Top 5 Places to Visit During Your Trip to Sydney

Planning a trip to Sydney? Whether you’re arriving from overseas, interstate, or driving up from the coast, we’re here to help! As perhaps Australia’s most iconic city, Sydney is a must see destination for people of all ages. From jaw dropping landmarks to natural wonders and unique cultures in every corner, there's a good reason why so many tourists flock here every day.

Today, we are going to shine a spotlight on the top 5 places to visit both in and around Sydney. Hopefully, this list should help you to plan out an unforgettable itinerary the next time you visit. Let’s jump right into it.

Sydney Harbour

We couldn’t make a list without mentioning this iconic and world-famous harbour. As anyone that’s ever visited here would tell you, it’s truly a sight to behold. With a total area spanning 55 square kilometres, Sydney Harbour is home to an endless array of stunning sights and sounds.

Of course, two of the most famous landmarks here are the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. Both of these represent true feats of architectural innovation and ingenuity. You can view and visit both by heading to Circular Quay, which is the heart of the harbour.

A great way to take in the views, and experience the wide variety of sights and sounds is to hop on a ferry and loop around from destination to destination. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even climb Sydney Harbour Bridge or go on high-speed jet boat rides across the water.

Bondi Beach

Bondi Beach is also famous across the world, and currently holds the title as Australia’s most popular beach destination. People flock here from suburbs across Sydney, other cities across Australia, and countries across the globe. In fact, the beach has so many daily visitors that they even started a network show called ‘Bondi Rescue’, which revolves around the work of Bondi’s dedicated team of lifeguards.

So, what is it that makes Bondi so popular? Beyond the stunning ocean views and bright sand, the entire area offers something for everyone. Whether you want to swim, surf, eat, walk, party, relax, or take in a beautiful sunset, you’ll never run short of fun things to see and do!

If you’re going to be in Sydney between the months of May and November, you even do whale watching at multiple spectacular vantage points along the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk. Throughout the year, there are also various other events, markets, and even a yearly Sculpture by the Sea exhibition.

If you’re planning to swim, always make sure it's between the flags. Stay safe and enjoy everything Bondi has to offer.

The Blue Mountains

While there’s plenty to see and do within the city limits, there’s also a world of opportunities for day trips to explore everything New South Wales has to offer. If you’re looking to explore Australia's iconic natural wonders, The Blue Mountains are by far one of the most must see destinations. Most importantly, they are easily accessible from Sydney (especially with the help of local tour guides!)

Spectacular, rugged, and unlike anywhere else in the world, a journey into the Greater Blue Mountains will be an experience you’ll cherish for the rest of your life. With crisp mountain air, rock formations, native wildlife, caves, trails, peaks, and more, there’s so much to see and do. 

Of course, we can’t forget to mention the charming local towns that are brimming with fantastic cafes, restaurants, and hotels. All in all, it’s our view that no trip to Sydney is complete without a trip to this one-of-a-kind, World Heritage listed Blue Mountain National Park.

Don’t miss out on your chance to pay the Blue Mountains a visit. With regular Blue Mountains tours from Sydney, we’re here to take into the heart of Australia’s most iconic national park. Book your spot today!

The Sydney Opera House

A masterpiece of 20th century architecture, the Sydney Opera House was designed by Danish national Jørn Utzon and formally opened to the public in 1973. Occupying the entirety of Bennelong Point, this multi-purpose performance building is nestled in the Sydney Harbour and attracts thousands of visitors every week. 

The Sydney Opera House is characterised by a series of precast concrete ‘shells’ on all sides. This unique form of expressionist design continues to be a major drawcard, and it is a truly remarkable sight to behold when you’re up close.

If you want to see the interior, you will have to book ahead and lock in a spot for a Sydney Opera House tour. However, viewing the building from the outside and walking along Bennelong Point is certainly well worth it!

Head Out into the Suburbs

Want to experience the real Sydney? Don’t just limit yourself to the major tourist attractions. Just like a day trip out to the Blue Mountains, exploring various suburbs is a great way to really experience the unique charm and appeal of the Sydney lifestyle.

From Darlinghurst to Chatswood, Redfern, Cabramatta, Balmain, or Marrickville, you can venture out to any of these areas to check out local streets, restaurants, cafes, venues, parks, and unique local attractions. There’s also no shortage of cuisines to sample, whether you’re after some Chinese, Lebanese, Turkish, Vietnamese or Italian. 

Another great reason to visit these areas is the heritage and older buildings that give you a glimpse into Sydney’s past.

A Few More Ideas

Sydney is currently neck and neck with Melbourne for the title of Australia’s largest city, which means there’s no shortage of great places to visit. Here are some other destinations to add to your list:

• Sydney Zoo
• Homebush Bay
• Oxford Street 
• Manly Beach
• Luna Park
• The Museum of Sydney
• Sea Life Sydney Aquarium

All of these areas will make for a great day out in Sydney. The Sydney Zoo, in particular, is the perfect place to bring the kids, and get up close and personal with amazing native wildlife.

Book a Sightseeing Tour

It's not always easy to travel from one destination to another at the drop of a hat, especially if it's your first time in Sydney, or your first time in Australia. Often, you want to see all the best attractions but organising accommodation and transport pose their own set of challenges. This is why booking a sightseeing tour is a great option, particularly if you’re looking to head out and explore beyond Sydney.

By booking a guided sightseeing tour, transportation and itinerary are all handled by experts that know the local area like the back of their hand. This way, you’re not only picked up, dropped off, and transported everywhere, but also get to visit great places that you might have otherwise never even known about.

All you’ll need to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy!

Whether you’re travelling solo or with friends and family, sightseeing tours often have an accommodating and friendly atmosphere that makes everyone feel welcome. Who knows, you might even make a few new friends along the way.

Sydney’s Best Blue Mountain Tours

Visiting Sydney in the near future? Welcome to Oz Trails, where we offer award-winning small group day tours to visit wonderful locations on Sydney’s doorstep, including the World-Heritage-listed Blue Mountains National Park. 

Led by accredited, experienced, and friendly guides, we’ll take you off the beaten track to discover amazing sights that even many locals are unfamiliar with. In addition to this, we also offer private tours in and around Sydney, with a goal to visit the most memorable and fun destinations possible. We offer pickup and drop-off services from the heart of Sydney, and we take great pride in the standard of our customer service. We run regular Blue Mountains tours from Sydney and offer some of the best prices in the industry. So, get in quick and book your spot today!

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