Sydney Tourist Attractions

Sydney Landmarks

With world-famous landmarks, top tourist attractions, award-winning museums, high-quality restaurants and a bustling nightlife and a great range of hotels and accommodation, Sydney is one of the planet’s most popular tourist destinations, with nearly three million foreign visitors every year.

The city is covered by an extensive public transport system, covering bus, rail, taxi and ferry options, meaning almost anywhere in the city and its surrounding suburbs is easily accessible. A full spectrum of accommodation is available, from backpacker hostels in Kings Cross, to luxury apartments on the waterfront.

It’s relatively easy to get to and finding accommodation is not usually a problem, but with so much to see and do in Sydney, the question is: Where do you start?

Top Tourist Attractions in Sydney

A great place to start sightseeing in Sydney is Circular Quay. Situated Between The Rocks and Bennelong Point, this is the sight of the initial landing of the First Fleet in Port Jackson. As well as being a major transport hub with connections all over the city, the quay is also a key focal point of the area, being located between Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Shops, parks, restaurants and bars can all be enjoyed to the peaceful backdrop of Sydney Cove, and enjoying a cold drink and soaking up the sun and laid-back atmosphere is highly recommended while you decide where to visit next.

It is a toss-up between the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House as to which is the Sydney’s most iconic landmark. The former is the world’s widest long-span bridge, and carries trains, vehicles and pedestrians between the CBD and North Shore. Daredevils can perform a Bridge Climb, winding up ladders and along catwalks to the summit, whilst the more faint-hearted can stroll across at their own pace and take in the panoramic views as they go. The Harbour Bridge is also a key part of the course for the famous Sydney Marathon, which is held every autumn and attracts top runners from across the globe.

Sydney Opera House plays host to a wide range of events throughout the year, and has received architecture’s highest honour for its magnificent and instantly-recognisable structure. The Australian Ballet and the Sydney Theatre Company perform here on a regular basis, as well as many top touring acts.

Sydney Tower makes up the third of the city’s great landmarks, and is the third-tallest observation tower in the Southern Hemisphere, standing at an impressive 325 meters. Express lifts shuttle visitors to the top, where they can relax with a coffee, enjoy a meal in one of the two revolving restaurants, and take in the panoramic views.

Leisure and Entertainment

Sydney’s nightlife caters for everyone, from swanky bars to noisy backstreet clubs that party throughout the night and well into the next morning. King Cross is perhaps the most well-known area for nightlife, and though it has a reputation as a Red-Light district, has undergone significant redevelopment over the last few years and makes for a vibrant and enjoyable night out, with a large number of bars, restaurants and nightclubs to meet all tastes. Nearby Darlinghurst continues the theme, and offers more of the same.

More leisure and entertainment options can be found at Darling Harbour, with even more bars and restaurants, a casino, the largest IMAX theatre in the world and the Chinese Garden of Friendship just some of the many attractions to be found in this modern pedestrian precinct. Amusement park fans should head to historical Luna Park, on the northern shore of Sydney Harbour, which has been in operation for over 70 years.

Nature and Culture Options

On the eastern side of Darling Harbour is Sydney Aquarium, which displays over 650 species of aquatic life, along with an excellent recreation of a Great Barrier Reef environment. Next door, Sydney Wildlife World continues the theme, and is an enclosed alternative to Taronga Zoo.

Taronga Zoo itself is located on the shores of Sydney Harbour in the Mosman suburb. The zoo is home to over 2,600 animals, including kangaroos, koalas, dingoes, wallabies and wombats, meaning you don’t have to head out into the bush to witness native Australian wildlife at its finest.

The Museum and Art Gallery enthusiast is not neglected either, and can take their pick from the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Australian Museum (anthropology and natural history), the Australian National Maritime Museum, the Powerhouse Museum (science, technology and design) and many more.

The city’s Royal Botanic Gardens are free to access and open every day of the year and are a beautiful place to relax on a summer’s day. There are also regular events in the gardens for all the family including music and drama as well as festivals throughout the year.

Of course you could just head to the beach, and with an average temperature of 22C throughout the year, and summer highs well above 30C, it certainly makes sense to do this. Bondi Beach is the most famous, and lies just 7km from the CBD, though can get a little crowded in the height of summer. Coogee Beach (in the south-east of Sydney) and Manly Beach (in the north-east) are just two of the many other options.