25 Best Things to Do in Sydney, Australia, in 2024

Sydney got it, be it natural beauty, history, rich heritage, creative culinary, cultural offering, and friendly people. It is where skyscrapers meet beaches.

Sydney’s famous beaches are some of the most iconic in the world. Beaches like Bondi, Coogee, and Manly attract huge crowds during warm days.

Actually, exploring Sydney Harbour or Darling Harbour is a must if you prefer to take to the water by boat.

The good thing about Sydney Harbour is that it offers fantastic views of some of Sydney’s popular landmarks, including the most spectacular Opera House. 

If you are the adventurous type, there is a lot to explore while in Sydney. On top of this, the city offers lots of leisure spots and an excellent transportation network.

So, if you are planning to visit Sydney, you may want to know the best things to do there because of the sheer number of exploration opportunities.

But don’t worry. We created this guide to help you identify the best things to do in Sydney. These activities are diverse to capture the unique taste of each traveler. 

The Best Things to Do in Sydney

1. Visit Sydney Harbour

A trip to Sydney Harbour is one of the best things to do in Sydney. Most visitors will appreciate the harbor’s 150-mile shoreline and expansive waters.

The blue water of this natural harbor laps up to sandy shores to meet classic landmarks like the Sydney Opera House and Royal Botanic Garden. 

2. Experience a Piece of Sydney Opera House

An afternoon visit to Sydney’s Opera House is one of the most relaxing and less-crowded ways to admire the city.

Stepping into Australia’s most iconic buildings will allow you to explore theater and stories that go behind the curtain.

On top of this, you will immerse yourself in the past and present of the city while here. You will also agree that its surrounding harbor offers a one-of-a-kind experience. 

3. Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge

If you have already visited the Sydney Opera House and are looking for other interesting things to do, just visit the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

This bridge is not only next to the Opera House, but it is among the most iconic landmarks in the city. Yes, it can get very touristy, but the bridge beholds Sydney Harbour in all its majesty. 

4. Drive to Manly Beach

Manly Beach is just 10 miles from Sydney’s downtown, so it offers a perfect place to relax for beach lovers.

The only issue is that it can get crowded, just like other popular beaches like Coogee and Bondi. Nonetheless, it draws lots of praise from beach adventurers. 

5. Visit the Rocks.

This beautiful neighborhood is also located in one of Sydney’s prime locations. Its 19th-century buildings lined on cobblestone streets are so charming.

Moreover, the pubs, shops, galleries, and restaurants make the place fun. 

6. Encounter the Wildlife at Taronga Zoo in Sydney.

If you are an animal lover, then Taronga Zoo is a must-visit. This non-profit zoo is home to over 350 species, some of which are threatened.

You will also get a chance to see over 5,000 animals, ranging from echidnas and koalas to elephants and giraffes.

Apart from this, the zoo offers some of the best views of Sydney and is home to the city’s out-of-ordinary luxury hotel.

So, you have a lot to see. And the best thing is that ticket sales are meant for saving wildlife. 

7. Explore the City from the Darling Harbour.

This is a perfect place to explore the expansive city.

The place is filled with tourist hotels, ranging from premium ones like the Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour to mid-budget ones like the Holiday Inn. 

8. Hang Out at Coogee Beach.

Coogee Beach might not be as big as Bondi, but it offers a fantastic spot for soaking up Sydney’s sun.

Here, you can swim or just take a walk. Snorkeling is also a popular pastime in Coogee. 

9. Take the Adventure to the Blue Mountains.

If beaches and city life are not your thing, or if you just want a diverse adventure, then one of the things to do in Sydney is visit the nearby Blue Mountain.

Just remember to wear layers, as the weather can change drastically in this region. 

10. Expand Your Knowledge at the Australian National Maritime Museum.

Being a harbor city, Sydney would not be complete without a maritime museum.

This place exhibits nearly everything you want to learn about local maritime history, ranging from the history of indigenous sailors to fish X-rays. 

11. Take a Bush Food Tour to the Royal Botanic Garden.

The sprawling Royal Botanical Garden shines with colorful flora and fauna.

One of the things you will like about it is that it has several diverse sections, including the Palm Grove, which hosts the tallest tree in the garden, and the Australian Rainforest Garden. 

12. Surf at Bondi Beach

This is a massive beach featuring gnarly waves, making it an ideal surfing destination. But if you are not going to surf here, you can just relax and swim.

Actually, Bondi is also a nice spot for sunbathing, swimming, and strolling. 

13. Sit on Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair

In the early 19th century, Governor Lachlan Macquarie commissioned a bench dedicated to his wife. Sydney’s convicts delivered on the project by carving out a sandstone rock near the harbor.

Surprisingly, the ‘chair’ still exists and is one of the top attractions in the city. 

14. Check Out What Hyde Park Barracks Museum Offers

This museum is famous for being one of the world’s most important convict locations and a Unesco World Heritage Site, for that matter.

It once served as a house for convicted men from Great Britain. 

15. Visit the Famous Cultural institution, the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

One of the most interesting things to do in Sydney is sample its art scene.

And the best way to do it is to visit a place like the Art Gallery of New South Wales. 

16. Experience Chinese Footprints in Sydney with a Visit to the Chinese Garden of Friendship

Interested in witnessing Chinese history in Sydney?

Well, the Chinese Garden of Friendship offers some historical perspective about the friendship between the cities of Guangzhou and Sydney. 

17. Get a Glimpse of St. Mary’s Cathedral

While what stands today is not the original cathedral, the existing one sits on the same piece of land where the first Catholic chapel stood in the early 19th century.

After all, the St. Mary’s cathedral of today was also built in the mid-1800s and finished in 1928.

What makes it one of the most interesting things to do in Sydney is the fact that it is home to a mosaic floor depicting creation and gorgeous stained-glass windows. 

18. Shop in the Queen Victoria Building.

The Queen Victoria Building is a welcoming spot in the city’s central business district.

The place hosts some of the leading Australian fashion brands like Anna Thomas, Country Road, and global brands like Calvin Klein. 

19. Sail to Cockatoo Island (Wareamah).

This island is probably the biggest in Sydney Harbour.

Beside this, it has an important history as one of the centers to house convicts and repair ships. Later on, it became one of the key locations for children’s schools. 

20. Explore Sydney’s Past via Carriageworks

For art lovers, Carriageworks offers an interesting perspective on Australia’s past workforce.

This popular precinct in one of the inner suburbs of Sydney was a locomotive worker hub in the 20th century. 

21. Ride the Iconic Manly Ferry

Locals use this ferry every day to commute to various parts of the city.

So you can join them and experience it gliding past the bridge, Taronga Zoo, Sydney Opera House, and some beaches such as Camp Cove and Shark Beach. 

22. Paddle with Sydney by Kayak

A sunrise kayak tour is among the best things to do in Sydney.

If you go there early in the morning, you will be lucky to paddle under the Coathanger with life and business partners Ben and Laura Stones.

This is the best time before everyone else turns over their pillow and flows. 

23. Drink in Panoramic Views at Bar 83

If you want to be part of the community that drinks in Sydney’s highest bar on Sydney Tower, then Bar 83 is the place to be.

The views of Greater Sydney from the Golden Bucket are out of this world. 

24. Swim with Sharks at the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium.

If you are daring enough, visit the only cageless shark diving place in the city.

A 30-minute diving experience with the gray nurse sharks will leave you with something to remember about Sydney. 

25. Marvel at Contemporary Chinese Art at White Rabbit

This state-of-the-art gallery offers a collection of 21st-century Chinese art.

It usually organizes four exhibitions every year, and the good thing is that entry is free of charge. 

Final Thoughts on Things to Do in Sydney

Sydney offers lots of interesting adventure opportunities.

It is rare to find any city in the world that rivals Sydney in terms of rich heritage, natural beauty, creative culinary scene, unique history, and cultural offerings.

Actually, you will have a lot to do, see, and ponder while here. The above are just a few things to do in Sydney.

In fact, you may feel a little overwhelmed if you are there for a short time. 

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