You can walk along the waterfront, climb cliffs, and explore old neighbourhoods as well as modern museums. To avoid missing out on anything, it’s best to plan your itinerary in advance, and the Sydney Unlimited Attractions Pass will help you save money while visiting Sydney’s attractions.
In this article, we present twenty places that are definitely worth seeing if you want to feel the rhythm of Australia’s most colourful city.
Port Jackson Cove
Sydney is built on the winding shores of Port Jackson Bay, the largest natural bay in the world. Its curving coastline cuts deeply into the land, creating a maze of bays and harbours. Bridges and piers connect the shores, and many neighbourhoods are more easily accessed by water – ferries are as familiar here as buses.
Port Jackson spills out into three smaller bays, also known as arms: Sydney Harbour, Middle Harbour, and North Harbour.
Port Jackson Bay is best experienced from the water. Cruises run along the coast, offering panoramic views of the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, skyscrapers, and other Sydney landmarks. If that still doesn’t inspire you, consider joining local divers and enjoying the company of the friendly fishermen on the pier.
Opera House
There is an ongoing debate about what the theatre resembles; some see it as a sailboat, others as a swan or a lotus. This landmark is Sydney’s most recognisable building — one of its symbols, alongside kangaroos and koalas. The concrete structure is clad in two million tiles; in the morning, they reflect the sun and contrast with the water, and in the evening they serve as a screen for light shows.
» READ MORE – Sydney Opera House: rooms, tickets, tips
Inside, there are five concert halls, including the world-famous Joan Sutherland Hall. In addition to opera, it hosts contemporary music concerts, children’s shows, ballet, immersive performances, film screenings, and celebrity guest talks.
There are cafés, bars, and even a library with archives about the theatre open to the public. The best views of the opera’s white-washed hemispheres are from a ship or the Harbour Bridge.
Harbour Bridge
Sydney’s longest bridge accommodates eight car lanes; this number once seemed prohibitive, but today it is considered insufficient. In addition to cars, trains speed along two railway lines, while pedestrians and cyclists move along dedicated paths.
Extreme sports enthusiasts can climb to the top of the bridge; from a height of forty storeys, the view of the city is breathtaking, with cars rushing below and helicopters flying overhead. Even without the climb, the scenery remains unforgettable.
One of the towers serves as a historical museum of the bridge, and on New Year’s Eve, large-scale fireworks light up the sky; we suggest admiring them from the Botanical Garden.
It is advisable to book tickets in advance, as excursions are held at specific times. For an additional fee, photos are taken and provided in paper or electronic form if you purchase a flash drive.
Royal Botanical Gardens
A green oasis of tranquillity in the city centre, the Royal Botanical Gardens invite you to walk amongst endangered plants, enjoy water views, and have a picnic.
Even the signs encourage you to dip your nose into velvet flower buds, walk barefoot on the grass, hug trees, and feed birds – you are here to commune with nature!
There are yellow-crested cockatoos and black-billed ibises in the garden, and well-fed possums, the local squirrels, scurry along the branches. It is best not to offer the animals any unhealthy treats; fruit and berries will do.
Bondi Beach
For those seeking Sydney’s most scenic sights, there is Bondi Beach. While there are plenty of beaches, this one has its own seasonal specialities.
| September through October | Whale and dolphin migration monitoring | ||
| The appearance of the huge beasts can be seen from land, and the particularly curious can approach them by boat | |||
| December through February | The best time for swimming, as the waters, crescent-shaped with white sand, are quite cool | ||
| The areas allowed for swimming are marked with flags, further away it is dangerous, strong currents | |||
During the day, it is an ideal spot for surfing or yoga. You can refresh yourself right on the beach – there are showers, changing rooms, and drinking fountains. After a swim, it’s worth visiting one of the cafés on the seafront, and if evening approaches, the beach transforms into one big party. Here you can relax or dance until midnight, just like in the cinema.
SEA LIFE Aquarium
Clownfish reminiscent of those in the cartoon Finding Nemo frolic in the coral reefs, while sharks, stingrays, and sawfish glide beneath the glass tunnel ceilings, and herbivorous sea cows rest in the pool.
The Sydney Oceanarium is divided into zones, allowing you to discover 700 additional underwater species from tropical beaches and icy islands.
- In the Antarctic zone, a boat trip to see the penguins awaits; they perform underwater tricks before meeting you on shore
- Children can join informative guided tours and interactive activities, enjoy refreshments in the café, and receive a souvenir keepsake
- Diving with sharks
It is advisable to book tickets in advance to save money.
Art Gallery of New South Wales
The gallery’s pseudo-Greek façade shelters Picasso’s monochromes, Monet’s landscapes, Van Gogh’s sketches, Rubens’ subjects, and other paintings. In addition to refined classics, there are entire displays of Indigenous and contemporary Australian art, along with up to 40 temporary exhibitions each year.
Archibald Wynne & Sulman Prizes 2025 will be on view from 10 May.
Among the collection, 44 works are recognized as some of the top 100 masterpieces of Australian painting, including McCubbin’s «On the Wallaby Trail» and Russell’s portraits and landscapes.
After a stroll through the halls, you can visit the café, browse the library, or find an art souvenir in the museum.
Museum of Modern Art
This attraction is Sydney’s youngest cultural haven and owes its opening to Australian John Power, who bequeathed a fortune in the name of art.
It houses over 4,700 works by Australian artists and Aboriginal creations. Some pieces are shockingly frank and extravagant, while others feature calm compositions with elements of national clothing and jewellery. Exhibits are presented in various forms: painting, sculpture, clothing, and photography.
These modern interpretations of national culture should not be confused with traditional art. Temporary exhibitions also feature works by modern legends such as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein.
Australian National Maritime Museum
The museum’s exhibits are spread both outdoors and indoors. Its dockside fleet is diverse — one of the largest historic fleets in the world. Take your pick and climb aboard:
- Cold War vessels: the USS Vampire and the submarine Onslow
- Copies of Captain Cook’s sailing ships Endeavour and the Dyfken, the first European ship to reach Australia’s shores
The museum offers a multifaceted introduction to Australian culture, featuring displays on indigenous peoples, their lives, migration, and the impact of the sea on the economy. A replica of the USS Endeavour departs from here, allowing you to take a ride along the coast.
Australian Museum
With over 21 million exhibits, the Australian Museum truly has everything.
- If you’re interested in local culture, head to the room displaying Aboriginal remains and everyday objects — masks, tools, jewellery, and clothing. You can even touch some items, and signs explain the stories of the people and objects
- For animal enthusiasts, there are halls dedicated to past fauna: huge dinosaur skeletons, dried crustaceans, stuffed animals, reptiles, and fish preserved in formalin
- For those interested in gemology, the collection of minerals and fossils is a must-see. It includes ammonites and other creatures that once inhabited Sydney waters, precious stones and fossils from Antarctica, as well as pieces of volcanoes and meteorites
If you prefer guided exploration, a tour guide is available, and there are interactive activities for kids – for example, you can try your hand at being an ornithologist for a day.
Luna Park
Our list of Sydney attractions continues with an iconic and recognisable park. Walk through the giant face and find yourself immersed in a 1930s
Art Deco atmosphere, surrounded by rides and attractions for both kids and adults.
The vintage Ferris wheel offers a view of the city from a height of forty metres, the classic horse-drawn carousel evokes childhood memories, the octopus carousel and water rides make you feel like a pirate, and the roller coaster – with its sea view – combines thrill with a refreshing sea breeze.
Apart from the newer attractions, there are also retro rides:
- The shrunken Rotor, reconstructed in 1995, is so fast that it presses you against the wall
- The world’s only surviving Coney Island offers plenty of fun, featuring a shooting gallery and spinning barrels
If you prefer a more relaxed experience, visit the game stalls and souvenir shops, and enjoy a meal at a restaurant overlooking the sea or sample Australian street food. Luna Park regularly hosts shows, fireworks, and themed festivals.
Taronga Zoo
Kangaroos, koalas, platypuses — let’s consider them in order. Taronga Zoo, one of the largest zoos in the world and the oldest in Australia, is home to 340 animal species, some of which are found nowhere else.
The local wetlands area shelters storks, pelicans, and cranes; the Duckbill House is home to wombats; and the Australian section features koalas and wallabies (often considered miniature kangaroos). It is not just native marsupials on display — be sure to check out the endangered Goonfelows, which are native to New Guinea. The zoo features animals from all over the world, from savannah dwellers to deep-sea creatures.
There is a cable car for kids and a cosy café on site overlooking the harbour.
Do not go beyond the designated contact area, and be aware that animal encounters must be booked in advance.
Take your pick: cuddle with capybaras and meerkats, pet an elephant, or feed koalas and giraffes.
The Rocks neighbourhood
The next Sydney landmark on our list is not just a building, but an entire neighbourhood. This charming, colourful low-rise area looks exotic against the backdrop of skyscrapers. Once home to the first settlers, it is now a conservation area featuring Victorian-style buildings, stone houses, and narrow streets.
Many of these buildings have been converted into shops, cafés, and art galleries; however, the city’s oldest house – Camden Cottage, built in 1816 — has retained its original fate.
The Rocks Market is bustling with stalls and traders.
There is an abundance of souvenirs: handmade jewellery featuring Sydney opals and pearls, flavoured rum and Wedgemite paste made from beer syrup, and thousands of Aboriginal-inspired or exotic leather garments and accessories.
Kids will love the plush kangaroos and koalas, while sweet treats include eucalyptus honey or Lilly Pilly jam (made from a local purple berry).
Fish Market
Have you managed to get hungry? Try fresh seafood! The fish market offers hundreds of species of sea creatures: lobsters, crabs, clams, octopus, and more.
In addition to wholesale and retail sales, there are auctions for particularly interesting lots, such as giant tuna.
There are also cafés where this exceptionally fresh food is prepared right before your eyes and served with wine or other beverages. If you choose a street vendor, be careful — hungry seagulls are sure to keep you company.
Virgin Mary Cathedral
Sydney’s main Catholic cathedral towers over the city like a medieval temple. The honey-coloured sandstone has weathered on the outside while its interior hue remains preserved. Typically, cathedrals are oriented from east to west, but this one is built from north to south, resulting in dimly lit halls.
Church services, wedding ceremonies, and other events are held here. The high ceilings cause sounds to echo, making the organ music even more compelling.
St Andrew’s Cathedral
St Andrew’s Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral featuring the largest organ on the continent, created by merging two earlier organs.
The sanctuary floors are adorned with mosaics in the Italian cosmatesque style, and the names of those involved in its construction are carved into the high ceilings of painted wood. The stained glass windows depict scenes from the lives of Jesus Christ and the Apostle Andrew.
Church services are held daily in the shrine, accompanied by a male choir and a troupe of bell ringers, and classical music concerts take place on Thursdays.
Observatory and Planetarium
This Sydney landmark offers views of many others. The observatory is best visited in the evening, when celestial objects are most visible, although 3D star shows are also available during the day.
Inside, you will find the oldest telescope dating back to 1874 alongside newer versions, including a special one for observing the sun. On clear days, you can see sunspots on its surface; on other days, Jupiter is visible.
If you divert your gaze from the stars, you will also enjoy some of the best panoramic views of Sydney from Observatory Hill.
Queen Victoria Building (QVB)
Sydney’s shopping centre, locally known as the Queen Victoria Building (QVB), is housed within the walls of an ornate historic building – a landmark in the conventional sense. The interior is as beautiful as the exterior.
- Nestled among the stained glass windows and carved staircases is a tea room and a chocolate shop
- A mechanical clock from England displays scenes from royal life every hour
- A Christmas tree is placed under the dome (with copper on the outside and glass on the inside) each year
It is a pleasant stroll among the shops and exhibition spaces, and restaurants offering cuisines from around the world – whether Japanese or Central European – invite you to dine.
Sydney Harbour Park
Sydney Harbour Park is an unspoiled corner of nature set against a picturesque harbour, where turquoise waves crash against rocky shores and the open ocean stretches into the distance. Aboriginal drawings of animals and people can still be seen on the rocks.
Within the protection of the National Park are water reserves, beaches, and bushy islands. As a result, the grass tree, flannel flower, and other endangered plants have been preserved here. The park has also become one of the last habitats for tiny marsupials such as bandicoots, which can be observed in the evening as they emerge from their burrows.
Blue Mountains
The final attraction on our list is located out of town; a train or bus will take you from Sydney to the Blue Mountains National Park in about two hours.
The Blue Mountains appear blue due to the refraction of light from the eucalyptus forests releasing essential oils. In fact, they are not truly mountains but rather a region filled with numerous gorges and ascents. We recommend exploring the area with a guide, who will ensure you don’t miss anything:
- The Three Sisters Rocks are best viewed from the observation deck of the same name, and there are cafés and souvenir shops nearby
- Unmistakable emotion resonates from the Railways, which feature the steepest railway in the world
- The Skyway cable car offers marvellous views of the waterfalls and takes you to scenic forest paths
- The waterfalls appear particularly impressive in rainy weather; for a closer look, head to Wentworth, the highest waterfall in the Blue Mountains. Here, water descends into the Valley of Waters, which is home to several other captivating smaller waterfalls such as Empress and Sylvia.
- Jenolan Caves are the oldest caves in the world. Over centuries, water has eroded sedimentary rocks to form vast cavities. Metre-high stalactites and stalagmites hang overhead, appearing especially majestic in the dark, with droplets falling into the lakes beneath your feet and echoing in the cool air.
Be cautious in the mountainous terrain and choose comfortable shoes, as there are steep descents and ascents along the way.
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