, the bay crossed by ferries, the beaches of Bondi and Manly and the buildings of the convicts who founded the colony: the main gateway to Australia.

Nova Gales do Sul e Camberra (Sydney)

In the photo: Sydney Harbour Bridge

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Sydney is the largest city in Australia and the capital of New South Wales. It grew around a deep, indented bay, Port Jackson, and almost everything visitors come for is close to the water: the Opera, designed by Dane Jørn Utzon and a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Harbour Bridge, Circular Quay, where the ferries depart, and the Royal Botanic Garden, which borders the Farm Cove inlet.

It was on the Sydney Cove inlet that the first British fleet with convicts landed in 1788. The neighborhood of The Rocks preserves the cobblestone streets from that beginning, and three penal-era buildings are part of the Australian Convict Sites, also UNESCO-listed: Hyde Park Barracks in the city center, Cockatoo Island in the middle of the bay, and Old Government House in Parramatta to the west.

The city stretches along dozens of beaches. Bondi, the best known, is about 7 km from the center and has the coastal walk to Coogee; Manly, to the north, is reached by ferry, a crossing that is already a bay cruise. On the other side of the water are Taronga Zoo and Luna Park, a 1930s amusement park at the foot of the bridge.

This destination brings together 1 city: Sydney.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Sydney is
Sydney

Limites: Australian Bureau of Statistics / geoBoundaries (CC BY 4.0). Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Sydney

✈ Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD), in Mascot · 9 km to Sydney

Confirm before booking. Sydney Airport (SYD) is about 9 km from the city center, linked by train, bus and taxi. From other Australian cities you arrive by plane or by train at Central station.

The local experience

Things to do in Sydney

Sydney Opera House
Sydney · Nova Gales do Sul · Monument

Sydney Opera House

Performance venue designed by Jørn Utzon, with white shells atop Bennelong Point, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Sydney Harbour Bridge
Sydney · Nova Gales do Sul · Bridge

Sydney Harbour Bridge

1932 steel arch bridge over the harbour, with a pedestrian walkway, the Pylon Lookout viewpoint and a guided climb up the arch.

The Rocks
Sydney · Nova Gales do Sul · Historic district

The Rocks

The neighborhood where Sydney began, with cobbled streets, 19th-century houses and warehouses, weekend markets and views of the Opera.

Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
Sydney · Nova Gales do Sul · Botanical garden

Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

Botanic garden from 1816 around Farm Cove, with collections of Australian plants and the Mrs Macquarie's Chair viewpoint.

See 11 more places in Sydney
Taronga Zoo
Sydney · Nova Gales do Sul · Zoo

Taronga Zoo

Zoo on the north shore of the bay, with koalas, kangaroos, platypuses and city views, accessible by ferry.

Bondi Beach
Sydney · Nova Gales do Sul · Beach

Bondi Beach

Sydney's most famous beach, with about 1 km of sand, surfing, the Bondi Icebergs pool and the start of the coastal walk to Coogee.

Manly Beach
Sydney · Nova Gales do Sul · Beach

Manly Beach

Surf beach on the north side of the harbour, reached by ferry from Circular Quay, with the promenade The Corso and the Shelly Beach cove.

Hyde Park Barracks
Sydney · Nova Gales do Sul · Museum

Hyde Park Barracks

1819 convict accommodation designed by Francis Greenway, now a museum and one of Australia’s Convict Sites on the UNESCO list.

Cockatoo Island
Sydney · Nova Gales do Sul · Island

Cockatoo Island

The largest island in Sydney Harbour, a former prison and shipyard, UNESCO heritage, reached by ferry.

Old Government House
Sydney · Nova Gales do Sul · Historic house

Old Government House

The country residence of the colony’s early governors in Parramatta, Australia’s oldest public building and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Art Gallery of New South Wales
Sydney · Nova Gales do Sul · Art museum

Art Gallery of New South Wales

Sydney's main art museum, in The Domain park, with Aboriginal, Australian, European and Asian art.

Luna Park Sydney
Sydney · Nova Gales do Sul · Amusement park

Luna Park Sydney

1935 amusement park at the foot of the Harbour Bridge, with a face-shaped entrance, classic rides and views of the bay.

Sydney Tower Eye
Sydney · Nova Gales do Sul · Viewpoint

Sydney Tower Eye

Tower in central Sydney with an enclosed observation deck at about 250 metres high and views across the city from the bay to the ocean.

SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium
Sydney · Nova Gales do Sul · Aquarium

SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium

Aquarium in Darling Harbour with shark tunnels, a dugong, penguins and a large Great Barrier Reef area.

Australian National Maritime Museum
Sydney · Nova Gales do Sul · Museum

Australian National Maritime Museum

National maritime museum in Darling Harbour, featuring a replica of James Cook’s Endeavour, a destroyer and a submarine that can be visited inside.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From September to November and March to May the days are usually mild and more stable, good for walking around the city and the trails. Summer, December to February, is beach season, with more activity and afternoon downpours. Winter is cool and dry; from June to November humpback whales typically pass along the coast.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

3 to 4 days for the essentials: the Opera, the Harbour Bridge, The Rocks, the Royal Botanic Garden, a beach like Bondi or Manly and Taronga Zoo. With 5 or 6 days you can add Cockatoo Island, Parramatta, the museums and a full day in the Blue Mountains to the west.

Which city to stay in

Circular Quay and The Rocks sit beside the Opera and the ferry terminals, good for those who want to walk. The central business district (CBD), between Hyde Park and Darling Harbour, has more options and is close to train stations. Those who prefer beach stay in Bondi or Manly, connected to the center by bus and ferry. Surry Hills and Darlinghurst are restaurant neighborhoods near the center.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Sydney

How many days to book for Sydney?

3 to 4 days are enough for the Opera, the Harbour Bridge, The Rocks, the botanic garden, a beach and Taronga Zoo. With one or two extra days you can include Cockatoo Island, Parramatta or a full day in the Blue Mountains.

Do you need a car in Sydney?

No. Trains, metro, buses, trams and ferries cover the tourist spots, and you can pay contactless with a card or phone. A car only helps for trips outside the city; remember that in Australia you drive on the left.

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