For First Timers to Sydney Siders, this list will show you give you insight into some of the best things to do in Sydney. Use this list to help plan out your holiday or just a weekend!
Enjoy all Sydney has to offer
Sydney is one of the most beautiful, vibrant cities in the world. No matter what time of year you visit, there will always be something going on. Keep reading to find out the BEST things to do in Sydney. If you are only visiting for a short time, I’m sure you will have time for a couple of them.
1. Have a drink at Squires Landing
Number one is a really low key activity but with an epic outcome (in my opinion). If you only have time to go to one pub, this is the one. Squires Landing – restaurant and Brewhouse sits in Circular Quay harbour near the rock. It sits on the end of a wharf and in the middle of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. What this means is the view is epic!
Spend as much or as little time here. Minimum can just be one beer or ginger beer (it is a brewery as well!). Maximum you can get a great pub grub meal and stay for as long as you like! I would not recommend booking, as then you sit upstairs, which it isn’t quite as good as the outdoor atmosphere you get downstairs. So just turn up and hope the queue isn’t too long!
This pub is a real all rounder. In winter they have heaters in the huge outdoor space, and every Saturday they have amazing live music. In summer the vibe is amazing, and this place is great daytime and nighttime.
So grab a drink, get an outdoor table and take it all in….this is really one of the best things to do in Sydney.
For an alternative bar with similar vibes and great views, try the Opera Bar and Kitchen.
2. Walk around Sydney CBD
Sydney is a beautiful city and luckily it is a very walkable city. Join a free walking tour to learn about the history, or take your time and walk your own path.
A good route to take would be Mrs Macquarie’s Chair –> Botanical Gardens –> Circular Quay –> the Rocks –> Town Hall –> Darling Harbour –> Barangaroo
3. Bondi to Coogee Walk
I almost have to apologise for putting this on the list, as it is so obvious. However I wanted this to be a full list and, well, this walk is famous for a reason. This will be on 99% of lists that exists of the best things to do in Sydney.
Seeing Bondi Beach is a must when in Sydney, and walking on the Bondi to Coogee walking path next to the ocean to another amazing beach after beach makes for the perfect afternoon spent.
Bondi Beach and Coogee do not have train stops. Get a train to Bondi Junction and then straight on a bus to Bondi Beach. The bus station is within the train station, just follow the signs. Grab an avo on toast brunch or a smoothie at one of the many health cafes on Bondi Beach, and then start the walk. The walk starts just behind the Bondi Icebergs (that famous sea pool photo). The walk will take you from beach to beach. Beautiful white sand and drink stops on the way (e.g. Tamarama Beach Kiosk). If it summer then make this a full day trip and go swimming at each beach!
On average if you walk and do not stop it would take under 2 hours. If it is a hot day then add another 30 minutes. For photos and potential swim stops then add on more time!
At the end of the walk grab a cocktail at the beautiful Coogee Pavilion Rooftop bar, before getting a bus back to Bondi Junction.
Route: Bondi Beach –> Tamarama Beach –> Bronte Beach –> Clovelly beach –> Gordens Bay –> Coogee beach. Can be done the other way around also.
All beaches are sand beach apart from Clovelly beach, which is a cool concrete beach and great for swimming as it is a bay. Gordens bay has a snorkelling trail. Most of the beaches have an enclosed sea pool which helps to avoid waves or those who fear sharks.
4. A day at Manly Beach
OK another beach, but this is what Australia is great for! Manly beach has a very different vibe to Bondi . If you have time then it is worth going to both. A day at Manly beach starts with taking a 20 minute ferry from Circular Quay to Manly Wharf, then the rest of the day is up to you!
The beach on the Manly Wharf side is a flat water beach great for chilling or paddle boarding. Walk through the small beach town of Manly (grab an ice cream on the way) and you’ll end up reaching the Pine tree lined Manly beach. The beach has a street full of bars and restaurants. The day is yours to choose from if you want to dine and drink, sunbathe and swim or even take up a lesson in surfing!
Tip: keep walking from Manly Beach up to Shelly beach for a lovely short walk and maybe even a lizard on the way!
5. Take a ferry to Watson Bay
Taking a ferry to Watson Bay from Circular Quay is an experience in itself for the beautiful views. Then once you arrive on Watsons Bay you have a beautiful area to explore along with Sydneys most iconic fish and chips!
Best things to do in Watson Bay:
- Have iconic fish and chips near Watson Bay ferry terminal
- Have a cocktail at Watson Bay Boutique hotel
- Walk to the lighthouse and take in all of the views
- Sunbathe and swim at Camp Cove beach
6. High Tea at Queen Victoria Building
OK if you are from England then this may not be a novelty, for anyone else or those who love high teas as much as I do then the Queen Victoria Building (QVB) is THE place to go. It is worth visiting this building even if you don’t plan to eat, this is a beautiful grand building from the Victorian age and wouldn’t look out of place in London.
Turn up and choose your cafe (most on the middle floor will serve a high tea), or book into the The Tea Room for the full experience.
7. Day trip to Blue Mountains
For a day into nature and only just over an hour from Sydney CBD, the Blue Mountains is one of the most beautiful National Parks in the whole of Australia. One thing you might notice when coming to Australia is that as soon as you are outside of the city, it feels very untouched. This is one of the reasons that I love it here so much, nature has been left to be nature. The blue mountains is 267,954 hectares of land, and 10 ties older than the Grand Canyon.
Visit for fresh air, dramatic peaks, walks and waterfalls.
If staying in Sydney CBD, you can either book an organised day trip or hop on an easy 2 hour train journey from Sydney CBD to either Katoomba or Leura for a small town with access to many walking paths.
Blue mountains is great for walking year round. In the summer the mountains can provide some much needed relief from the hot city days, and in the winter it is the perfect time to put on a coat and hat and enjoy a long walk.
8. Have a picnic in Wendy’s Secret Garden
Take a ferry or train to Milsons Point, or walk over the Harbour Bridge to North Sydney. One you reach Luna Park you can walk through it in order to get to Lavender Bay. Take in the views over the water and keep walking until you find the stairs in the middle of the Bay. Walk up the stairs to the beautiful spot of Wendy’s Secret Garden. Then find the grass area with epic views over Sydney Harbour bridge.
Take a rug, some food and drink and have a beautiful time.
Alternative picnic spot in the city is Botanical Gardens near the Opera house which is also a stunning place to visit and hang out.
9. Dine in a iconic restaurant
There is nothing more memorable than great food and epic views of Sydney, and if you are planning to ‘splash out’ then Sydney has many options. Here are a few of the most well known, best views (and most expensive), make sure to book well ahead!
What is your favourite thing to do in Sydney?
