Top Places to Visit in Sydney

Mini gourmands are raised right thanks to a diverse scattering of excellent toddler-friendly eateries throughout the city. Magnificent playgrounds filled with brilliant ways to tire tots out can be found right across the city. If you’re in the east, try The Ian Potter Children’s WILD PLAY Garden at Centennial Parklands. If you’re in the west, head to Blaxland Riverside Park at Sydney Olympic Park. Other standouts include The Canopy Playground in Lane Cove, Fairfield Adventure Park and Domain Creek Playground in Parramatta Park. Itty bitty sandwiches and pastries may fit snug in child-sized hands but who doesn’t love a towering collection of edible treats?
If you weren't interested in learning about the quarantines of yore before 2020, you might be now. Q Station was on the frontline of sydney city what to do the last global health emergency in 1918, and the rich history of this heritage-listed site offers a fascinating lens on the experiences of the past year. The gardens were first planted in 1968 as a sanctuary for Indigenous plants and animals.

You’ll pass by Art Gallery of New South Wales which is definitely worth stopping by and checking it out. As you continue walking through Hyde Park, you can either walk through the Royal Botanic Garden of Sydney or continue along to Mrs Macquarie’s Chair. Bring your swimmers and go for a swim at Andrew Boy Charlton Swimming Pool.
Sydney Thrill Ride hurls at up to 75 km an hour while you take in the iconic Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge and other coastal landmarks. Jump on board for one of the most exhilarating attractions in Sydney. Another one for the adventurous, Sydney Harbor jet boat rides zoom along the harbour for a truly thrilling ride. Situated right in the heart of Darling Harbour, the Chinese Garden of Friendship is a beautiful hidden gem of Sydney. Meet Australia’s only Rhino at Taronga Zoo, one of the most iconic Sydney attractions. Get up close and personal to the squirrel monkeys or go behind the scenes in the Elephant enclosure.

From business lunches to intimate dinners and grand celebrations, Cafe Sydney offers a vibrant, contemporary dining experience delivered with the timeless hospitality it is renowned for. A thoughtfully curated lunch and dinner menu showcases the finest seasonal produce, perfectly complemented by an awarded Australian wine list. The Lounge and Cocktail Bar is a sophisticated space to sit back and enjoy an expertly crafted cocktail and light bite. As the sun rises, connect with the world’s oldest living culture as First Nations artwork is projected on the Sydney Opera House and flags are raised on the  Sydney Harbour Bridge during the Dawn Reflection. This event will take place from 5.20am to 5.40am, with the best vantage point for viewing the illumination being from the Overseas Passenger Terminal at The Rocks.
Only opened to the public in 2007, it has waterfront cafes and campsites for guests to make use of. Guided history and paranormal tours take you around to see all the large island’s unique features. When Sydney Zoo opened in 2015, it was the city’s first new zoo in a century. And it’s got all the features you’d expect of a supremely modern zoo, with state-of-the-art enclosures, high-tech animal welfare and immersive educational exhibits. You’re unlikely to find better animal care or visitor engagement pretty much anywhere else in the world. Sydney Zoo is the perfect place to explore habitats and creatures great and small.
It’s a nice thing to do, but we think the entry fee is a bit steep at $29.95. Sydney is a dynamic city with impressive natural beauty, iconic landmarks, and world-renowned attractions. Now, this area is massive, with a ton of entry points and landmarks, depending on what you want to see and  do. The Three Sisters tends to be the highlight for most people, which is about 2 hours 20 minutes west of Sydney’s CBD, so plan where you want to go and make a day trip of it. Plus, it's right on Circular Quay, with amazing views of the Harbour Bridge.

If you’re up for another adventure from Rose Bay, the Rose Bay to Watsons Bay walk is a stunning way to explore some of the lesser known beaches along Sydney’s coastline. Based on the shore just north of Darling Harbour, Sydney's newest suburb is jammed packed with shiny buildings, bustling bars and classy restaurants. It's a real leap forward to the modern day in a city that can seem a bit dated (well, architecturally anyway). Along the shore line are restaurants, cafes, the Museum of Contemporary Art and street performers which line the water all the way to the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. It is also the central port for the ferry network, enabling you to get around the harbour by ferry. Every Friday night, Dixon Street in Chinatown is lined with market stalls selling colourful phone covers, Pokémon toys and paw-waving cats.
From May to November, humpback whales pass Sydney on their annual migration route. One of the best things to do in Sydney, if you are here at that time, is to go whale watching. The Sydney Fish Market is the largest seafood market in the Southern Hemisphere.

For those interested in natural history and indigenous culture, the Australian Museum is a treasure trove. Its extensive collections include dinosaur fossils, rare minerals, and Aboriginal artefacts, providing insight into Australia’s rich heritage. All three areas have undergone significant upgrades in recent years and are now popular dining spots for tourists, local office workers, and residents alike. From waterfront dining and regular fireworks displays to exciting museums and massive playgrounds, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. A combination of a lookout and museum, it offers fantastic views of the Harbour along with fascinating insights into the bridge’s construction and significance.
Stretching just under 4 miles in length, it takes you past lots of stunning coastal scenery with fabulous views over the ocean to be enjoyed the whole way along. As a city bursting with attractions, it’s an unavoidable fact that some of the things in your Sydney guidebook are bound to suck. Long queues, ridiculous prices and crowds of tourists are hardly going to make your trip to Sydney a memorable one – so ditch them all for these top-notch, local-approved sights and activities. If your number one priority in Sydney is sightseeing, we recommend booking a hotel in the Central Business District (CBD). That way, you’ll be within walking distance of Sydney’s major attractions with the best public transport connections to the rest of the city. Upstairs at Westfield, you’ll find a selection of restaurants, including Babylon, a sprawling Middle Eastern rooftop bar.
There’s no shortage of fun to be had inside Luna Park Sydney , which was built in 1935 and retains its Art Deco aesthetic.  Taking selfies out front is great, but totally immersing yourself in the country’s most iconic landmark is a must. Many of the globe’s most acclaimed performers can be seen spinning magic within the Sydney Opera House ’s unique venues. Its annual performance count  has been recorded at more than 1,800, ushering in at least 1.4 million people through its doors per year. An architectural gem itself, the Art Gallery of New South Wales houses an impressive collection of Australian, European, and Asian art.