About Sydney 

Spectacularly swathed around its iconic harbor, Sydney is as dazzling as they come. The one-two punch of the stellar Sydney Opera House and the postcard-perfect Harbour Bridge is enough to give it the wow factor. Throw in golden beaches, scenic bushwalks, a vibrant nightlife and a thriving cultural scene and it’s almost an embarrassment of riches. 

While Sydney has a lot going for it, it isn’t necessarily perfect — streets aren’t arranged in a neat grid, so navigating from place to place can be a challenge. Still, losing your way isn’t catastrophic — it might even be serendipitous, leading you to a trendy neighborhood en route to your destination. 

Summer sees some scorching hot days and winter can get chilly, but weather is generally mild and the sun shines year-round. Feel free to go casual and explore Sydney in athleisure wear. In warmer weather, you’ll feel right at home among the laidback locals in their shorts and flipflops. But pack a nice outfit for fancy drinks or a night out — this is Australia’s most cosmopolitan city after all.  

Highlights for the Traveler 

Sydney is a sizable city, but it is very walkable — you can even cross the Harbour Bridge on foot. You’ll still want to arm yourself with an Opal card, which can get you aboard the city’s buses, trains, trams and ferries. 

Get your bearings in the Central Business District (CBD), where you’ll find landmarks like the colonial-era Queen Victoria Building, the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia and The Rocks. Make your way to Circular Quay to marvel at the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, or take in the view from the sprawling Royal Botanic Garden. You can safely encounter Oz’s famed wildlife at Taronga Zoo, or take a ferry up to Manly Beach, where you can stretch out on the roomy shore. 

Just 7km east of the city center is Bondi Beach, where you’ll find a wide expanse of sand and waves made just for surfing. Even non-outdoorsy sorts will enjoy the Bondi-Coogee walk, a leisurely two-hour urban stroll that will take you past stunning beaches, cliffs and pools. If two hours seems like a lot, you can always take a break at a cafe or abandon it altogether in search of other diversions — in Sydney, there are many and they come in all shapes and forms.