Why go?
There are few cities that offer such extraordinary experiences as Sydney. But it's not just the golden beaches and architectural icons that make the Harbour City special. As one of the world's most multicultural cities, Sydney's rich diversity manifests itself brilliantly in its vibrant, ever-changing arts and culinary scene. Sydney is also an extraordinarily inclusive metropolis, designed for year-round enjoyment.
In the Sydney Metro. Credits chinasong / Shutterstock
Best time of year
Mid-Season
(September-November and mid-February-May)
Accommodation is more affordable before and after the peak summer season.
You can take advantage of the more pleasant temperatures for days at the beach.
The calendar is packed with festivals and events, including the Sydney WorldPride in 2023.
Book a hotel on Booking:
If you're planning to explore the regions beyond Sydney, you may want to consider the various accommodations available http://www.newsouthwaleshotels.net/en/port-macquarie-hotels-30273/ in Port Macquarie, another exciting destination in New South Wales.
Daily budget
Double room in a mid-range hotel: €110-200
Dinner in a local restaurant €15-40
Admission to museums: €0-17
Glass of wine: €9
Pint of beer: €7
Day One: The landmarks. Morning
Put on comfortable shoes and walk to Circular Quay for your first glimpse of Sydney's glittering harbour. After the obligatory selfie with the backdrop of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, join a guided tour of the iconic Sydney Opera House(€28, 1 hour), which reopened its concert hall in 2022 after a major renovation to address long-standing acoustic and accessibility issues. Equipped with a lift to transport visitors with limited mobility up to the first gallery, the renovated concert hall features new, more elegant and efficient corrugated acoustic walls made of fine Australian wood. A full calendar of events is planned to celebrate the theatre's 50th anniversary in 2023.
Walk along the promenade through the Royal Botanic Garden to Mrs Macquarie's Point, where you can take a break on a sandstone rock carved into the shape of a bench by convicts (Mrs Macquarie's Chair) and admire one of the most beautiful views of Sydney Harbour. Then walk through the lush gardens to the Art Gallery of NSW, which houses a superb collection of Australian and international art. The Sydney Modern Project, Sydney's most significant cultural building project in 50 years, will open in December 2022. It will see a major transformation of the city's historic art museum, including a new exhibition gallery and various other interventions. As at the Art Gallery of NSW, the permanent collection will be free admission.
Lunch
Grab your swimming costume, don a stylish cover-up and hop on a bus, train or taxi to another Sydney icon: Bondi Beach. Before you hit the waves, treat yourself to a great lunch of regional Italian specialities and a breathtaking view of the beach (perhaps spotting some celebrities) atIcebergs Dining Room, a Sydney institution overlooking the famous pools. Lola's Level 1 and Sean's also offer excellent Mediterranean dishes with ocean views, a stone's throw from the beach.
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Surfing at Bondi Beach. Credits Marina J / Shutterstock
Afternoon
Spend an afternoon relaxing on Sydney's most popular beach, or stretch your legs among muscular locals along the Bondi to Bronte Walk, a 2.3km trail that follows the spectacular sandstone cliffs connecting the two beaches. If you're feeling fit, continue south along the coastal path for another 3.2 km to Coogee Beach, where the Coogee Bay Hotel offers the perfect spot for a refreshing break with a passion fruit spritz in the afternoon sun.
Evening
If you've chosen accommodation in the City (or CBD, Sydney's central business district), start the evening with the best mezcal margarita in town at Cantina OK! (Latin American flavours have become increasingly popular in Sydney over the past decade) before heading to dinner. Once lacking in high-end dining options outside the classic Circular Quay restaurants (including the still excellent Aria, Bennelong and Quay), the City is now home to some of Sydney's best restaurants. For something new, head to 25 Martin Place (the refurbished former MLC Centre), where you'll find options like the Middle Eastern-inspired Aalia, whose tender, slow-roasted lamb neck shawarma is a must-try. Or choose from the tantalizing offerings at Barangaroo, a former industrial harbour converted into a vibrant multifunctional neighbourhood. We love Rekōdo, TV chef Matt Moran's take on a Japanese listening bar with modern Japanese dishes to share.
You can stay in minimalist chic in the heart of the city without spending a fortune at Little National, which sits above Wynyard Station, or opt for art deco elegance at Kimpton Margot Sydney, a recently opened hotel in a magnificent period building that used to house the Sydney Water Board. A new addition to the city's hotel scene is the W Sydney in Darling Harbour, within easy walking distance of the city centre. Resembling a giant ribbon of steel, the hotel will welcome its first guests in October 2023.
Day two: the cultural fabric. Morning
Grab a flat white takeaway at one of Sydney's countless cafes (they're all good, trust me) and discover the city in a new light by climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge with an Aboriginal guide during BridgeClimb Sydney's Burrawa Climb. As you climb the 1332 steps to reach the top of what Sydneysiders have dubbed 'the coat rack', your guide will provide fascinating information about Sydney's rich Aboriginal cultural heritage. If you don't like heights, join the walking tour of The Rock organised by Dreamtime Southern X. On this lively tour, your guide will explain how Sydney's 'keepers of tradition' still remain deeply connected to the landscape. You'll hear stories and songs and perhaps be surprised to see medicinal and native bush plants grown in Australia's largest city.
Circular Quay at sunset. Credits CoolR / Shutterstock
Lunch
Discover another aspect of multicultural Sydney by immersing yourself in its food scene. Share its residents' passion for Asian flavours by savouring the delicious bites at Mr Wong's in Bridge Ln, which serves dim sum only for lunch. If you're in Sydney on the last Sunday of the month, book ahead to Lankan Filling Station in Darlinghurst, a suburb immediately east of the city centre, for Sri Lankan crab curry. Or pop into South Eveleigh (a short walk from Redfern Station) at 11am to find a table without queuing at Lucky Kwong, the newest restaurant from Australian chef Kylie Kwong. Fresh and light, her homestyle dishes reflect the chef's Cantonese origins and are a treat for both palate and soul.
The Australian Museum, Sydney. Credits Maurizio De Mattei / Shutterstock
Afternoon
Head to theAustralian Museum, located across from Hyde Park and newly renovated, to learn more about Sydney's Aboriginal (and other) history through the splendid First Nations exhibitions, conceived and set up in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples and communities to ensure the objects in the collection are interpreted correctly. The museum is free admission and also includes an excellent natural science section, whose rich collection ranges from Australian dinosaur skeletons to specimens of the nation's deadliest spiders.
Evening
Wear something glitzy for an evening of Sydney style at the Imperial in Erskineville, west of the city centre. The historic pub, within walking distance of the train station, was immortalised in the legendary 1994 film Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Its restaurant Priscillas hosts the best Drag N Dine in town, with cheeky drag queens livening up the stage from Wednesday to Sunday. On Friday and Saturday nights, the underground club Basement at the Imperial is worth it all.
In the city, the relaxation in 2021 of local nightclub closure regulations (under which those downtown refused entry after 1.30am in order to curb alcohol-related disturbances) has breathed new life into the LGBTQI+ neighbourhood of Oxford St. Party at venues like the Colombian Hotel, Ching-a-Lings or the Burdekin. Not your scene? Go for one of the few European-style wine bars in Sydney 's eastern suburbs (try Dear Sainte Eloise in Potts Point). Alternatively, catch a performance by the Bangarra, a renowned Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dance troupe, or a theatre show at one of the city's many venues (you can't go wrong with the Sydney Theatre Company).
Day three: morning. The Northern Beaches
Sydney's best beaches aren't just on the south side of the bridge. Take a ferry at Circular Quay for the scenic 20-minute crossing to Manly, one of the most famous stretches of sand in the Northern Beaches. Ride the waves at Manly Beach or walk the short path along the ocean to Shelly Beach, a sheltered cove with picture-postcard scenery, popular with families and snorkellers.
The Manly area. Credits Juergen_Wallstabe / Shutterstock
Afternoon
After a seafood lunch by the sea (try the Manly Boathouse), you could take a hike (45-minute walk, or take bus 161) to North Head, an excellent viewing spot for humpback whales that pass through these waters during their annual migration from May to November. If you are not in a hurry, take bus 199 for the one-hour ride along the coast to The Newport. Overlooking the beautiful Pittwater estuary, this vast suburb fills up with locals on weekend afternoons, with several bars and restaurants giving it an informal marketplace feel. If you have your own vehicle, take a drive to Palm Beach, on the northern tip of the peninsula, for a refreshing dip within walking distance of some of Sydney's most exclusive real estate. It's worth the short but steep climb up the sandstone steps to the historic Barrenjoey Lighthouse at the northern end of the beach for sweeping coastal views.
Evening
The last ferry back to town doesn't leave until midnight, so there's plenty of time for dinner and drinks in quiet Manly. Start with an aperitif at the Wharf Bar, overlooking the water a short walk from the ferry terminal. Or walk up Manly Corso to the Manly Greenhouse, a three-storey beachfront building that includes a casual elegance restaurant with a Mediterranean-inspired menu, a cosy wine room and a cocktail bar on the rooftop terrace adorned with lush plants. Also on the waterfront is the historic Steyne Hotel (circa 1859), which has been given a contemporary twist with an elegant whisky bar and airy roof terrace.
Day Four: Out-of-town excursions or other great sights in Sydney
From Sydney you can take day trips to two of New South Wales' top attractions: the Blue Mountains and the Hunter Valley, which you can easily add to a Sydney travel plan. If you prefer to stay in the city, recharge your batteries with a classic Sydney brunch before visiting other city sights.
Blue Mountains NP. Credits CO Leong / Shutterstock
Blue Mountains
Located west of Sydney and only a 90-minute drive (or two hours by train) away, the eucalypt-scented Blue Mountains are criss-crossed by some of Australia's most beautiful hiking trails; visit the NSW National Parks website for the latest information. To get your bearings, start in Katoomba, where the Echo Point lookout offers spectacular views of the famous Three Sisters rock formation, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Old Katoomba is also home to most of the region's restaurants and accommodation, should you decide to extend your visit. Don't forget to bring a pullover: in the mountains, at 1017 m above sea level, it can be cool even in summer.
Hunter Valley
The Hunter Valley, Australia's oldest wine region, stretches its rolling hills north of Sydney and can be reached in just two hours. Join a day tour, which usually includes a visit to four wineries and lunch at a winery, or hire a car and choose which of the more than 150 wineries to visit on your own.
The Hunter Valley's most renowned wine is Chardonnay, but other important grape varieties are produced in the valley, including Sémillon, Verdelho, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The region's vineyards are also home to some of the best restaurants in the state - book in advance if you want to enjoy a memorable meal at the vaunted Muse Restaurant (located on the Hungerford Hill winery estate), where French techniques are combined with excellent local ingredients.
Brunch
Melbourne chef Bill Granger introduced brunch - and avocado toast - in the first of his bills restaurants, which opened in Sydney in 1993. Today, there are four branches in the city where you can enjoy his famous ricotta hotcakes and his velvety-textured scrambled eggs.
Another popular brunch spot for locals is the charming Grounds of Alexandria, which includes a roastery, bakery, café and restaurant. It is located in Sydney's western suburbs, but also has a sister venue in the city centre, Grounds of the City.
Hunter Valley. Credits Andrey Bayda / Shutterstock
An artist's legacy
If you love art, be sure to visit the former studio of Australian artist Brett Whiteley in Surry Hills (look for signs on Devonshire St and Bourke St), where many of his works valued in the millions of dollars were created. Then take a train to North Sydney and enjoy one of the city's most beautiful green spaces, Wendy's Secret Garden. Created by Whiteley's widow after Brett's death in 1992, this peaceful green space is located at the foot of the couple's home in Lavender Bay, where Wendy still lives.