30 BEST Places to Visit in Sydney 2026 Guide

Kids will delight in the variety of animals, while grown-ups will be treated to Instagram-worthy views. Opening its doors back in 1916, the iconic venue has evolved significantly over time but its elephants, monkeys, aviaries and seals have always remained the hottest attractions. Darling Harbour is a bustling precinct offering a variety of attractions and activities. Visit the SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium to marvel at marine life, or explore the Australian National Maritime Museum to learn about Australia’s naval history.
Hyde Park Sydney is the oldest park in Australia that houses ANZAC Memorial and themed gardens filled with water features and public art. Dotted with about 600 mature trees, this park also features the Archibald Fountain, which has a crowning sculpture of Apollo, the poignant Pool of Reflection, and a Captain Cook statue. Several tourists come to the park every day to relax, have a little picnic, and stuff to do in sydney enjoy a fun and memorable day.

You can choose to climb at either a dawn, in the middle of the day, twilight, or even a night climb. If you walk along to North Head, you can catch some incredible views of the harbour and Sydney skyline. A ferry ride to Manly is a great and cheap way to experience Sydney Harbour with stunning views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. You can visit the street level at all times, although the lower chambers, accessible by an elevator and stairs, are only open during daylight hours. There are lots of boutique hotels in Potts Point, but Spicer Potts Point is our pick.
Along the way, you get an up-close view of the Sydney Opera House. Chinatown is loaded with quality restaurants featuring authentic Asian cuisine. The area also features the inner-city oasis of the Chinese Garden of Friendship, along with Paddy’s Market. At night, various neon signs located in alleyways provide some good photo opportunities. Darling Harbour is full  of waterfront fine-dining, culture, beauty, and entertainment. Here you’ll find the Australian National Maritime Museum, the Sydney Aquarium & Zoo, and several large venues dedicated for concerts.

Maybe with that famous opera house and famous bridge, both sitting on that equally famous harbour. Incredibly rich culture, including the oldest continuous living culture on earth. Anchored in the heart of the harbour is historic Cockatoo Island . Once a meeting place for First Nations people, the island has since held roles as a convict gaol, a shipbuilding facility and a reformatory for young women. Now visitors to the island can spend a night under the stars in the waterfront campground.
Instead of buying a little plastic  chip and swapping it into your phone, you just download it. It connects your phone to a local network in whatever country you’re visiting — no stores, no waiting, and no fiddling with tiny cards. These full apartments are $230 AUD nightly when booked in advance with Booking.com. With five floors and over 40,000 artworks, it’s safe to say that the Art Gallery of New South  Wales is pretty extensive. The collection includes works of art from all over the world and many different time periods.
Strike Bowling Entertainment Quarter is especially excellent thanks to its on-site laser tag arena and private karaoke rooms. If you’re just bowling, eight lanes cater for crowds who roll into the venue by the truckload come school holidays. Avoid it during the period if you prefer quieter conditions or jump on board to soak up the atmosphere. Chippendale’s Phoenix Central Park is a unique expression of art, architecture and performance shaped by philanthropist and visionary Judith Nielson AM and designed by architect Jean Nouvel. Venture below the water’s surface in Sydney to discover vibrant underwater ecosystems. Take a ferry from Circular Quay for a scenic ride to this charming coastal village.

There are some fantastic boutique wineries around here, not to mention lovely scenery. It’s about 3 hours away from Sydney by car, making it one of our favorite day trips from Sydney. You can also learn about the Australian Navy or discover more about Sydney’s modern-day surfing culture and how it came to be.
It's an easy amble, and you can reward yourself for that lil' bit of cardio with a drink or two at the Watsons Bay Hotel afterward. Shelly Beach feels like a secluded island in comparison to the huge stretch of sand that is Manly Beach. Here, the waves are calmer, the sunbakers are quieter and the mood is more chilled. Getting here is a short cycle or walk around Cabbage Tree Bay and along the walk many people stop and take a seat on the rocks or take a dip in the aqua-coloured Fairy Bower Pool.

I did this experience when I first came to Sydney and I promise you won’t find a more unique dining experience in Sydney. The Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney is something every tourist in Sydney needs to visit for themselves. Nestled in between middle of Sydney CBD and Sydney Harbour, you’ll be able to walk around and visit the many gardens and of course the new Calyx building. Here they have lots of events on including an astronomy class which looks awesome.
Works represent the expression of life from a Chinese point of view in paintings, installations, and thought-provoking murals. It’s the world’s most significant collection of Chinese contemporary art. But, if you need to drive, there is some paid parking near Bondi Pavillion, but it’s about $10 an hour. While the large crowds could be a deterrent to some people, it’s best to  embrace the hectic, fun-loving attitude for all it’s worth. When we spent a month in Sydney at the start of last year, we weren’t expecting to spend much time at the beach. The climb over the top of the bridge takes around 3.5 hours on an organised tour.
A visit to Sydney is not complete without spending a morning or afternoon in Bondi Beach, Australia’s most popular and well-known beach town. Cockatoo Island is a UNESCO World Heritage and National Heritage Listed island, situated right in the middle of beautiful Sydney Harbour. Over the years, the island has served as a shipbuilding yard, naval base, and convict island. The famous Sydney Harbour Bridge opened in 1932 and is an incredible piece of superb engineering. Also known as the Coathanger because of its arch-based design, the 134m high Sydney Harbour Bridge connects the Sydney CBD with the city’s North Shore. To buy general admission tickets in advance or book one or more of the special experiences, go here.