Australia · New South Wales
Sydney travel guide
The Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and Bondi Beach
Sydney Harbour. Photo: BAVhah, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Sydney is one of the world's most beautiful cities, built around a huge harbour with the Opera House and Harbour Bridge at its heart.
It's also a beach city: Bondi, Manly and dozens of others are a short bus or ferry ride from the centre, and the Blue Mountains are a day trip away.
What Sydney is known for
- The Opera House
A world-famous landmark.
- The Harbour Bridge
Walk or climb it.
- Bondi Beach
Surf and a coastal walk.
- Blue Mountains
A day trip into the bush.
Top things to do in Sydney
Where to stay in Sydney
Best time to visit Sydney
Best value: Apr–May, Sep–Nov. September to November and March to May: warm and sunny without the summer peak.
- Best valueGood weather, smaller crowds
- PeakBusiest, highest prices
- QuietCheapest, cooler or wetter
Getting there and around
About 21h 15m from London to SYD, and flights from most UK airports. How long is the flight from your airport?
Use an Opal card or a contactless bank card on trains, buses and ferries.
Good to know
- Sunday public transport is capped at a low daily fare.
- Wear high-factor sun cream: the UV is very strong.
- Book New Year's Eve hotels a year ahead.
Sydney FAQ
How many days in Sydney?
Four or five days.
Is Sydney expensive?
Yes, similar to London.
More places in Australia
MelbourneCity · Victoria
CairnsNature · Queensland
UluruNature · Northern Territory
The WhitsundaysIsland · Queensland
The Great Ocean RoadCoast · Victoria
Back to the Australia travel guide + Add Sydney to your bucket list