By air
Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD), ~9 km
Australia & New Zealand · Australia
Sydney, Australia
Harbour, beaches and the Opera House
Getting there
Best time to visit
September to November and March to May — mild and sunny
Don't miss
Sydney Opera House
Sydney Harbour Bridge
Bondi Beach
The Rocks
Things to do
The Bondi to Coogee coastal walk
A ferry to Manly
Climbing the Harbour Bridge
A Blue Mountains day
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: W. Bulach · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
Layers, swimwear, strong sunscreen (the sun is fierce)
A quieter corner
The Spit to Manly coastal walk
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Sydney?
September to November and March to May, when it's mild and sunny. Pack layers, swimwear and strong sunscreen — the sun is fierce.
What shouldn't I miss in Sydney?
The Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge (climb it if you can), Bondi Beach and The Rocks. A ferry to Manly and a Blue Mountains day are worth adding too.
Which coastal walk should I do in Sydney?
Start with the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk, then try the Spit to Manly coastal walk, a hidden gem.
Where should I eat in Sydney?
Go to the Sydney Fish Market, join in the city's brunch culture, and try Haymarket's noodle bars.
About Sydney
- Coastal
Where it is
Sydney, the capital of New South Wales and Australia's oldest city, spreads around Port Jackson, one of the world's great natural harbours, on the south-east coast facing the Tasman Sea, with the Blue Mountains to the west.
History
The Gadigal and other clans of the Eora nation lived around the harbour for tens of thousands of years before the British First Fleet arrived in 1788 and founded a penal colony at Sydney Cove. The colony grew into the chief city of New South Wales; the Harbour Bridge, opened in 1932, and the Opera House, opened in 1973, became symbols of modern Australia, and the city hosted the Olympic Games in 2000.
People
Sydneysiders come from all over the world, and after English the most common languages spoken at home include Mandarin, Arabic, Cantonese and Vietnamese. Aboriginal culture is honoured in Welcome to Country ceremonies, and beach life, surf lifesaving clubs and New Year's Eve fireworks over the harbour are part of the city's identity.
Known for
- The Sydney Opera House
- The Sydney Harbour Bridge
- Bondi Beach and the coastal walks
- Harbour ferries to Manly
- The Rocks and Circular Quay
Did you know?
The Sydney Opera House, designed by the Danish architect Jørn Utzon, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its roof shells are covered with more than a million tiles.
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